Live Music Archive
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11The Elements of Style
Audio With External Links Item Preview
- Usage
- Public Domain
LibriVox recording of The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. Read by Nicholas James Bridgewater.
The Elements of Style (1918) by William Strunk, Jr. is an American English writing style guide. It is one of the best-known and most influential prescriptive treatment of English grammar and usage, and often is required reading in U.S. high school and university composition classes. The original 1918 edition of The Elements of Style detailed eight elementary rules of usage, ten elementary principles of composition, “a few matters of form”, and a list of commonly "misused" words and expressions. This book, printed as a private edition in 1918 for the use of his students, became a classic on the local campus, known as "the little book", and its successive editions have since sold over ten million copies. This version is based on the public-domain text from 1918, which was originally uploaded to Wikibooks and wikified by Wikibooks:User:Lord Emsworth in 2003. In January 2006, Kernigh transwikied the text from Wikibooks:Elements of Style to Wikisource. (Summary by Wikipedia and Wikisource)
For further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.
For more free audio books, in over 25 languages, or to become a volunteer reader, visit LibriVox.org.
Download M4B (27MB)
The Elements of Style (1918) by William Strunk, Jr. is an American English writing style guide. It is one of the best-known and most influential prescriptive treatment of English grammar and usage, and often is required reading in U.S. high school and university composition classes. The original 1918 edition of The Elements of Style detailed eight elementary rules of usage, ten elementary principles of composition, “a few matters of form”, and a list of commonly "misused" words and expressions. This book, printed as a private edition in 1918 for the use of his students, became a classic on the local campus, known as "the little book", and its successive editions have since sold over ten million copies. This version is based on the public-domain text from 1918, which was originally uploaded to Wikibooks and wikified by Wikibooks:User:Lord Emsworth in 2003. In January 2006, Kernigh transwikied the text from Wikibooks:Elements of Style to Wikisource. (Summary by Wikipedia and Wikisource)
For further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.
For more free audio books, in over 25 languages, or to become a volunteer reader, visit LibriVox.org.
Download M4B (27MB)
- External-identifier
-
urn:storj:bucket:jvrrslrv7u4ubxymktudgzt3hnpq:elements_of_style_1004_librivox
![[Storj]](/images/storj-small.png "[Storj]")
Reviews
Reviewer:
I. Pony
-
favoritefavorite -
November 20, 2013
Subject: Distracting reading style
Subject: Distracting reading style
I applaud Mr. Bridgewater's efforts; however I find his reading style somewhat distracting. He seems like a very nice fellow and I understand that enunciation is important, however so is vitamin A, but too much of it will blind you.With respect to the adage "put up or shut up" I am preparing to record and upload my own version. I'm sure many people like his reading style, (14K+ downloads! He certainly has the whole enunciation thing down!) Be that as it may, I hope that my effort proves worthwhile.
(By the way, the shipping line Cunard? It’s pronounced “Kewnard.”
:)
(By the way, the shipping line Cunard? It’s pronounced “Kewnard.”
:)
Reviewer:
AnnaJohansson
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 1, 2011
Subject: Great recording
Subject: Great recording
This is a great recording of a classic book. I am an experienced audio book listener as I have a reading disability, and I can surely say that the negative reviewer is wrong. The reader's narration is on par with what professional readers produce. Especially the reader's ability to enter into the subject and presumed mind of the author is welcomed. Thank you very much Nicholas for your effort and skills as evidenced by this fine recording.
Reviewer:
NicholasJB
-
-
April 20, 2010
Subject: The value of an audiobook
Subject: The value of an audiobook
@Sorker: Thanks for your interest in this recording. If you feel that it deserves a better version than the one I recorded, you are most welcome to volunteer and record your own version. You don't seem to appreciate, however, the time and effort that volunteers take to make these recordings. You may not like my reading style, but I am sure that many others will do so. I believe that books should be read with emotion and clarity, which I convey in my style. This book, in particular, is an instruction book, so it has to be read particularly clearly. I will continue to record books with my own style.
I'm not familiar with John Houseman, btw, but I've just looked him up on YouTube and he has a wonderful voice. So I'll take your statement as a compliment, because he's definitely a model for any reader to aspire to emulate. He also happens to be a British-American actor, and I am also both British and American, which is interesting. In any case, it is the instructional value of this book that matters, not the style of its reader. If you prefer a different style, record it yourself. Until now, I haven't found a free audiobook of this classic work. Now it is available to the entire world for free.
@Purifier: Thanks for your comments! :D
I'm not familiar with John Houseman, btw, but I've just looked him up on YouTube and he has a wonderful voice. So I'll take your statement as a compliment, because he's definitely a model for any reader to aspire to emulate. He also happens to be a British-American actor, and I am also both British and American, which is interesting. In any case, it is the instructional value of this book that matters, not the style of its reader. If you prefer a different style, record it yourself. Until now, I haven't found a free audiobook of this classic work. Now it is available to the entire world for free.
@Purifier: Thanks for your comments! :D
Reviewer:
Purifier
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 19, 2010
Subject: Good Recording.
Subject: Good Recording.
The reader's voice is clear. He has a good mic. It is a solo project so you don't have to adjust to several voices. The only thing better would be to have the information sent directly into your brain via USB.
Reviewer:
Sorker
-
favorite -
April 18, 2010
Subject: Reader Wrong
Subject: Reader Wrong
Nicholas James Bridgewater, the reader, surely has not (one prays) spoken in this tone at any other time of his life. He seems a Saturday Night Live comedian attempting to channel, without success, the pedantic acting style of John Houseman.
The Elements of Style is indeed a classic and can well inform today's writers. Let us hope it is given a better chance soon than this piece.
The Elements of Style is indeed a classic and can well inform today's writers. Let us hope it is given a better chance soon than this piece.
69,738 Views
24 Favorites
IN COLLECTIONS
The LibriVox Free Audiobook Collection
Audio Books & Poetry 
Uploaded by librivoxbooks on
