What we put down on paper — or in a word processing program like Word 2007, these days — says a lot about us. Poor grammar, badly formed syntax, and atrocious sentence structure all contribute to make us not take seriously many people who decide to get out there and start blogging. That’s why we give thanks every day to Messrs. Strunk and White, the authors of “The Elements of Style.”
First written in 1918 by Cornell University professor William Strunk, Jr. to help writers using American standards of English, this invaluable resource — though vilified by some in the literary/academic community — has more than served well several generations of budding writers and authors.
A “Fiftieth Anniversary” edition was recently published this year (2009), and it’s just as insightful, trenchant, and educational as ever. E. B. White picked up the editing and updating challenge in later years, and the legacy of this book will last in literary history as long as there’s an English student out there struggling with how to say something in a concise, informative manner.
Learning to Write Well
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