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None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.
William Strunk, Jr.
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William Strunk, Jr.
Age: 77 †
Born: 1869
Born: July 1
Died: 1946
Died: September 26
Professor
Writer
Cincinnati
Ohio
Fallible
None
Sure
Right
More quotes by William Strunk, Jr.
The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place.
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The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.
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Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.
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A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
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The surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definitive, and concrete. The greatest writers - Homer, Dante, Shakespeare - are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.
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Vigorous writing is concise.
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A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.
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Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.
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The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
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In exposition and in argument, the writer must likewise never lose his hold upon the concrete and even when he is dealing with general principles, he must furnish particular instances of their application.
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...when a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.
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To acquire style, begin by affecting none.
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Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
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If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!
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Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.
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If you use a colloquialism or a slang word or phrase, simply use it do not draw attention to it by enclosing it in quotation marks. To do so is to put on airs, as though you were inviting the reader to join you in a select society of those who know better.
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It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.
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Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is a common occurrence in all writing, and among the best writers.
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Rewrite and revise. Do not be afraid to seize what you have and cut it to ribbons ... Good writing means good revising.
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To air one's views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.
William Strunk, Jr.
