William Strunk, Jr. famous quotes

04-19-2025

...when a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Stronger #Vigor #Made
A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Drawing #Machines #Lines
If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Loud
It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.
-- William Strunk, Jr.
Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Writing #Interesting
Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Opinion #Mark #Egotism
If you use a colloquialism or a slang word or phrase, simply use it; do not draw attention to it by enclosing it in quotation marks. To do so is to put on airs, as though you were inviting the reader to join you in a select society of those who know better.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Air #Quotation Marks #Attention
The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place,
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Nouns #Adjectives #Weak
The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Simplicity #Style #Orderliness
A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Stronger #Separation #Formal
In exposition and in argument, the writer must likewise never lose his hold upon the concrete; and even when he is dealing with general principles, he must furnish particular instances of their application.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Art #Principles #Argument
In his Philosophy of Style, Herbert Spencer gives two sentences to illustrate how the vague and general can be turned into the vivid and particular: In proportion as the manners, customs, and amusements of a nation are cruel and barbarous, the regulations of its penal code will be severe. In proportion as men delight in battles, bullfights, and combats of gladiators, will they punish by hanging, burning, and the rack.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Philosophy #Men #Two
This book is intended for use in English courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. It aims to give in a brief space the principal requirements of plain English style. It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention (in Chapters II and III) on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated. The numbers of the sections may be used as references in correcting manuscript.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Book #Practice #Numbers
Vigorous writing is concise.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Writing
Rewrite and revise. Do not be afraid to seize what you have and cut it to ribbons ... Good writing means good revising.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Learning #Mean #Writing
A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Drawing #Lines #Machines
The surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definitive, and concrete. The greatest writers - Homer, Dante, Shakespeare - are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Details #Attention #Matter
Rather, very, little, pretty -- these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words. The constant use of the adjective little (except to indicate size) is particularly debilitating; we should all try to do a little better, we should all be very watchful of this rule, for it is a rather important one, and we are pretty sure to violate it now and then.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Blood #Important #Trying
Avoid fancy words....If you admire fancy words, if every sky is beauteous, every blonde curvaceous, every intelligent child prodigious, if you are tickled by discombobulate, you will have bad time Reminder 14.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Children #Intelligent #Sky
Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Reason #Stomach
None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.
-- William Strunk, Jr.
Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is a common occurrence in all writing, and among the best writers.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Writing #Needs #Weakness
The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Chance #One Chance #Situation
Do not, therefore, say "I feel nauseous," unless you are sure you have that effect on others.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Feels
Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Language #Colorless
Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.
-- William Strunk, Jr.

#Sometimes #Rich #Prose

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