On Writing Well英文寫作指南因其實用的建議、清晰的思路和溫馨的文風而備受贊揚。紐約時報評價On Writing Well是一本指導英文寫作的圣經，任何想讓要自己文章簡潔的人都應該沒事拿出來讀一讀，膜拜膜拜。本書詳細地介紹了寫作的準則、方法、形式以及寫作的態度，不同的題材都有不同的講解，不管是關于人物、地點、科學技術、商務、運動、人文還是自傳，你都可以從中找到啟發。書中的原則和觀點已被已經被幾代作家和學生分享，是一本文學創作的教科書和自學指導書籍。
本書于1976年發行首版，本版本是2016發行的新版(30周年紀念版是2006年發行的)，內容與紀念版無差別，包含了如何寫家族史和回憶錄的章節。
On Writing Wellhas been praised for its sound advice, its clarity, and its warmth of style. It is a book for anybody who wants to learn how to write, whether about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts, or about yourself. Its principles and insights have made it a cherished resource for several generations of writers and students.
The Elements of Style《風格的要素》是由美國康奈爾大學英語系教授威廉 斯特倫克所著的一本英文寫作指導書，闡明了英文樸實風格必須具備的基本原則，集中闡述了英文用法和英文寫作基本規則以及寫作格式、常犯的寫作錯誤等。
The Elements of Style is a preive American English writing style guide in numerous editions. The original was composed by William Strunk Jr., in 1918, and published by Harcourt, in 1920, comprising eight “elementary rules of usage”, ten “elementary principles of composition”, “a few matters of form”, a list of 49 “words and expressions commonly misused”, and a list of 57 “words often misspelled”. E. B. White greatly enlarged and revised the book for publication by Macmillan in 1959. That was the first edition of the so-called “Strunk & White”, which Time named in 2011 one of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since 1923.
如果大家對寫作有興趣，并且希望改進自己的文章，On Writing Well是一本必讀的書。這本書是英文原版，但語言較為通俗，整體來說比較容易懂。它可以給人關于寫作(不只是英語寫作)的啟示，而且語言富含哲理性。
推薦理由：
1.On Writing Well銷售了100多萬冊，堪稱創作非小說類文學作品的經典指南。
2.被《紐約時報》譽為“寫作圣經”。
3.《圖書館雜志》稱贊它是好看易懂的寫作指南，字里行間充滿對寫作的熱愛和尊重。
More than one million copies sold. The classic guide to writing nonfiction.
“On Writing Wellis a bible for a generation of writers looking for clues to clean, compelling prose.” —New York Times
“Not sinceThe Elements of Stylehas there been a guide to writing as well presented and readable as this one. A love and respect for the language is evident on every page.” —Library Journal
推薦理由：
1.本書是美國康乃爾大學英文系教授威廉 斯托克(William Strunk Jr.)于1918年初版，其學生著名散文作家懷特(E.B.White)將師作重新編修、補充后出版；
2.一上市便名列暢銷榜，問世至今，歷久不衰，全球暢銷逾千萬本，成為英文界的傳奇，全球千萬英語學習者一致見證的實用英文寫作書；
3.美國亞馬遜書店、博客來書店、《紐約時報》、《華爾街日報》學習類暢銷書榜榜首，入選美國圖書博覽會20世紀百佳英文書；
4.各大高中、大學、TOFEL、GRE、GMAT指定參考書，受到《夏洛特的網》作者E. B. White及英文導師、小說家史蒂芬 金極力推崇。 如果大家對寫作有興趣，并且希望改進自己的文章，On Writing Well是一本必讀的書。這本書是英文原版，但語言較為通俗，整體來說比較容易懂。它可以給人關于寫作(不只是英語寫作)的啟示，而且語言富含哲理性。
這是給幾代美國人帶來啟發的寫作經典，文風流暢，非常樸實。經典永不過時，值得反復閱讀，可以通過它提升自己的寫作。
推薦理由：
1.On Writing Well銷售了100多萬冊，堪稱創作非小說類文學作品的經典指南。
2.被《紐約時報》譽為“寫作圣經”。
3.《圖書館雜志》稱贊它是好看易懂的寫作指南，字里行間充滿對寫作的熱愛和尊重。
More than one million copies sold. The classic guide to writing nonfiction.
“On Writing Wellis a bible for a generation of writers looking for clues to clean, compelling prose.” —New York Times
“Not sinceThe Elements of Stylehas there been a guide to writing as well presented and readable as this one. A love and respect for the language is evident on every page.” —Library Journal
William Zinsser(1922-2015)是一位作家、編輯和教師。他的事業開始于《紐約先驅論壇報》，并長期為的雜志投稿。他的17本書包括Writing to Learn、Mitchell Ruff、Spring Training、American Places、Easy to Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs和Writing About Your Life。20世紀70年代，他在耶魯大學教授寫作，是布蘭福德學院的院長。后來他回到家鄉紐約，在新學院和哥倫比亞大學新聞學院教書，是位受人愛戴的教授。
William Zinsser (1922-2015) was a writer, editor and teacher. He began his career with theNew York Herald Tribuneand has been a longtime contributor to leading magazines. His 17 books includeWriting to Learn,Mitchell Ruff,Spring Training,American Places,Easy to Remember:The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs, andWriting About Your Life. During the 1970s he taught writing at Yale, where he was master of Branford College. A beloved professor at the New School and Columbia University School of Journalism, he lived in his hometown, New York.
William Zinsser(1922-2015)是一位作家、編輯和教師。他的事業開始于《紐約先驅論壇報》，并長期為的雜志投稿。他的17本書包括Writing to Learn、Mitchell & Ruff、Spring Training、American Places、Easy to Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs和Writing About Your Life。20世紀70年代，他在耶魯大學教授寫作，是布蘭福德學院的院長。后來他回到家鄉紐約，在新學院和哥倫比亞大學新聞學院教書，是位受人愛戴的教授。
William Zinsser (1922-2015) was a writer, editor and teacher. He began his career with theNew York Herald Tribuneand has been a longtime contributor to leading magazines. His 17 books includeWriting to Learn,Mitchell & Ruff,Spring Training,American Places,Easy to Remember:The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs, andWriting About Your Life. During the 1970s he taught writing at Yale, where he was master of Branford College. A beloved professor at the New School and Columbia University School of Journalism, he lived in his hometown, New York.
寫作指南
PART I Principles
1 The Transaction
2 Simplicity
3 Clutter
4 Style
5 The Audience
6 Words
7 Usage
PART II Methods
8 Unity
9 The Lead and the Ending寫作指南
Elementary Rules of Usage
1. Form the possessive singular of nounsby adding’s.
Follow this rule whatever the final consonant. Thus write,
Charles’s friend
Burns’s poems
the witch’s malice
Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names in-es and-is, the possessiveJesus’, and such forms asfor conscience’ sake,for righteousness’ sake. But such forms as Moses’ laws, Isis’ temple are commonly replaced by
the laws of Moses
the temple of Isis
The pronominal possessiveshers,its,theirs,yours, andours have no apostrophe. Indefinite pronouns, however, use the apostrophe to show possession.
one’s rights
somebody else’s umbrella
A common error is to writeit’s for its, or vice versa. The first is a contraction, meaning“it is.” The second is a possessive.
It’s a wise dog that scratches its own fleas.
2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.
Thus write,
red, white, and blue
gold, silver, or copper
He opened the letter, read it, and made a note of its contents.
This comma is often referred to as the“serial” comma.
In the names of business firms the lastcomm. is usually omitted. Follow the usage of the individual firm.
Little, Brown and Company
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
