I have never seen the other editions of Fowler, so I perhaps approach this version with more objectivity than the many who have panned it. I found Burchfield's descriptive approach much more useful than the recent Strunk and White, which is so prescriptive that it is dogmatic and authoritarian without being very enlightening. Burchfield's Fowler may or may not be Fowler, but it is comprehensive and up-to-date, and that is good for those who need state-of-the-art usage. It is certainly not a quick-and-dirty pocket guide, but excellent analysis for those who need to go deep.



It's all a question of what you are looking for.