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The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition [Hardcover]

William Strunk , E. B. White
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 25, 2008 0205632645 978-0205632640 1

You know the authors’ names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. And now The Elements of Style–the most widely read and employed English style manual–is available in a specially bound 50th Anniversary Edition that offers the title's vast audience an opportunity to own a more durable and elegantly bound edition of this time-tested classic.

Offering the same content as the Fourth Edition, revised in 1999, the new casebound 50th Anniversary Edition includes a brief overview of the book's illustrious history. Used extensively by individual writers as well as high school and college students of writing, it has conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. This new deluxe edition makes the perfect gift for writers of any age and ability level.

 

Fifty Years of Acclaim for The Elements of Style:

                                                                                                                                                                               

“I first read Elements of Style during the summer before I went off to Exeter, and I still direct my students at Harvard to their definition about the difference between 'that' and 'which.'  It is the Bible for good, clear writing.” -- Henry Louis Gates Jr.

 

“For writers of all kinds and sizes the world begins and ends with Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Only something to actually write about trumps the list of what is required to put words together in some kind of coherent way. I treasure its presence in my life and salute its fifty years of glory and accomplishment.” -- Jim Lehrer

 

The Elements of Style remains an unwavering beacon of light in these grammatically troubled times.  I would be lost without it.”-- Ann Patchett

 

"To the extent I know how to write clearly at all, I probably taught myself while I was teaching others -- seventh graders, in Flint, Michigan, in 1967.  I taught them with a copy of Strunk & White lying in full view on my desk, sort of in the way the Gideons leave Bibles in cheap hotel rooms, as a way of saying to the hapless inhabitant: ‘In case your reckless ways should strand you here, there's help.’  S&W doesn't really teach you how to write, it just tantalizingly reminds you that there's an orderly way to go about it, that clarity's ever your ideal, but -- really -- it's all going to be up to you."-- Richard Ford

 

 

The Elements of Style never seems to go out of date. Its counsel is sound and funny, wise and unpretentious. And while its precepts are a foundation of direct communication, Strunk and White do not insist on a way of writing beyond clear expression. The rest is up to the imagination, the intelligence within.”-- David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker

 

 “It’s the toughness–the irreverence and implicit laughter–that attracted me to the little book when I was seventeen. I fell in love with Strunk & White’s loathing for cant and bloviation, the ruthless cutting of crap, jargon, and extra words. For me, that skeptical directness included a tacit permission by The Elements of Style to break its rules on occasion: an alloy of generosity in the blade, a grace I still admire and still learn from.”-- Robert Pinsky

 

“In the quest for clarity, one can have no better guides than Strunk and White. For me, their book has been invaluable and remains essential.”-- Dan Rather

 

"Eschew surplusage! A perfect book."--Jonathan Lethem

 

"Not until I started teaching writing and I reread The Elements of Style did I realize that most everything I would be teaching young writers, and everything I would be learning myself as a writer, was contained between the covers of this slim, elegant, wise little book."-- Julia Alvarez

 

“Strunk and White seared their way into my brain long ago, and I benefit from them daily.”-- Steven J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics

 

“Since high school, I have kept a copy of this book handy. That should be unnecessary. I should, by now, have fully internalized The Elements of Style. But sometimes I get entangled in a paragraph that refuses to be ‘clear, brief, bold.’ I dip back into The Elements of Style and am refreshed. After Scott Simon interviewed me on NPR about whether the word ‘e-mail’ needs a hyphen (yes, it does), some listeners, including friends of mine, wondered why I had answered in the affirmative when asked, in passing, ‘Are you a drunken white man?’ Those listeners misheard. ‘Strunk and White man’ was what Scott said.”-- Roy Blount Jr.

 

“Strunk & White--writing's good-natured law firm--still contains enough sparkling good sense to clean up the whole bloviating blogosphere."-- Thomas Mallon

 

 “I used Strunk -- that’s what we called it, Strunk -- as a student at Berkeley fifty years ago.  I didn't know that it was new, and that we were the first generation to be educated in The Elements of Style.  I got a firm foundation in the English language, learned to write basically, and could depict the realistic world.  Then I was able to become an impressionist and expressionist.” -- Maxine Hong Kingston

 

 “Strunk and White's gigantic little book must be the most readable advice on writing ever written.  Side by side with Roget, Shakespeare, the Bible, and a dictionary, it's an essential for every writer's shelf.”-- X.J. Kennedy...



Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

You know the authors’ names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. And now The Elements of Style—the most widely read and employed English style manual—is available in a specially bound 50th Anniversary Edition that offers the title's vast audience an opportunity to own a more durable and elegantly bound edition of this time-tested classic.

Offering the same content as the Fourth Edition, revised in 1999, the new casebound 50th Anniversary Edition includes a brief overview of the book's illustrious history. Used extensively by individual writers as well as high school and college students of writing, it has conveyed the principles of English style to millions of readers. This new deluxe edition makes the perfect gift for writers of any age and ability level.

 

 

Fifty Years of Acclaim for The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

                                                                                                                                                                               

“I first read Elements of Style during the summer before I went off to Exeter, and I still direct my students at Harvard to their definition about the difference between 'that' and 'which.'  It is the Bible for good, clear writing.”

                        -- Henry Louis Gates Jr.

 

“For writers of all kinds and sizes the world begins and ends with Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Only something to actually write about trumps the list of what is required to put words together in some kind of coherent way. I treasure its presence in my life and salute its fifty years of glory and accomplishment.”

                        -- Jim Lehrer

 

The Elements of Style remains an unwavering beacon of light in these grammatically troubled times.  I would be lost without it.”

                        -- Ann Patchett

 

"To the extent I know how to write clearly at all, I probably taught myself while I was teaching others -- seventh graders, in Flint, Michigan, in 1967.  I taught them with a copy of Strunk & White lying in full view on my desk, sort of in the way the Gideons leave Bibles in cheap hotel rooms, as a way of saying to the hapless inhabitant: ‘In case your reckless ways should strand you here, there's help.’  S&W doesn't really teach you how to write, it just tantalizingly reminds you that there's an orderly way to go about it, that clarity's ever your ideal, but -- really -- it's all going to be up to you."

                        -- Richard Ford

 

 

The Elements of Style never seems to go out of date. Its counsel is sound and funny, wise and unpretentious. And while its precepts are a foundation of direct communication, Strunk and White do not insist on a way of writing beyond clear expression. The rest is up to the imagination, the intelligence within.”

                        -- David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker

 

 “It’s the toughness—the irreverence and implicit laughter—that attracted me to the little book when I was seventeen. I fell in love with Strunk & White’s loathing for cant and bloviation, the ruthless cutting of crap, jargon, and extra words. For me, that skeptical directness included a tacit permission by The Elements of Style to break its rules on occasion: an alloy of generosity in the blade, a grace I still admire and still learn from.”

                        -- Robert Pinsky

 

“In the quest for clarity, one can have no better guides than Strunk and White. For me, their book has been invaluable and remains essential.”

                        -- Dan Rather

 

"Eschew surplusage! A perfect book."

                        --Jonathan Lethem

 

"Not until I started teaching writing and I reread The Elements of Style did I realize that

most everything I would be teaching young writers, and everything I would be learning myself as a writer, was contained between the covers of this slim, elegant, wise little book."

                        -- Julia Alvarez

 

 “Strunk and White seared their way into my brain long ago, and I benefit from them daily.”

                        -- Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics

 

“Since high school, I have kept a copy of this book handy. That should be unnecessary. I should, by now, have fully internalized The Elements of Style. But sometimes I get entangled in a paragraph that refuses to be ‘clear, brief, bold.’ I dip back into The Elements of Style and am refreshed.

     After Scott Simon interviewed me on NPR about whether the word ‘e-mail’ needs a hyphen (yes, it does), some listeners, including friends of mine, wondered why I had answered in the affirmative when asked, in passing, ‘Are you a drunken white man?’ Those listeners misheard. ‘Strunk and White man’ was what Scott said.”

                        -- Roy Blount Jr.

 

“Strunk & White--writing's good-natured law firm--still contains enough sparkling good sense to clean up the whole bloviating blogosphere."

                  -- Thomas Mallon

 

 “I used Strunk -- that’s what we called it, Strunk -- as a student at Berkeley fifty years ago.  I didn't know that it was new, and that we were the first generation to be educated in The Elements of Style.  I got a firm foundation in the English language, learned to write basically, and could depict the realistic world.  Then I was able to become an impressionist and expressionist.” 

