What is Style? :: Writing Style Styles Essays

What is Style? The overall concept of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style and Joseph Williams Style Toward Clarity and Grace is to educate those who wish to better their writing ability. If one wanted to become better at a sport they would research principles of that sport to become a better athlete. Similarly, if one wanted to become a better athlete they would return to the basics in order to make sure that they knew what they were doing. I think that same idea is present in educating oneself to becoming a better writer, a better historian, a better mathematician, a better athlete, a better philosopher, a better linguist, whatever it is that one wants to become better at will involve an open-mind and the ability to learn combined with some motivation. According to Kirsten Jensen, â€Å"Although writing is associated with creativity, the writing process involves study and effort, as well as sensitivity and talent.† The first step taken often includes becoming open-minded to resources available in order to further ones ability, whether it’s athletic or academic. After making the conscious decision to open oneself to such resources, one can only benefit from what they have learned. Strunk, White and Williams offer advice that can be taken as law or reference, but I think the over all concepts of books like these are not written with in them. For example, distinguishing the difference between the two has only shown me exactly what style is. In fact the Webster’s dictionary explains style as, â€Å"a distinctive manner of expression.† Strunk and White explain style to be, â€Å"†¦ the writer and therefore what you are, rather than what you know, will at last determine your style." I have learned very much from these books. In Strunk and White, I have learned that I will always have a great reference book handy. I particularly liked the chapter about words that are misused. Some of these words included, all right instead of alright. All right is commonly used as a way to express ‘okay’ or ‘go ahead.’ Other words to watch out for are allusion and illusion, allude and elude, and effect and affect. As a reference that chapter will help me if I’m unsure about a word. However, I know using or misusing a word might make my writing more unique. Knowing when to use or misuse words is the true question. What is Style? :: Writing Style Styles Essays What is Style? The overall concept of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style and Joseph Williams Style Toward Clarity and Grace is to educate those who wish to better their writing ability. If one wanted to become better at a sport they would research principles of that sport to become a better athlete. Similarly, if one wanted to become a better athlete they would return to the basics in order to make sure that they knew what they were doing. I think that same idea is present in educating oneself to becoming a better writer, a better historian, a better mathematician, a better athlete, a better philosopher, a better linguist, whatever it is that one wants to become better at will involve an open-mind and the ability to learn combined with some motivation. According to Kirsten Jensen, â€Å"Although writing is associated with creativity, the writing process involves study and effort, as well as sensitivity and talent.† The first step taken often includes becoming open-minded to resources available in order to further ones ability, whether it’s athletic or academic. After making the conscious decision to open oneself to such resources, one can only benefit from what they have learned. Strunk, White and Williams offer advice that can be taken as law or reference, but I think the over all concepts of books like these are not written with in them. For example, distinguishing the difference between the two has only shown me exactly what style is. In fact the Webster’s dictionary explains style as, â€Å"a distinctive manner of expression.† Strunk and White explain style to be, â€Å"†¦ the writer and therefore what you are, rather than what you know, will at last determine your style." I have learned very much from these books. In Strunk and White, I have learned that I will always have a great reference book handy. I particularly liked the chapter about words that are misused. Some of these words included, all right instead of alright. All right is commonly used as a way to express ‘okay’ or ‘go ahead.’ Other words to watch out for are allusion and illusion, allude and elude, and effect and affect. As a reference that chapter will help me if I’m unsure about a word. However, I know using or misusing a word might make my writing more unique. Knowing when to use or misuse words is the true question.