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Top 20 William Strunk Jr. Quotes (2025 Update)

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Omit needless words.”

1. “Omit needless words.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Vigorous writing is concise.”

2. “Vigorous writing is concise.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.”

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

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “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.”

4. “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.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “If you don’t know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!”

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

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “None are so fallible as those who are sure they’re right.”

6. “None are so fallible as those who are sure they’re right.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.”

7. “It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “The surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definitive, and concrete. The greatest writers – Homer, Dante, Shakespeare – are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.”

8. “The surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definitive, and concrete. The greatest writers – Homer, Dante, Shakespeare – are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “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.”

9. “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.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.”

10. “Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.”

11. “Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “To air one’s views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.”

12. “To air one’s views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.”

13. “Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “To acquire style, begin by affecting none.”

14. “To acquire style, begin by affecting none.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.”

15. “The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.”

16. “A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “If you use a colloquialism or a slang word or phrase, simply use it; do not draw attention to it by enclosing it in quotation marks. To do so is to put on airs, as though you were inviting the reader to join you in a select society of those who know better.”

17. “If you use a colloquialism or a slang word or phrase, simply use it; do not draw attention to it by enclosing it in quotation marks. To do so is to put on airs, as though you were inviting the reader to join you in a select society of those who know better.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is a common occurrence in all writing, and among the best writers.”

18. “Remember, it is no sign of weakness or defeat that your manuscript ends up in need of major surgery. This is a common occurrence in all writing, and among the best writers.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.”

19. “Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.”

20. “Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.”

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “Do not, therefore, say “I feel nauseous,” unless you are sure you have that effect on others.”

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

— William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr. Quote: “A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”

22. “A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”

— William Strunk Jr.

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