Dr. Gerald J. Schiffhorst, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Central Florida, received his doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to several other books of literary criticism and numerous articles,he has been the co-author of this handbook since its first edition in 1979. He has taught writing and literature for over forty-five years.

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Donald Pharr, associate professor of English at Saint Leo University, has taught college English for thirty-four years. He received his doctorate in English from the University of Georgia in 1994. Dr. Pharr has co-authored (with Gerald J. Schiffhorst) The Short Handbook for Writers (1997) and Grammar, Etc. (2008), as well as Writing Today: Contexts and Options for the Real World (2005 and 2009, with Santi V. Buscemi). He is currently the past president of the Florida College English Association and the co-director of Saint Leo University's Lucky Leos Trap, Neuter, and Return Program. He lives in Lakeland, Florida, with his wife, Dr. Mary Pharr (professor emeritus, Florida Southern College), and with their very vibrant group of cats.