Comparative Style-book Essay

Comparative Style-book Essay

Two well-know style books are The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, and Style Toward Clarity and Grace, by Williams. Both of these books are very beneficial, discussing grammar rules, style, and composition, all with the aim to make its readers better writers. They teach readers to use proper techniques and proofread their papers so they can improve their writing style. Although the books goals are the same, each one approaches it in a different way, emphasizing certain points above others. While both books are well-written and taught me important rules, after analyzing both books, looking at their authors, target audience, cultural awareness, organization, and detail, I find Williams more helpful in developing my writing style and addressing the need of contemporary prose.

A lot can be inferred about how the books were written by looking at their Authors. The authors of The Elements of Style, Strunk and White, were professor and student. When White was a student in 1919 his professor, Strunk, assigned him a coursepack, which would be the basis for their future book. The coursepack was very detailed and commanding, like White describes his professor when he calls him, “Sergeant Strunk snapping orders to his platoon” (xiv). Years later, after White had become a well-known, professional writer, he was commissioned to edit and improve the Strunk coursepack for publication. The book was published in 1959, and by that time White’s old professor had passed away. Now, White is also gone, and the book has been around for quite a while, making it slightly dated.

I found Williams to be more modern, and connectable. It was last published by its author in 1990. Williams, a linguist, professor, and communication consultant, has meticulously studies the craft of writing, discovering what makes good writing good and bad writing bad. His careful observations and sensitivity to current issues that plague writing make his readers grasp many of the different aspects of writing. Since he is part of modern times, he is more culturally aware, giving him an advantage over Strunk and White.

Since the books have been written in different times, the targeted audience is different.