• Part I. Background Concepts and Issues: 1. Introduction: textual dimensions and relations; 2. Situations and functions; 3. Previous linguistic research on speech and writing; Part II. Methodology: 4. Methodological overview of the study; 5. Statistical analysis; Part III. Dimensions and Relations in English: 6. Textual dimensions in speech and writing; 7. Textual relations in speech and writing; 8. Extending the description: variations within genres; 9. Afterword: applying the model; Appendices.

'Biber's book is an important, highly innovative and stimulating work which marks a new departure in the study of language variation. Its multifeature/multifunctional approach succeeds where earlier studies have failed … I regard Biber's book as a major achievement that is likely to become a classic in its field. It should be read by everyone interested in language variation.' B. Altenberg, Studia Linguistica

• Part I. Background Concepts and Issues: 1. Introduction: textual dimensions and relations; 2. Situations and functions; 3. Previous linguistic research on speech and writing; Part II. Methodology: 4. Methodological overview of the study; 5. Statistical analysis; Part III. Dimensions and Relations in English: 6. Textual dimensions in speech and writing; 7. Textual relations in speech and writing; 8. Extending the description: variations within genres; 9. Afterword: applying the model; Appendices.

'Biber's book is an important, highly innovative and stimulating work which marks a new departure in the study of language variation. Its multifeature/multifunctional approach succeeds where earlier studies have failed … I regard Biber's book as a major achievement that is likely to become a classic in its field. It should be read by everyone interested in language variation.' B. Altenberg, Studia Linguistica

• Part I. Background Concepts and Issues: 1. Introduction: textual dimensions and relations; 2. Situations and functions; 3. Previous linguistic research on speech and writing; Part II. Methodology: 4. Methodological overview of the study; 5. Statistical analysis; Part III. Dimensions and Relations in English: 6. Textual dimensions in speech and writing; 7. Textual relations in speech and writing; 8. Extending the description: variations within genres; 9. Afterword: applying the model; Appendices.

'Biber's book is an important, highly innovative and stimulating work which marks a new departure in the study of language variation. Its multifeature/multifunctional approach succeeds where earlier studies have failed … I regard Biber's book as a major achievement that is likely to become a classic in its field. It should be read by everyone interested in language variation.' B. Altenberg, Studia Linguistica