Elementary Principles of Composition+A Few Matters of Form

Strunk and White Chapter 2+3

Choose a suitable design and hold to it

Determine the shape of the text; pursue the shape of the text

Make the paragraph the unit of composition

• Brief description, brief book review, brief account is best written as one single paragraph

• If a subject requires division into topics, multiple paragraphs may be used 

• Single sentences=no, but transitional sentences=yes

• Dialogue=yes

Use moderation and common sense when creating paragraphs

Use active voice

• Use the active voice for direct bold sentences. The subject performs the action.

• Use the passive voice when emphasis is on making a particular word the subject of the sentence.

For example:

I drew the flowers. vs The flowers were drawn by me.

Put statement in positive form

Make definite assertions by putting statements in the positive form. Try to express even negatives in the positive form.

Never is the positive form of not.

Save auxiliaries (would, should, could, may, might, and can) to express uncertainty

For example:

Jeremy did not remember to return the library books. vs Jeremy forgot to return the library books.

Definite, Specific, Concrete Language

Use language which is definite, specific, and concrete (as opposed to language which is general, vague, and abstract).

For example:

A period of unfavorable weather set in. vs It rained every day for a week.

Omit needless words

• the question as to whether→whether (the question whether)

• there is no doubt that→no doubt (doubtless)

• used for fuel purposes→used for fuel

• he is a man who→he

• in a hasty manner→hastily

• this is a subject→this subject

• her story is a strange one→her story is strange

• the reason why is that→because

• owing to the fact that→since(because)

• in spite of the fact that→though (although)

• call to your attention to the fact that→remind you (notify you)

• I was unaware of the fact that→I was unaware that (did not know)

Avoid a succession of loose sentences

• Replace them with simple sentences

• Replace them with compound sentences connected by a semicolon

• Replace them with periodic sentences of two clauses, or with three clauses.

Expressing Coordinate Ideas

Parallel construction states that expression similar in content and function have to be expressed in similar form.

An article/preposition must apply to all members of the series. It must either be applied to only the first term or repeated throughout.

Some words require a particular preposition in certain idiomatic uses.

For example:

Water-skiing is not as much fun as to go surfing vs Water-skiing is not as much fun as surfing.

Keep Related Ideas Together

Use the position of words in a sentence to show their relationship. Words and groups of words that are related are kept together.

The subject of the sentence and the principal verb should not be separated by a phrase or clause that can be move to the beginning.

A noun in apposition may come between the antecedent and relative.

Modifier stay next to the words they modify.

For example:

She attends a school in the city which is private vs She attends a private school in the city.

In summaries, keep to one tense

Use present tense in summaries.

Position of emphatic words

Words that require emphasis should be put at the end of the sentence.

Colloquialisms

Do not use quotation marks

Exclamation

Do not use an exclamation point to emphasize simple statements. Use it after true exclamations/commands

Headings

• Leave plenty of space at the top of page 1.

• Place heading/title at least a quarter down

• Leave blank line (or space) after heading.

• On next pages, begin near top, but not so near to give crowded appearance.

Omit period after heading/title. Question/Exclamation marks may be used.

Hyphen

Required when two or more words are combined to form a compound adjective. Do not use if words can be combined

Margins

Keep left and right spaces equal in width

Numerals

Do not spell out dates and/or serial numbers. Only do this in dialogue

Parentheses

Punctuate outside of it. Omit periods inside of it. Question/Exclamation marks may still be used.

Quotations

Formal: use colon to introduce and use quotation marks to enclose

A quotation in apposition or direct object of verb is preceded by comma.

Typographical usage states that comma has to be inside quotation marks. “…,” he said.

Quotations of entire lines: start a fresh line and indent, no marks.

Quotes introduced by that do not need a marks.

Proverbs/familiar phrases require no marks

Reference

Give references in parentheses or footnotes.

Omit act, scene, line, book, volume, page unless referring to only one of them.

Syllabication

When word must be divided at end of line, use a dictionary to check where it can be divided.

Titles

Use italics with capitalized initials. Omit A or The when using possessive before them.