Books like strunk and white

Whether you love it or hate it, the elements can spark helpful habits as long you regard it as a set of recommendations of the right tool to use, rather than a book of leviticus handed down from on high, to be obeyed lest one risk the wrath of jehovah. Strunk and white waded through the totality of our vast and complicated language and boiled it down to a terse 105 pages, including a glossary and index. The book s mantra, make every word tell, is still on point. The elements of style has long been a valued and beloved resource for all writers. But, as white remembered strunk, he felt it was worse to be irresolute than to be wrong. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. Writings from the new yorker, 19251976 1990, edited by rebecca m. 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. In 2011, time magazine listed the writing styleguide as one of the 100 best and most influential books written in english since 1923. Mark garvey relates the history of the book in stylized.

By the way, the work does have a picture book edition, if that helps. I like that the author takes the foundation set by such books as strunk and white s elements of style, and gives it a through examination, with while i did get the sense the that author found himself very witty, and humourous most of that fell flat for me or really dragged on the pace of the message, there were still some helpful tips. Among his bestknown and most widely used books is the elements of style 1959, a guide to grammar and rhetoric based on a text written by one of his professors at cornell, william strunk, which white revised and expanded. Books like the elements of style by william strunk jr. This muchloved classic, now in its fourth edition, will forever be the goto guide when in need of a hint to make a turn of phrase clearer or a reminder. White, the elements of style does indeed contain rich deposits of gold. Nowadays, of course, there are computer programs that have replaced most grammar and punctuation books, but what computers havent replaced, and what this book also seeks to address, is the question of style. White was a student in professor strunk s class at cornell, and used the little book for himself. The elements of style edition 4 by william strunk, e. There are books you like, there are books you love, and there are books.

White was married to katherine angell, the first fiction editor of the new yorker. Similar clauses introduced by where and when are similarly punctuated. This book is intended for use in english courses in which the practice of. To provide an alternative, here i would like to present my alltime favorite books on writing, covering three distinct topics. No 23 the elements of style by william strunk and eb white 1959. Steven pinkers the sense of style looked pretty biased and the author is not very known to be accurate. It looks like someone found the text of the original elements of style online. Nearly one hundred years old, this book was originally written by william strunk, who was e. Helpful writing habits from strunk and white ragan. The elements of style 9780024182203 by william strunk, jr e.

About this title may belong to another edition of this title. 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 white s the elements of style. The book was known on the campus in those days as the little book, with the stress on the word little. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. White and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. White i have used this book faithfully since high school. Strunk and white is wellknown but all ive read is that is good but dated. The elements of style illustrated by william strunk, jr. White was a student in professor strunks class at cornell, and used the little book for himself.

This muchloved classic, now in its fourth edition, will forever be the goto guide when in need of a hint to make a turn of phrase clearer or a reminder on how to enliven prose with the active voice. Maira kalman, who provided the illustrations for the elements of style illustrated 2005, see below, asked nico muhly to compose a cantata based on the book. It is one of the most influential and bestknown prescriptive treatments of english grammar and usage in the. 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. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.

And since the number of books written about reading and writing likely far. Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a musthave for any student and conscientious writer. What are recommendations for other similarly good books on english grammar and style. Writing down the bones, by natalie goldberg this book was introduced to me about 15 years ago by a magnificent high school. This 2005 revision takes nothing away from the book, but reconsiders the original from a. The elements of style oliver strunk contents foreword ix introduction xiii i. The elements of style paperback september 19, 2016. The elements of style wikisource, the free online library. The book is the element of style by william strunk, jr. White later wrote the last part of this minimanual. White the classic writing style guide this book aims to give in brief space the principal requirements of plain english style. You begin to string words together like beads to tell a story. White was a student in professor strunk s class at cornell, and used the small volume himself, during which time he became respectful and appreciative of its pithy and. The elements of style illustrated by william strunk, e.

A halfcentury of stupid grammar advice linguist geoffrey pullum wont be celebrating the 50th anniversary of strunk and white s the elements of style. A summary of the elements of style by strunk and white. A handbook for the new academic essay 1999, urge young writers to say goodbye to traditional grammar, organization, and objectivity. He was hired to revise the book for rerelease after strunk died, and he nearly doubled the length of the book with his additions. In a sense, the book was his own personal style guide. After white s essay appeared in 1957, a friend made him a gift of strunk s book, and, white. I already own strunk and whites the elements of style. Hailed for its directness and clever insight, this unorthodox textbook was born from a professors love for the written word and perfected years later by one of his students. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through. The unexpected harmony and partnership of strunk and whites have fulfilled their central claim successfully, namely clarity of writing still comes from concision and precision. 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. Every english writer knows strunk and white s the elements of style. Which are the common wellrespected and go to books on grammar and style for you.

Dale, is a collection of some of whites contributions to the magazine. White wrote this introduction for the 1979 edition. The elements of style by william strunk free ebook. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunk s book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions of the elements of style. Cornell university professor of english william strunk, jr. The elements of style william strunk, elwyn brooks white.