Essays on English Prose Style
A collection of essays and lectures on English prose style by Jonathan Swift, H.L. Mencken, William Hazlitt, Kurt Vonnegut, and many others.
Julian Barnes on the Style Police
In the preface to "Letters From London," Barnes describes how his essays were meticulously "clipped and styled" by editors and fact-checkers at "The New Yorker" magazine. Here he reports on the activities of the anonymous copy editors--the "style police."
In the preface to "Letters From London," Barnes describes how his essays were meticulously "clipped and styled" by editors and fact-checkers at "The New Yorker" magazine. Here he reports on the activities of the anonymous copy editors--the "style police."
The Colours of Style, by James Burnett, Lord Monboddo
In this brief excerpt from Gordon's six-volume study "Of the Origin and Progress of Language" (1773-1792), he identifies the two parts of style: word choice and composition.
In this brief excerpt from Gordon's six-volume study "Of the Origin and Progress of Language" (1773-1792), he identifies the two parts of style: word choice and composition.
Imitating the Style of the "Spectator," by Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin describes an experiment in stylistic imitation that would have been quite familiar to students of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome.
Benjamin Franklin describes an experiment in stylistic imitation that would have been quite familiar to students of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome.
On Familiar Style, by William Hazlitt
In "On Familiar Style," English essayist William Hazlitt explains his preference for "plain words and popular modes of construction."
In "On Familiar Style," English essayist William Hazlitt explains his preference for "plain words and popular modes of construction."
Clive James on Sentence Styles
A well-known television and radio presenter in England, Clive James is the author of more than 20 books of essays, criticism, poetry, and fiction. The following observations on style originally appeared in his postscript to an essay written 20 years earlier on British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge.
A well-known television and radio presenter in England, Clive James is the author of more than 20 books of essays, criticism, poetry, and fiction. The following observations on style originally appeared in his postscript to an essay written 20 years earlier on British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge.
On the Style of Jonathan Swift, by Samuel Johnson
After reading Swift's "A Modest Proposal," decide if you agree with Samuel Johnson's assessment of Swift's writing style.
After reading Swift's "A Modest Proposal," decide if you agree with Samuel Johnson's assessment of Swift's writing style.
Samuel Johnson on the Bugbear Style
Richard Lanham reintroduced the Greek word "skotison" (literally, "darken") to describe writing that is deliberately obscure--writing in which, as Samuel Johnson observed, "the most familiar propositions [are] so disguised that they cannot be known." Johnson's own name for this "terrific" and "repulsive" kind of prose is "the bugbear style."
Richard Lanham reintroduced the Greek word "skotison" (literally, "darken") to describe writing that is deliberately obscure--writing in which, as Samuel Johnson observed, "the most familiar propositions [are] so disguised that they cannot be known." Johnson's own name for this "terrific" and "repulsive" kind of prose is "the bugbear style."
Ten Principles of Effective Writing: F.L. Lucas on Style
In his book "Style," F.L. Lucas offered the following basic principles to "shorten that painful process" of learning how to write better.
In his book "Style," F.L. Lucas offered the following basic principles to "shorten that painful process" of learning how to write better.
The Style of Woodrow, by H.L. Mencken
In this book review from 1921, H.L. Mencken attacks the empty oratory of the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson.
In this book review from 1921, H.L. Mencken attacks the empty oratory of the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson.
H.L. Mencken's Hyperbolic Prose Style
Though Mencken died ("deoxidized," he would say) over half a century ago, his rip-roaring style--witty, combative, yet graceful--continues to "stir up the animals" and attract fresh admirers.
Though Mencken died ("deoxidized," he would say) over half a century ago, his rip-roaring style--witty, combative, yet graceful--continues to "stir up the animals" and attract fresh admirers.
In Praise of Clichés, by Wright Morris
In this passage from his third volume of memoirs, Wright Morris recalls a discovery he made while writing his award-winning novel "The Field of Vision." Creating genuine vernacular voices for his characters meant that he had to employ "the very clichés [he] had so often ridiculed."
