This book is intended for use in English courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. It aims to give in a brief space the principal requirements of plain English style. It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention (in Chapters II and III) on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated. The numbers of the sections may be used as references in correcting manuscript.

To air one's views gratuitously, is to imply that the demand for them is brisk.

Never call a stomach a tummy without good reason.

Instead of announcing what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so.

It is worse to be irresolute than to be wrong.

A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.

Vigorous writing is concise.