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It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.

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
Wrong
Irresolute
Worse

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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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None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.
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Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.
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Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.
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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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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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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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To acquire style, begin by affecting none.
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The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.
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Vigorous writing is concise.
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A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
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Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.
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Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
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A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
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To air one's views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.
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If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!
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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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Avoid fancy words....If you admire fancy words, if every sky is beauteous, every blonde curvaceous, every intelligent child prodigious, if you are tickled by discombobulate, you will have bad time Reminder 14.
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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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