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Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style" is the best-known instruction book on writing in English.
I organized and distilled chapter five, "An Approach to Style (With a List of Reminders)," from 6,500 words to 1,300.
The summary includes ten observations and 21 reminders:
I organized and distilled chapter five, "An Approach to Style (With a List of Reminders)," from 6,500 words to 1,300.
The summary includes ten observations and 21 reminders:
There’s no key that unlocks the door...
No infallible guide to good writing
No satisfactory explanation of style
No inflexible rule by which writers may shape their course
No infallible guide to good writingNo satisfactory explanation of styleNo inflexible rule by which writers may shape their course
These reminders state what most of us know and at times forget...
Style is an expression of self
To approach it, turn away from mannerisms, tricks, and adornments
Move toward plainness, simplicity, orderliness, and sincerity
Style is an expression of self To approach it, turn away from mannerisms, tricks, and adornments Move toward plainness, simplicity, orderliness, and sincerity
A careful and honest writer does not need to worry about style...
The writer is the style, and the style is the writer
Who you are, not what you know, will determine your style
The writer is the style, and the style is the writer Who you are, not what you know, will determine your style
No writer long remains incognito...
A style reveals a writer’s identity, as surely as fingerprints
Writers reveal their spirits, their habits, their capacities, and their biases
Writing is communication, and creative writing is the Self escaping into the open
A style reveals a writer’s identity, as surely as fingerprints Writers reveal their spirits, their habits, their capacities, and their biasesWriting is communication, and creative writing is the Self escaping into the open
1. To achieve style, begin by affecting none...
That is, place yourself in the background
Draw the reader's attention to the sense and substance of the writing
Solid writing reveals the temper of the writer, and not at the expense of the work
That is, place yourself in the backgroundDraw the reader's attention to the sense and substance of the writingSolid writing reveals the temper of the writer, and not at the expense of the work
2. Write in a way that comes naturally...
The use of language begins with imitation
Never imitate consciously, but don't worry about being an imitator
Take pains to admire what is good
Use words and phrases that come readily to hand
The use of language begins with imitationNever imitate consciously, but don't worry about being an imitatorTake pains to admire what is goodUse words and phrases that come readily to hand
3. Work from a suitable design...
Great writing will be found to have a secret plan
Design informs even the simplest structure
Anticipate what you are getting into and build a scheme
Lest you miss the forest for the trees and there be no end to your labors
Great writing will be found to have a secret planDesign informs even the simplest structureAnticipate what you are getting into and build a scheme Lest you miss the forest for the trees and there be no end to your labors
4. Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs...
Nouns and verbs, not their assistants, give good writing its toughness and color
No adjective can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place
This is not to disparage adjectives and adverbs
Nouns and verbs, not their assistants, give good writing its toughness and colorNo adjective can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight placeThis is not to disparage adjectives and adverbs
5. Revise and rewrite...
Few writers produce what they’re after on the first try
Therefore, revising is part of writing
Don’t be afraid to experiment with what you’ve written
It’s no sign of weakness that your work needs major surgery
Few writers produce what they’re after on the first tryTherefore, revising is part of writingDon’t be afraid to experiment with what you’ve writtenIt’s no sign of weakness that your work needs major surgery
6. Do not overwrite...
Guard against wordiness
Ruthlessly delete excess
Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest
Guard against wordinessRuthlessly delete excessRich, ornate prose is hard to digest
7. Do not overstate...
Everything before and after an overstatement is suspect
A single overstatement diminishes the whole
A single carefree superlative has the power to destroy
Readers must have confidence in your judgment and poise
Everything before and after an overstatement is suspectA single overstatement diminishes the wholeA single carefree superlative has the power to destroyReaders must have confidence in your judgment and poise
8. Avoid the use of qualifiers (like rather, very, little, and pretty)...
These are leeches that infest the pond of prose
Do a *little* better, be *very* watchful, for it’s *rather* important, and we are *pretty* sure to violate it
These are leeches that infest the pond of proseDo a *little* better, be *very* watchful, for it’s *rather* important, and we are *pretty* sure to violate it
9. Do not affect a breezy manner...
Don’t cut rhetorical capers
Be compact, informative, unpretentious
Present items in a straightforward manner
Keep a tight rein on the material and stay out of the act
Don’t cut rhetorical capers Be compact, informative, unpretentiousPresent items in a straightforward mannerKeep a tight rein on the material and stay out of the act
10. Use orthodox spelling...
Unorthodox spellings defeat their own purpose
Unaccepted and oversimplified spellings exhaust patience
Readers mentally supply missing letters of an abbreviation at the cost of a fraction of attention
Unorthodox spellings defeat their own purposeUnaccepted and oversimplified spellings exhaust patienceReaders mentally supply missing letters of an abbreviation at the cost of a fraction of attention
11. Do not explain too much...
Be sparing
Do not overwork adverbs
It is seldom advisable to tell all
Let the conversation itself disclose the speaker's manner or condition
Be sparingDo not overwork adverbsIt is seldom advisable to tell allLet the conversation itself disclose the speaker's manner or condition
