The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition by William Strunk Jr., E. B. White
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Book Reviews of The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
Book Review: No One Did it Better
Summary: 5 Stars
How many times over the years have I referred mentally to this wonderful little book? How many times have I heard White's voice saying something about a specific word? How many times have I applied White's logic to other words, ones that aren't even in this book? How much of my own writing has been affected positively from the discussion that takes place in this book? I can't even begin to count up how often Mr. White has been on my mind as a professional writer. White provides a silent voice of stability and assurance that allows you to feel confident as you build a permanent view of our language as both expressive and natural. White's technical discussions of words do not at all take away from his belief that language is REAL and ALIVE. In fact, somehow, White brings life to the technical aspects of language. This is a special achievement indeed.The largest portion of this book -- a series of illuminating suggestions and comments on word choice and usage -- turns the minutiae of grammar into a personal, fascinating expedition. E.B. White finds many opportunities to express interesting opinions and viewpoints through his discussions of words. Often, in my own writing, I ask myself what E.B. White might say about the word choices I make.
But the soul of the book is at the end, in White's succint, memorable, and effective essay entitled, "An Approach To Style." It is in this essay that E.B. White's philosophy of living language, and his creative energy, join together to offer something that can guide you in real-life writing.
Put simply, E.B. White's system of language beliefs really works.
Book Review: A handy reference guide for your desktop...
Summary: 5 Stars
Quickly approaching its hundred-year anniversary, "The Elements of Style" - a pocket reference guide created by Cornell professor William Strunk as an aide for his students is today as relevant and helpful as ever. The introduction by E.B. White is worth the price of the book by itself, but when his immense talents are combined with his professor's, the world ends up with a valuable tool."The Elements of Style" contains everything a practitioner of the English language would need. The book starts with "Elementary Rules of Usage" which references the proper rules for possessives, parenthetic expressions, colons, dashes, etc. The book then moves on to "Elementary Principles of Composition", advising writers to use the active voice, choose a suitable design and hold to it, and among other things - omit needless words! That last tidbit of advice can't not ever in a million years be written enough times for people to read it and understand, you know?
The remainder of "Elements of Style" focuses on form, commonly misused words and expressions, and the writer's individual approach to style. This last part takes on the role of a coach for the writer - simply reminding him of the various do's and don't that make writing clear and concise. Overall, this is a helpful book and a handy reference for one's desktop. If you find yourself constantly wondering if "who" or "whom" should be used, then this is the book for you... Get yourself a copy!
Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"
Book Review: Your ticket to becoming a better writer
Summary: 5 Stars
Few things can make you as self-conscious about your writing as reviewing a book that you feel has improved your writing. And few things are as silly as terribly written reviews praising such books. Hopefully, what I learned from this book will lead me to be able to write a review that will convince you to buy it.Many years ago I decided that I wanted to be able to write better, but I didn't really know where to begin. I'd taken classes, but I was unsatisfied with what I had learned. I'd learned how to assemble different kinds of essays or papers, but I strongly felt that something was lacking on a more basic level. My writing lacked, well, style.
I happened to ask a professional writer I knew for advice. I asked him how one could become a better writer. The answer he gave me seemed completely underwhelming at the time: "Read the Elements of Style twice a month and compare its advice to your writing," he said. He suggested that I not merely read it once but that I read it continuously, as we all need to be reminded of the guidelines it provides. Writing is a skill that improves with constant practice, much like playing a musical instrument. Take your writing, apply the lessons and guidelines from this book, and see where you can improve things. While he insisted this was the most important advice I could receive, I remained skeptical.
Eventually, I had the good sense to give his advice a shot. Soon afterwards, I was a published writer. I still use this book and refer to it regularly. If you use it regularly in the way my mentor described, it will make you a better writer as well.
Book Review: A concise writing bible
Summary: 5 Stars
I started to get down to the book based on personal recommendation. My professor told me that this book is a must-read and will help us go down to the same path he did. I wanna break the norm that scientists can't write well.
This awesome book was originally written by Willim Strunk Jr, in the hope of helping his students to write well in his class. To his great surprise, one of his students, E.B. White followsuit the clear-cut, lucid, easy-to-read guidlines and transcended the pocket book into a writing bible that's sold millions of copies to this day.
The author provided lucid dos and donts , each with the correct and flawed demonstration.
Classic misused phrases include: per se, -wise, in terms of, interestingly, the fact that to name a few.
He also gave tips on properly using punctuations and where to watch out for.
In the last chapter, he got straight to the point to provide tips for emerging writers and journalists:
1. avoid overstatement
2. familiarity with the use of language will help us form our own style, so just follow the flow
3. there are no infallible, definite guidelines to abide by
4. use spelling check
5. avoid foreign language and colloquial expression
6. dont overexplain things
7. the use of fancy words or trying to be flashy, showy doesn't make you smarter
8. write in a coherent, consistent manner
I had a great time digesting the wisdom within the book with pleasure and euphoria. I hope ya'll can find it helpful, and one day can all write like Strunk and White!
Book Review: My wife's best-ever present!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first decided I wanted to write a series of historical fiction I was fairly confident of my subject matter as it has been a passion throughout my life, but - and this was a big "but" - I had never written anything before other than business reports. I set about trying to learn the craft of writing from various "how to" books I borrowed from the library or bought in the local bookstore. These were all helpful to varying degrees, but one dog-eared volume that my wife presented to me (she is an ex-magazine editor in chief) stands out. Yes, it was "The Elements of Style", an amazing little book packed full of useful, practical advice for anyone who wants to ensure clarity of communication. I particularly found the tips in the chapter "An Approach to Style" useful:-
1. Place yourself in the background
2. Write in a way that comes naturally
3. Work from a suitable design
4. Write with nouns and verbs
5. Revise and rewrite
6. Do not overwrite
7. Do not overstate
8. Avoid the use of qualifiers
9. Do not affect a breezy manner
10.Use orthodox spelling
11.Do not explain too much
12.Do not construct awkward adverbs
13.Make sure the reader knows who is speaking
14.Avoid fancy words
15.Do not use dialect unless your ear is good
16.Be clear
17.Do not inject opinion
18.Use figures of speech sparingly
19.Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity
20.Avoid foreign languages
21.Prefer the standard to the offbeat
The book's a little gem.