William Strunk published The Elements of Style in 1918 "to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention ... on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated." Since then, this "forty-three-page summation of the case for cleanliness, accuracy, and brevity in the use of English" has done just that, and has become essential reading at the start of term for the well-prepared student.