Computers Quote by William Strunk, Jr
“Vigorous writing is concise. 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.”
About This Quote
Effective writing mirrors good design: every word, sentence, and paragraph should serve a purpose, eliminating excess just as a drawing omits unnecessary lines and a machine avoids superfluous parts.
In simple terms: Writing should be concise, like a well‑designed object.
Key Takeaway
Economy of language.
Themes
writing style
conciseness
design
efficiency
Mood
pragmatic
instructive
Type
advice
style guide
When to use this quote
- editing workshops
- technical manuals
- advertising copy
Key Concepts
aesthetics of minimalism
Practical Applications
- apply editing checklists to cut filler words
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks arise when striving for extreme brevity?
- How does conciseness affect reader comprehension?
