>If you are examining your own writing critically, it is worth critically examining the writing of others that you admire, and those you might disagree with.
I couldn't agree more. In fact, I find that my own prose has benefited greatly from reading those who write well.
>This kind of criticism is supposed to be constructive, so it should not be taken as an attack.
Your point is well taken, however your characterization ("Everything is wrong") is even more extreme than what Pullum said in the piece you linked. He said "almost everything is wrong."
What's more, all the links you posted are quite critical of The Elements of Style and are not representative of the many other voices out there (cf. [0][1][2][3][4]). I'd expect that one might attempt to balance the criticism, rather than just piling on.
That's not to say I reject outright the criticisms of Pullum and Pereltsvaig. Rather, they both make interesting points.
However, from the standpoint of a lay person who wishes to write cogently and concisely (that is, most of us) rather than a grammarian or professional writer, Elements provides useful advice and numerous examples of good writing.
Are the recommendations contained therein universally apropos? Certainly not.
That said, for most people who wish to get a better sense, not only of how to write more clearly and concisely, but also what such writing looks like, Elements provides a wealth of suggestions and examples.
Whether or not you disagree with some of the recommendations in Elements, it stresses clarity, concision and direct expression of ideas.
That many will go beyond those recommendations doesn't invalidate the value of elucidating good writing habits, and utilizing them to provide cogent examples of the same.
Writing styles are inherently subjective, and a text like Elements is and can be a worthy supplement to reading widely and honing one's own style.
The Elements of Style isn't a tome with a litany of prescribed and proscribed methods and techniques. Rather it's a slim (only 52 pages) volume focused on expressing ideas clearly and concisely -- a goal it achieves for itself.
I recommend that you read it[5]. It shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes.
I couldn't agree more. In fact, I find that my own prose has benefited greatly from reading those who write well.
>This kind of criticism is supposed to be constructive, so it should not be taken as an attack.
Your point is well taken, however your characterization ("Everything is wrong") is even more extreme than what Pullum said in the piece you linked. He said "almost everything is wrong."
What's more, all the links you posted are quite critical of The Elements of Style and are not representative of the many other voices out there (cf. [0][1][2][3][4]). I'd expect that one might attempt to balance the criticism, rather than just piling on.
That's not to say I reject outright the criticisms of Pullum and Pereltsvaig. Rather, they both make interesting points.
However, from the standpoint of a lay person who wishes to write cogently and concisely (that is, most of us) rather than a grammarian or professional writer, Elements provides useful advice and numerous examples of good writing.
Are the recommendations contained therein universally apropos? Certainly not.
That said, for most people who wish to get a better sense, not only of how to write more clearly and concisely, but also what such writing looks like, Elements provides a wealth of suggestions and examples.
Whether or not you disagree with some of the recommendations in Elements, it stresses clarity, concision and direct expression of ideas.
That many will go beyond those recommendations doesn't invalidate the value of elucidating good writing habits, and utilizing them to provide cogent examples of the same.
Writing styles are inherently subjective, and a text like Elements is and can be a worthy supplement to reading widely and honing one's own style.
The Elements of Style isn't a tome with a litany of prescribed and proscribed methods and techniques. Rather it's a slim (only 52 pages) volume focused on expressing ideas clearly and concisely -- a goal it achieves for itself.
I recommend that you read it[5]. It shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes.
[0] https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2018/why-strunk-wh...
[1] https://www.ragan.com/helpful-writing-habits-from-strunk-and...
[2] https://proofreadingpal.com/proofreading-pulse/writing-guide...
[3] https://www.writingclasses.com/toolbox/tips-masters/strunk-w...
[4] https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/2909/what-s-purp...
[5] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37134/37134-h/37134-h.htm