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viatai2_'s review against another edition
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.
kheniges's review against another edition
3.0
What's there to say. It's informative and easy to understand.
charle's review against another edition
5.0
Read this in high school and used it in college. Today I read it as a reminder of how to write effectively and guide my students. Clear concise rules are explained. Written many years ago and still a gem.
rachelcus's review against another edition
5.0
This is definitely a book I recommend to be carried absolutely everywhere.
kanjimanji's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a testament to the evolving nature of language, and how much it did since it was published (there, I used 'nature' in a way that the book labels as a 'no-no').
Even though I read an updated version, I still stumbled upon a few outdated, even controversial 'rules'.
I reckon it's enough if you scan the table of contents - they are pretty much legit even today and will remind you of some things to look for when putting words into sentences.
It's a dish worth check it out, but only if served with a side of prejudice.
Even though I read an updated version, I still stumbled upon a few outdated, even controversial 'rules'.
I reckon it's enough if you scan the table of contents - they are pretty much legit even today and will remind you of some things to look for when putting words into sentences.
It's a dish worth check it out, but only if served with a side of prejudice.
tomatopotato's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down one of my favourite books of all time, and my nr1 favourite book on writing.
booksaremyjam's review against another edition
4.0
Except for the bit about foreign languages (which I wholeheartedly disagree with), Strunk & White, besides being a classic, is a truly good book to have on your shelf as a grammar reference guide.
evolvemind's review against another edition
5.0
What more can be said? If you want to communicate effectively in English you need to digest this.
dark_reader's review against another edition
I first encountered "Strunk & White" in my first year of university when it appeared as an optional textbook for a half-class on reading. I bought it then but I don't think I ever made it past the first two or three "rules of elementary usage". Because I attended a French-language grade school, I never formally learned English grammar, so any talk of gerunds, clauses, conjunctions and the like makes me glaze over. Today, on a casual read-through, I find it to be of use to anyone who writes for business or pleasure. Some of the rules and laments about specific words are outdated, but if you are interested in writing with clarity and vigor, this minute handbook is worth looking through for tips and traps that you may be prone to. I often gravitate towards the passive voice, unnecessary wordiness, and ill-conceived use of semi-colons. I feel better equipped now to watch for these.