My college English teacher assigned the QA for our class. While I haven't read the entire book, I found all of the sections I have used to be beneficial in every aspect of my writing. The exercises that my teacher had us complete from the "Writing Process" section were very useful. I think completing these exercises helps to strengthen ones writing. In particular, the exercises keep an individual familiar with the writing process so that when they do have to write something, they can hopefully delve right into it.
I also used the book for grammatical questions and guidance on MLA documentation. Both sections easily explain the subject in what I will refer to as "laymen's terms." Most other writing books I have referenced seem to be written in a hoity fashion. This, to me isn't very beneficial, especially considering I wouldn't be looking in a writing reference book if I did not need something to be simply explained to me. I find MLA to be very confusing (and utterly annoying!). The QA was able to answer and explain my questions on documentation straightforwardly and made completely in the bibliography section of my papers a breeze.
The organization of the book is what makes it so wonderful and useful. The actual format of the text and its arrangement is unlike most writing books that I have sought reference in. Instead of having to search for the table of contents to find the part you are looking for, the book uses divider-tabs to separate the major sections. Examples of these sections include, "Thinking and Reading Reflectively," "Research," "MLA Documentation," "Grammar Basics," and "Tips for Multilingual Writers." This format makes it extremely easy to find the information you need. Also, the table of contents itself is excellently organized. It completely outlines each section of the book, making it very easy to find the one you need. The QA was so useful, that I found myself using it not only for the assigned class, but also for my own research in personal writing and for other college classes.
For those who need instant gratification, I recommend this book highly. Almost any question you may have concerning writing, you will be able to find it in this book quickly and easily. The Quick Access Reference for Writers lives up to its name entirely.
