Name: Suat Karakusoglu's review of The Elements of Style by William Strunk
Item: The Elements of Style
Rating: 4
Author: Suat Karakusoglu

William Strunk

Reproduction of the original: The Elements of Style by William Strunk

The Elements of Style

Elwyn Brooks White

Every English-language writer knows Strunk and White's famous little writing manual, The Elements of Style. Many people between the ages of seventeen and seventy can recite the book's mantra—make every word tell—and still refer to their tattered grade school copy when in need of a hint on how to make a turn of phrase clearer, or a reminder on how to enliven prose with the active voice. Considering that millions of copies have been sold to millions of devotees, you might not think to ask what could enhance this (almost) perfect classic. In fact, the addition of illustrations allows readers to experience the book's contents in a completely new way, making the whole learning experience more colorful and clear, as well as adding a whimsical element that compliments the subtly humorous tone of the prose. The Elements of Style Illustrated will come to be known as the definitive, must-have edition. Maira Kalman is the offbeat and wildly talented illustrator of twelve children's books, numerous covers for The New Yorker magazine, fabrics for the fashion designers Isaac Mizrahi and Kate Spade, watches and accessories for the Museum of Modern Art, and a mural at the elegant Wavehill estate in Riverdale, among other projects. Her sophisticated and witty images that are yet bright and fanciful have won her a devoted following, especially among young urbanites. Maira Kalman is acknowledged by the E. B. White estate as the single artist trusted to illustrate the revered The Elements of Style. The Elements of Style Illustrated brings a fresh immediacy to the well-loved, much-valued, and still on-point work that has become an institution. While giving the classic work a jolt of new energy to appeal to contemporary readers, Kalman's illustrations are themselves timeless, designed to sit alongside the ever-enduring manual for another fifty years and more.

Aditya Deshmukh

Piet Terheyden

General Press

William Strunk Jr.

The Elements of Style is widely considered America’s most beloved grammar book. This is the most trusted writer's guide to English—this is the book that generations of writers have relied upon for timeless advice on grammar, diction, syntax, sentence construction, and other writing essentials. Strunk begins with the basic rules of usage, offering accessible explanations of correct punctuation and grammar. The Elements of Style is some kind of examples’ collection of all kinds of styles of writing very different works. The greatest book of its kind, this volume is a must for any student, teacher and writer.

Writing Strategies with Grammar

This book contains tips on writing concise literature; provides lots of examples.

Suat Karakusoglu

The Elements of Style William Strunk concentrated on specific questions of usage—and the cultivation of good writing—with the recommendation "Make every word tell"; hence the 17th principle of composition is the simple instruction: "Omit needless words." The book was also listed as one of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923 by Time in its 2011 list.

Hrishikesh Bhaskaran

Wenny

A great guide for writers, beginners and adepts both, on best practices in writing habits.

linda

Finally buckled down and read this book, and boy, it was well worth it. :)

Jk Jensen

Rarely does a book this short do what it sets out to in so few words. "Elements of Style" holds valuable guidelines for reader and writer, somehow exploring the breadth of the English language in just 87 pages. It is a beautiful book and I am left inspired by the insight and terseness of Strunk and White.

Sanat Gersappa

Succinct and clear. If you do any kind of writing, you must read it. A classic.

Simon Elliott Stegall

Necessary for any aspiring writer

A concise and direct guide to grammar and style. Anybody with any literary or journalistic ambition will reap huge benefits from regular reference to this book. If you enjoy language, you'll have fun reading it as well.

The Elements of Style is a study guide for the development of writing style by William Strunk Jr., a professor of English at Cornell University. It was later finished by his student, Elwyn Brooks White. Now it is commonly known as “the study guide by Strunk and White”. In short, this book is for someone who wants to become a writer. The Elements of Style is some kind of examples’ collection of all kinds of styles of writing very different works. It comprises eight "elementary rules of usage", ten "elementary principles of composition", "a few matters of form", a list of 49 "words and expressions commonly misused", and a list of 57 "words often misspelled".

THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE

Andrea Badgley

What can I say? I read this book in two sittings; it is a grammar and rule book, and I devoured it. In a succinct 85 pages - in 11 Elementary Rules of Usage, in 11 Principles of Composition, in A Few Matters of Form (11 matters), and in a thorough list of Misused Words and Expressions (123 misuses) - Strunk and White give a writer every tool she needs to express herself clearly without pompousness or unnecessary words. (The authors are fond of the words pompous and pretentious.) I found myself chuckling at Strunk and White's instructions in the Misused Words and Expressions chapter:
 
 Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort. It's in the dictionary, but that doesn't mean you have to use it.
I found myself saying "Aha!" every other page as I came across rules I always wondered about (where the punctuation goes when you use parentheses, for example), and I was surprised by how much of a delight this book is. I did not appreciate its humor when I was a high school student.

Now, though, I realize its worth. It sits by my knee on the sofa as I type this review, and I will always keep it in grabbing distance when I write.

Laura Pérez Jaraiz

Useful and even entertaining. Maybe a little outdated but still, it comes in handy if you want to improve your writing skills and learn to think like a writer. The final chapters, added by White, were deeply inspirational to me. So yes, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book on how to develop their own prose.

This is the book that generations of writers have relied upon for timeless advice on grammar, diction, syntax, and other essentials. In concise terms, it identifies the principal requirements of proper style and common errors.

The Original Edition

Faheem Kajee

This book was surprisingly entertaining. I listened to it as an audiobook and thought that the narrators voice and passion was fun to listen to. It also had a bunch of nice tips about better writing.

Ilia Markov

Dated in some rules/parts, but still useful and even entertaining

Liam Holbrook

E.B. White

Roger Angell

You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered.This book's unique tone, wit and charm have conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. Use the fourth edition of "the little book" to make a big impact with writing.
source: https://www.pearson.com/store/p/elements-of-style-the/P100001419351/9780205313426?tab=overview

Manuel Steinberg

Martha F.

Pedro Figueiredo

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.
--back cover

Piet Terheyden &
The Elements of Style by William Strunk

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Piet Terheyden &
The Elements of Style by William Strunk