"The Elements of Style" is a small book my boss lent to me. It was a small textbook used in Cornell University. The author was an English professor. He put some very basic and useful tips into the small white pamphlet. Thirty five years later, one of his students, a New York Times writer wrote a story about his professor and mentioned about this little book. A publisher called him and said they should make it publicly published.

E.B.White, the writer and coauthor of this book, reedited this little book and made it published after the original author, Prof. W. Strunk died.

I read most of the book on the train. It is very concise and handy. Many principles are so useful. It is definitely should be recommended to all English writers and learners.

Some samples:
- Put statements in positive form
- Use definite, specific, correct language
- Omit needless words.
- Keep related words together

Words:
Ongoing: To be avoided because they are inexact and clumsy
People: The word person is best not used with words of number, in place of persons. If of “six people” five went away, how many people would be left? Answer” one people. 
Personally: Often unnecessary.
Possess: Often used because to the writer it sounds more impressive than have or own.
Shall, will: In formal writing, the future tense requires shall for first person, and will for second and third.
So: Avoid, in writing, in use of so for intensifier. ”so warm “, “so good”,etc.
The truth is … The fact is: a bad beginning for a sentence.
Utilize: prefer use.
Very: use this word sparingly. Where emphasizing is necessary, use words strong in themselves.

Be Clear
Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity
Avoid foreign languages