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Product details Paperback: 105 pages Publisher: Pearson; 4th edition (August 2, 1999) Language: English ISBN-10: 9780205309023 ISBN-13: 978-0205309023 ASIN: 020530902X Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.3 inches Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Customer Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,881 customer reviews Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Grammar Reference (Books) #1 in Medical Research (Books) #1 in Technical Writing Reference (Books) Would you like to tell us about a lower price? If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

4.7 out of 5

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Tom

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy the ebook version

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I purchased the ebook The Elements of Style. It has the fourth edition cover, but it's actually the free Project Gutenberg 1st edition, written solely by William Strunk Jr in 1918. It is dishonest for Amazon to sell this; I called customer service and obtained a refund.

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Christopher Renoll

1.0 out of 5 stars Thumbnail shows 4th edition cover; ebook is actually the ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Thumbnail shows 4th edition cover; ebook is actually the Project Gutenberg that is "for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost."

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Rachel O.

1.0 out of 5 stars Kindle Download, content didn't match the cover.

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This review isn't to the content of the book, but about the Kindle Edition.The book I downloaded had the cover for the Strunk and E.B. White version, Fourth Edition but was actually the 1920 edition with the wrong cover. So just wanted to give potential readers of this book a head's up that if you want to buy this book on Kindle, do the "Look Inside" preview to make sure the edition matches the cover and description.

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94 people found this helpful

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Thomas Hunter II

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2019

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, is the absolute must-have book for anyone aspiring to write any sort of content. It is even referenced by some of the other books mentioned in this post. This book is a terse pocket-guide full of best practices for forming sentences. Various concepts are broken down and many example sentences are provided. Much emphasis given to writing a sentence using as few words as possible. The book is so short and so useful that it makes sense to occasionally reread it. The book itself is about 100 years old and almost every single suggestion still holds true today.

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24 people found this helpful

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Dante Wilcox

5.0 out of 5 stars but this could easily fit in a pocket or small bag

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This ought to be the book that is handed out at the beginning of a child's public education. Not only is it effective at explaining nearly every grammatical concept that one would need to know, it is done succinctly, in a way that it can become a quick reference book. Most grammar textbooks are long and cumbersome, but this could easily fit in a pocket or small bag, which makes it perfectly good at what it does, which is teach grammar, unlike so many of the longer books that make certain people more money, but do nothing for those who read them. If you like reading or writing, get this book.

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LifeIsGoodTop Contributor: Photography

VINE VOICE

5.0 out of 5 stars A staple for anyone who writes

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I've loved this book since I first ran across it more than 30 years ago. Simple, straight to the point, and easy to understand. Admittedly, some of the rules in here are dated and others have been "relaxed" (or reversed), but writing purists (like myself) still hold this book dear and sacred. One of the best features of this book is that in its brevity it provides a solid foundation for concise writing. Anyone from junior high through college and beyond can learn from this book.

Getting this as an eBook just makes it so much easier to carry, means you'll never lose it, and adds the ability to search it. Love it, love it, love it!

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11 people found this helpful

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Honey🍯Top Contributor: Cooking

TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE

5.0 out of 5 stars "Make every word count." This book is an absolute necessity for quality writing.

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This little book is a classic necessity for those who want the grammar and usage to be impeccable in their writing.

The book is compact, so you can keep it at hand with your other writing needs. It is easy and pleasurable to read, with every writing-related subject you can think of (or should I state, of which you can think) nicely organized, complete with both correct and incorrect examples.

I once read a bit of advice from E.B White that stated in essence, "Make every word count."
For me, that is the starting point for excellent writing.

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15 people found this helpful

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JboneCA

4.0 out of 5 stars Not comprehensive, but a wonderful start

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book can easily double your proficiency in English composition. There are exhaustive books and multi-volume sets that will delve into the peculiarities and nuances of the English language, whereas this one will give you the essentials. Strunk and White do have some opponents in the finer points of English usage, but for the most part this is an accepted primer on the subject.

Part 1 is essentially a recap of the most commonly abused rules. How to use parentheses, possessive nouns, commas, colons, cases, hyphens, participles, are a few of the addressed topics. Even if you're a decent writer who doesn't misuse a few of these elements, it's still beneficial to know the rules behind their proper usage. Some naturally know where a comma goes in a sentence, but explaining it is another matter.

