Evergreen Bookclub 2: ‘The Elements of Style’ by Strunk and White
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White - a must read for anyone who writes in English!
Prelude
The Evergreen Bookclub pick for May is ‘The Elements of Style’ by William Strunk Jr and E B White.
I cannot believe it took me until now to pick up this gem of a book. Anyone who writes anything in English (whether that be something as simple as a tweet, or as complex as a book) should read this book and continue to refer back to it.
It is a very small and succinct guide that gives a surprising amount of information.
This is going to be one big exercise of sorts - I will highlight the 'rules' and discussion that I found to be most helpful, but, in keeping with the aim of the Evergreen Bookclub of connecting reading with life, I would urge you to:
Take a piece of your own writing (again, this could be something as everyday as an email)
Pick up your own copy of the book (you will definitely be able to find a copy that's cheaper than the price of a coffee!)
Work through that piece of writing as you're reading the book and this blog post.
Remember to join my email list if you want to receive a pdf of the questions (without all my notes in-between).
I want to use this as an opportunity to discuss the fun and adventure of English grammar and style, and to make a gentle case for why everyone should aim to have an understanding of the ‘rules’ - so that you know what you’re doing, write clearly, and choose to throw them out the window if you so wish!
I think it’s also important to apply all this to your own writing - not just learning rules by rote or doing boring and outdated grammar exercises. I think learning grammar and style comes with using the language. Reading broadly is a good place to start - to get an ‘ear’ for what works and what doesn’t, but you eventually have to actually apply the rules to your own writing. Then clear, precise writing will start to come naturally.
Note: you don't have to consider yourself a writer for this to be useful!
I’ve already mentioned this, but I’ll say it again: practically everyone writes something often - whether it be an email, a text message, a tweet, or an Instagram caption.
It's important to have a good command over English - most people use it too loosely and they (sometimes, sadly) lose the interest and respect of the reader. This can have some pretty severe consequences (eg missing out on a job opportunity because of incorrect grammar on your CV!).
Writing is also an excellent way to think through things - I often come to novel realisations about something by writing about it.
This book calls itself the elements of style - not the elements of grammar
What do these terms actually mean?
Grammar
According to the Grammarist: 'Grammar is the way in which language is structured, the rules that are the foundation of that structure and the study of those rules.'
Usage
'Usage describes the way a language is used by native speakers, it is the application of grammar rules at a local level.'
Style
'Between grammar and usage there are many areas of English language use that are up for debate. Style steps into this fray to bring some order to these conflicts.’ In other words, style is perhaps more subjective than grammar. Let’s keep this in mind.
A few quick questions before we get stuck into the book:
Q1 What is your biggest struggle with writing (in terms of grammar and style)? What would you like to improve?
If you don't have an answer for this, perhaps you will by the end of this exercise after you've interrogated your own writing!
Q2 Did you ever formally learn the rules of grammar and style?
Australian schools went through a period of not formally teaching English grammar - so I never learned it. Everything I know has been acquired through usage, correction, and through attempting to learn other languages!
Okay, take out your chosen piece of writing and let’s get started.
Strunk and White have some general thoughts about writing and language that I think are extremely useful to keep in mind:
'Writing is hard, even for authors who do it all the time' - I think this is good to remember when you’re finding it difficult!
'Vigorous writing is concise' (nothing unnecessary). I struggle with this a bit…
'The language is perpetually in flux’.
'Writing good standard English is no cinch, and before you have managed it you will have encountered enough rough country to satisfy even the most adventurous spirit.’ I discussed this (how English is not necessarily an easy language to master) a little over on Instagram, if you’d like some more thoughts on this.
Aim for: 'clear, brief, bold' writing. I think it’s useful to consider a few things here:
What idea(s) are you trying to convey?
Who is your reader? (and what is their background knowledge?)
What do you want your readers to do with your ideas?
How can you modify your writing to make it more understandable to your reader, and to help them do what you want them to do with your ideas (using the most minimum and clear language)?
Chapter 1 - Elementary rules of usage
Note: we’re not going to cover all the rules; I’ve simply pulled out some important examples, as well as those rules that provoked questions.
Rule 2: Use the 'serial comma’
Example:
I bought bananas, apples, and pears.
Not: I bought bananas, apples and pears.
Q3 Do you use this comma before the ‘and’?
I used to be quite complacent about it, but I have found it to change the meaning in some cases.
Rule 3: 'Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas'
Meaning, the statement (or word) that explains or qualifies something should be placed within commas.
Example:
My baby, who is one year old, slept all night.
Not: My baby who is one year old, slept all night.
Also not: My baby, who is one year old slept all night.
Q4 Do you check for this as you're writing?
I learned this one in university, and it has really stuck with me.
They also suggest that even abbreviations such as etc, ie, eg, PhD...should be treated in this way (surrounded by commas). This was something I was not aware of!
Rule 4: 'Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause'
Okay, what?!
Conjunction = words that link clauses, words, and phrases together (eg or, and, but, if).
Independent clause = can stand alone as a sentence.
Example:
I like to sing when no one is listening, but I like to speak to an audience.
Q5 Did you know about this rule?
This is another one I wasn't aware of.
Rule 5: If independent clauses are not joined by a conjunction, then a semicolon should be used instead of a comma, or they should be split into two separate sentences.
Example
There is no food in the fridge; we will not be eating before 8pm.
OR: There is no food in the fridge. We will not be eating before 8pm.
OR: There is no food in the fridge, so we won't be eating before 8pm.
