Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short word to the long. Prefer the Saxon word to the Romance.
It need hardly be said that shortness is a merit in words. - Henry Watson Fowler
It need hardly be said that shortness is a merit in words.
- Henry Watson Fowler
The writer's Queen Victoria is his public, and he would do well to keep a bust of the old Queen on his desk with the legend "We are not amused" hangi… - Henry Watson Fowler
The writer's Queen Victoria is his public, and he would do well to keep a bust of the old Queen on his desk with the legend "We are not amused" hangi…
We tell our thoughts, like our children, to put on their hats and coats before they go out. - Henry Watson Fowler
We tell our thoughts, like our children, to put on their hats and coats before they go out.
After all, it is an ancient and valuable right of the English people to turn their nouns into verbs when they are so minded. - Henry Watson Fowler
After all, it is an ancient and valuable right of the English people to turn their nouns into verbs when they are so minded.
Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short… - Henry Watson Fowler
Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short…
Any one who wishes to become a good writer should endeavour, before he allows himself to be tempted by the more showy qualities, to be direct, simple… - Henry Watson Fowler
Any one who wishes to become a good writer should endeavour, before he allows himself to be tempted by the more showy qualities, to be direct, simple…
Anyone who finds himself putting down several commas close to one another should reflect that he is making himself disagreeable. - Henry Watson Fowler
Anyone who finds himself putting down several commas close to one another should reflect that he is making himself disagreeable.
Those who are addicted to the phrase "to use a vulgarism" expect to achieve the feat of being at once vulgar and superior to vulgarity. - Henry Watson Fowler
Those who are addicted to the phrase "to use a vulgarism" expect to achieve the feat of being at once vulgar and superior to vulgarity.
The purpose of paragraphing is to give the reader a rest. The writer is saying . . . : Have you got that? If so, I'll go to the next point. - Henry Watson Fowler
The purpose of paragraphing is to give the reader a rest. The writer is saying . . . : Have you got that? If so, I'll go to the next point.
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