Part 2 Is about composition. Voice, tense, tone, paragraphs, and connecting ideas are the primary topics here. Additionally, Strunk and White introduce and develop their characteristic minimalism in writing. How can we omit needless words, pare down our paragraphs, and become effective writers by sticking to the main points of argument? They can help.

Part 4 is more about misused phrases and words. There are a bunch of homonyms, idioms, and homophones that give people trouble in writing. Do you know when to use pare or pear, bare or bear, less or fewer? They give you the proper usage and a few tricks to remember their use.

Parts 3 and 5 are concerned with developing an individual style in writing. They use the principles of strong writing to aid the reader in developing a subjective style. This may seem counterintuitive; the rules are objective but the style is subjective. But by learning the essentials of style, you have the ability to contemplate how you would personally expand these principles to achieve your own voice. Would you prefer a terse and staccato style or a whimsical and flowery style?

It really should be handed out to anyone planning on attending university. Too many of today's students are awful writers, and it's simply because they haven't been taught. This can help.

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Top international reviews

Rebekah B

5.0 out of 5 stars The (little) grammar bible

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 17, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I wield this book furiously at anyone who dares to disagree with my prolific use of the Oxford comma or punctuation-light lists. This was a required textbook on my BA Creative Writing and I still have it sat next to me on my desk at work nearly ten years later. Strunk and White is a handy quick reference guide for good grammar, style, and layout. Despite being a relatively old book the rules in it are timeless, and the writing style of the book itself is uncluttered and easy to follow. Every rule in the book is supported by examples to ease your understanding, making them much easier to apply to your own writing style.

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16 people found this helpful

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Sue Cartwright

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any discerning writer

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2019

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

An invaluable reference book and my new close companion to help me to achieve 'cleanliness, accuracy, and brevity in the use of English.'

First written by Professor Will Strunk as a summation of English usage, composition, and form with words and expressions commonly misused, and later polished, expanded and transformed into a classic reference book thirty-eight years later by Strunk's student, E. B. White, 'The Elements of Style' does indeed contain 'rich deposits of gold.'

This book will help you to write better through eleven elementary rules such as using commas, dashes, and colons; eleven elementary principles of composition such as design, active voice and summaries; a few matters of form such as headings, exclamations and numerals; words and expressions commonly misused; an approach to style with a list of reminders; and a glossary of terms.

I read this book in one sitting, underlining key points on every page, wanting to take it all in so that I could immediately put the rules and style approaches into practice.

A must for any discerning writer - a book that will inspire you to write, move you to want to write every day, and help you to write well.

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6 people found this helpful

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Lois Robinson

5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary reading!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Since studying at university and graduating, I have kept this book in arms reach on my work desk since! I’m not the best with grammar, and it’s so reassuring to be able to just quickly check something over if your unsure, particularly when writing papers or minutes in a professional capacity.

It’s also really small and light, so could be kept in a handbag at all times! I think anyone studying in the English language should have a copy of this, from as young as possible, so they have the confidence to use grammar correctly, and to be able to define their writing style.

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4 people found this helpful

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David H

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic for a reason

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is a classic for a reason. Every writer can find space for this on their shelf (literally, it's tiny!). Obviously, some aspects of it are controversial or contested, but as references go it's pretty good.

If you found this review in any way useful I’d be grateful if you let me know by clicking the “helpful” button below :)

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3 people found this helpful

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Avid Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless little book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2020

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a priceless little book that I have had for years. I lent it to someone who lost it so I instantly replaced it as it is a reference book I cannot live without. If you are a writer of anything at all then this little gem should be on your shelf. I guarantee that whatever you are looking for regarding good English and grammar, you will find it here. Cannot recommend highly enough. Yes, it's American, but please get past that. It was first published in 1907 and has been updated several times since then. Grammar is grammar wherever you live!

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B. Vaughan

1.0 out of 5 stars Old Fashioned and Pedantic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

How did I end up with a book on style for the American language? This text is old-fashioned-pedantic, as are all grammar notes backed by Latin, and lacks open-minded observation of actual usage, especially in the UK.

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5 people found this helpful

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hfffoman

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for anyone interested in writing well

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a precise book full of detailed advice. The first time I read it I was expecting general advice in different styles of writing. It does not provide that but it is packed with excellent, balanced advice. I can remember when Fowler's was the standard reference but Fowler's is too dated and Strunk & White is probably now the authority on matters of style.

