As i recently discovered, though, strunk and white got some things wrong. The elements of style teaches you that simple is always better. Yet almost everything they say on that topic is wrong. The revised guide became incredibly popular, probably due in part to whites fame as a writer but primarily due to the accessibility of the guide itself, which was and remains remarkably easy to read and apply in most workaday situations. The elements of style, by william strunka project gutenberg. Apr 17, 2009 first, strunk and white werent people who devoted their lives to studying grammar, and they didnt work together to create the elements of style. If you do, thats a bit of a surprise because very few people recognize that the words use and utilize have two completely different meanings. From strunk and whites the elements of style, chapter 2, lesson 2. Cornell university english professor william strunk jr. The land of the free and the elements of style william strunk and e. Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs the elements of style, p. A new york times story published in the 50th anniversary year of elements of style reported that about 10 million copies have been sold.
This books unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of english style to millions of readers. There is a difference between the words use and utilize. Like if you have received a letter inviting you to speak at. Strunk and white asserted, the active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive. Good grammar guide whilst browsing the web this week i came across a recommendation on the examiner site by peggy hazelwood, telling us where we can download a free ecopy of the famous grammar bible, yes a free download of strunk and white. The most important rule of style in strunk and white s elements of style is number, omit needless words. White have a vicelike grip on educated americans views about grammar and usage. The public domain edition was published in 1918, and is half the length of recent editions. Most versions of the book contain 5 sections that follow a brief introduction by white, including a brief biography of strunk and his initial work at cornell.
One additional word on marks bedtime reading ruminations, which are on their own a magnificent brief for the prosecution concerning the charges against e. 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. Strunk and whites elements of style pdf get the torrents. I knew that some people had issues with the little book to put it diplomatically but i always wrote that off as a matter of personal taste. Strunks seven rules of usage and 11 principles of composition have been creating clear communicators for almost a century. What does strunk and white mean for the strunk and white. The book was one necessary step for me to become a better writer. A handbook for the new academic essay, 2011, 254 pages, gary hoffman, glynis hoffman, 09373634, 9780937363416. This is professor strunks advice regarding this rule. All the other editions have been mangled in various ways. They can also exclude certain files, folders, and extensions to prevent the program from scanning them, as well as prioritize certain. This is professor strunk s advice regarding this rule. Longman,1979 and from elements of style in science writing by david. Jun 30, 2016 even though useful, strunk and whites elements of style pdf for mac seems to be more aimed at users who simply forget about emptying their trash.
Do not spell out numerals, unless they are being used in dialogue. Their central claim for style seems to cohere with this point as well. This little book, originally circulated amongst strunks students at cornell, has become a desktop stalwart of engineers, managers, students, pastors, and writers of every variety. Strunk and whites elements of style also includes such a list. People also utilize other phrases in the place of use, like take advantage of or employ. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. The elements of style wikisource, the free online library. Accordingly, strunk and white freely violate their advice whenever an alternative is better, as all good writers do, and as the reader is expected to do. In 1957 the style guide reached the attention of e. It stuck in my brain and now bothers me on par with folks using less instead of fewer thanks for that one, bryce. Instead of white s book, you might want to check out joseph williams style. Except in familar style, to to be used as a substitute for rather or someting like. Thus write, red, white, and blue honest, energetic, but headstrong he opened the letter, read it, and made a note of its contents.
Tenney later revised it for publication as the elements and practice of composition 1935. 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. Twentyone, 21 or twentyone 21 content, writing and. It originally content was eight elementary rules of usage, ten elementary principles of composition, a few matters of form, and a list of commonly misused words and. The elements of style by strunk and white introduction to. This is also the usage of the government printing office and of the oxford university press. Instead of seeing them as setting an example, pullum calls the authors hypocritical for flaunting the fact that the rules dont apply to them. Learn to write clear and accurate prose from a master of english stylewilliam strunk. From strunk and white s the elements of style, chapter 2, lesson 2. Pdf strunk and white set the standard laura lisabeth. Professor drew was my mentor at the university of alabama. The slim book, small enough to keep in your purse or back pocket at all times, contains every rule and guideline necessary for strong, clear, and compelling communication. White was a student in professor strunk s class at cornell, and used the little book for himself.
