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The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

by William Strunk Jr., E. B. White

4.7 (8385 ratings)
Reference

Published

July 23, 1999

Pages

105 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Pearson

Available Formats & Prices

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$0.99

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$7.99

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About This Book

You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself.

This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered. This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers.

Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of language and communication, clarity and precision remain the constant pillars of effective writing. The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, serves as a quintessential guide for writers and aspiring authors who wish to refine their craft. With simple yet profound insights, this classic handbook distills the fundamentals of crisp, impactful writing, equipping its readers with the essential tools they need to articulate their thoughts eloquently and persuasively in any discipline.

Key Takeaways

Follow the core principles of brevity and clarity to create engaging and readable content. Improve grammar punctuation and style to express ideas with precision and authority. Adapt writing techniques across various genres enhancing both creativity and structural integrity.

Detailed Description

The fourth edition of The Elements of Style continues its legacy as a trusted resource in the realm of English language writing. Compiled by Strunk and White this guide meticulously outlines indispensable rules of usage and principles of composition. It has stood the test of time proving invaluable to students and professionals alike.

Each chapter thoughtfully dissects the complexities of grammar and style simplifying them into digestible and actionable guidelines. These guidelines are designed to enhance readability and engagement helping authors to connect more effectively with their audience. The authors emphasize the importance of choosing words wisely advocating for simple language that resonates powerfully with readers.

By stripping away unnecessary verbiage writers learn to focus on the essence of their message ensuring clarity and coherence throughout their work. This edition also introduces new sections that reflect the changing dynamics of modern writing making it relevant for today's digital age. Its timeless wisdom coupled with contemporary insights offers an enriching experience for anyone passionate about honing their writing skills.

Ultimately The Elements of Style Fourth Edition serves as both a beacon and a trustworthy companion guiding writers toward mastery and making the art of communication accessible and enjoyable.

Standout Features

The Elements of Style distinguishes itself with its unwavering focus on conciseness and clarity encouraging writers to communicate their ideas effectively The combination of classic principles and modern updates ensures that this edition remains relevant even in contemporary writing landscapes Its structured approach is tailored to foster understanding and application making it an indispensable guide for writers across various fields of expertise.

Book Details

ISBN-10:

9780205309023

ISBN-13:

978-0205309023

Dimensions:

7 x 4.5 x 0.3 inches

Weight:

1.76 ounces

Specifications

Pages:105 pages
Language:English
Published:July 23, 1999
Publisher:Pearson
Authors:William Strunk Jr., E. B. White

Rating

4.7

Based on 8385 ratings

Customer Reviews

The Unpretentious Guide to Polished Prose

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Tim Rodgers
August 9, 2024

Toss the stuffy English manuals and grab this book. Strunk and White deliver their wisdom with a touch of wit, ensuring that learning writing feels more like a friendly chat than a lecture. Refrain from letting the authors' casual approach fool you. They deliver their lessons with an authority that is both reassuring and inspiring. There's a reason this book is on every serious writer's shelf. This work is timeless.

A Classic of English Usage

Verified Purchase
T. P. Casey
June 4, 2024

Attention high school students about to graduate, job applicants, aspiring attorneys and diplomats, or anyone who has written a love letter: the struggle for accurate expression can be a bittersweet challenge, but it must be taken up. All of society depends on it. Written expression is the oil in social machinery. Failure to make a coherent point can be devastating to purpose. To sum it up succinctly: language matters. The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, is the standard volume for linguistic clarification. Short, comprehensive, and indispensable, it is the definitive source for its subject. The greater your understanding and use of language, the greater your power to define terms and control events. Language mimics a living organism. Language has character and identity. Though its rules can be vague and full of contradictions, language should be effectively understood to be knowledgeably used. Somewhat magically, The Elements of Style directly answers most questions of usage. Improper usage is painful to see written, and lands with a dull thud when heard in the ear of the knowledgeable. For example, a common mistake in usage, is to say “Between he and I.” The word “between” is a preposition, and therefore takes a third person pronoun. Properly stated, the phrase is “Between him and me.” The proper use of that and which, and further and farther is swiftly explained, as well as the accurate use of punctuation when using parentheses. This small compendium is divided into five parts: Elementary Rules of Usage, Elementary Rules of Composition, A Few Matters of Form, Words and Expressions Commonly Misused, and An Approach to Style (with a list of reminders). The authors offer practical advice but acknowledge that writing well is a mysterious process. First rate writers are rarely satisfied with their work. Norman Mailer wrote, “Good writing is not an act to inspire confidence because it is good, but anguish because it is not better.” This may be because variables are infinite and good style eludes definition. Writers express genius and craft in varying degrees. Craft can be taught; genius is innate and cannot be taught. The authors offer modest avowal: “There is no infallible guide to good writing, no assurance that a person who thinks clearly will be able to write clearly…writers will often find themselves steering by stars that are disturbingly in motion.” For the majority of the ungifted, which is to say most of us, The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, is an indispensable volume, and should be, like a dictionary, within arm’s reach. —Tom Casey

Some helpful guidelines

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Olivia
August 28, 2024

Great for any new writers that want to improve the quality of their prose. Especially helpful for connector usage such as and, but, while etc.

(4.75) Get rescued out of writing trouble. And, learn how to write with vigor and clarity.

Verified Purchase
Dr. C.H.E. Sadaphal
May 17, 2021

This classic style manuscript is only a few dollars but is worth its weight in gold. Why is that? Because it teaches you how to use words to form proper sentences. The result is writing that communicates a clear, robust and precise message. Good writing never leaves the reader bewildered. Instead, good writing arouses and holds the reader’s attention; it calls up mental pictures whose size exceeds the writing itself. Accordingly, Elements of Style equips the writer with greater technical skill and is overflowing with best practices. It also benefits your reader, who will no longer flounder in the sea of ambiguity. After reading this book, I now realize how bankrupt modern writing is; this includes my own writing. Elements has five parts: (I) Elementary Rules of Usage (II) Elementary Principles of Compositions (III) A Few Matters of Form (IV) Misused Words and Expressions (V) An Approach to Style. Parts I-IV deal with the science of writing. Part V deals with the art of writing. It is in parts I and II that you will find the famous “22 Rules.” These commandments provide timeless lessons such as (#16) “Use definite, specific, concrete language” and (#17) “Omit needless words.” Under each heading, the author gives a few examples of sentences that can be improved by application of the rule along with a one-page summary. As a bonus, the author has a style of writing that is sharp and witty. This creates a read that is both informative and entertaining. Overall, this small book can be finished quickly, but you will likely return to mine nuggets of literary wisdom many times. For any writer, this book is the type that you buy and keep in a permanent spot in your library.