When you have read this book, you will understand that a great deal of good writing is not just about crafting words with skill, it is about getting a clear idea of the logical relation between the ideas in every sentence. Once you understand that, you will not only create better prose but you will do it with less effort.

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6 people found this helpful

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Stuart Brown

5.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Interesting Book...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I bought this to brush up on some essential grammer after having it recommended by Stephen King in his book "On Writing".

Naturally, it is a work of non-fiction (and about grammar no less!) So you won't find yourself on the edge of your seat or anything as you read it. But you will find it softly engaging and interesting and find yourself pulled into the mindset of those people who take grammar a good deal more seriously than most of us.

Particularly helpful is the fact that each recommendation comes with examples, so that you can see in practice what he is actually talking about, and that each part is not overly long, so you don't feel the need to reach for the metaphorical gun to put yourself out of your misery!

If you set aside the contents, introduction and appendix then this book is only 85 pages long, which I actually saw as a good thing. No doubt there are books on grammar that can quite happily be used as tables in their own right, but I wonder how many normal people actually read them?

It's a bit like Stephen Hawking's "Brief History of Time" in that owning a copy of such tomes doesn't automatically mean you have read them!

This one I have read. I honestly don't know if it improved my grammar much (oh ok I do...It didn't! I think you would need to make more than a casual study of this to really improve much). But the door is at least slightly ajar to seeing the light and perhaps, some day, also marveling at the difference between a conjunctive pronoun and a restrictive adverb (something which I have personally never heard of, but which I feel happy to allow some Grammar God to now lay claim too).

Overall, a book that is well worth your time.

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5 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book. Quite easy to follow

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2019

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It's quite easy to follow, but you do need to know (or Google) some stuff so you can understand it. It's very useful if you're a writer. My memory is a bit rubbish though, so I can't remember all the rules. I use it as a reference book..

The only thing I'm unsure of is whether it's Americans rules or UK rules.

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Jim__Leeder

4.0 out of 5 stars Brief key points for writers of English

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Almost every point in his guide is still relevant, even in the 21st century. A short but clear guide to writing good English. Whether writing fiction: articles, technical papers or textbooks, this guide will help.

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John Williams

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and informative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Negative reviewers of this book focus on the questions of which edition it is and whether there is a better edition out there which they should have ordered in stead. Some have also suggested that the book is full of mistakes. Perhaps we have been reading different books. Page for page this has to be the best book on writing that I have read, so packed is it with useful ideas and information. I had imagined that it would be so based on American English that it would be less useful and even jarring to the British reader, but I did not find this to be so. Although style is related to taste and will vary from one writer to another, and although rules may sometimes be broken to good effect, I'm sure that any writer could sharpen his or her style by studying this book and applying its rules and 'reminders'. I will certainly be dipping into it from time to time. The one problem that I do have right now is that, having read the book, I can spot several errors of style in this review and I feel rather guilty about not taking the trouble to correct them.

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Magdalena

4.0 out of 5 stars It's a good investment in my opinion

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

English is not my first language so in attempt to improve my command of it I bought this little book. It's a good investment in my opinion, it consists of a number of short advices on things that many of us get simply wrong.Admittedly writing is both art and skill and requires a lot of practice but books like this one helps to know in what direction we want to go.
One small drawback would be that the book is slightly outdated: many of the words which change their meanings or became simply part of the English language and are being used by everyone.
Nevertheless I certainly recommend this position to anyone willing to improve their writing.

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Bilal Hafeez

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Writing Guide!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

One of the best manuals on writing better . Here's a taster:

"Omit needless words

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences...This requires not that the writer make all sentences short, or avoid all detail and treat all subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

Many expressions in common use violate this principle.

the question as to whether = whether
there is no doubt but that = no doubt
used for fuel purposes = used for fuel
he is a man who = he
in a hasty manner = hastily
this is a subject that = this subject..."

For me like this, see: bilalhafeez.com

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2 people found this helpful

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Chris Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book improved my writing style no end, despite already being a published author with a PhD in Design. I will now buy this for every one of my PhD students at the start of their study!

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Neil A.

5.0 out of 5 stars good value and great content

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2020

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

It was recommended by friends! I do alot of technical writing and found it helped me structure and make my writing very concise!

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