Application Quote by William Strunk, Jr
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Elements of Style, 1918
Writers must anchor abstract ideas with concrete examples to maintain clarity.
In simple terms: Use concrete examples.
Key Takeaway
Ground ideas.
Themes
writing
clarity
pedagogy
Mood
educational
practical
Type
instructional
guideline
When to use this quote
- teaching
- technical writing
- public speaking
Key Concepts
rhetoric
illustration
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you need concrete detail?
- How can you balance abstraction and illustration?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on examples can clutter prose.
![“My sermon on the meaning of the manna in the wilderness can be adapted to almost any occasion, joyful, or, as in the present case, distressing. [All sigh.] I have preached it at harvest celebrations, christenings, confirmations, on days of humiliation and festal days.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b60/oscar-wilde-16_exposition_my-sermon-on-the-meaning-of-the-manna-in_100966.jpg)
