Toggle navigation

|

? HELP

study guides
lesson plans
bios
essays
homework help
Blog
Sign In

On Writing Well Quiz

William Zinsser

This Study Guide consists of approximately 36 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of On Writing Well.

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Get On Writing Well from Amazon.com

View the Study Pack

View the Lesson Plans

Study Guide

Order our On Writing Well Study Guide

Show Section Navigation

+Chapters Summary and Analysis

Part I: Chapter 1 The Transaction

Part I: Chapter 2 Simplicity

Part I: Chapter 3 Clutter

Part I: Chapter 4 Style

Part I: Chapter 5 The Audience

Part I: Chapter 6 Words

Part I: Chapter 7 Usage

Part II: Chapter 8 Unity

Part II: Chapter 9 The Lead and the Ending

Part II: Chapter 10 Bits & Pieces

Part III: Chapter 11 Nonfiction as Literature

Part III: Chapter 12 Writing About People: The Interview

Part III: Chapter 13 Writing About Places: The Travel Article

Part III: Chapter 14 Writing About Yourself: The Memoir

Part III: Chapter 15 Science and Technology

Part III: Chapter 16 Business Writing: Writing in Your Job

Part III: Chapter 17 Sports

Part III: Chapter 18 Writing About the Arts: Critics and Columnists

Part III: Chapter 19 Humor

Part IV: Chapter 20 The Sound of Your Voice

Part IV: Chapter 21 Enjoyment, Fear and Confidence

Part IV: Chapter 22 The Tyranny of the Final Product

Part IV: Chapter 23 A Writer's Decision

Part IV: Chapter 24 Write as Well as You Can

Themes

Style

Quotes

Topics for Discussion

Order our On Writing Well Study Guide

On Writing Well Quiz

William Zinsser

This Study Guide consists of approximately 36 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of On Writing Well.

Buy and print the On Writing Well Study Guide

Print

Buy and download the On Writing Well Study Guide

Word

Buy and download the On Writing Well Study Guide

PDF

Take our free On Writing Well quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!

Directions: Click on the correct answer.

Questions 1-5 of 25:

1.

How rigid are the lines between proper and improper English usage? (from Part I: Chapter 7 Usage)

They are very soft, and not rigid at all.

There are no lines at all. Every writer has a poetic license to do with words what he or she pleases.

They are very rigid and one cannot cross the line.

There is a grey area, though the need for proper English is most important.

2.

What are the two components of the original Roget's Thesaurus? (from Part I: Chapter 6 Words)

A dictionary listing of words, and a numberd section with synonyms arranged in broad concepts.

A dictionary of antonyms, and one of synonyms.

A list of synonyms and their definitions with pictures on one side.

Antonyms with very in depth definitions.

3.

What is a major job of a nonfiction writer? (from Part III: Chapter 12 Writing About People: The Interview)

Learning as much as possible about a subject before taking on a project.

Conducting interviews with people who know about the writing project subject.

Taking on a project with a clean slate. Just like a jury in a legal battle.

Majoring in the subject they will write about.

4.

What has literature transformed into? (from Part III: Chapter 11 Nonfiction as Literature)

Literature now includes nonfiction and fiction alike.

Literature has not transformed at all.

Literature now includes poetry.

Literature is still mainly novels,and very rarely includes other writing.

5.

How does Zinsser approach unusual words? (from Part I: Chapter 7 Usage)

He is very conservative and will never cross a proper word line.

He is very welcoming of a transforming English language.

He is modern when it comes to English, but would rather keep it simple.

He accepts some, but not all.

More summaries and resources for teaching or studying On Writing Well.

Browse all BookRags Study Guides.

Copyrights

On Writing Well from BookRags. (c)2026 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved.

BookRags

About BookRags | Customer Service | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Copyright 2026 by BookRags, Inc.

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

Follow BookRags on Facebook

Follow BookRags on Twitter

Follow BookRags on Pinterest