Book Of The Week: Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style"

If you've done so much as briefly scan the pages of this site, you'll know that I can be a little anal about grammar and style.

Contrary to popular belief, I am not perfect and I make plenty of mistakes. My efforts are not contradictory to such errors, but a means of improving on them.

Understandably, it's one thing if you're chatting with a chum where colloquial and jargon is a more common happenstance, but if you happen to be one of the lucky few who can afford to make a living by writing, then please make an effort to use proper, functional English.

William Stunk Jr.and E.B. White first published the famed guide for all writers "The Elements of Style" in 1959. It has since experienced a handful of revisions and different editions, but the effect remains the same; it is the writer's Bible.


The book's ultimate efficacy is apparent in its timelessness and ability to truncate an idea into a simple concept. Ideas span from the basic ('s as a means of identifying the possessive) to the those which deal with style (Chapter V's "Approach To Style".)

Let's have a gander at an example shall we;

Currently. In the sense of now with a verb in the present tense, currently is usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved through a more precise reference to time.

We are currently reviewing your file.

We are at this moment reviewing your application.

* This is a great example of a principle of style, more so than grammar.

Should you have a penchant for the proper usage of grammar and style, or wish to improve the way you write, this book is a must-have. Even if you're not a writer, it stands as a perfect set of guidelines for those simply looking to improve the way they write, and as a result the way they speak - which, depending on which circles you socialize in, may make all the difference in the world.

As a final point vaguely concerning "The Elements of Style", I found an image on the Internet pertaining to the book that should amuse an old friend of mine. I can be a decent friend, but a real prick to those who make the occasional grammatical error - this is for you;


Thanks for reading folks - you're continued support is valued.