William Strunk Jr. was an American professor of English at Cornell University, best known for authoring 'The Elements of Style' in 1918. This concise manual on the principles of English style and composition was originally intended as a textbook for his students, but it gained widespread acclaim after being revised and expanded by his former student, E. B. White. Together, they transformed the book into a seminal work that has influenced generations of writers, educators, and students alike, establishing itself as a cornerstone of English writing instruction. Strunk's emphasis on clarity, brevity, and the importance of style in writing has left a lasting mark on the field of composition. 'The Elements of Style' is often regarded as one of the most significant guides for writers, and its principles continue to be taught in classrooms today. Strunk's legacy endures through this work, which remains a vital resource for anyone seeking to improve their writing skills, making him a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern writing pedagogy.
“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. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.”
“Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.”