Elements of Style

Core principles from Strunk & White's classic, distilled for ghost writing.

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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.

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The Core Principles

1. Omit Needless Words

Vigorous writing is concise. Every word should do work.

Cuts to Make:

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."

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2. Use Active Voice

Active voice is direct and vigorous. Passive voice is indirect and often weak.

Active vs. Passive:

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

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3. Put Statements in Positive Form

Make definite assertions. Avoid weak, evasive, or noncommittal language.

Negative vs. Positive:

"Not" as Evasion: Using "not" often shows unwillingness to commit:

Weak: "The report was not inaccurate." Strong: "The report was accurate." (or was it?)

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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:

General vs. Specific:

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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

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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:

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."

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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.")

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8. Use the Right Word

Confused words weaken prose.

Common Confusions:

When in Doubt: Use the simpler word. "Use" beats "utilize." "Start" beats "commence." "Help" beats "facilitate."

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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:

Adjective Inflation:

The Test: Can the sentence work without the adjective/adverb? If yes, cut it.

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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

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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

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Quick Reference