William Strunk, Jr. Quotes
28 quotes
in 414 categories
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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…
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The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
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If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!
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It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.
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Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.
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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,…
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A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
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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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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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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,…
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In his Philosophy of Style, Herbert Spencer gives two sentences to illustrate how the vague and general can be turned into the vivid and particular:…
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This book is intended for use in English courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. It aims to…
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Vigorous writing is concise.
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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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Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
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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…
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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…
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Do not, therefore, say "I feel nauseous," unless you are sure you have that effect on others.
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...when a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.
Browse William Strunk, Jr. Quotes by Category
Inspirational Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (11)
Love Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (8)
Words Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (6)
Writing Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (5)
Funny Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (5)
Should Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (4)
Sentences Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (4)
Drawing Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (3)
Lines Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (3)
Attention Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (3)
Machine Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (3)
Mark Quotes by William Strunk, Jr. (3)