12. Do not construct awkward adverbs...
Do not dress words up by adding -ly to them
Such adverbs are easy to build
But you're probably be better off without them
Words not used orally are seldom the ones to put on paper
Do not dress words up by adding -ly to themSuch adverbs are easy to buildBut you're probably be better off without themWords not used orally are seldom the ones to put on paper
13. Make sure the reader knows who is speaking...
Indicate who the speaker is
In dialogue, obscurity is an imposition
Make sure attributives don’t awkwardly interrupt a spoken sentence
Place them where the break would come naturally in speech
Indicate who the speaker isIn dialogue, obscurity is an imposition Make sure attributives don’t awkwardly interrupt a spoken sentencePlace them where the break would come naturally in speech
14. Avoid fancy words...
Use Anglo-Saxon words
Cock your ear and let it be your guide
Avoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy, and the cute
Do not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy
Use Anglo-Saxon wordsCock your ear and let it be your guideAvoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy, and the cuteDo not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy
15. Do not use dialect unless your ear is good...
Be economical of your talents
If you use dialect, be consistent
Spare your readers as you convince them
Use the minimum, not the maximum, of deviation from the norm
Be economical of your talentsIf you use dialect, be consistentSpare your readers as you convince themUse the minimum, not the maximum, of deviation from the norm
16. Think of the tragedies that are rooted in ambiguity, and be clear!
Clarity is not always the principal mark of a good style
But since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue
And although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest
Clarity is not always the principal mark of a good styleBut since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtueAnd although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest
17. Do not inject opinion...
Try to keep things straight
The demand for your opinion is not brisk
Inject opinion only if there is a good reason for its being there
Opinions scattered indiscriminately leave a mark of egotism
Try to keep things straightThe demand for your opinion is not brisk Inject opinion only if there is a good reason for its being thereOpinions scattered indiscriminately leave a mark of egotism
18. Use figures of speech sparingly...
Rapid fire similes are more distracting than illuminating
Give readers time to catch their breath
Readers can't be expected to compare everything with something else, with no relief in sight
Rapid fire similes are more distracting than illuminatingGive readers time to catch their breathReaders can't be expected to compare everything with something else, with no relief in sight
19. Don't take shortcuts at the cost of clarity...
Write things out
The longest way round is usually the shortest way home
The one reliable shortcut is choosing surefooted words to carry readers on their way
Many shortcuts waste the reader's time instead of conserving it
Write things outThe longest way round is usually the shortest way homeThe one reliable shortcut is choosing surefooted words to carry readers on their wayMany shortcuts waste the reader's time instead of conserving it
20. Avoid foreign languages...
It’s occasionally necessary to borrow from other languages
Some writers, though, sprinkle their work with foreign expressions
It’s a bad habit and shows no regard for the reader’s comfort
So, write in English
It’s occasionally necessary to borrow from other languagesSome writers, though, sprinkle their work with foreign expressions It’s a bad habit and shows no regard for the reader’s comfortSo, write in English
21. Prefer the standard to the offbeat...
Young writers are drawn toward eccentricities in language
They hear the beat of new vocabularies and exciting rhythms
The challenge for beginners is to listen, learn the words, feel the vibrations, and don’t be carried away
Young writers are drawn toward eccentricities in languageThey hear the beat of new vocabularies and exciting rhythms The challenge for beginners is to listen, learn the words, feel the vibrations, and don’t be carried away
Break through barriers that separate you from other minds and other hearts...
That’s the purpose of writing – and its principal reward
As you get better, your style will emerge, because you yourself will emerge
And you’ll find it easy to reach other minds and other hearts
That’s the purpose of writing – and its principal reward As you get better, your style will emerge, because you yourself will emergeAnd you’ll find it easy to reach other minds and other hearts
Feel free to experiment with language...
It’s not the intent of these cautionary remarks to suggest otherwise
You may ask, “What if it comes natural to me to experiment? What if I am a pioneer, or even a genius?"
Answer: then be one
It’s not the intent of these cautionary remarks to suggest otherwiseYou may ask, “What if it comes natural to me to experiment? What if I am a pioneer, or even a genius?" Answer: then be one
But remember, what may seem like pioneering may be merely evasion, or laziness...
Writing good standard English is no cinch
Before you’ve managed it, you will have encountered enough rough country to satisfy even the most adventurous spirit
Writing good standard English is no cinchBefore you’ve managed it, you will have encountered enough rough country to satisfy even the most adventurous spirit
Beginners should err on the side of conservatism...
No idiom is taboo and no accent is forbidden
But there's a better chance of doing well if you hold a steady course
Show concern for readers & sympathize with their plight
Don’t paralyze their senses, engage them
No idiom is taboo and no accent is forbiddenBut there's a better chance of doing well if you hold a steady courseShow concern for readers & sympathize with their plightDon’t paralyze their senses, engage them
In your writing, four unpardonable sins show you haven’t done your work...
Adopting a patronizing air
Being humorless, dull, and empty
Saying something when you have nothing to say
Directing the attention of the reader to yourself
Adopting a patronizing air Being humorless, dull, and empty Saying something when you have nothing to sayDirecting the attention of the reader to yourself
You are ready for exposure...
When you’re full of belief
When you’re armed with the rules of grammar
When you’re sustained and elevated by the power of purpose
When you’re full of beliefWhen you’re armed with the rules of grammarWhen you’re sustained and elevated by the power of purpose
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