Economical Writing Author: Deirdre Nansen McCloskey

Economical Writing by Deirdre Nansen McCloskey is a precision-focused guide to mastering the art of streamlined communication. Aimed at students, academics, and professionals who write to persuade, explain, or explore ideas, McCloskey’s book lays out thirty-five indispensable rules for cutting through the fog and getting straight to the point.

Whether you're drafting journal articles, policy papers, reports, or book manuscripts, McCloskey’s approach stresses clarity, brevity, and elegance over jargon, verbosity, or academic clutter. With a sharp eye for how structure and word choice shape understanding, she encourages writers to:

Avoid passive voice and nominalizations

Trim unnecessary modifiers and redundancies

Choose strong verbs over lifeless constructions

Respect the reader’s attention span

Revise ruthlessly and read aloud for flow

The book stands out not just for its practical tips but for its witty and unapologetic tone. McCloskey doesn’t just teach writing—she cultivates a mindset that values the reader’s time and demands intellectual honesty. It’s not about sounding impressive; it’s about being understood.

Whether you're preparing for publication or refining your communication style, Economical Writing equips you with the tools to produce prose that speaks with clarity and purpose.