In this passage from his third volume of memoirs, Wright Morris recalls a discovery he made while writing his award-winning novel "The Field of Vision." Creating genuine vernacular voices for his characters meant that he had to employ "the very clichés [he] had so often ridiculed."
Of Figures of Speech, by Lindley Murray (1817)
Though hardly a definitive study even for its time, Lindley Murray's treatment of the major figures of speech contains some enduring insights and illuminating examples.
Though hardly a definitive study even for its time, Lindley Murray's treatment of the major figures of speech contains some enduring insights and illuminating examples.
Poetry in Prose: Walter Pater on the Imaginative Literature of Fact
In the opening pages of the essay "Style" (1888), Walter Pater rejected the strict "opposition of poetry to prose" and acknowledged the aesthetic value of "the literature of fact"--which would come to be known in the 20th century as creative nonfiction.
In the opening pages of the essay "Style" (1888), Walter Pater rejected the strict "opposition of poetry to prose" and acknowledged the aesthetic value of "the literature of fact"--which would come to be known in the 20th century as creative nonfiction.
Copia: Raymond Queneau's Exercises in Style
To learn more about "copia," let's see how a 20th-century French author applied this ancient rhetorical strategy.
To learn more about "copia," let's see how a 20th-century French author applied this ancient rhetorical strategy.
"Murder Your Darlings": Quiller-Couch on Style
While serving as a professor of English at Cambridge University, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch published a series of lectures titled On the Art of Writing (1916). In these excerpts from his lecture "On Style," Q discusses the dangers of "fine writing," advising students to "Murder your darlings."
While serving as a professor of English at Cambridge University, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch published a series of lectures titled On the Art of Writing (1916). In these excerpts from his lecture "On Style," Q discusses the dangers of "fine writing," advising students to "Murder your darlings."
Fine Writing, by Logan Pearsall Smith
In these excerpts from "Fine Writing," originally published in 1936 by the Society for Pure English, essayist Logan Pearsall Smith argues that the art of writing imaginative prose can be learned "by any one who will take the trouble."
In these excerpts from "Fine Writing," originally published in 1936 by the Society for Pure English, essayist Logan Pearsall Smith argues that the art of writing imaginative prose can be learned "by any one who will take the trouble."
Swift on Style: Keep It Simple
Widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists in English, Jonathan Swift once defined style as "Proper words in proper places." But who's to say what's "proper"--and just what does Swift's maxim really mean? To find out, let's return to the source.
Widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists in English, Jonathan Swift once defined style as "Proper words in proper places." But who's to say what's "proper"--and just what does Swift's maxim really mean? To find out, let's return to the source.
A Vigorous Prose Style by Henry David Thoreau
In this metaphorically rich passage, Thoreau discusses the virtues of a plain style, arguing that "steady labor with the hands" is the the most effective way of "removing palaver and sentimentality out of one's style, both of speaking and writing."
In this metaphorically rich passage, Thoreau discusses the virtues of a plain style, arguing that "steady labor with the hands" is the the most effective way of "removing palaver and sentimentality out of one's style, both of speaking and writing."
Lionel Trilling on Mark Twain's Colloquial Prose Style
In this excerpt from his essay on "Huckleberry Finn," Lionel Trilling discusses the "robust purity" of Mark Twain's prose style and its influence on "almost every contemporary American writer."
In this excerpt from his essay on "Huckleberry Finn," Lionel Trilling discusses the "robust purity" of Mark Twain's prose style and its influence on "almost every contemporary American writer."
Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences, by Mark Twain
In one of the best known critical essays in English, Mark Twain comically attacks the renowned author of "The Deerslayer" for his poverty of invention, "inaccurate observation," and "a word-sense" that is "singularly dull."
In one of the best known critical essays in English, Mark Twain comically attacks the renowned author of "The Deerslayer" for his poverty of invention, "inaccurate observation," and "a word-sense" that is "singularly dull."
Kurt Vonnegut on Writing with Style
Novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., offers some deceptively simple principles on writing with style.
Novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., offers some deceptively simple principles on writing with style.