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.
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.
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.
To air one’s views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.
Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language.
If you don’t know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!
To acquire style, begin by affecting none.
A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.
Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.
It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.
The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.
Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.
None are so fallible as those who are sure they’re right.
The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.
Do not, therefore, say “I feel nauseous,” unless you are sure you have that effect on others.
Opinions scattered indiscriminately about leave the mark of egotism.
Vigorous writing is concise.
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.
A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.