---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prefer the specific to the general, the…"
description: "\"“Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract.”\" — William Strunk Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/william-strunk-jr-2-40477_quote_prefer-the-specific-to-the-general-the-d_2097958.jpg"
---

#  Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the…

![“Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract.” quote by William Strunk Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/william-strunk-jr-2-40477_quote_prefer-the-specific-to-the-general-the-d_2097958.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/william-strunk-jr-2-40477_quote_prefer-the-specific-to-the-general-the-d_2097958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/william-strunk-jr-2-40477_quote_prefer-the-specific-to-the-general-the-d_2097958.jpg)

> ““Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract.””

[William Strunk Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-strunk-jr-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choose precise, clear language over vague, broad expressions to improve communication.

**In simple terms:** Be specific, not vague.

Key Takeaway

Use concrete details.

Themes

clarity precision writing communication

Mood

focused analytical

Type

instructional inspirational

When to use this quote

- editing documents
- teaching writing
- public speaking
- marketing copy

Key Concepts

Linguistics style expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How does specificity affect reader engagement?
- When is vagueness appropriate?

A Different Perspective

Specificity can limit creative freedom if overused.

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> [From the point of view of art, there are no concrete or abstract forms, but only forms which are more or less convincing lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/from-the-point-of-view-of-art-there-are-no-concrete-or-abstract-forms/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [“trying to convert an existing class from concrete to abstract by pushing just the concrete parts down into a new subclass, you might accidentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-convert-an-existing-class-from-concrete-to-abstract-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by William Strunk Jr

> [“It is an old observation that the best writers sometimes disregard the rules of rhetoric. When they do so, however, the reader will usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-strunk-jr-2/it-is-an-old-observation-that-the-best-writers-sometimes-disregard/)

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## More Concrete Abstract quotes

> [We speak of concrete and not abstract painting because nothing is more concrete, more real than a line, a color, a surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-van-doesburg/we-speak-of-concrete-and-not-abstract-painting-because-nothing-is/)

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