Unfortunately strunk and white the elements of style is now available free, whilst professor pullums latest book costs. Having just reread most of strunk and white, i see no suggestion that the book is intended to teach grammar. The elements of style paperback september 19, 2016. I devoted some of my grammar thesis to criticizing this book, and it was time well. Strunk and white grammar girl quick and dirty tips.
Buy the elements of style book online at low prices in. Writing strategies with grammar book writing workbook featuring new lessons on writing with style strunk jr. In a sense, the book was his own personal style guide. A halfcentury of stupid grammar advice linguist geoffrey pullum wont be celebrating the 50th anniversary of strunk and whites the elements of style. Myths and misconceptions of the english language, written with stewart kellerman. First, strunk and white werent people who devoted their lives to studying grammar, and they didnt work together to create the elements of style. Bad passive voice advice from strunk and white the.
White, roger angell rounding up the list there is another legendary guide book to the heights of english writing by the famous duo strunk and white. White expanded the original sections and added an additional section on style. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The elements of style wikisource, the free online library. In this video, we examine ten principles of good writing, including make the paragraph the unit of composition, and place the. The result was the lithe, 100page book the elements of style. You might not think that such a slim book would inspire such devotion and such loathing. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. And when it comes to writing about style with style, e. The book covers only a small portion of the field of english style, but the experience of its writer has been that once past the essentials, students profit most. Nearly one hundred years old, this book was originally written by william strunk, who was e. Pullums stated thesis appears to be that a strunk and white dont understand grammar and b their advice on using it is incorrect. First written by professor will strunk as a summation of english usage, composition, and form with words and expressions commonly misused, and later polished, expanded and transformed into a classic reference book thirtyeight years later by strunks student, e.
White, the elements of style does indeed contain rich deposits of gold. But before his writing career began, white was a student in william strunks writing class at cornell university. He then proceeds to criticize the book s advice on style, rather than grammar, and towards the end of his piece criticizes the book for not following its supposedly incorrect advice. But his expanded version of professor strunk s 1918 writing guide strikes many contemporary readers as skimpy and somewhat dated. Now, in this stylish 100th anniversary edition of the classic the elements of style, readers of today will find a fresh, succinct new grammar bookfull of everything you need to know about writing and nothing you dont. Yes, strunk and white s elements of style remains extremely popular. Strunk and white support writing in a way that comes naturally, using words and phrases that come readily to hand. The first writer i watched at work was my stepfather, e. After strunks death, macmillan publishing commissioned white to revise and expand strunks manual for a wider audience. Also strunk and white the elements of style is a small pocket sized reference, whilst pullums the cambridge grammar of the english language.
William strunk, professor at cornell, wrote his famous little book on good grammar and writing to simpli. The book began as a slim volume of grammar rules and advisories written in 1919 by college professor william strunk jr. The book is not the elements of grammar, but the elements of style. Strunk and whites the elements of style is less than 100 pages long in most editions and was. This style manual offers practical advice on improving writing skills.
The elements of style by william strunk free ebook. 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. Mar 05, 2019 as another national grammar day arrives, we look again at the centuryold elements of style, which many writers find fusty and sexist. As you may recall, white was the author of the classic, stuart little. However, she still thinks strunk and white is relevant today, even with the advent of digital grammar tools. Apr 24, 2009 the elements of style by william strunk jr. Buy the elements of style book online at low prices in india. Apr 17, 2009 first, strunk and white werent people who devoted their lives to studying grammar, and they didnt work together to create the elements of style. White the classic writing style guide this book aims to give in brief space the principal requirements of plain english style. Mark garvey relates the history of the book in stylized.
Has strunk and white struck out of writing instruction. A textbook required for the course was a slim volume called the elements of style, whose author was the professor himself. Every rule in the book is supported by examples to ease your understanding, making them much easier to apply to your. White wrote the childrens classics charlottes web, stuart little, and the trumpet of the swan. White published a revised copy of his former college professors little book on writing. But if you take it as the names of two people, then, yes. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions. Well, i know many of you love that book, but pullum backs up every one of his criticisms, for example pointing out that strunk and whites.
She thinks so, especially now that her school is a onetoone school 9th12th. The four best grammar books available online verblio. This book is intended for use in english courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. As another national grammar day arrives, we look again at the centuryold elements of style, which many writers find fusty and sexist. The elements of style edition 4 by william strunk, e. Sep 01, 2015 now, i confess to having a soft spot for strunk and whites chef doeuvre.
So, for example, when pullum claims that the elements of style has significantly degraded american students grasp of grammar, he might have said instead that the book has destroyed it. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions of the elements of style. It was the first grammar book i used in high school english class we were handed copies in september and instructed to memorize it progressive education this was not, and it introduced me to all sorts of wonders like nonessential clauses and the requisite. White greatly enlarged and revised the book for publication by macmillan in 1959. It is one of the most influential and bestknown prescriptive treatments of english grammar and usage in the united states. Style, if youre wondering, is more than just grammar. His book contains rules of grammar phrased as direct orders. White, returned to it in 1957 and found it to be one of the most concise, clear, and accurate works on english usage he had ever seen. The elements of style is an american english writing style guide in numerous editions. Using this kind of plain language bridges the gap between writer and reader.
