Tips from The Elements of Style

by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White

1. Put statements in positive form: Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless,
non-committal language. Dont use not as a means of evasion.
He was not very often on time.
He did not think that studying Latin was
a sensible way to use ones time.

He usually came late.

He thought the study of Latin was a
waste of time.

o As a rule, express even negative statements in positive form.

not honest
did not remember
did not pay attention to
dishonest

forgot
ignored

o Remove unnecessary auxiliaries and conditionals. Save auxiliaries (would,

should, could, may, might, and can) for situations of real uncertainty.
You can make a good impression by
being neat and punctual.
Keats may be ranked among those
Romantic poets who died young.

You make a good impression if you are

neat and punctual.
Keats was one of several Romantic poets
who died young.

o Place negative and positive in opposition for a stronger structure:

It is society that dictates what is wrong and what is right, not the
law.
2. Use definite, specific, concrete language. Prefer the specific to the general, the
definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract.

A period of unfavorable weather set it.

He showed satisfaction as he took
possession of his well-earned reward.

It rained every day for a week.

He grinned as he pocketed the coin.

Even in expositional and argumentative writing should be concrete.

each student receives a unique numerical

demarcation on their skin
principles of composition
his tendency to repeat undesirable
patters of behavior

each student is tattooed with a special

number
rules for writing
his destructive habits

3. Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no

unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences. Every word must serve
a purpose. Many phrases in common use violate this principle.
the question as to whether
there is no doubt but that
he is a man who
in a hasty manner
this is a subject that
the reason why is that

The fact that is especially debilitating. Do, did, does as auxiliaries are
pointless.

owing to the fact that

in spite of the fact that
call your attention to the fact that
the fact that he had not succeeded
Americans do find courage
his ideas did give America a look at

whether
no doubt (doubtless)
he
hastily
this subject
because

since (because)
though (although)
remind you (notify you)
his failure
Americans find courage
his ideas gave America a look at

Who is, which was, and the like are often superfluous.

His brother, who is a member of the

same firm
Trafalgar, which was Nelsons last battle

His brother, a member of the same firm

Trafalgar, Nelsons last battle

Strunk, William Jr., and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. Macmillan: New York, 1979.