Writing advice

Explore 6 quotes of the following type: Writing advice

Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. 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. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subject only in outline, but that every word tell.

William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White.

More information about this quote

Topic

Good writing

Author

William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White.

Source

The Elements of Style

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1919 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Strunk, William, Jr. The Elements of Style. Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1920, ch. 2, sec. 13.

Current Citation

Strunk, William, Jr. and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. Penguin Books, 2007, ch. 2, sec. 13.

If you want me to weep, you must first feel grief yourself.

Horace

Ars Poetica

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More information about this quote

Topic

Sincerity Poetry

Author

Horace

Source

Ars Poetica

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

Latin

Time

19 BC 10s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Horace. Ars Poetica [The Art of Poetry]. c. 19 BC, l. 102.

Current Citation

Horace. "Ars Poetica." Satires, Epistles, Ars Poetica, translated by H. R. Fairclough. Harvard University Press, 1929, l. 102.

He that will write well in any tongue, must follow this counsel of Aristotle, to speak as the common people do, to think as the wise men do; and so should every man understand him, and the judgement of the wise man allow him.

Roger Ascham

More information about this quote

Topic

Writing

Author

Roger Ascham

Source

Toxophilus

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1545 1540s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Ascham, Roger. "To All Gentlemen and Yeoman of England." Toxophilus. London: Murray, 1545.

Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style.

Matthew Arnold

More information about this quote

Topic

Writing

Speaker

Matthew Arnold

Source

Collections and Recollections

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1903 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Arnold, Matthew. Quoted in Collections and Recollections, written by G. W. E. Russell. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1898, ch. 14. Originally stated to Russell by Arnold c. 1890.

The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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More information about this quote

Topic

Simplicity

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, preface.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-2 Editions. Library of America, 2011, preface to 1855 edition.

Your language becomes clear and strong, not when you can no longer add a sentence, but when you can no longer take away from it.

Isaac Babel

Quoted in The New Yorker

More information about this quote

Topic

Writing

Speaker

Isaac Babel

Source

The New Yorker

Medium

Magazine

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1940 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Babel, Isaac. Quoted in "Hide and Seek: The Complete Isaac Babel." Written by John Updike. The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2001.