Defining Writing Style

Defining Writing "Style"

Many accomplished authors have tried distinguishing what "good writing style" is. Some believe it is writing simply, others believe it is writing precisely. Numerous books have been published in order to help define this murky area called "style." Matthew Arnold, poet and critic, once said "Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style." So why then is this topic so unclearly defined? Perhaps it is because each person has had different writing influences and needs improvement in different areas. To address this problem, many famous authors and professors have contributed to the writing style literature. William J. Strunk, and E.B. White wrote The Elements of Style which was followed by another book, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, by Joseph Williams. Strunk, a former college professor at Cornell University, came up with the idea to publish a book on fundamental usage of the English language or "the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated" after teaching them to college students (Introduction, xiv). E.B. White, who is known mostly for his book, Charlotte’s Web, and also for his creative non-fiction, was a student of Strunk’s who was so inspired by his former teacher’s work that he added to the book and had it published after Strunk’s death. Some time later, professor Joseph M. Williams of the University of Chicago, elaborated on the principles discussed in The Elements of Style and published his own book, Style: Toward Clarity and Grace. Williams is a contemporary writer and the difference between when the books were published is apparent in each text. Although all three writers agree that good writing style consists of clear and concise prose which contains the right amount of emphasis and proper grammar, the level of detail, structure, and content of each book reflects the authors’ intent to target different reader audiences.

To begin with, the authors indicate their definitions of good writing style through the organization of each book; the format and structure of each indicates that the authors were targeting different reader audiences. The Elements of Style is a reference book, set up with a detailed index describing the usage of different words and concepts. Its format is almost like an MLA handbook, with numbered, bold rules followed by simple examples. Williams’ book is set up in paragraph form and can only be understood when read in its entirety.