Why you need Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style

For writers, there’s no more important guidebook than The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White. This insanely influential, totally essential book not only hits on the basics of grammar and usage, but also dives into the complexities of composition and style with intention of making the reader a clearer, more powerful writer. And full of examples of good writing vs. drab, stilted writing, The Elements of Style will absolutely do just that. I make it a point to re-read my copy at least every few months.

Yes, it’s that important.

So important in fact, that chances are, any blog or article you read nowadays that showcases writing tips is at the very least inspired by this book. Yes, even my own. Quoting directly from The Elements of Style: “Rich ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating…It is always a good idea to reread your writing later and ruthlessly delete the excess.” Sound familiar? It’s oddly remnant of a post I wrote on being concise. They just said it better.  

Honestly, there’s no shortage of praise for Strunk and White across the internets, all I’m trying to say is that it’s 100% deserved. If you fancy yourself an aspiring writer or just a person who wants to communicate more clearly and concisely through the written word, this book is a must have. It has undoubtedly made me a better writer. And it can do the same for you.

Buy it now