We tend to think that politicians, copywriters and journalists can affect us by their use of language, but how does this happen, exactly? Critical Discourse Analysis provides us with general theories for explaining the impact texts can have, considering the social and political contexts in which texts are produced and read. Stylistics provides detailed tools of analysis for understanding how texts work. Critical Stylistics combines the strengths of these two approaches to uncover the deep-seated ideologies of everyday texts. Original and engaging, Critical Stylistics: * presents a new amalgamation of stylistics, critical discourse analysis and functional approaches to grammar * introduces a comprehensive set of tools to help explain and analyse the power of written texts * examines a wide variety of real texts and provides a wealth of practical worked examples Perspectives on the English Language is an innovative series of textbooks for the English language student, together forming a wide-ranging course for undergraduate students of English. The basis of the series is a 'core' of three books which together lay the foundations for further study. A set of higher level textbooks builds on these core books by bringing together the latest thinking in a range of topics in English language. Clearly set out and including relevant exercises and questions, they make both the foundations of language and the latest research accessible to a student audience. Series Editors: Lesley Jeffries and Dan McIntyre.