Tight writing

notebook and pencil on table

“A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”

This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subject only in outline, but that every word tell.”

Elements of Style, William Strunk


Want to read more?

Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less
By VandeHei, Jim, Allen, Mike, Schwartz, Roy
Buy on Amazon

About this book: There is no better resource for writing news stories, emails, and web content than Smart Brevity. Truly, it changed my life as a storyteller. Prefer the Kindle version? Buy Smart Brevity Kindle.


The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
By Strunk Jr., William, White, E. B.
Buy on Amazon

About the book: If you love words, there is no substitute for diving into the mind of the genius William Strunk and retold by E.B. White in The Elements of Style. There’s a reason it was required of every journalist. It helps you not look stupid. Prefer the Kindle edition? Buy Elements of Style Kindle on Amazon or go big with the Hardcover edition.


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