VeryGoodOpenSource Elements of Style
Apply these principles to produce clear, vigorous prose.
Core Principles
Omit needless words. Every word must earn its place. Cut filler phrases:
| Cut | Keep |
|---|---|
| the question as to whether | whether |
| owing to the fact that | since |
| the fact that he failed | his failure |
| he is a man who | he |
| in a hasty manner | hastily |
Use active voice. Direct and forcible:
| Passive | Active |
|---|---|
| The first experiment was performed | We performed the first experiment |
| It was believed by the committee | The committee believed |
Put statements in positive form. Avoid hedging with "not":
| Negative | Positive |
|---|---|
| He was not very often on time | He usually came late |
| did not remember | forgot |
| did not have confidence in | distrusted |
Use concrete, specific language. Vague abstractions weaken prose:
| Abstract | Concrete |
|---|---|
| A period of unfavorable weather set in | It rained every day for a week |
| He showed satisfaction as he took possession of his reward | He grinned as he pocketed the coin |
Sentence Structure
Keep related words together. Subject and verb should not be separated unnecessarily. Place modifiers next to what they modify.
Place emphatic words at the end. The sentence's most important element belongs at its close.
Avoid loose sentence chains. Don't string clauses with "and," "but," "which." Vary structure: use semicolons, periodic sentences, or break into separate sentences.
Express parallel ideas in parallel form:
| Broken | Parallel |
|---|---|
| Formerly by textbook, while now the laboratory method | Formerly by textbook; now by laboratory |
Punctuation Essentials
- Serial comma: red, white, and blue
- Independent clauses without conjunction: use semicolon, not comma
- Parenthetic expressions: enclose with paired commas (never one comma alone)
- Coordinate clauses with conjunction: comma before the conjunction
Words to Avoid or Restrict
| Avoid | Prefer |
|---|---|
| interesting | (make it interesting, don't announce it) |
| certainly | (overused intensifier) |
| kind of/sort of | rather, somewhat |
| one of the most | (threadbare opening) |
| along these lines | (vague) |
| literally | (often misused for emphasis) |
| case, character, nature | (usually redundant) |
Quick Checks
Before finalizing any prose:
- Can any words be cut without losing meaning?
- Are verbs active where possible?
- Are statements positive rather than hedged negatives?
- Is language concrete and specific?
- Do emphatic ideas land at sentence ends?
- Is parallel structure consistent?