The Elements of Style

Unabridged value reproduction of The Elements of Style is the definitive text and classic manual on the principles of English language read by millions of readers. The 18 main topics are organized under the several headings, "Elementary Rules of Usage," "Elementary Principles of Composition," "Words and Expressions Commonly Misused," and others.

Quotes on usage and composition from this book include the oft heard phrases, "Omit needless words," and "Use the active voice."

This is the first edition from 1918 created by Strunk alone, before Strunk's revision and reprinting in 1920, and before the revised editions by E.B. White in 1959 and forward.

Now this book is offered in an unabridged, affordably printed volume.

Contents

I. INTRODUCTORY 3

II. ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE 3

1. Form the possessive singular of nouns with 's. 3

2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last. 4

3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas. 4

4. Place a comma before and or but introducing an independent clause. 6

5. Do not join independent clauses by a comma. 7

6. Do not break sentences in two. 8

7. A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject. 8

8. Divide words at line-ends, in accordance with their formation and pronunciation. 9

III. ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION 10

9. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic. 10

10. As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, end it in conformity with the beginning. 11

11. Use the active voice. 14

12. Put statements in positive form. 16

13. Omit needless words. 17

14. Avoid a succession of loose sentences. 18

15. Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form. 19

16. Keep related words together. 20

17. In summaries, keep to one tense. 22

18. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end. 22

IV. A FEW MATTERS OF FORM 24

V. WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS COMMONLY MISUSED 25

VI. WORDS OFTEN MISSPELLED 34