Meaning of “Style, for example, is not—can never be—extraneous Ornament.”

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.

The rule favors direct sentence construction when it makes agency clearer, while the surrounding discussion still allows passive voice when context requires it.

Strunk links force with economy: prose becomes stronger when each word contributes to the sentence rather than merely increasing its length.

Concrete and specific wording can reduce interpretive work for the reader by replacing vague generalities with language tied to identifiable actions, objects or details.

Language is assigned a supporting role: words should clarify reality instead of becoming an impressive verbal screen that displaces the thing being discussed.

Jargon is criticized as evasive language that circles around meaning instead of doing the harder work of choosing direct, responsible words.