quick rant about "Steps to Writing Well"

In chapter 7 of "Steps to Writing Well" there is a section of "do's and don't's" to help students select the best words, specifically for college writing. In staying with the theme of do's and don't's the author, Jean Wyrick, has subsections titled "Don't use..." or "Do select...".

Every time there is a "Do" subsection I want to scream at Jean, "Rule 13 from Strunk and White's Elements of Style: Omit needless words!!!". The "Do" is clumsy and unnecessary.

An example for comparison:

original- "Do call things by their proper names."
improved- "Call things by their proper names."

You'll notice that the "improved" version has the exact same message but states it more directly.

(My writing isn't perfect. There are probably repeated violations of the rule I'm advocating. However, I'm a student and will repeatedly fail at the most basic writing concepts.)

A few will argue that the author was simply following the theme by using Do or Don't to begin sub-headings. First of all, Jean had options. She/He didn't have to choose that theme at all. Secondly, Jean breaks with the theme for a sub-section titled: "Avoid sexist language".


This concludes my rant. Please comment and tell me what you think. Am I right? Am I an idiot?

Tell me.

(photo by gumuz)