Write Concisely

# Writing Clearly and Concisely

## Overview

William Strunk Jr.'s *The Elements of Style* (1918) teaches you to write clearly and cut ruthlessly. Apply these rules to task that requested by user.

## All Rules

### Elementary Rules of Usage (Grammar/Punctuation)

1. Form possessive singular by adding 's
2. Use comma after each term in series except last
3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas
4. Comma before conjunction introducing co-ordinate clause
5. Don't join independent clauses by comma
6. Don't break sentences in two
7. Participial phrase at beginning refers to grammatical subject

### Elementary Principles of Composition

1. One paragraph per topic
2. Begin paragraph with topic sentence
3. **Use active voice**
4. **Put statements in positive form**
5. **Use definite, specific, concrete language**
6. **Omit needless words**
7. Avoid succession of loose sentences
8. Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form
9. **Keep related words together**
10. Keep to one tense in summaries
11. **Place emphatic words at end of sentence**

### Section V: Words and Expressions Commonly Misused

Alphabetical reference for usage questions

# The Elements of Style (1918)

*Public domain text by William Strunk Jr.*

## Contents

- [Writing Clearly and Concisely](#writing-clearly-and-concisely)
  - [Overview](#overview)
  - [All Rules](#all-rules)
    - [Elementary Rules of Usage (Grammar/Punctuation)](#elementary-rules-of-usage-grammarpunctuation)
    - [Elementary Principles of Composition](#elementary-principles-of-composition)
    - [Section V: Words and Expressions Commonly Misused](#section-v-words-and-expressions-commonly-misused)
- [The Elements of Style (1918)](#the-elements-of-style-1918)
  - [Contents](#contents)
  - [I. Introductory](#i-introductory)
  - [II. Elementary Rules Of Usage](#ii-elementary-rules-of-usage)
    - [Rule 1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's](#rule-1-form-the-possessive-singular-of-nouns-by-adding-s)
    - [Rule 2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last](#rule-2-in-a-series-of-three-or-more-terms-with-a-single-conjunction-use-a-comma-after-each-term-except-the-last)
    - [Rule 3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas](#rule-3-enclose-parenthetic-expressions-between-commas)
    - [Rule 4. Place a comma before a conjunction introducing a co-ordinate clause](#rule-4-place-a-comma-before-a-conjunction-introducing-a-co-ordinate-clause)
    - [Rule 5. Do not join independent clauses by a comma](#rule-5-do-not-join-independent-clauses-by-a-comma)
    - [Rule 6. Do not break sentences in two](#rule-6-do-not-break-sentences-in-two)
    - [Rule 7. A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject](#rule-7-a-participial-phrase-at-the-beginning-of-a-sentence-must-refer-to-the-grammatical-subject)
  - [III. Elementary Principles Of Composition](#iii-elementary-principles-of-composition)
    - [Rule 8. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic](#rule-8-make-the-paragraph-the-unit-of-composition-one-paragraph-to-each-topic)
    - [Rule 9. As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, end it in conformity with the beginning](#rule-9-as-a-rule-begin-each-paragraph-with-a-topic-sentence-end-it-in-conformity-with-the-beginning)
    - [Rule 10. Use the active voice](#rule-10-use-the-active-voice)
    - [Rule 11. Put statements in positive form](#rule-11-put-statements-in-positive-form)
    - [Rule 12. Use definite, specific, concrete language](#rule-12-use-definite-specific-concrete-language)
    - [Rule 13. Omit needless words](#rule-13-omit-needless-words)
    - [Rule 14. Avoid a succession of loose sentences](#rule-14-avoid-a-succession-of-loose-sentences)
    - [Rule 15. Expres