The Elements of Style by Oliver Strunk

 The Elements of Style by Oliver Strunk 

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

Charles's friend 

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

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

3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas. 

The best way to see a country, unless you are pressed for time, is to travel on foot. 

3a. Restrictive clauses, by contrast, are not parenthetic and are not set off by commas. 

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. 

4. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause. 

The early records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed. 

5. Do not join independent clauses with a comma. 

If two or more clauses grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon. 

Mary Shelley's works are entertaining; they are full of engaging ideas. 

6. Do not break sentences in two. 

She was an interesting talker. A woman who had traveled all over the world and lived in half a dozen countries. 

In the examples, the first period should be replaced by a comma and the following word begun with a small letter. 

Rules 3, 4, 5, and 6 cover the most important principles that govern punctuation. They should be so thoroughly mastered that their application becomes second nature. 

7. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation. 

A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause. The colon has more effect than the comma, less power to separate than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash 

Your dedicated whittler requires three props: a knife, a piece of wood, and a back porch. 

8. Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary. 

A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses. 

His first thought on getting out of bed — if he had any thought at all — was to get back in again. 

9. The number of the subject determines the number of the verb. 

A common blunder is the use of a singular verb form in a relative clause following "one of..." or a similar expression when the relative is the subject.  

One of those people who are never ready on time 

One of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem 

Use a singular verb form after each, either, everyone, everybody, neither, nobody, someone. 

With none, use the singular verb when the word means "no one" or "not one." 

A plural verb is commonly used when none suggests more than one thing or person. 

A singular subject remains singular even if other nouns are connected to it by with, as well as, in addition to, except, together with, and no less than. 

Some nouns that appear to be plural are usually construed as singular and given a singular verb. 

Politics is an art, not a science. 

The Republican Headquarters is on this side of the tracks. 

In general, avoid "understood" verbs by supplying them. 

I think Horace admires Jessica more than I >> think Horace admires Jessica more than I do. 

Use the simple personal pronoun as a subject.

Blake and myself stayed home. >>  Blake and I stayed home.

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

II 

Elementary Principles of Composition 

12. Choose a suitable design and hold to it. 

13. Make the paragraph the unit of composition. 

As long as it holds together, a paragraph may be of any length — a single, short sentence or a passage of great duration. 

14. Use the active voice. 

The active voice is usually more direct and vigorous than the passive: 

There were a great number of dead leaves lying on the ground. >> Dead leaves covered the ground.

15. Put statements in positive form.

Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, noncommittal language. Use the word not as a means of denial or in antithesis, never as a means of evasion.

He was not very often on time. >> He usually came late.

16. Use definite, specific, concrete language.

Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract.

A period of unfavorable weather set in.>> It rained every day for a week.

17. Omit needless words.

Vigorous writing is concise. 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.

the question as to whether >> whether (the question whether)

18. Avoid a succession of loose sentences.

This rule refers especially to loose sentences of a particular type: those consisting of two clauses, the second introduced by a conjunction or relative.

19. Express coordinate ideas in similar form.

This principle, that of parallel construction, requires that expressions similar in content and function be outwardly similar.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

20. Keep related words together.

The writer must, therefore, bring together the words and groups of words that are related in thought and keep apart those that are not so related.

21. In summaries, keep to one tense.

If the summary is in the present tense, antecedent action should be expressed by the perfect; if in the past, by the past perfect.

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

The proper place in the sentence for the word or group of words that the writer desires to make most prominent is usually the end.

Deceit or treachery she could never forgive.

III 

A Few Matters of Form 

Colloquialisms. 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.

It was a wonderful show! >> It was a wonderful show.

Exclamations. Do not attempt to emphasize simple statements by using a mark of exclamation.

What a wonderful show!

Headings.

Omit the period after a title or heading. A question mark or an exclamation point may be used if the heading calls for it.

Do not use a hyphen between words that can better be written as one word: water-fowl >> waterfowl.

IV 

Words and Expressions Commonly Misused 

And / or. A device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often leads to confusion or ambiguity.

stealing and/or cheating? >> stealing or cheating or both?

Among. Between. When more than two things or persons are involved, among is usually called for; When, however, more than two are involved but each is considered individually, between is preferred.

Currently. In the sense of now with a verb in the present tense, currently is usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved through a more precise reference to time.

Data. Like strata, phenomena, and media, data is a plural and is best used with a plural verb.

Different than. Here logic supports established usage: one thing differs from another, hence, different from. Or, other than, unlike.

Due to. Loosely used for through, because of, or owing to, in adverbial phrases. In correct use, synonymous with attributable to:

Each and every one. Pitchman's jargon. Avoid, except in dialogue.

It should be a lesson to each and every one of us.>> It should be a lesson to every one of us (to us all).

Etc.At the end of a list introduced by such as, for example, or any similar expression, etc. is incorrect. In formal writing, etc. is a misfit. An item important enough to call for etc. is probably important enough to be named.

Finalize. A pompous, ambiguous verb.

Get. The colloquial have got for have should not be used in writing. The preferable form of the participle is got, not gotten.

Hopefully. Such use is not merely wrong, it is silly. it offends the ear of many others, who do not like to see words dulled or eroded, particularly when the erosion leads to ambiguity, softness, or nonsense.

However. Avoid starting a sentence with however when the meaning is "nevertheless." The word usually serves better when not in first position. When however comes first, it means "in whatever way" or "to whatever extent."

Importantly. Avoid by rephrasing

In regard to. Often wrongly written in regards to. But as regards is correct, and means the same thing.

Insightful. The word is a suspicious overstatement for "perceptive."

That was an insightful remark you made.>>That was a perceptive remark you made.

Interesting. An unconvincing word; avoid it as a means of introduction.

