Diana Hacker, 61; Her ‘A Writer’s Reference’ Is a Staple at Colleges

Diana Hacker, 61, an educator and author whose book “A Writer’s Reference” made her one of the most successful writers of college textbooks, died of cancer Jan. 12 at a hospital in Washington, D.C.

Now in its fifth edition, “ A Writer’s Reference” has sold nearly 3 million copies and has become a staple for college freshmen since it was first published by Bedford/St. Martin’s in 1989.

An English professor at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Md., for 35 years until her retirement in 2000, Hacker was the author of three other handbooks: “Rules for Writers,” “The Bedford Handbook” and “A Pocket Style Manual.” Those guides to grammar, writing and research generally won praise for being thorough, easy to use and updated with current information.

Hacker was raised in Washington, Ill., a small town near Peoria, and graduated from the University of Illinois, where she also earned her master’s degree in English composition. She taught at the University of Maryland before joining the Prince George’s faculty.