The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

If everyone read this book before afflicting us with their writing, the world would be a better place.

Definitive.

Put the principles laid out in this slim book to use, and you will write better than ninety-nine percent of college educated Americans. Anyone reading your writing will thank you for it.

The book sold on this page is NOT the 4th Edition of Strunk and White's Elements of Style. Nor is the "Look Inside" link correct. This is a public domain version of what appears to be Strunk's orginal book. The typography is not as described in the text. Comparative references to text in the "right column" and "left column" refer in this book to text in upper and lower paragraphs. Don't buy this book. Instead by the fourth edition by Longman Publishers.

I was pleased with the condition of the used book and the price. It's for a Creative Writing Workshop that I will be leading in January and I wanted to have a copy to show how cheap one could get resource materials from Amazon!! $1.92 plus shipping!! Thanks for the opportunity for good books at inexpensive prices. Veda

Strunk and White, Elements of Style has an excellent reputation as a classic in the field of basic grammar and composition. However, I found that the tone and composition of the book lends itself to an audience of insiders,' those who are already well-versed in the basic principles. It is not of much use in teaching those who are confused or need more clarity on the subject. Furthermore, the tone of the book is rather haughty and elitist, which was a turn-off for me. As someone with a strong English background, I can use the book and learn from it. But I would not recommend it to a student of the language.