It's Called STYLE

It really is amazing that more than ninety years have passed and we still follow most of the guidelines Strunk outlined in The Elements of Style. Some rules have changed slightly like the use of commas in a series of three or more terms or the correct way to write “to-morrow” with a hyphen, but these are the same guidelines I’ve learned throughout my education. In terms of basic writing, the English language has not altered too much. Of course, our verbal approach to English is always changing as a result of technology and shifts in pop culture, but that’s inevitable.

In terms of content, it’s interesting that Strunk urges writers to always keep their sentences simple. For example, he says that “vigorous writing is concise.” Clearly, he was a fan of minimalism. However, wordiness sometimes depends on your audience. Some readers appreciate more imagery or personality in what they’re reading even if it’s a scholarly article. Other readers want straightforward information without extra words or opinions.

Strunk does say that his guidelines are “intended for use in English courses,” so hopefully, no one takes them too seriously while writing outside the classroom. This book is a useful reference, but writers should be innovative with sentence structure, take advantage of how English has changed, and show personality to keep a reader’s attention. The book may be The Elements of Style, but style is unique to every individual, and the word has changed a bit in the last ninety years. Writing should be allowed to change too.