Pictured above, from the NYTimes: E.B. White’s original typewriter and manuscript are pictured with William Strunk Jr.’s original version and the 1959 edition of “The Elements of Style.” Today's New York Times Room for Debate blog includes a tribute to Strunk and White written by five grammarians and their ilk. Fun reading, and they do tend to pooh-pooh the ongoing dedication on the part of so many English teachers through the years, mine included. It seems Messrs. Strunk and White have not aged well. To quote the hilarious entry by Patricia T. O'Connor:
"... 'six persons' is not better than 'six people.' Show me a guy who invariably says 'six persons' and I will show you a fathead. But Happy Birthday anyway, Strunk and White."
Still, I do love this admonishment from ol' Strunk & White: "Interesting. An unconvincing word; avoid it as a means of introduction. Instead of announcing that what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so."
Words to live by. (Or is that, "Words by which to live?")
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