--- title: "Elements of Style" description: "Core principles from Strunk & White's classic, distilled for ghost writing." type: skill canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/elements-of-style source: "Claudary" difficulty: intermediate author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack" date: 2026-07-10T11:24:10.649Z license: CC-BY-4.0 attribution: "Elements of Style — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/elements-of-style)" --- # Elements of Style Core principles from Strunk & White's classic, distilled for ghost writing. ## Overview # Elements of Style Core principles from Strunk & White's classic, distilled for ghost writing. --- ## Purpose These principles provide a craft foundation when the DNA document doesn't give specific guidance. They represent widely-accepted standards of clear, effective prose. **Important:** The DNA document takes precedence. If a writer's documented voice violates these principles (e.g., they love adverbs), follow the DNA. --- ## The Core Principles ### 1. Omit Needless Words Vigorous writing is concise. Every word should do work. **Cuts to Make:** | Wordy | Concise | | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------- | | the question as to whether | whether | | there is no doubt but that | no doubt / doubtless | | used for fuel purposes | used for fuel | | he is a man who | he | | in a hasty manner | hastily | | this is a subject that | this subject | | the reason why is that | because | | owing to the fact that | since / because | | in spite of the fact that | though / although | | call your attention to the fact that | remind you / notify you | | I was unaware of the fact that | I was unaware / didn't know | | the fact that he had not succeeded | his failure | | the fact that I had arrived | my arrival | **Principle in Action:** - Cut "that" when the sentence works without it - Cut "very" almost always - Cut "really" almost always - Cut filler phrases entirely **Example:** > Wordy: "He is the kind of person who is always looking for ways in which he > can improve himself." Concise: "He always seeks self-improvement." --- ### 2. Use Active Voice Active voice is direct and vigorous. Passive voice is indirect and often weak. **Active vs. Passive:** | Passive | Active | | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | The ball was thrown by John | John threw the ball | | It was decided that | We decided | | The meeting was attended by fifty people | Fifty people attended | | The results were analyzed | We analyzed the results | **When Passive Is Acceptable:** - When the actor is unknown: "The building was constructed in 1890" - When the actor is unimportant: "The data was collected over three years" - When passive matches the DNA document **Detection:** Forms of "to be" + past participle often signal passive: - was decided - is being considered - has been shown - will be completed --- ### 3. Put Statements in Positive Form Make definite assertions. Avoid weak, evasive, or noncommittal language. **Negative vs. Positive:** | Negative/Weak | Positive/Strong | | ----------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | He was not very often on time | He usually arrived late | | She did not think studying was worthwhile | She thought studying was a waste of time | | not honest | dishonest | | not important | unimportant / trivial | | did not remember | forgot | | did not pay attention | ignored | | did not have much confidence in | distrusted | **"Not" as Evasion:** Using "not" often shows unwillingness to commit: > Weak: "The report was not inaccurate." Strong: "The report was accurate." (or > was it?) --- ### 4. Use Definite, Specific, Concrete Language Prefer the specific to the general, the definite to the vague, the concrete to the abstract. **Abstract vs. Concrete:** | Abstract | Concrete | | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | A period of unfavorable weather | It rained every day for a week | | He showed satisfaction | He grinned | | Transportation was provided | A bus picked us up | | The situation was complicated | Three departments claimed authority | **General vs. Specific:** | General | Specific | | ------------------ | ------------- | | a large number | 847 | | in the near future | next Tuesday | | a long time ago | in 1989 | | some kind of bird | a mockingbird | --- ### 5. Avoid a Succession of Loose Sentences Variety in sentence structure prevents monotony. **Loose Sentences:** A loose sentence states its main point and then adds modifying elements: > "The sun set, casting long shadows across the field, turning the sky orange > and pink." **Problem:** Stringing together loose sentences