William Strunk Jr.: Professor of English, Cornell University, best known as the author of the first editions of The Elements of Style, a guide to the best English usage, which he had printed privately in 1918 for the use of his students. It became a classic on the local campus known as "the little book".
In the original edition, Strunk describes the purpose of the book as follows:
- "It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention ... on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated."
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