The Elements of Style

Synopsis

"So friendly, so classic, so delightful . . . Kalman has taken 'the little book' and made it even more elegant and uplifting." -Los Angeles Times

The only style manual to ever appear on a bestseller list now refreshed by one of our most beloved illustrators

Every English writer knows Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. The book's mantra, make every word tell, is still on point. This much-loved classic, now in its fourth edition, will forever be the go-to guide when in need of a hint to make a turn of phrase clearer or a reminder on how to enliven prose with the active voice. The only style manual to ever appear on bestseller lists has explained to millions of readers the basic principals of plain English, and Maira Kalman's fifty-seven exquisite illustrations give the revered work a jolt of new energy, making the learning experience more colorful and clear.

Summary

Chapter 1: Omit Needless Words

* Summary: Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases to improve clarity and conciseness.
* Example: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." can be simplified to "The fox jumped over the dog."

Chapter 2: Place the Subject Next to the Verb

* Summary: Arrange words so that the subject is immediately followed by the verb, making it easier to understand.
* Example: "The dog barked at the cat." (subject-verb-object)
* NOT: "At the cat, the dog barked."

Chapter 3: Put the Action Verb First

* Summary: Start sentences with action verbs, avoiding passive voice and prepositional phrases.
* Example: "John kicked the ball." (active voice)
* NOT: "The ball was kicked by John." (passive voice)

Chapter 4: Use Strong Verbs

* Summary: Choose specific and vivid verbs that convey the meaning clearly.
* Example: "He walked" is a weak verb. Consider using "He strolled," "He ambled," or "He marched."

Chapter 5: Write in the Active Voice

* Summary: Use active voice whenever possible, where the subject performs the action.
* Example: "The students presented their projects." (active voice)
* NOT: "The projects were presented by the students." (passive voice)

Chapter 6: Subordinate Unimportant Matter

* Summary: Use subordinate clauses (e.g., "although," "because") and phrases to show the relationship between ideas and emphasize the important ones.
* Example: "The company's profits increased, although the economy was struggling."

Chapter 7: Eliminate Redundancies

* Summary: Avoid repeating the same idea multiple times using different words.
* Example: "John is a large, big man." (redundant)
* NOT: "John is a large man."

Chapter 8: Use the Correct Word

* Summary: Choose the appropriate words that convey the intended meaning accurately.
* Example: "effect" (noun) and "affect" (verb) are often confused.
* "The effect of the drug was significant."

Chapter 9: Agreement of Subject and Verb

* Summary: Ensure that the verb agrees with the singular or plural subject.
* Example: "The student studies hard." (singular subject, singular verb)
* "The students study hard." (plural subject, plural verb)

Chapter 10: Keep the Relationship of Modifier to Modified Clear

* Summary: Place modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) close to the words they modify to avoid confusion.
* Example: "The very old man walked slowly." (modifier "very old" is close to "man")
* NOT: "The man walked slowly, who was very old."