Most people familiar with the name E.B. White (1899-1985) remember him as a children's book author (Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan), and some recall White's poems and essays in The New Yorker for more than a half century. But nearly anyone who has entered a college composition classroom has either had to read or at least become aware of his adaptation of the 1918 grammar and style book, The Elements of Style by Cornell University Professor of English William Strunk, Jr. (1869-1946).
Before the book became known as Strunk and White, there was Strunk all by himself. His version of the book, old though it may be, remains useful and, most importantly, available in its entirety on the Intenet. It offers rules for grammar and usage, tips on avoiding commonly misused words and expressions, and standards for excellent composition, among other practical pointers. Here is the link: www.bartleby.com/141.
