Marked Differences in Style. From the examples cited it is plain that there are marked differences in style. The practical question for the beginner in writing is, wherein do styles differ? What is the best style; and what, especially, is the best style for me? Is it in my power, granting that I am eager for it, to acquire an excellent style? And how shall I go to work with this end in view?~

From one point of view, and in an important sense, Dean Swift's statement that proper words in proper places make the true definition of style, is true. But the study of style includes also the study of sentences, and of paragraphs, and of what are called figures.

Note the following definitions of style. Hill emphasizes important elements in style, while Spencer gives a more complete statement of what style includes.

Differ as good writers may in other respects, they are all distinguished by the judicious choice and skilful placing of words. They all aim to use no word that is not established as a part of the language in the sense in which they use it, and no word that does not say what they wish it to say so clearly as to be understood at once, and either so strongly as to command attention or so agreeably as to win attention; to put every word in the place fixed for it by the idiom of the language, and by the principles which govern communication between man and man, the place which gives the word its exact value in itself and in its relation with other words; and to use no more words than are necessary to effect the purpose in hand. -A. S. Hill.

The right choice and collocation of words; the best arrangement of clauses in a sentence; the proper order of its principal and subordinate propositions; the judicious use of simile, metaphor, and other figures of speech; and the euphonious sequence of syllables.

-Herbert Spencer.

A remarkable example of the difference that style makes, where two writers say substantially the same thing, one simple and matter-of-fact, the other on fire with genius, is found in the following extract from a letter written by the sister of the poet, William Wordsworth, whose poem on "The Daffodils " is quoted on page 391 of this book. Let the student compare them.

When we were in the woods, we saw a few daffodils close by the water-side. As we went along there were more and yet more; and at last, under the boughs of the trees, we saw there a long belt of them along the shore. I never saw daffodils so beautiful. They grew among the mossy stones about them. Some rested their heads on the stones as on a pillow; the rest tossed, and reeled, and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind, they looked so gay and glancing.

Mannerisms. The young writer must guard against what are called mannerisms. In his anxiety to preserve and cultivate originality, he is apt to fall into peculiar ways of expressing himself. A safe rule, although not an easy one to follow, is rigorously to cut out the passages that he has fallen in love with. If a sentence or a paragraph pleases him unduly, the chances are that it contains some mannerisms which would be better omitted.

There is little hope for a young writer who thinks he has a style, and clings to it in spite of sound criticism on the part of an experienced writer. This does not mean that individuality of style is not to be sought, but rather that there is danger of the student's becoming satisfied with his own crude and faulty style, because it seems to be his own. If he persists in it, it may spoil his success

as a writer.

Here is where young newspaper writers have an advantage. The editor's blue pencil is inexorable, and cuts out

what they may think is their best work. But if they have anything in them, they will thank him for it later.

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Suggestions for Acquiring a Style. If you are in earnest as to acquiring a style, note these suggestions.

1. Never lose sight of your style until it becomes part of yourself.

2. Study the masters of style.

3. Do not be self-conscious, but hold yourself well in hand.

4. Avoid mannerisms.

To give the phrase, the sentence, the structural member, the entire composition, a similar unity with its subject and with itself, style is in the right way when it tends towards that. On Style, Walter Pater.

EXERCISES ON STYLE

(a) Having Regard to Style. In preparing these exercises, have regard to style. Write the papers first, the best you can, and then go over them, endeavoring to improve the style.

1. Write a two-hundred-word paper on the style of Silas Marner, stating how you think this style differs from that of Carlyle in his Life of Burns; or from that of Dickens in his Tale of Two Cities. Or, you may use any other book you have studied in class, for this comparison with Silas Marner.

2. Write a one-hundred-word paper on the style of some favorite book or poem; or of some author.

(b) Studying Your Own Style. It is well worth while to keep an eye on your own style, both in speech and writing. There is a distinctive style of speech that belongs to you, if you value it enough to strive after it. In making this effort, do two things:

1. Do your best in every paper you write, and in every talk or speech you attempt.

2. In writing, read your work over, after you have done the best that is in you, in order to detect errors, and to make your work as good as your sober second thought may suggest.

Read for one thing at a time.1 Study your sentence structure at one reading. Examine your paragraphing at another reading. Watch for errors in grammar at another time. As you do all this, however, study the matter of your own style.

Take the best paper you have written recently, and rewrite it, endeavoring to put into practice the suggestions just made.

1 This method of close inquiry into the merits of your own work is strongly urged by the English Syllabus, Board of Regents, New York. It states that in so doing, the student soon becomes the best critic of his own written and oral work, and acquires a habit that will be useful to him all his later life.

CHAPTER XXVI

REQUISITES OF EFFECTIVE STYLE

We are pleased with an author who frees us from all fatigue in searching for his meaning. — Blair.

Effective prose

Essential Properties of Effective Style. must have some special properties of style. The most important of these are clearness, force, and elegance.

Clearness. Clearness requires that what is written shall be so expressed that it must be understood by the reader or hearer. Referring to this quality of clearness, Quintilian says: "It is not enough to use language that may be understood; the writer should use language that must be understood."

Clearness of Thought.— There are many elements that enter into clearness of expression, but the first essential is clearness of thought. To be clear, we must think a thing out until the words we use mean just what we intend them to mean.

To write with clearness we must make ourselves as certain as possible of what we wish to say.

Wendell.

Clearness of Expression. The writer must take pains with what is written. If he undertakes to write so that no one can possibly misunderstand him, it soon comes to be a sort of second nature with him.

No man better understood the value of clear English