William Strunk Jr.

William Strunk Jr.: Professor of English, Cornell University, best known as the author of the first editions of The Elements of Style, a guide to the best English usage, which he had printed privately in 1918 for the use of his students. It became a classic on the local campus known as "the little book".

In the original edition, Strunk describes the purpose of the book as follows:

"It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention ... on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated."

Later, as revised by E.B. White, who had been one of Strunk's students, The Elements of Style (often referred to as "Strunk and White") became the companion of most American writers as well as most college freshmen.

External links

• The full text of Strunk's original Elements of Style from Bartleby.com