Irregardless. Should be regardless.

Less. Should not be misused for fewer.

Like. Not to be used for the conjunction as.

Along these lines, that a writer who aims at freshness or originality had better discard it entirely.

Literally. Often incorrectly used in support of exaggeration or violent metaphor. literally dead with fatigue >>almost dead with fatigue

Meaningful. A bankrupt adjective. Choose another, or rephrase.

Most. Not to be used for almost in formal composition.

Nice. A shaggy, all-purpose word, to be used sparingly in formal composition.

Ongoing. Newfound adjectives, to be avoided because they are inexact and clumsy

One of the most. Avoid this feeble formula.

-oriented. A clumsy, pretentious device, much in vogue.

Partially. Not always interchangeable with partly. The log was partially submerged.>> The log was partly submerged.

people is used when referring to a collective group or indeterminate number, and persons serves better when referring to individuals (or a number of individuals). The word people, is so very general, that it cannot be connected with a determinate number; as for instance, four, five, or six people; but that of persons may.

Personalize. A pretentious word, often carrying bad advice. a highly personalized affair >> a highly personal affair.

Personally. Often unnecessary.

Possess.Such usage is not incorrect but is to be guarded against.She possessed great courage.>> She had great courage

Presently. Has two meanings: "in a short while" and "currently." Because of this ambiguity it is best restricted to the first meaning: "She'll be here presently" ("soon," or "in a short time").

Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort.

Relate. Not to be used intransitively to suggest rapport.

Respective. Respectively. These words may usually be omitted with advantage.

Secondly, thirdly, etc. >> Modern usage prefers second, third, and so on.

Shall vs. Will: Shall. Will. In formal writing, the future tense requires shall for the first person, will for the second and third. The formula to express the speaker's belief regarding a future action or state is I shall; I will expresses determination or consent.

But in modern English we usually prefer ‘will’ for affirmative and negative sentences. However, we still use ‘shall’ to form questions with ‘I’ and ‘we’, especially in British English.

So. Avoid, in writing, the use of so as an intensifier: "so good"; "so warm"; "so delightful."

Than. Any sentence with than (to express comparison) should be examined to make sure no essential words are missing.

I'm probably closer to my mother than my father. (Ambiguous.) >> I'm probably closer to my mother than to my father.

Thanking you in advance. Should be avoided. In making your request, write "Will you please," or "I shall be obliged."

Whether to use that and which depends on whether the clause it introduces is restrictive or non-restrictive. A restrictive clause means that the information in the clause is necessary to understand the preceding noun. For a restrictive clause, use that.

Brad’s sweater [noun] that has fancy elbow pads [restrictive clause] was a birthday gift from his sister.

In this sentence, we understand that Brad has multiple sweaters, so it’s important to distinguish the one with the fancy elbow pads from the others.

Stacy’s truck [noun], which is painted red [non-restrictive clause], has a dent in the back bumper.

Here, the information about Stacy’s truck being red is not necessary to the sentence. Stacy only has one truck, so the extra information doesn’t help identify it. Therefore, we use which and separate the non-restrictive clause with commas. 

The foreseeable future. A cliche, and a fuzzy one.

The truth. is.... The fact is.... A bad beginning for a sentence.

They. He or She. Do not use they when the antecedent is a distributive expression such as each, each one, everybody, every one, many a man. Use the singular pronoun.

Everyone in the community, whether they are a member of the Association or not, is invited to attend. >> Everyone in the community, whether he is a member of the Association or not, is invited to attend.

Try. Takes the infinitive: "try to mend it," not "try and mend it."

Unique. Means "without like or equal." Hence, there can be no degrees of uniqueness.

The balancing act was very unique.>> The balancing act was unique.

Utilize. Prefer use.

He utilized the dishwasher.>> He used the dishwasher

Verbal. Oral agreement is more precise than verbal agreement

Very. Use this word sparingly.

While. Avoid the indiscriminate use of this word for and, but, and although. In general, the writer will do well to use while only with strict literalness, in the sense of "during the time that."

Would. Commonly used to express habitual or repeated action. ("He would get up early and prepare his own breakfast before he went to work.") But when the idea of habit or repetition is expressed, in such phrases as once a year, every day, each Sunday, the past tense, without would, is usually sufficient, and, from its brevity, more emphatic.

Once a year he would visit the old mansion. >> Once a year he visited the old mansion.

V 

An Approach to Style (With a List of Reminders) 

1. Place yourself in the background.

Write in a way that draws the reader's attention to the sense and substance of the writing, rather than to the mood and temper of the author.

2. Write in a way that comes naturally.

Write in a way that comes easily and naturally to you, using words and phrases that come readily to hand.

3. Work from a suitable design.

4. Write with nouns and verbs.

Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs. In general, however, it is nouns and verbs, not their assistants, that give good writing its toughness and color.

5. Revise and rewrite.

6. Do not overwrite.

7. Do not overstate.

8. Avoid the use of qualifiers.

Rather, very, little, pretty — these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words.

9. Do not affect a breezy manner.

10. Use orthodox spelling. Do not write nite for night, thru for through, pleez for please,

11. Do not explain too much.

12. Do not construct awkward adverbs. Words that are not used orally are seldom the ones to put on paper.

13. Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.

14. Avoid fancy words.

Avoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy, and the cute.

15. Do not use dialect unless your ear is good.

16. Be clear.  since writing is communication, clarity can only be a virtue. And although there is no substitute for merit in writing, clarity comes closest to being one.

17. Do not inject opinion.

Unless there is a good reason for its being there, do not inject opinion into a piece of writing.

18. Use figures of speech sparingly.

19. Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity (e.g. don’t use abbreviation without listing its full name)

20. Avoid foreign languages

21. Prefer the standard to the offbeat.