William Strunk Jr.

The Elements of Style

1. IDEA 1

   Clear writing follows simple rules

   Strunk, a Cornell professor, wrote a short guide to English usage and composition, later expanded by his former student E. B. White. It offers brief rules for writing clearly and correctly.

2. IDEA 2

   Cut unnecessary words

   The authors argue that strong writing is tight and brief. In their view, every word in a sentence should earn its place, and anything that adds nothing should be removed.

3. IDEA 3

   Prefer the active voice

   The authors recommend the active voice, in which the subject performs the action. It is usually more direct and lively. In their view, this puts the doer at the front of the sentence and makes the meaning clearer at once.

All 8 ideas from The Elements of Style →