Strunk and white powerpoint slides strunk and white. Theres a very simple reason why you would get them both and learn from them both. We went to the store and bought apples, bananas, and peaches. Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names in es and is, the possessive jesus, and such forms as for conscience sake, for righteousness sake. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines. Strunk and whites elements of style pdf even though useful, strunk and whites elements of style pdf for mac seems to be more aimed at users who simply forget about emptying their trash. About style, usage, and grammar strunk and white set the standard 117 laura. Utilise is often misunderstood completely by grammarians in the united states, where the word has been so misused new rules have been created to determine if use or utilise is correct in a given context. When should you use utilize, or should you always utilize use. It is one of the most influential and bestknown prescriptive treatments of english grammar and usage in the united states. Pullum 1 introduction the elements of style henceforth, elements is a slender book. Thus, unless your editor, advisor, or colleague can provide a substantive reason for employing utilize instead of use for your discipline, i appeal to strunk and whites the elements of style, 4 th edition, page 63.
First, strunk and white werent people who devoted their lives to studying grammar, and they didnt work together to create the elements of style. This license means you can reuse portions or all of this book in any way. This is also the usage of the government printing of. This publisher specialises in public domain classics. Instead of whites book, you might want to check out joseph williams style. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. Bad passive voice advice from strunk and white the. Now, mark happens to quote exactly 406 words from the book of white s essays that. This is the usage of the united states government printing office and of the oxford university press. You may copy it, give it away or re use it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. An analysis of authorship n april, 2009, hoping to improve on an average annual sales rate of 200,000 copies over a span of fifty years, longman publishers released a black faux leatherbound, goldembossed anniversary edition of the elements of style. Not completely interchangeable use, the more general term, can always be substituted for utilize.
In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma. Pdf style, usage, grammar, and punctuation ch 4 researchgate. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunk s book, white edited the. Seven rules of usage, eleven principles of composition, a few matters of form, and a. It is one of the most influential and bestknown treatments of english grammar and usage in the us. The elements of style edition 4 by william strunk, e. The most important rule of style in strunk and whites elements of style is number, omit needless words. White holds the rare distinction of being admired both by adults, for such breathtaking essays as here is new york and once more to the lake, and by children, for such wondrous stories as charlottes web and trumpet of the swan.
There is a difference between the words use and utilize and. Strunk and whites the elements of style is less than 100 pages long in most editions and was first published in 1959, but. Dec 15, 2011 all your examples are perfectly correct with use, and, im afraid to say, incorrect with the word utilise. If the words mean the same thing, we should prefer use for the sake of. He opened the letter, read it and made a note of its contents.
Comma rules there are basically 5 chief reasons to use commas. But such forms as achilles heel, moses laws, isis temple are commonly replaced by. If the words mean the same thing, we should prefer use for the sake of simplicity. Words and expressions commonly misused strunk and white. This public document was automatically mirrored from pdfy. Alan watts how to see through the game the secret to life happiness duration. In a sense, the book was his own personal style guide. Words and expressions commonly misused strunk and white many of the words and expressions listed here are not so much bad english as bad style, the commonplaces of careless writing. The project gutenberg ebook of the elements of style, by william strunk this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Use the original chicago press, 1990 edition or the harper collins, 4th edition 1993. The elements of style by strunk and white introduction. In fact they are two of the most common mistakes in english we come across in practice, the word utilize is probably.
They can also exclude certain files, folders, and extensions to prevent the program from scanning them, as well as prioritize certain locations for scanning, such as the downloads folder. However, the 3rd edition rule used to require you to spell out numbers under 100, and use digits for numbers 100 and above. On the badges overview at the top, youll see a count of all your badges and a next badge section that tracks progress towards one of the badges you havent earned. Demas, 804 elements of style in science writing modified from elements of style, strunk, w. White was a student in professor strunks class at cornell, and used the little book for himself. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions of the elements of style. This handsome volume comes adorned with politically correct genderfair language unknown to either of its credited authors. Sep 07, 2012 strunk and whites the elements of style is less than 100 pages long in most editions and was first published in 1959, but even today its influence is broad and deep in american writing. Especially the use of an active voice verb seems imperative in writing for it is preferred and suggested by all writers discussed above.
In my own defense, i havent looked at the book in years. William strunk taught english at cornell and wrote the first version of the bookwhich was only 43 pagesfor his english students at cornell. White formerly a student of strunk revised the book, and republished it. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. We can talk about writing as something that they can employ to their beneit. Inconsistency in strunk and white regarding serial comma. In a host of conventional ways, such as to separate dates, addresses, and places. I think some writers like utilize better because it sounds more important. 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.
1392 840 1115 421 1287 693 1673 337 1605 218 499 1410 911 463 874 1095 334 483 1415 1615 165 1301 1203 104 1134 408 985 1377 305 248 393 804 705 82 1226 1183 986 608 8 435 733 914 713 1428 795