William Strunk, Jr.
William Strunk, Jr.
William Strunk Jr.was an American professor of English at Cornell University and author of the The Elements of Style. After revision and enlargement by his former student E. B. White, it became a highly influential guide to English usage during the late 20th century, commonly called Strunk & White...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth1 July 1869
CountryUnited States of America
writing concise vigorous
Vigorous writing is concise.
contain drawing lines machine paragraph reason sentence vigorous
Vigorous writing is concise. 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 a machine no unnecessary parts.
feels effects
Do not, therefore, say "I feel nauseous," unless you are sure you have that effect on others.
style acquire
To acquire style, begin by affecting none.
opinion mark egotism
Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
learning mean writing
Rewrite and revise. Do not be afraid to seize what you have and cut it to ribbons ... Good writing means good revising.
chance situation one-chance
The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
writing weakness needs
Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is a common occurrence in all writing, and among the best writers.
reason stomach
Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.
children intelligent sky
Avoid fancy words....If you admire fancy words, if every sky is beauteous, every blonde curvaceous, every intelligent child prodigious, if you are tickled by discombobulate, you will have bad time Reminder 14.
blood important trying
Rather, very, little, pretty -- these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words. The constant use of the adjective little (except to indicate size) is particularly debilitating; we should all try to do a little better, we should all be very watchful of this rule, for it is a rather important one, and we are pretty sure to violate it now and then.
sometimes rich prose
Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.
writing should-have drawing
A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
nouns adjectives weak
The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place,