Strunk & White vs. Williams

I like "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White and "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" by Joseph Williams. However, they differ in significant ways.

The Strunk & White book is a vocabulary/grammar book. However, it goes a bit further than the usual vocabulary or grammar book, because it gives readers tips on using vocabulary and grammar properly to write well. It is an easy-to-read, accessible book. Students and professional writers and editors will find this book very useful.

Williams' book goes much deeper. To me it's a syntax/writing book. Even those who are well-read and have studied English grammar and taken many writing classes will find this book an eye-opener. It was a daunting read at first for me, but on the second reading it became much more accessible. It is a grammar book that guides writers on using grammar to write strong, clear, effective sentences and paragraphs. Williams clearly diagrams a sentence should begin and end. He also diagrams how a paragraph should flow. It is a great tool for professional editors who have to make a non-writer's (e.g. scientist) work into something very readable and accessible.