There are so many books available nowadays that promise to improve your writing. When I first began writing seriously, I knew I had to brush up on my basics, so I did what anyone would do. I drove to Barnes & Noble. However, I soon realized that there were about as many books on writing as there were on talking monkeys.
I left not having made a purchase due to the fact that I was completely overwhelmed by choices. So I went home and did some homework. I noticed that I kept running across a book called The Elements of Style, written by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. Yes, the same E.B. White who authored Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little (among others).
Later that week when I visited the library, I searched the shelves determined to locate Elements of Style. Sure enough, there was not one but two copies. So I settled into one of the comfy sofa chairs and began to read bits and pieces. I was amazed at how many things I was able to correct myself on just by skimming through it. So I went back to Barnes & Noble and got a copy of my very own. It was very reasonably priced and was small enough to tote around in my bag along with my trusty Thesaurus.
This book contains eleven elementary rules of usage, ten elementary principles of composition, a few matters of form, words and expressions commonly misused and twenty-one different approaches to style.
Your writing will be given an immediate upgrade just by reading the mere 100 pages of this book.
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This book is a text used in journalism.
Thank you for the recommendation. My daughter is using this book in her 10th grade Honors English class, so I have access to a copy. I'll check it out!
One of my friends went into my bedroom and laughed at me. She said, "Only you would have Elements of Style as your bedside reading!"
HA! I'm not the only one!
This book will FOREVER be a favorite of mine! Glad to hear you're all familiar with it! Amber–definitely not just you!
I too love this book! I used it in college and sadly enough, it is one of the only books that I feel really, truly helped my writing. Don't know what happened to my copy though..hmm…will have to go dig it up from somewhere!
Thanks for the reminder!!