"Do not overwrite. Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating."
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Elements of Style (Revised) | 
"Do not overwrite. Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating."
pickThis is a great little quick guid to some of the most common style/grammar errors writers make. The formatting irritated me a bit but overall it‘s a good reference guide.
I am trying to organize my hubby‘s new home office. I can‘t tell you how many years I have been trying to find my Strunk and White. But here it is. I guess he used it a lot. The last time I saw it, it still had a cover. Sigh. I guess it might be time for an upgrade. But it won‘t be the same.
#DecemberSong Day 26: #TheManyAndTheFew is somewhat of a stretch here - with many nuts and few drinks hehehehe- plus Strunk and White have always advocated for parsimony of language: less is more. 💕 - posting a day early to give myself a bit of a break tomorrow, especially as we head out into the city (Abu Dhabi). 📚❄️🏔🐫
#WondrousWednesday @Eggs
1) Talent is in the writing that really hooks your interest, I'd say. The Elements of Style can help, building on storytelling talents.
2) That a tough one, on a view of any writing that keeps you reading. 🤔 Stephen King sure has incredible talent; so many masterful novel ideas, and great chapters to crave!
Thanks @Trashcanman for the tag. -- I tag anyone who has time. 😋 Bed soon for me .. but can stay up for reading!
I am always getting told not to do it this way because it's incorrect and I keep writing it this way because it looks better to me.
Vindication!!
I was recently sent these books from a family member. I‘ve only just started them, but I‘m already learning new things! I can‘t wait to put all of this new found knowledge to good use.
November was rough so getting any reading done at all was an accomplishment! Nanowrimo consumed nearly all my spare time & dealing with all kinds of stressful life, health, & work issues used up the rest of my energy. I wasn‘t able to participate much in any of the November challenges but I hope December will be better! My #FavoriteNovemberRead was the tagged book, much to my surprise. #GratefulReads #NamasteNovember #NovStats
Another peeve of mine. I particularly like the last bit in this explanation of the difference.
Thank you, Messers Strunk and White! One of my greatest peeves is the misuse of “I could care less” when one means “I could NOT care less.”
pickI was inspired by @TK-421 to pick this up and read it. The glossary helps with the grammatical terms, the rules and reminders are clear and useful, the the examples are interesting (if sometimes dated).
A friend asked me to read her novel (I read her first draft two years ago), and I‘ll keep these tips in mind as I compile my feedback.
#NFNovember
pickI expected “the little book” to be tedious but I had trouble putting it down! I think I‘ll be keeping it handy for reference; I‘m now aware I‘ve forgotten a lot since my school days. I‘d like to read the 4th edition or the 2005 illustrated edition because some of the book is dated, but overall it‘s full of practical advice about clear & concise writing. As one who struggles with brevity, “omit needless words” (rule 17) is good advice! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickIt was short and fun to read. A lot of the advice had me nodding my head or saying “oh that makes sense.” But chunks of it are outdated and it‘s very white-centric with what “correct” or “proper” English is to them. Overall I‘d call it a useful read if you take it with some big grains of salt. And maybe get a newer edition than the one I read.
In case you need a good laugh this morning!
#grammariansoflitsy #humpdayhaha #youreadorable #notyouradorable
I had the Penguin Illustrated Edition of Strunk & White and kept it in my office at work — and one of my colleagues stole it. It‘s been ten years and I‘m still upset about it.
I‘m excited to get my hands on a copy of Dreyer‘s English.
And that sums up my feelings about grammar. 😀
Such a good read to sharpen your writing skills and brush up on what you already know😊📖
@jmofo This is the book I had for my writing short fictions class. It‘s almost like a little writing encyclopaedia. It has a bunch of topics and about a paragraph, at most, for each topic.
It was time for a new copy. The pin is by Janemount for those curious.
I am personally on the "always use the serial comma" train. Anyone else?
A buck ninety-five and read by Frank McCourt. I couldn‘t resist. https://mobile.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/The-Elements-of-Style-Recorded-Bo...
Anyone have a book rec for a "book with a unique writing style?"
#riotgrams challenge today: punctuation
The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
#day11 #punctuation
@bookriot
pickYou have to go into this knowing that some of the rules of usage need updating (the latest edition was published in 2000), and some may never have been correct to begin with, according to Grammar Girl at least. My advice? Google every rule you're unsure of, because a second opinion (or third, or fourth) is often warranted. The chapters about composition and style get top marks, of course.
"...and the practice and habit of writing not only drain the mind but supply it, too."
"'It's an old observation,' [Strunk] wrote, 'that the best writers sometimes disregard the rules of rhetoric. When they do so, however, the reader will usually find in the sentence some compensating merit, attained at the cost of the violation. Unless she is certain of doing so well, she will probably do best to follow the rules.'"
I made the pronouns feminine, and you have my word, no more photos of old white dudes today.
Introduction by E.B. White: "[Strunk] devotes a special paragraph to the vile expression 'the fact that,' a phrase that causes him to quiver with revulsion... I suppose I have written 'the fact that' a thousand times in the heat of composition, revised it out maybe five hundred times in the cool aftermath. To be batting only .500 this late in the season... saddens me, for it seems a betrayal of the man who showed me how to swing at it..."
Just noticed this on the front page of my local paper. Seems a shame to ban folks after such a tragedy...
Yet another copy of the writer's best friend. My third copy and the first book in my, must read for writers series.
This is a popular choice for today's prompt, so I thought I would go with this quote I came across a while back. 😂🔫
#jubilantjuly #style
I don't know if this is still the case but when I was in college "The Elements of Style" was a must-have reference. #style
#jubilantjuly
Greetings, Fellow Style Mavens! I know you're out there ... the most recent edition of slightly Foxed Quarterly has a fine article about The Elements of Style. ❤️
My Mom and Aunt Linda came over yesterday to help me rearrange my house so my writing desk could come downstairs. This is the only book I brought down from my office upstairs (so far). I think it's fitting for a writing space.
https://qz.com/932004/the-oxford-comma-a-maine-court-settled-the-grammar-debate-...
In a double victory for BOTH truck drivers seeking overtime benefits AND proper use of the Oxford comma, I now have a new favorite legal precedent!
Getting back to business and starting edits on my NaNoWriMo 2016 project over the next couple of days. I think my new pin will provide a reminder (and a much needed kick in the pants). Feel free to provide assistance with the kick in the pants, beloved Littens!
Grammar Nerd Pet Peeve: When people describe a simile as a "great metaphor."
While I await what will surely be covered in the next edition, what is the rule on whether an emoji can serve double grammatical duty in a sentence (as an end parenthesis ;-)?
Last night, I was on Facebook complaining about people who don't use commas. In my frustration, I may have said something about beating them about the head with my copy of Strunk and White (I definitely said exactly that). In response, my dear friend, Jeremy, photoshopped the above picture.
Enjoyed visiting Books & Books in Miami Beach where we picked up an illustrated edition of The Elements of Style.
Work work work work work work work (and check Litsy...) #hotdrinkandabook #seasonsreadings2016
@RealLifeReading
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