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Summary: For essay writers
Review: I needed a book that would draw attention to ideas and elements of writing not easily recognized. This is a small, to-the-point reference guide that I have used for my final edit on research essays. It greatly improved my writings by calling attention to my use of abstract words and adverbs--all with clear samples of proper/improper use to help you identify the difference. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a condensed reference in grammer usage, and so did my college English Professor.
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Summary: Deservedly a classic
Review: The fact is, the vast majority of so-called book doctors are garbage. An exception would be Strunk and White's classic Elements of Style. It was originally written during WWI by William Strunk who was then a professor at Cornell, and it has since been updated by E.B.White, one of his former pupils. Strunk's strategy was to edit down the complexities of English grammar into those few basic elements which would help people to improve their writing skills. His central rule is simple: "Omit needless words". Indeed......Unfortunatley, the book sometimes seems a little old-fashioned when it includes grammatical terms such as "nonrestrictive clauses" which one doesn't need to know. Also, the book assumes you have a decent working knowledge of basic grammer. It gives advice on word choice, appropriate use of different syntactical constructions and similar topics. The final chapter added by E.B.White is a list of twenty-one guidelines for clear and good writing which are very helpful. The suggestions range from keeping the audience in mind to hints on the choice of effective vocabulary.
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Summary: worth SKIMMING - but don't take it too seriously!
Review: e.b. white was one of my favorite authors when i was a kid, but i dunno, something just tells me that he should have stuck to being a great novelist. this is a nerd-book, mildly toxic for the obsessive-compulsive within us all. after reading it (and skimming parts), i came to the conclusion that while much of what they said has its merit (as i too get peeved when a book or article uses poor style), this book is really not that important. it's the heart of a book that counts, and many a great heart has faulty valves and cholesterol deposits. take gandhi's autobiography: stylistically deadly, but a heart of gold within. granted, a strunk-and-whiter could have edited it up a few notches, but it would have been the same book deep within. my final take: buy this book if it's in the dollar bin, and skim if you have a spare hour. but if writing's in your blood, strunk and white won't make much of a difference.
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Summary: Language Changes
Review: I found many things that the authors advised against to be quite acceptable in today's formal writing.
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Summary: The Best Book Required in College
Review: I graduated from college a LONG time ago and Elements Of Style is still on my bookshelf and constantly used. If you are a college student, do not feel bad about an English teacher making you buy this book because you will use it. And if you are in the business world writing ANYTHING and are not using this book, you could be writing much better. Do yourself a favor, buy this book and let yourself write like you know what you are writing about. However, don't plan on sitting down and reading this book. It is only a reference.
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Summary: Strunk and White's Elements of Style
Review: Accurate and concise, a real time saver!
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Summary: I was perfectly happy with the beige 3rd Edition...
Review: and other than the spiffy new silver cover, the 4th edition of this excellent book has little to distinguish it from its predecessor. If you aspire to write well, you should read this book, and if you do not own a copy of the 3rd edition, by all means purchase this latest so-called revision. If, however, you already own a copy of the 3rd edition in serviceable condition, spend your hard-earned pennies elsewhere. I wish I had.
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Summary: How to Write, Simply
Review: As an author with my debut novel in its initial release and an instructor who teaches at both the college and secondary levels, I can safely say that THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE is simply the finest how-to book for writing. Anyone who wants to know how to write, or write better, professionally or otherwise, needs to have a copy of this book. All is explained. All is made clear. I, for one, would rather leave home without my American Express Card than without this book.
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Summary: Essential Reference Guide For Any Writer
Review: White and Strunk's Elements of Style is still, several decades after its initial publication, the definitive book of its kind. The book is not only useful, it is remarkably readable. The authors advocate clearer, simpler prose, and this slim volume reflects their minimalist philosophy of writing. E.B. White brought similar honesty and grace to his still classic essays and to beloved children's stories such as Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. Literary-minded readers of Elements of Style might also be interested in Ernest Hemingway or Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Both writers were journalists before they began to write novels, and both are well worth reading.
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Summary: Essential Writer's Tool.
Review: When I write a book I use only a handful of reference tools: dictionary, thesaurus, Gregg's Reference Handbook, Writers Market, and the Elements of Style. Strunk and White is a wonderfully-written, extraordinarily concise tool that pays homage to classic high-end English. It takes language insight to make this prediction in 1979: "By the time this paragraph makes print, uptight... rap, dude, vibes, copout, and funky will be the words of yesteryear." The book begins with eleven "Elementary Rules of Usage," and then continues with eleven more "Elementary Rules of Composition," and eleven "Matters of Form." Each is presented as a brief statement followed by another sentence or two of explanation and a few clarifying examples. This amazing compilation fills only thirty-eight pages, yet covers ninety percent of good writing fundamentals. My favorite section is Chapter IV, a twenty-seven-page, alphabetical listing of commonly misused words and expressions. Here's a trade secret: when my manuscript is "done," I then turn to this chapter and use my word processor's Find function to study every instance of all these problematic words and phrases. I never fail to find errors this way. Many great writers are so only because they've learned to make use of the best available tools. The end of the book contains an essay on "An Approach to Style" with a list of twenty-one "Reminders." Those who fight the apparently-natural tendency to go against these recommendations succeed as writers. Those who don't, fail. It's that simple. The single drawback of The Elements of Style is that it's too concise; it does not stand alone as an all-encompassing tutorial or reference guide. Many readers will seek other sources for more in-depth explanation of style elements. Despite that, it easily replaces ten pounds of other reference material. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.
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