The Elements of Style E-Book

William Strunk

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

In "The Elements of Style," William Strunk presents a concise and authoritative guide to the principles of English style and composition. This seminal work emphasizes clarity, brevity, and precision, breaking down the rules of grammar, the importance of active voice, and the avoidance of unnecessary adjectives. Strunk employs a straightforward and didactic literary style, making the book accessible to both novice writers and seasoned scholars, all while situating it within the broader literary tradition of prescriptive writing. This guide serves not only as an instructional manual but also as a testament to the evolving nature of style in American writing. William Strunk, an influential educator and grammarian, penned this work originally for his students at Cornell University. His belief that excellence in writing lies in understanding and mastering the fundamental rules of style reflected a pedagogical philosophy centered on clarity of expression. Strunk'Äôs own academic background, coupled with a passion for clear communication, uniquely positioned him to address the common pitfalls faced by writers, which inspired this enduring text. "The Elements of Style" is indispensable for anyone seeking to refine their writing craft. Whether you are a student, a professional, or a casual writer, this book offers timeless advice that transcends the barriers of genre and discipline. Embrace Strunk'Äôs guidance to enhance your clarity and efficacy in writing, ensuring that your ideas are expressed with utmost precision and elegance.

Leseprobe

William Strunk

The Elements of Style

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4057664157669

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTORY

II. ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE

1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's.

2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.

3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.

4. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing a co-ordinate clause.

5. Do not join independent clauses by a comma.

6. Do not break sentences in two.

7. A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.

III. ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION

8. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.

9. As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, end it in conformity with the beginning.

10. Use the active voice.

11. Put statements in positive form.

12. Use definite, specific, concrete language.

13. Omit needless words.

14. Avoid a succession of loose sentences

15. Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form.

16. Keep related words together.

17. In summaries, keep to one tense.

18. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.

IV. A FEW MATTERS OF FORM

V. WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS COMMONLY MISUSED

VI. SPELLING

WORDS OFTEN MISSPELLED

VII. EXERCISES ON CHAPTERS II AND III

I. Punctuate

II. Explain the difference in meaning

III. Explain and correct the errors in punctuation

IV. Point out and correct the faults in the following sentences

I. INTRODUCTORY

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This book aims to give in 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. In accordance with this plan it lays down three rules for the use of the comma, instead of a score or more, and one for the use of the semicolon, in the belief that these four rules provide for all the internal punctuation that is required by nineteen sentences out of twenty. Similarly, it gives in ChapterIII only those principles of the paragraph and the sentence which are of the widest application. The book thus covers only a small portion of the field of English style. The experience of its writer has been that once past the essentials, students profit most by individual instruction based on the problems of their own work, and that each instructor has his own body of theory, which he may prefer to that offered by any textbook.

The numbers of the sections may be used as references in correcting manuscript.

The writer's colleagues in the Department of English in Cornell University have greatly helped him in the preparation of his manuscript. Mr. George McLane Wood has kindly consented to the inclusion under Rule10 of some material from his Suggestions to Authors.

The following books are recommended for reference or further study: in connection with Chapters II and IV, F. Howard Collins, Author and Printer (Henry Frowde); Chicago University Press, Manual of Style; T.L. De Vinne, Correct Composition (The Century Company); Horace Hart, Rules for Compositors and Printers (Oxford University Press); George McLane Wood, Extracts from the Style-Book of the Government Printing Office (United States Geological Survey); in connection with Chapters III and V, The King's English (Oxford University Press); Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, The Art of Writing (Putnam), especially the chapter, Interlude on Jargon; George McLane Wood, Suggestions to Authors (United States Geological Survey); John Lesslie Hall, English Usage (Scott, Foresman and Co.); James P. Kelley, Workmanship in Words (Little, Brown and Co.). In these will be found full discussions of many points here briefly treated and an abundant store of illustrations to supplement those given in this book.

It is an old observation that the best writers sometimes disregard the rules of rhetoric. When they do so, however, the reader will usually find in the sentence some compensating merit, attained at the cost of the violation. Unless he is certain of doing as well, he will probably do best to follow the rules. After he has learned, by their guidance, to write plain English adequate for everyday uses, let him look, for the secrets of style, to the study of the masters of literature.

II. ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE

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1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's.

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Follow this rule whatever the final consonant. Thus write,

Charles's friend

Burns's poems

the witch's malice

This is the usage of the United States Government Printing Office and of the Oxford University Press.

Exceptions are the possessive of ancient proper names in -es and -is, the possessive Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake, for righteousness' sake. But such forms as Achilles' heel, Moses' laws, Isis' temple are commonly replaced by

the heel of Achilles

the laws of Moses

the temple of Isis

The pronominal possessives hers, its, theirs, yours, and oneself have no apostrophe.

2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.

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Thus write,

red, white, and blue

gold, silver, or copper

He opened the letter, read it, and made a note of its contents.

This is also the usage of the Government Printing Office and of the Oxford University Press.

In the names of business firms the last comma is omitted, as,

Brown, Shipley & Co.