The Elements of Style, Third Edition

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Summary: The Fundamentals of Clear and Effective Prose
Review: "The Elements of Style", written by Professor William Strunk Jr. in the 1910's and revised and augmented by E.B. White, his former student, in the 1950's, is still the most helpful guide to writing English prose in the smallest package. The book comprises sections on: Rules of Usage, Principals of Composition, Matters of Form, Words and Expressions Commonly Misused, and a section entitled "An Approach to Style" in which Mr. White offers some excellent advice on style in the broader sense of writing that reflects the author's personality or tastes. There is also a glossary of grammar and usage terms in the back of the book. The section on English usage is useful but not comprehensive. And I believe a couple of the rules are outdated, even though this 4th edition was published in the year 2000. The rest of the book is truly dedicated to "the elements of style", meaning a writing style's most essential considerations. The authors explain, with good humor and language that is easy to understand, the " do's and don'ts" for writing clear and effective prose. These rules and recommendations can probably be summarized by saying, "Be direct and concise." But "The Elements of Style" tells the reader how to accomplish this goal. This book doesn't address how to structure a paragraph or organize an essay, so writers seeking advice on these topics will need some additional text. "The Elements of Style" is dedicated to constructing sentences in the most effective style. Middle school, high school, and college students -and anyone who would like to refresh his or her writing skills- will find "The Elements of Style" helpful, especially in writing academic prose. Messrs. Strunk and White have extracted the most essential points of writing good English, recognized the most common mistakes, and put them into this small, inexpensive and easily absorbed little book.

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Summary: On my permanent reference shelf
Review: Apart from THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE and STET AGAIN!, the must-have writer's guide. It's on the syllabi for every creative writing MFA program.

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Summary: Needed More Than Ever!
Review: Attitude? The only attitude found in this book is an undying sympathy for the poor reader. In an age when books are pumped out faster than one can read them, THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE is needed more than ever. ELEMENTS is not a grammar book? Hmm. I must've missed part 1, "The Elementary Rules of Usage." The fact is, you'll be hard pressed to find a publisher or a professional writer anywhere who does not give this book a whole-hearted endorsement. I've been a writer for 27 years and in all that time THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE has been at the top of every "must have" list of books for writers. Buy it. Read it. And read it often!

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Summary: Useful book for writers and editors
Review: For writers and those who work in publishing this little book contains a lot of matters worthy of consideration. It's not the most useful book I have on the subject (that honour goes to "Style Book" by Derek Wallace and Janet Hughes published in 1995) and I don't agree with everything the authors have to say, but it does contain a lot of useful tips, pointers and ways of polishing your text. You can't go wrong by giving it a careful read.

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Summary: Short and concise
Review: I somehow make a living as a professional writer despite my poor spelling. Because of this book, however, my grammar is not as bad. This is the classic text upon which many writers honed their skills. It contains pearls of wisdom for tightening and fine tuning one's writing style. What's truly amazing is how the authors compress everything into so few words, yet remain accessible and clear to the average reader. Everyone who writes in the English language should own a copy of this work.

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Summary: A Rotten Little Book
Review: I suppose that this book might be of some use as an antidote for semi-literate Americans who've read one too many articles by William F. Buckley and decided that they'd like to posess his "eloquence." But for anyone who thinks that written English should aspire to beauty rather than mere functionality, it's about 100 pages of the worst imaginable sanctimonius claptrap, pressed between two glossy little covers.

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Summary: Indispensable
Review: I was going to title this review "Simply Indispensable," but - following Strunk & White's advice - I omitted the adverb as it doesn't strengthen or clarify the verb like you'd think it would.

The Elements of Style (Third Edition) is a tremendous help in understanding what makes words flow on a page. I understand that the Fourth Edition takes steps for greater gender equity in its examples, in addition to making other minor tweaks to the 1979 edition. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

The first dozen or so pages tackle the thorniest grammar problems (possessives, subject/verb agreement, pronouns, etc.) and the remainder of the book focuses on how to make your writing clearer and more accessible by the reader. It's here we get the indispensable advice of "Omit needless words" and "Place emphatic words of a sentence at the end." Tips like these turn poorly constructed writing into literary gold - just look what it did for my review title: pure gold.

There is also a subtle wry sense of humor running through the book. In section 4 (Words & Expressions Commonly Misused), Strunk & White make this observation regarding nauseous/nauseated: "The first means `sickening to contemplate'; the second means `sick at the stomach.' Do not, therefore, say `I feel nauseous,' unless you are sure you have that effect on others." From the section 5.17: Do not inject opinion, "To air one's views gratuitously, however, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk, which may not be the case...." Granted, Strunk & White are no Martin & Lewis, but this little text is far from dull and dry.

There are other style manuals available in print and online, but at about 100 pages (the Third Edition was a mere 85), Strunk & White's Elements of Style will likely deliver the advice you need before you've thumbed halfway through the index of the others.

Buy it. Read it. Live it. You'll be glad you did.

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Summary: Extremely useful and, yes-- enjoyable
Review: Nothing has helped my writing more than this little guide. I was introduced to it by a poetry professor my first year of college, and now it's nearly falling apart. The book is well organized, addressing common confusions over English usage (rules for punctuation, frequently confused words like which/that, etc.) and helpful hints for effective writing. Digesting this material will make your writing more coherent, more concise, and more powerful. It's also a cheap and useful gift to give to high school grads who are planning on going to college.

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Summary: Compact and convenient.
Review: The best aspect of this book, considering its size, is that one can carry it in their purses or pockets at all times with ease. It is great for quick reference and less wordy than some of the other books that I have read on this subject. However, at times it can be too simplistic. In retrospect, it is great reading for all people who need information in a hurry and cannot afford to spend a great deal of money on reference books. Considering its affordable price, it should be in every writer's professional library.

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Summary: THE BEST PRESENTS COME IN THE SMALLEST PACKAGES...
Review: The Elements of Style is a small book. It is short and to the point, packing enough heat to put a writer through the refining fire every time one picks it up. As Adler and Van Doren are to the critical reader: rambling on about the riches to be found in the considered word, Strunk and White are to writers: Dutch uncles taking us all to the woodshed and then placing us back on our feet to be about our dour business.

If you want to be a better writer, pick up this book. Read a few pages. Put it into practice.

Send yourself through the fire. Temper the blade of your pen. Remove the impurities from your work.

Omit needless words.

In that spirit, this book needs no further recommendation from me.