The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

By focusing exclusively on local concerns (grammar, word usage, and sentence-level fluency), Strunk and White transform written argument, the hallmark of civilized discourse, into a lexical "no man's land." They reveal alleged errors, scattered like land mines beneath the surface of perfectly acceptable, communicative prose. In the twisted world of _Style_, the job of "good writing" is to avoid error, in the same way that the job of a "good soldier" is to avoid getting shot. Small wonder that students nursed on these precepts approach their writing with fear and trembling -- their term papers have become suicide missions.

Needless to say, most professional writers don't approach their craft in this way. If they do, they eventually abandon writing for a less stressful occupation, like postal delivery or day trading.

I've given the book an extra star for the final chapter on style, which attempts to mitigate some of the damage done in earlier chapters. This chapter is White's principal contribution to the book, and shows that even an excellent writer may not understand -- at least not any more than the average joe -- how or why his prose works.


Witty, concise, far superior to other style guides   February 25, 2001
 23 out of 24 found this review helpful

The Elements of Style is more than just a concisely written review of grammar and usage lessons, it is a tribute by E.B. White to the wry spirit of his former English instructor, who illustrates style and grammar lessons with droll examples and commentary: "In ordinary composition, use orthodox spelling. Do not write "nite" for "night," "thru" for "through," "pleez for please," unless you plan to introduce a complete system of simplified spelling and are prepared to take the consequences." This book is more in the spirit of a humorous and inspirational series of essays about writing, like Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" than it is like a grammar or style guide (except for the fact that it *is* a grammar and style guide, and an excellent, classic yet modern one). Everyone says it's a "must have" for writers but more than that, buy it for its delightful brevity and wit... a refreshingly clever and intelligent style not often seen in instructional texts.


makes the battle look like fun   January 10, 2000
 21 out of 24 found this review helpful

I no longer read the rules. I know most of them now, and I know which ones I will break if I am not careful.

I still read the introduction, and I still glance through the book looking for encouragement and inspiration. The effort pays off when I write a ghastly sentence in the middle of an important e-mail and consider pressing the "send" button. I remember that I may save one reader by re-writing that sentence.

I could slink off the field of battle, but instead, I lower my lance and charge. Strunk and White remind me that the battle is worth it and that, by God, it's fun.


A rescue line for those struggling with writing   September 21, 1999
 21 out of 22 found this review helpful

This book has everything in there that you always wonder about while writing papers. All those little hang-ups and what-if-that-is-wrongs are explained within. Not to mention many other rules and guidelines you may not have ever known existed. This is a definite for anyone taking English, or anyone who struggles with writing, grammer, etc. Easy to read, easy to follow and presented in a very unthreatening size.


One odious little book!   September 26, 2000
 21 out of 112 found this review helpful

One word from _The New York Times_ quote on the cover of this book (my edition, anyway) speaks volumes.

"volubility"

Whazzat mean? Right away I'm put off. Right away I'm looking for something else to read. Maybe take Wordsworth's advice and listen to the song of the wood linnet. Books like this _are_ a dull and endless strife.

English major. Graduated cum laude. Read several hundred books.

This book is full of pompous, didactic sentences such as, "Form the possessive of singular nouns by adding 's."

I say, "Form the possessive of singular nouns by adding pineapples!"

Sure, it's a Dadaist sentiment. But I think a lot of great writers, paradoxically, began making sense of their writing by abandoning sense and rules (the stuff of editors). And a good editor is in league with that grand purpose of bringing the author's noblest intent to fruition.

Use rules when you risk being misunderstood if you don't use them.

The best insight into good writing, in my opinion, comes not from a professional writer but from the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, speaking of the ancient Roman and Greek writers: "I've always been a lover of the short sentence and the pointed aphorism." Read his _Twilight of the Idols_ for stunning writing and short sentences full of meaning and madness.

And leave this book to the pedants.