But they do mention that you can use a comma in certain situations: when the clauses are short, or when the writing is more conversational (an example of the ‘rules’ sometimes being fluid and open to subjective interpretation).
NOTE: Strunk and White argue for the importance of rules 3-5 (the one’s we’ve just covered), and suggest that they should be mastered.
Rule 8: Dashes (-)
'A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than a paranthesis'.
I use dashes ALL THE TIME - especially in blog writing (and other more casual forms of writing). They suggest to only use them 'when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate.' I like to use them to make the writing more casual and accessible. I also think they add space, and therefore emphasis.
Q6 When do you use dashes? Do you use them for a particular reason?
Rule 9: 'The number of the subject determines the number of the verb'
This seems like a fairly straightforward rule, but there are many complications.
For example: 'None of us are perfect' vs 'None of us is perfect'.
I'd recommend a close reading of this section if you struggle with this.
Chapter 2 - Elementary Principles of Composition
Rule 12: 'Choose a suitable design and hold to it'
They say:
’Writing, to be effective, must follow closely the thoughts of the writer, but not necessarily the order in which those thoughts occur.
'But in most cases, planning must be a deliberate prelude to writing.'
Q7 Do you write to a plan?
Rule 13: Paragraphs - 'one paragraph to each topic’
They suggest that a paragraph can be any length.
Q8 Are you comfortable writing one sentence paragraphs? I think they can be useful for emphasis.
They also warn against big blocks of text, and even suggest breaking them up into two - purely for 'visual help'. I think this is even more useful in this day and age, where people are skimming things or reading things on the go.
Rule 14: 'Use the active voice'
I think this is an incredibly important one. The passive voice is still prevalent in science, but this is slowly changing. At the beginning of my studies, I was taught to write: 'It was determined that....' rather than: 'I determined that...'
Q9 Have you been taught to use the passive voice in particular situations?
They argue: 'The habitual use of the active voice, however, makes for forcible writing.’
Rule 16: 'Use definite, specific, concrete language’
I think this rule goes well together with rule 17: Make 'every word tell' ('omit needless words)
Q10 Are there any words in your piece of writing that are just acting as 'filler' rather than clearly articulating what you mean?
Rule 20: 'Keep related words together’
'The subject of a sentence and the principal verb should not, as a rule, be separated by a phrase or clause that can be transferred to the beginning.'
Separating related words is something I am often guilty of!
Q11 Can you find examples of this in your own writing? Does it make more sense when you put the related words together?
Chapter 3 - A few matters of form
‘Reserve the exclamation mark for true exclamations’. I'm really guilty of exclamation mark overuse, particularly in casual written conversation. I use them because I want to show my excitement and interest, and to make the writing look more friendly.
Q12 How do you feel about exclamation marks? Do you use them frequently? If so, when and for what purpose? How do you feel being on the receiving end of exclamation-heavy writing?
Chapter 4 - Words and Expressions Commonly Misused
'The shape of our language is not rigid; in questions of usage we have no lawgiver whose word is final'.
They don’t like 'And/or' - another one I use a lot!
They suggest that 'case' (as in: 'in this case) is 'often unnecessary'.
'Disinterested' = impartial, not uninterested.
'Hopefully' = 'with hope', not 'I hope' - I use hopefully in the incorrect sense all the time. But I think this is an example of English evolving and changing.
'Why say "utilise" when there is the simple, unpretentious word use?' Good point. I was guilty of overly using ‘utilise’ in my scientific writing.
'Oriented. A clumsy, pretentious device, much in vogue.’ I use this a lot - including on my homepage! Oops!
Don't use 'so' as an intensifier. Another one I use a lot - but in casual circumstances.
Q13 Do you misuse any of the words and expressions discussed in this chapter?
Chapter 5 - An approach to style
Concerning style, Strunk and White argue that 'writers will often find themselves steering by stars that are disturbingly in motion' - ie there are no hard and fast rules.
Here are many of the approaches to style that they suggest. I think they are really useful to keep in mind - for all writers, not just the beginner.
'Place yourself in the background'.
'Write in a way that comes naturally'.
'Work from a suitable design' (ie have a plan).
'Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs' (or rather, focus on using nouns and verbs - they’re not telling us to chop all adjectives and adverbs!).
'Revise and rewrite' - 'Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery.' I find this to be true. In fact, my best writing is often the writing that has undergone the most surgery.
'Do not overwrite'.
'Do not overstate'.
'Avoid the use of qualifiers' (eg rather, very, little).
'Do not explain too much' - 'it is seldom advisable to tell all' (perhaps true in all of life?!)
'Avoid fancy words'.
'Be clear'.
'Do not inject opinion' - I'd say this depends on what you are writing and who you're writing for.
'Prefer the standard to the offbeat’.
Q14 What was your biggest insight from ‘The Elements of Style’? Were there any aspects of English grammar and style that you weren’t previously aware of?
Again, I think it’s important to emphasise that language use is subjective - even use of some of the more objective rules has a subjective element. What’s important is to have a good understanding of the rules and recommendations and then be very clear about what choices you’re making in your writing and for what reasons.
Remember to leave any comments, insights, or questions in the comments below! Do you have any other grammar and style resources that you’ve found useful? And please let me know if you have any recommendations for future Evergreen Bookclub picks.
If you enjoyed this iteration of the Evergreen Bookclub, you might also like:
The Evergreen Bookclub - connecting reading to life (an intro and description of what it’s all about)
Evergreen Bookclub 1: "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth
A collection of writing resources - for novices and experts (if you are a writer, or want to start writing)
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