Apr 16, 2009 strunk and whites venerable writing guide is 50 in 1959, e. Strunk used his own 43page writing manual to teach students proper grammar, prose, and punctuation. The 18 main topics are organized under the headings, elementary rules of usage, elementary principles of composition, a few matters of form, words and expressions commonly misused, and words often misspelled. But if you take it as the names of two people, then, yes, the original author and his reviser both still matter. Strunk and white is a handy quick reference guide for good grammar, style, and layout. White, best known today for his childrens books including charlottes web but also a regular columnist for the new yorker and other magazines and a winner of the pulitzer prize.
They discuss the importance of not overwriting or overstating because ornate prose and outlandish claims alienate the reader. Strunk and whites venerable writing guide is 50 in 1959, e. Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of plain english style and. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the. Asserting that one must first know the rules to break them, this classic reference book is a musthave for any student and conscientious writer. White later wrote the last part of this minimanual.
But will she assign strunk and white in the future. Writing strategies with grammar book writing workbook featuring new lessons on writing with style by william strunk jr. Now, i confess to having a soft spot for strunk and whites chef doeuvre. But his expanded version of professor strunks 1918 writing guide strikes many contemporary readers as skimpy and somewhat dated. Yes, strunk and whites elements of style remains extremely popular. What you need to know about grammar and writing as taught widely in colleges, high schools, and grammar schools wherever american english is spoken. William strunk taught english at cornell and wrote the first version of the bookwhich was only 43 pagesfor his english students at cornell. Since 1959, when white revised and substantially expanded the brief guide to prose style selfpublished in 1918 by william strunk jr. I am a writing teacher, and i have used several different grammar books.
Sep 14, 2016 the elements of style by william strunk and e. White has been released in a 50th anniversary edition. Kellerman have a language web site and blog at rereading strunk and white on its 50th birthday is like meeting. He never intended to publish it, but one of his students, e. The book covers only a small portion of the field of english style, but 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 prefers to that offered by any textbook. Strunk and whites macho grammar club the daily beast.
Still, it offers some timeless tips for todays scribes. I know this is heresy to a lot of people, but its true. Oconner is the author of the grammar guide woe is i and other books on language, including the new origins of the specious. Also strunk and white the elements of style is a small pocket sized reference, whilst pullums the cambridge grammar of the english language is a 1764 page brick. Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the elements of style, a beacon for generations of lawyers. Strunk and whites the elements of style daily writing tips. Maira kalman, who provided the illustrations for the elements of style illustrated 2005, see below, asked nico muhly to compose a cantata based on the book. Is strunk and whites the elements of style still the. Bad passive voice advice from strunk and white the critical. This year marks the 50th anniversary of strunk and whites muchloved the elements of style. Writing strategies with grammar book writing workbook featuring new lessons on writing with style.
It is one of the most influential and bestknown prescriptive treatments of english grammar and usage in the. The elements of style by strunk and white is widely considered americas most beloved grammar book. One additional word on marks bedtime reading ruminations, which are on their own a magnificent brief for the prosecution concerning the charges against e. Strunk and whites the elements of style receives frequent mention in articles about writing originating as a classroom study aid prepared by cornell english professor william strunk in 1918, this widelyused desk reference of english usage, form, and style continues to influence writers after a hundred years. On a more general note, read 50 years of stupid grammar advice and dump the book. Despite being a relatively old book the rules in it are timeless, and the writing style of the book itself is uncluttered and easy to follow.
Apr 16, 2009 a halfcentury of stupid grammar advice linguist geoffrey pullum wont be celebrating the 50th anniversary of strunk and white s the elements of style. The book was known on the campus in those days as the little book, with the stress on the word little. White greatly enlarged and revised the book for publication by. Its a consistent format for written workeverything from how to use a. White was a student in professor strunks class at cornell, and used the little book for himself.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. William strunk taught english at cornell and wrote the first version of the book which was only 43 pagesfor his english students at cornell. Prized for its focus on clear, concise language, this famous little book has been a source of guidance for writers, copy editors and college students for half a century. Commissioned by macmillan to revise strunks book, white edited the 1959 and 1972 editions of the elements of. The book paves the way to understanding the concept of writing style and unique charm a welltold story brings. Intended for use in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature, it gives in brief space the principal requirements of. The elements of style by william strunk and eb white the guardian. The elements of style manages to condense all the important rules of grammar into a package so small, you could mistake it for a drink coaster. Despite being a relatively old book the rules in it are timeless, and the. The elements of style is the definitive text and classic manual on the principles of english language read by millions of readers. Whites the elements of style is their willingness to address small questions and greater points alike. The tiny book made a big splash with writers, selling over ten million copies and crowning strunk and white as the dynamic duo of the writing world.
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