25 Quotes by William Strunk Jr.

Do not, therefore, say "I feel nauseous," unless you are sure you have that effect on others.

Vigorous writing is concise.

Try - Takes the infinitive: "try to mend it," not "try and mend it." Students of the language will argue that 'try and' has won through and become idiom. Indeed it has, and it is relaxed and acceptable. But 'try to' is precise, and when you are writing formal prose, try and write 'try to.

Writers will often find themselves steering by stars that are disturbingly in motion.

Omit needless words.

If you don’t know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!

The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.

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.

In exposition and in argument, the writer must likewise never lose his hold upon the concrete; and even when he is dealing with general principles, he must furnish particular instances of their application.