Source identified
“Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.”
Sentence order can create emphasis, and Strunk recommends reserving the strongest final position for the element the sentence most needs the reader to retain.
Source note: The Elements of Style, Chapter III, Rule 18, Project Gutenberg #37134; the principle is extended to sentences in paragraphs and paragraphs in compositions.
Source identified
“Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.”
Paragraphing is treated as an organizational decision: grouping one developed topic at a time helps readers follow the structure and movement of an argument.
Source note: The Elements of Style, Chapter III, Rule 8, Project Gutenberg #37134; the book discusses exceptions for very short subjects and rapid narrative.
Source identified
“Use the active voice.”
The rule favors direct sentence construction when it makes agency clearer, while the surrounding discussion still allows passive voice when context requires it.
Source note: The Elements of Style, Chapter III, Rule 10, Project Gutenberg #37134; Strunk immediately qualifies the rule by noting legitimate uses of passive construction.
Source identified
“Put statements in positive form.”
Strunk recommends stating what is true or intended directly when possible instead of making the reader reconstruct the point from repeated negation.
Source note: The Elements of Style, Chapter III, Rule 11, Project Gutenberg #37134; the rule concerns sentence construction, not positive-thinking philosophy.
Source identified
“Use definite, specific, concrete language.”
Concrete and specific wording can reduce interpretive work for the reader by replacing vague generalities with language tied to identifiable actions, objects or details.
Source note: The Elements of Style, Chapter III, Rule 12, Project Gutenberg #37134; Strunk follows the heading with examples contrasting vague and concrete phrasing.
Source identified
“Omit needless words.”
Conciseness is treated as removal of words that do no useful work, not as a demand that every sentence be short or stripped of necessary detail.
Source note: The Elements of Style, Chapter III, Rule 13, Project Gutenberg #37134; the surrounding paragraph explicitly says detail need not be eliminated.