The Elements of Style
by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White
The slim classic: rules of usage, principles of composition (omit needless words, use the active voice, put statements in positive form), matters of form, commonly misused words, and White's essay on style. Linguists have quarreled with some rules; writers have kept it on the desk for a century.
Read it if…
you want the shortest, most durable guide to clear prose.
Skip it if…
you want nuance about when to break rules; it gives rules.
Three things you will actually use
- Omit needless words.
- Use definite, specific, concrete language.
- Place the emphatic words at the end.
Do this first
Read Section II in one sitting and apply 'omit needless words' to your next email.
Our verdict
Slim, durable, essential.
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