Quote

Every writer, by the way he uses the language, reveals something of his spirit, his habits, his capacities, his bias....Avoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy, and the cute. Do not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy, ready and able.

William Strunk, Jr.

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

William Strunk, Jr.
Age: 77 †
Born: 1869
Born: July 1
Died: 1946
Died: September 26
Professor
Writer
Cincinnati
Ohio
Spirit
Dollars
Uses
Elaborate
Able
Capacity
Cute
Handy
Habit
Habits
Capacities
Every
Writer
Center
Pretentious
Something
Ready
Twenty
Bias
Way
Word
Twenties
Reveals
Language
Avoid
Tempted
Use
Ten
Dollar

More quotes by William Strunk, Jr.

Image
Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
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.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
...when a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
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.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
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.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
Rewrite and revise. Do not be afraid to seize what you have and cut it to ribbons ... Good writing means good revising.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
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.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
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.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
To acquire style, begin by affecting none.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
To air one's views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.
William Strunk, Jr.
Image
Vigorous writing is concise.
William Strunk, Jr.