The Elements of Style

by William Strunk Jr.

This rule does not, of course, mean that the writer should entirely discard the passive voice, which is frequently convenient and sometimes necessary. The dramatists of the Restoration are little esteemed today. Modern readers have little esteem for the dramatists of the Restoration. The first would be the preferred form in a paragraph on the dramatists of the Restoration, the second in a paragraph on the tastes of modern readers. The need to make a particular word the subject of the sentence will often, as in these examples, determine which voice is to be used.

Note, in the examples above, that when a sentence is made stronger, it usually becomes shorter. Thus, brevity is a by-product of vigor.

Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, noncommittal language. Use the word not as a means of denial or in antithesis, never as a means of evasion.

Negative words other than not are usually strong. Her loveliness I never knew / Until she smiled on me.

If your every sentence admits a doubt, your writing will lack authority. Save the auxiliaries would, should, could, may, might, and can for situations involving real uncertainty.

Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract. A period of unfavorable weather set in. »»»»» It rained every day for a week. He showed satisfaction as he took possession of his well-earned reward. »»»»» He grinned as he pocketed the coin.

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 sentences short, or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

The fact that is an especially debilitating expression. It should be revised out of every sentence in which it occurs. owing to the fact that »»»»» since (because) in spite of the fact that »»»»» though (although) call your attention to the fact that »»»»» remind you (notify you) I was unaware of the fact that »»»»» I was unaware that (did not know) the fact that he had not succeeded »»»»» his failure the fact that I had arrived »»»»» my arrival

A common way to fall into wordiness is to present a single complex idea, step by step, in a series of sentences that might to advantage be combined into one. Macbeth was very ambitious. This led him to wish to become king of Scotland. The witches told him that this wish of his would come true. The king of Scotland at this time was Duncan. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth murdered Duncan. He was thus enabled to succeed Duncan as king. (51 words) »»»»» Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth achieved his ambition and realized the prediction of the witches by murdering Duncan and becoming king of Scotland in his place. (26 words)