Strunk and White have made my writing style clear, concise, and, hopefully, elegant. I distinguish between "that" and "which," drop unnecessary "that's," and avoid ending sentences with a preposition. I have reduced use of the passive voice, banished weak adjectives such as "very," and tried using semi-colons for compound sentences. Parallel construction and preference for the active voice have become second nature and, sometimes, an obsession.
The Elements of Style needs to be read by anyone who dares write in the English language. It is especially relevant in the business setting, where clear and efficient, rather than colorful and poetic, language aids the flow of information so decisions can be rapidly made. Effective communication skills are essential for any leader in a globalizing world and this work still remains the classic.
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