creates a mechanical rhythm: > "The sun set. The shadows grew long. The sky turned colors. The birds returned > to their nests." **Solution:** - Vary sentence structure - Combine related ideas - Use subordination - Change sentence length --- ### 6. Express Co-ordinate Ideas in Similar Form Parallel constructions express parallel ideas. **Faulty Parallelism:** > "She likes hiking, swimming, and to ride bikes." **Parallel:** > "She likes hiking, swimming, and biking." **More Examples:** | Faulty | Parallel | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | He is smart, hardworking, and has a good sense of humor | He is smart, hardworking, and humorous | | The project requires patience, careful planning, and you need determination | The project requires patience, careful planning, and determination | **Correlatives Must Be Parallel:** - not only... but also - either... or - neither... nor - both... and > Faulty: "Not only did she finish the project but also she presented it." > Parallel: "She not only finished the project but also presented it." --- ### 7. Keep Related Words Together Subjects and verbs, verbs and objects, modifiers and modified—keep them close. **Muddled:** > "He noticed a large stain in the rug that was right in the center." (Is the > stain or the rug in the center?) **Clear:** > "He noticed a large stain right in the center of the rug." **Modifiers:** Place modifiers as close as possible to the words they modify: > Confusing: "I only drink coffee in the morning." Clear: "I drink coffee only > in the morning." (or "I drink only coffee in the morning.") --- ### 8. Use the Right Word Confused words weaken prose. **Common Confusions:** | Word | Meaning | Not | | --------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | | affect | to influence (verb) | effect (noun: result) | | effect | result (noun); to bring about (verb) | affect | | comprise | include, contain | "is comprised of" | | imply | to suggest | infer (to deduce) | | fewer | countable items | less (uncountable) | | literally | actually happened | figuratively | | unique | one of a kind | very unique (no degrees) | | nauseous | causing nausea | nauseated (feeling sick) | **When in Doubt:** Use the simpler word. "Use" beats "utilize." "Start" beats "commence." "Help" beats "facilitate." --- ### 9. Write with Nouns and Verbs Nouns and verbs are the essential parts of speech. Adjectives and adverbs add color but can weaken. **Adverb Crutches:** | Weak | Strong | | ------------- | --------- | | ran quickly | sprinted | | said quietly | whispered | | walked slowly | ambled | | very tired | exhausted | **Adjective Inflation:** | Overwritten | Simple | | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | beautiful, stunning sunset | the sunset (let context add beauty) | | completely unique | unique | | extremely crucial | crucial | **The Test:** Can the sentence work without the adjective/adverb? If yes, cut it. --- ### 10. Revise and Rewrite Writing is rewriting. The first draft is never the final draft. **In Ghost Writing Context:** - The first draft aims for 80% accuracy - The human does the final 20% - But the ghost writer should still self-edit before delivering - Catch AI patterns, rhythm issues, and voice drift --- ## Application for Ghost Writing ### When DNA Document Is Silent Use these principles as defaults: - Active voice - Concise construction - Concrete language - Positive statements - Varied sentence structure ### When DNA Document Contradicts Follow the DNA. If the writer loves adverbs, use adverbs. If they prefer passive voice in certain contexts, match that. Voice fidelity trumps general rules. ### For Self-Editing Before delivering: 1. Scan for needless words → cut 2. Scan for passive → consider activating 3. Scan for vague language → make concrete 4. Scan for monotonous rhythm → vary 5. Check parallelism in lists --- ## Quick Reference | Principle | Quick Check | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | Omit needless | Can I cut words without losing meaning? | | Active voice | Who is doing the action? Make them the subject. | | Positive form | Am I using "not" to avoid committing? | | Concrete | Can I replace abstract with specific? | | Varied sentences | Are three or more sentences the same structure? | | Parallel | Are list items in the same form? | | Related together | Is the modifier next to what it modifies? | | Right word | Am I sure this means what I think? | | Nouns and verbs | Is the adjective/adverb earning its place? | | Revise | Did I read through before delivering? | --- Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/elements-of-style) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com