William Strunk Jr. Quotes

...when a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.

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.

If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!

Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.

To acquire style, begin by affecting none.

None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.

Vigorous writing is concise.

Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.

Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.

The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.

A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.

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.

The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place.

Rewrite and revise. Do not be afraid to seize what you have and cut it to ribbons ... Good writing means good revising.

Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.

To air one's views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.

A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.

Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.

It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.

The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.

Do not, therefore, say "I feel nauseous, " unless you are sure you have that effect on others.

Writers will often find themselves steering by stars that are disturbingly in motion.