Plain English according to Strunk & White is the clarity-first writing style of The Elements of Style, written by William Strunk Jr. (1918) and revised by E.B. White (1959). Its rules include omitting needless words, using the active voice, preferring concrete language, writing with nouns and verbs, and placing the emphatic words at the end of a sentence. Linguists such as Geoffrey K. Pullum criticise the book for presenting style preferences as rules of English.

Plain English according to Strunk & White

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Plain English according to Strunk & White ("The Elements of Style")

Also known as

Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, Plain Style Writing

Core Concepts:

Omit Needless Words

Every word in a sentence should serve a purpose; cut words that add bulk without adding meaning — "the fact that" → "that", "owing to the fact that" → "since"

Use Active Voice

Prefer active constructions over passive; active voice is more direct, vigorous, and concise — "The dog bit the man" not "The man was bitten by the dog"

Use Definite, Specific, Concrete Language

Prefer the particular and tangible over the vague and abstract; concrete details make writing vivid and persuasive

Write With Nouns and Verbs

Rely on strong nouns and verbs rather than adjectives and adverbs; the right noun or verb makes modifiers unnecessary

Place the Emphatic Words at the End

The most important idea in a sentence belongs at its end — the position of greatest emphasis

Use Parallel Form

Express coordinate ideas in similar grammatical form; parallelism aids comprehension and gives prose a pleasing rhythm

Avoid Qualifiers

Remove weakening qualifiers like "rather", "very", "little", "pretty" — they dilute the force of the statement

Revise and Rewrite

Good writing is rewriting; a first draft is a starting point, not a finished product

Key Proponents

William Strunk Jr. ("The Elements of Style", 1918); E.B. White (revised edition, 1959)

When to Use:

  • Writing technical documentation, reports, emails, and API documentation

  • Reviewing or editing any English prose for clarity and conciseness

  • Coaching writers to reduce verbose or bureaucratic language

  • Preparing communications for broad, non-specialist audiences

  • Any writing where clarity and brevity are paramount

Criticism:

  • Geoffrey K. Pullum, "50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice" (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2009) — several of the book’s grammar claims are factually wrong (some "passive" examples are not passive), and the authors routinely violate their own rules; linguists fault the book for presenting personal style preferences as rules of English

  • The blanket rules ("avoid passive voice", "omit needless words") are criticised as dogma when applied mechanically — the passive is the correct choice whenever the receiver of the action is the topic

  • Alternatives named in the discourse: Joseph M. Williams, "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" (1990) and Steven Pinker, "The Sense of Style" (2014) — clarity guidance grounded in linguistics and reader psychology rather than prescription