The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition Book

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by: William Strunk Jr., Charles Osgood, Roger Angell

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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: Rating: - Deservedly a classic The fact is, the vast majority of so-called book doctors are garbage. An exception would be Strunk and White's classic Elements of Style. It was originally written during WWI by William Strunk who was then a professor at Cornell, and it has since been updated by E.B.White, one of his former pupils. Strunk's strategy was to edit down the complexities of English grammar into those few basic elements which would help people to improve their writing skills. His central rule is simple: "Omit needless words". Indeed......Unfortunatley, the book sometimes seems a little old-fashioned when it includes grammatical terms such as "nonrestrictive clauses" which one doesn't need to know. Also, the book assumes you have a decent working knowledge of basic grammer. It gives advice on word choice, appropriate use of different syntactical constructions and similar topics. The final chapter added by E.B.White is a list of twenty-one guidelines for clear and good writing which are very helpful. The suggestions range from keeping the audience in mind to hints on the choice of effective vocabulary. Rating: - Still the Best Twenty-one years ago, a professor in one of my English Lit. classes brought out a book that was NOT one of those texts that you thought you were going to have to take along into the next life in order to finish it. The book was quite the opposite. It was a small 78 page publication that was no more intimidating than a comic book. I was a student that needed help in my punctuation, word usage, and style. I hoped, as did all the students, that the day would come when we would be published. The professor said, "If you're ever going to make it in the writing field, this book will be your best guide. Stick to the principles mentioned in its pages and you will achieve your goals. That is, assuming you have any writing ability in you at all." Currently, I am taking a refresher course through a correspondence school back East. Guess what book is part of their curriculum? You're right, it's The Elements of Style. This time I have given the book a strict credence, and in the next few months I will have my first publishing credit. I believe, The Elements of Style, is still the best book on correct writing techniques there is on the market. It was so tweny-one years ago and it will be so twenty-one years from now. M.D. Cummings Rating: - No writer should be without this reference! This tiny volume offer more advice on how to become a better writer in less space than any other. While it is not a "fun" read, it is absolutely mandatory for anyone who wishes to communicate through written words. Will Strunk is concise, direct, and unflinching in his examination of many bad habits which writers may knowingly possess. There is an extensive (by this book's standards, at least) section about words that are frequently used incorrectly, as well as rules regarding composition, form, and style. He instructs us with examples of correct and incorrect word, punctuation, and grammar use, and briefly explains each example. One possible complaint is that perhaps at times, he is too brief; this is not a book for someone who doesn't understand the basic parts of speech. If you loathe the idea of relearning those little buggers, may I suggest _The Deluxe Transitive Vampire_, which is a bit more engaging than the standard basic grammar book. Whenever a writer is unsure of what is the correct way to express him- or herself, that person should reach for this book. Heck, reading it over in spare moments to refresh one's memory of the rules. _Elements of Style_ will make a better writer of anyone who pays attention to it. Keep it by your writing space, keep it in mind.

The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition Book

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