Whites endorsement of the elements of style quickly led his publisher, macmillan, to ask white to update and expand strunks terse primer on grammar and usage. The elements of style, when i reexamined it in 1957, seemed to me to contain rich deposits of gold. William strunk was an american professor of english language at cornell university. White have a vicelike grip on educated americans views about grammar and usage. Thus write, charless friend burnss poems the witchs malice this is the usage of the united states government printing office and of the oxford. It originally detailed eight elementary rules of usage, ten elementary principles of composition, and a few matters of form as well as a list of commonly. This style manual offers practical advice on improving writing skills. The most important rule of style in strunk and whites elements of style is number, omit needless words. The elements of style is an american english writing style guide. Published april 16, 1959, strunk and whites the elements of style went on to win critical acclaim and total sales of more than 10 million copies. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunk s book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions of the elements of style. Unfortunately im a little overwhelmed by the minor variations. White was a student in professor strunk s class at cornell, and used the little book for himself. In addition, there are numerous slight revisions in the book. The elements of style is a prescriptive american english writing style guide in numerous.
Foreword the elements of style has lots of example that i wont always write here. The elements of style illustrated by william strunk, jr. This book maintains a unique whit, tone and charm by keeping a minimalist style. He is best known for this book the elements of style, which was revised and enlarged by a former student of his, e. The discussion of pronoun use is revised to reflect the contemporary concern with sexist language. It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention in chapters ii and iii on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of.
The elements of style fourth edition by william strunk jr. This public document was automatically mirrored from pdfy. This is professor strunk s advice regarding this rule. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions.
In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after. It was will strunks parvum opus, his attempt to cut the vast tangle of english rhetoric down to size and write its rules and principles on the head of. Strunk and whites the elements of style receives frequent mention in articles about writing originating as a classroom study aid prepared by cornell english professor william strunk in 1918, this widelyused desk reference of english usage, form, and style continues to influence writers after a hundred years. The book was known on the campus in those days as the little book, with the stress on the word little. The elements of style, by william strunka project gutenberg. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of. The elements of style by strunk and white introduction. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. The elements of style oliver strunk contents foreword ix introduction xiii i. Fifty years of acclaim for the elements of style, by william strunk jr. In the elements of style 1918, william strunk concentrated on specific questions of usageand the cultivation of good writingwith the recommendation make every word tell. Cornell university professor of english william strunk, jr.
Mar 26, 2009 white s endorsement of the elements of style quickly led his publisher, macmillan, to ask white to update and expand strunk s terse primer on grammar and usage. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. The elements of style, 4th edition by william strunk. Choose from 171 different sets of strunk white flashcards on quizlet. White i first read elements of style during the summer before i went off to exeter, and i still direct my students at harvard to their definition about the difference between that and which.
In this video, we examine ten principles of good writing, including make the paragraph the unit of composition, and place the. Giving the power of the internet to distribute free items and the nature of people to go for the easy option it is likely that strunk and white the elements of style. In 2011, time magazine listed the writing styleguide as one of the 100 best and most influential books written in english since 1923. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines. This is the elements of style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. This guide presents and explains most of the elementary rules of usage from the elements of style by strunk and white. Learn strunk white with free interactive flashcards. Strunk and white asserted, the active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive. The most important rule of style in strunk and white s elements of style is number, omit needless words.
Elements of language fourth course answers free pdf file. Also strunk and white the elements of style is a small pocket sized reference, whilst pullums the cambridge grammar of the english language is a 1764 page brick. Shrunk and white elements of style pdf pdf book manual. The elements of style is the definitive text and classic manual on the principles of english language read by millions of readers. This is professor strunks advice regarding this rule. The land of the free and the elements of style william strunk and e. Aug 07, 2018 he is best known for this book the elements of style, which was revised and enlarged by a former student of his, e. Download the ebook the elements of style william strunk jr. Pdf the elements of style fourth edition by william strunk.
A song about strunk and whites the elements of style a song about strunk and whites the elements of style skip navigation sign in. In 2011, time magazine listed the writing style guide as one of the 100 best and most influential books written in english since 1923. The book frames this within a triplet credited to an influential lecturer. Exercises and activities for the video edition of the elements style by william strunkjr. However, if readers seems to deserve more elaborated description about the passive, because these authors are not arguing for all writings but from general perspective. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Pdf the elements of style fourth edition by william. This is also the usage of the government printing of. Their central claim for style seems to cohere with this point as well. Elements of style by the well known authors william jr.
White the classic writing style guide this book aims to give in brief space the principal requirements of plain english style. Amazon lists 12 different paperback formats, plus a half dozen or more other editions. The elements of style edition 4 by william strunk, e. Published april 16, 1959, strunk and white s the elements of style went on to win critical acclaim and total sales of more than 10 million copies. Westport lighthouse writers retreat recommended for you. A textbook required for the course was a slim volume called the elements of style, whose author was the professor himself. It is one of the most influential and bestknown prescriptive treatments of english grammar and usage in the united states. Pdf a supplement to strunk and whites the elements of. Contents preface iii i introductory 1 ii elementary rules of usage 3 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Sep 27, 2017 elements of style by strunk and white is even more helpful with pictures duration. The 18 main topics are organized under the headings, elementary rules of usage, elementary principles of composition, a few matters of form, words and expressions commonly misused, and words often misspelled. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Aug 18, 2011 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of plain english style and concentrates attention on the rules. Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a musthave for any student and conscientious writer. It also provides additional rules regarding the proper use of quotation marks, parentheses, and other matters. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions of the elements of. The only style manual to ever appear on a bestseller list now refreshed by one of our most beloved illustrators every english writer knows strunk and whites the elements of style. The elements of style and millions of other books are available for instant access. Thus write, charless friend burnss poems the witchs malice this is the usage of the united states government printing office and of the oxford university press. Elementary rules of usage a carpenter needs at least four tools a hammer, a saw, a plane. The elements of style wikisource, the free online library. This books unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of english style to millions of readers. This is also the usage of the government printing office and of the oxford university press.
This 2005 revision takes nothing away from the book, but reconsiders the original from a design perspective. The books mantra, make every word tell, is still on point. White was a student in professor strunks class at cornell, and used the little book for himself. Some very important lessons for the aspiring writer.
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