A friend recommended a book to read, “The Elements of Style” by W. Strunk. It resonated with me strongly, here are few quotes:
Vigorous writing is concise. 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. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short, or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
“Do not join independent clauses with a comma.” (Rule 5.) “Do not break sentences in two.” (Rule 6.) “Use the active voice.” (Rule 14.) “Use definite, specific, concrete language.” (Rule 16.) “Omit needless words.” (Rule 17.) “Avoid a succession of loose sentences.” (Rule 18.)
The book advocates and illustrates how to write forcibly, clearly, and succinctly; something I value and aspire to incredibly in all sorts of communication, but also in thinking. The book’s volume, 85 less-than-A5 pages, reinforces the message and makes it ideal manual to keep at hand.
Link to the on-line version of the book: http://www.keck.ucsf.edu/~craig/The_Elements_of_Style.html