                  -- Maxine Hong Kingston

 

 “Strunk and White's gigantic little book must be the most readable advice on writing ever written.  Side by side with Roget, Shakespeare, the Bible, and a dictionary, it's an essential for every writer's shelf.”

                        -- X.J. Kenned...

About the Author

William Strunk, Jr. was a Professor of English at Cornell University and first published a private editon of his "little book"  in 1919 for his own writing students. The book was published in 1935 by Oliver Strunk.

E. B. White was a student in Professor Strunk's class at Cornell, and used the small volume himself, during which time he became respectful and appreciative of its pithy and indispensable writing advice.  Commissioned by Macmillan to revise the book, White edited and created new material for the 1959 and 1972 editions of The Elements of Style.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Longman; 1 edition (October 25, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0205632645
  • ISBN-13: 978-0205632640
  • Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Authors

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Customer Reviews

For anyone who loves to write, this book is a must for your library. Joseph Arrigo  |  16 reviewers made a similar statement
This book is as useful today as it was 50 years ago. Allan Shivers  |  10 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
80 of 87 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars A criticism of the edition, not the book July 6, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all, I want to make it clear that I love this book. I borrowed it from a friend a few years ago, which is why I thought it was high time I got my own copy. Unfortunately, once I did, I found that the actual quality of the printing of this edition is horrible. The paper feels cheap and the text looks as if it were poorly photocopied. You would definitely not expect this from an edition billed as "more durable and elegantly bound edition". The only good thing I could say about this edition is that the cover is indeed beautiful, which is a good thing if all you want is something that looks nice on a bookshelf.

I recommend the 4th edition instead.
Was this review helpful to you?
99 of 109 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful edition April 2, 2009
Format:Hardcover
I picked this up sometime in December, after having read the original edition online for free. I know it has been getting a lot of bad reviews citing greed and whatnot, so I thought I'd add my thoughts on this newest edition of the most useful primer on the craft of writing.

In my opinion, the biggest draw of this new edition is the cover. It's black and professional looking; The perfect compliment for your shelf of writing books. I would recommend this edition to anyone willing to spend a little extra for a copy that isn't likely to fall apart after a few dozen reads. Long after you feel you've mastered all there is, you will still find yourself dipping into this now and again as a refresher. The advice is timeless and this high-quality edition does it justice.

If you're a student or don't care about a nicely bound hardcover, you could do just fine getting the ~$10 softcover edition.
Was this review helpful to you?
44 of 49 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Down to earth and helpful April 15, 2009
Format:Hardcover
It's concise.
It's humorous.
It's straightforward.
It's well balanced and reasonably biased.
It's articulate and persuading.
It's just handy if you'd like to write in English.
All in all, it's a must buy.
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
This book very ably tells what good style is. It less ably tells how to achieve it. But knowing what 'good' is, is a solid start. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Frederick Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential
Indispensable reference.

Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
William Shakespeare

Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
Published 1 month ago by Clyf
5.0 out of 5 stars The guide to writing with confidence
I love this book.
It's a beautiful tool.
It's a cook's favorite knife.

Between this and Stephen King's "On Writing" I had everything I needed to start and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by William E. Harlan
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive English Mechanics
I LIVE with this book. It truly leaves nothing -during the use of the English language- to chance. A must have for any writer... of prose, poetry or parking tickets...
Published 3 months ago by Jeffrey Corness
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book
This is a book that every writer should have. I have it next to my desk and reference it often.
Published 4 months ago by Lila J. Guerrero
5.0 out of 5 stars The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition
A must for all - no matter what you're writing. I used the book during preparation for the CP exam.
Published 4 months ago by Mary Waguespack
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Style Book
Great concise guide for tightening your writing style. It makes me want to read Charlottes Web again! Buy it without hesitation!
Published 5 months ago by ngc6969
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Oldie but a Goodie
Celebrate its anniversary and buy yourself some style from the best! Your English instructors and others will love you. Your colleagues will admire you. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr Kimberly Kohlhausen
5.0 out of 5 stars Strunk & White's 50th Anniversary Edition: It's the real thing...
I received The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition from a very close friend a few years back, and she was someone who understood my love for this book that goes back to my... Read more
Published 8 months ago by John Williamson
3.0 out of 5 stars What a beautiful cover!
But this is not the real Strunk & White, which is now known as the "second edition". This is the "fourth edition", with a lovely classic cover, but includes many questionable... Read more
Published 9 months ago by rcb
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