Elements of style sparknotes. The Elements Of Style Book Summary, by William Jr. Strunk 2023-01-02

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Elements of Style, also known as "Strunk & White," is a classic writing style guide that was first published in 1959 by William Strunk Jr. and revised by E.B. White in 1972. The guide is designed to help writers improve their craft by providing them with a set of guidelines and principles to follow when constructing sentences and paragraphs. In this essay, we will discuss some of the key elements of style outlined in the book, including clarity, concision, and precision.

One of the main elements of style emphasized in the book is clarity. Clarity is the ability to communicate ideas effectively and in a way that is easily understood by the reader. Strunk and White recommend using simple, direct language whenever possible, and avoiding jargon or unnecessary words. They also suggest breaking up long sentences into shorter ones to make them easier to read and understand.

Another element of style that Strunk and White advocate for is concision. Concision refers to the use of language that is concise and to the point, without any unnecessary words or phrases. This means using the most precise and relevant words to convey your ideas, rather than using filler words or phrases that add little value to your writing. By using concise language, you can make your writing more efficient and effective, and help keep your reader's attention focused on your main points.

Finally, Strunk and White recommend using precise language in your writing. Precision means using language that is accurate and specific, rather than vague or ambiguous. This means using specific nouns and verbs rather than general ones, and avoiding words that are open to interpretation. By using precise language, you can help ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand, and that your ideas are conveyed effectively to your reader.

Overall, the Elements of Style is a valuable resource for writers looking to improve their craft. By following the guidelines outlined in the book, you can make your writing more clear, concise, and precise, and help ensure that your ideas are communicated effectively to your audience. So, it is a must-read for all writers.

Strunk and White's The Elements of Style

elements of style sparknotes

Improved version of example 1: Dead leaves covered the ground. Its ~70 pages have sold over 10 million copies since its first edition in 1918. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, noncommittal language. He aims to adjust the writer's perspective, encouraging scholars to think of themselves as makers and doers of important work. Throughout the play, the action is interrupted for extended passages of narration by a narrator who serves as a bridge between the contemporary reader and the historical characters we are reading about. But remember, too, that firing off many short paragraphs in quick succession can be distracting.

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Frankenstein: Style

elements of style sparknotes

. Right: It was a wonderful show. The way something is written can make it more appealing and easier to read. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause. If a conjunction is inserted, the proper mark is a comma. Resolute: Applicants will make a good impression if they are punctual. 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.

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Elements of Style

elements of style sparknotes

The colon has more effect than the comma, less power to separate than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash. But do not assume that because you have acted naturally your product is without flaw. A feature of the entertainment especially worthy of mention was the singing of Allison Jones. If you have some feedback or anything to share then please do. Write in a way that comes naturally. Part of the pleasure of reading this lively, friendly, and truly unique book on academic writing is getting a sense of the pleasure with which the author obviously wrote it. Active: The gift touched her deeply.

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The Elements of Academic Style

elements of style sparknotes

 Right: Your dedicated whittler requires three props: a knife, a piece of wood, and a back porch. Where emphasis is necessary, use words strong in themselves. White was asked to augment and edit the guide for a wider audience. The number of the subject determines the number of the verb. 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.

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The Elements of Style Summary & Study Guide

elements of style sparknotes

Make the paragraph the unit of composition. Instead of announcing that what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so. Thanks to The Elements of Academic Style, we'll be debating these and many other questions for years to come. Consequently, loose sentences are common in easy, unstudied writing. Hence, as a rule, it is better to express even negative in a positive form. Rhetorical Questions and Clauses 29.

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The Elements of Style Summary and Analysis (like SparkNotes)

elements of style sparknotes

English professor William Strunk Jr. The overall style of Frankenstein is elevated and formal. The guide is arranged in five sections: I. Put statements in positive form. Separate standalone sentences with semicolons or periods. Think of paragraphs as bullet points. Write your first draft freely.

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Elements of Style Blog

elements of style sparknotes

Do not use dialect unless your ear is good. Keep related words together. Its rules are powerful and practical. A FEW MATTERS OF FORM Guidelines related to colloquialisms, exclamations, headings, hyphens, margins, numerals, parentheses, quotations, references, syllabication, and titles. Sarah Cole, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University For literary critical postgraduates and their teachers this is a useful book.

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Fahrenheit 451: Style

elements of style sparknotes

Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary. Example: Â It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach the town before dark. How long are seminar papers, and why do we need them anyway? Coming home from Liverpool to New York. Example: The early records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed. The number of the subject determines the number of the verb.

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The Elements of Style Analysis in On Writing Well

elements of style sparknotes

Many a tame sentence of description or exposition can be made lively and emphatic by substituting a transitive in the active voice for some such perfunctory expression as there is or could be heard. A comma is preferable when the clauses are very short and alike in form, or when the tone of the sentence is easy and conversational. An Approach to Style Young writers often suppose that style is a garnish for the meat of prose, a sauce by which a dull dish is made palatable. AN APPROACH TO STYLE 1. Carla Nappi, New Books Network Seminar A needed contribution to the literature on academic writing, Hayot's book will be invaluable to any writer in the humanities. Acknowledgments Appendix: A Writer's Workbook Works Cited Bibliography About the Author Eric Hayot is professor of comparative literature and Asian studies at the Pennsylvania State University.

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