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creepepaper's review
5.0
Great resource for grammar. Quick resource to go to for help with easy explanations.
avalinda's review
5.0
There might not be any hard-and-fast rules for writing and writing well, and this book makes that clear; but familiarity with language foundations is so important and something I'd forgotten prior to reading this. I realized part of my frustration with writing is an unspoken struggle with grammar, syntax, and clarity - without these even my best thoughts are simply that, fleeting and intangible since I can't express them the way I want. This book covers those English essentials with clear examples and sometimes sharply worded instructions, and makes me wish I'd had a teacher like Strunk who never put up with shortcuts. While writing will likely always remain difficult for me, since it's an exercise in precisely expressing my worldview and other things I hold dear, I'm glad guidebooks like this exist. They remind us that words and ideas are like the chicken-and-the-egg question - the order in which you refine them doesn't matter, since you can't have one without the other when it comes to compelling writing.
c2pizza's review
4.0
Surprisingly funny book; however, it's best quality is it's elucidation. I'm afraid to write any more words.
raytrib's review
4.0
Great advice, though I would take it with a grain of salt. Dude was very strict. I love grammar, but don't be so strict with it that you take the fun out of writing and drain all actual style.
virginiacjacobs's review
3.0
This book was both enormously entertaining and enormously useful in terms of improving the craft of writing. Strunk has a dry, crisp sense of humor. One of my very favorite parts of the book is the list of misused words and expressions. I loved his comments on -wise...There is not a noun in the language to which -wise cannot be added if the spirit moves one to add it. The sober writer will abstain from the use of this wild additive. And his examples of wild additives? Taxwise, pricewise, marriagewise, prosewise, and wait for it...saltwater taffywise. I love it!
realz's review
5.0
Every English speaker (and writer) should read this short book. It’s a no-frills guide to correct use of the language.
tjr's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Strunk and White’s, The Elements of Style. If only I could download the entire book into my head, I would always be able to remember all those important rules on command. Alas, I have to rely on the next best solution: carry it with me wherever I go to write and edit.
The Elements of Style is a real gem; the book gives succinct and to-the-point instruction, elegantly, which is no small feat considering the heavy topic at hand. I have read a multitude of other writing instruction and rule books, and only Eats, Shoots & Leaves comes to mind as being equally entertaining and instructive. Yes, I said entertaining; there are a few comical points made in The Elements of Style, surprising considering how old the text is (originally written around 1919 or so). Perhaps the comedy can be attributed to my expecting something more stuffy. Fortunately, it written almost breezily.
The Elements of Style is a real gem; the book gives succinct and to-the-point instruction, elegantly, which is no small feat considering the heavy topic at hand. I have read a multitude of other writing instruction and rule books, and only Eats, Shoots & Leaves comes to mind as being equally entertaining and instructive. Yes, I said entertaining; there are a few comical points made in The Elements of Style, surprising considering how old the text is (originally written around 1919 or so). Perhaps the comedy can be attributed to my expecting something more stuffy. Fortunately, it written almost breezily.
viatai23_'s review
4.0
It's more of a 3.75
I picked up this book, along with a few others, to help me with my creative writing classes. This was the first one to be read. I enjoyed the book since it provides a skeleton for writing. It's like cooking classic dishes. You don't want to start adding crazy and unnecessary items to the food or else the presentation, albeit the taste, to fail. This teaches you to write clearly, concisely, and lively. However old this book is, the content within is good for a beginner writer.
All those nice things come with a downside. The book tends to come off as snooty. It can make the reader feel that writing is rigid and one-note. The parts that tell you how to write can come off as condescending as if you need to be guided down the path of writing cause the author doesn't trust writers enough to write "correctly."
This book is a good place to start when beginning writing and, I would imagine, is a good reference to look back on.
I picked up this book, along with a few others, to help me with my creative writing classes. This was the first one to be read. I enjoyed the book since it provides a skeleton for writing. It's like cooking classic dishes. You don't want to start adding crazy and unnecessary items to the food or else the presentation, albeit the taste, to fail. This teaches you to write clearly, concisely, and lively. However old this book is, the content within is good for a beginner writer.
All those nice things come with a downside. The book tends to come off as snooty. It can make the reader feel that writing is rigid and one-note. The parts that tell you how to write can come off as condescending as if you need to be guided down the path of writing cause the author doesn't trust writers enough to write "correctly."
This book is a good place to start when beginning writing and, I would imagine, is a good reference to look back on.