Win a copy of the original Elements of Style
For the next five weeks, I'll be giving away a free copy each week of William Strunk Jr.'s classic book on grammar and writing, The Elements of Style. Even if you have a copy of what is now commonly called "Strunk and White," you might want to enter the contest. The version I'm giving away contains only Strunk's original text, which he wrote for his students at Cornell University in 1918. It wasn't until 1959 that Strunk's student, E. B. White, published an edition that included his revisions and additions.
Anyone who writes for a living will want a copy of the Strunk and White version. Strunk's solo effort, however, contains the heart of the book, and it's an interesting study of how one man helped tame the vagaries of English grammar and composition for his students. Most of his advice is still sound nearly a century after he first published it.
How can you win? Leave a comment on the blog answering the question, "Which grammatical or spelling error most annoys you?" On Sunday, Feb. 21, I'll put all entrants' names in a spread sheet and use a random number generator to select the winner. The cutoff time will be noon Sunday, Mountain Standard Time. I'll start a new contest on Monday, Feb. 22
If you want an extra chance to win, send this text out as a tweet: "Want to win a copy of The Elements of Style? Go here: http://su.pr/1L1B93 Please RT. #rightpoint"
Grammar tip: Don't use the word "most" for "almost." Something might happen almost all the time, not most all the time.
(While you're here, look around the blog. If you wish, you can subscribe via e-mail or RSS feed. The tools to do so are in the right-hand column. Please follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/peterfaur.)
Posted by Peter Faur at 2/15/2010 10:01 AM 
Categories: Personal communication,grammar
Tags: elements of style grammar contest
Categories: Personal communication,grammar
Tags: elements of style grammar contest
Most annoying error:
Using "there's" as a contraction in a sentence the should be "there are." I HATE this one.
A good explanation can be found here:
http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/there_is_are.html
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Using the word "impact" because they are too lazy to figure out whether to use affect or effect. AARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
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What grammatical error most annoys me?
Contraction misuse -- you're, your. It's it. They're there their.
PS: the SU shortened link in your post doesn't work...
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Thanks, Jay. I caught the link problem almost immediately, but not fast enough! This copy and link will work if you want to retweet it: Want to win a copy of The Elements of Style? Go here: http://su.pr/1L1B93 Please RT. #rightpoint
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Well, here are a few that leap to mind.
--"I could care less" rather than "I could not care less."
--"Equally as (insert adjective)," "revert back" and other redundancies.
--"Suspension of belief" rather than "suspension of disbelief."
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My pet peeve is using "every day" as one word when it should be two. It's "everyday low prices," but "low prices every day." Anyone earning money as a copywriter should know the difference. I've collected ads from many major advertisers with this error. One national company that I wrote to finally did make the correction.
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Sit, set and sat - when I hear someone misuse them, I can't hear the rest of what is said. Is this just me?
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