【5】 STYLE:THE WORDS THAT TELL THE STORY The word style,derived from the Latin word stilus (a writing instrument),is understood to mean the way in which writers assemble words to tell the story,develop the argument,dramatize the play,or compose the poem.Often the definition is extended to distinguish style from content.It is probably wiser,however,not to make this separation but to consider style as the placement of words in the service of content.The way a thing is said,in other words,can not be separated from the thing itself. Style is also highly individualistic.It is a matter of the way in which specific authors put words together under specific conditions in specific works.It is therefore possible to speak of the style of Ernest Hemingway,for example,and of Samuel Clemens,even though both writers at any time are adapting their words to the situations imagined in their works.Thus authors may actually have a separate style for narrative and descriptive passages,and their style in dialogue is likely different from either of these.Indeed,it would be a mark of an inferior style if a writer were to use the same manner for all the varying purposes that must exist in a story.It must therefore be emphasized that style is to be judged on the degree of its adaptability. The better the writer,the more the writer's words will fit the precise situation called for in the story.Jonathan Swift defined style as the right words in the right places.We may add to this definition that style is the also the right words at the right time and in the right circumstances. In its most general sense,style consists of diction(the individual words an author chooses)and syntax (the arrangement of those words and phrases,clauses,and sentences),as well as such devices as rhythm and sound,allusion,ambiguity,irony, paradox,and figurative language. Elements of Style【5】 STYLE: THE WORDS THAT TELLTHE STORY The word style, derived from the Latin word stilus (a writing instrument), is understood to mean the way in which writers assemble words to tell the story, develop the argument, dramatize the play, or compose the poem. Often the definition is extended to distinguish style from content. It is probably wiser, however, not to make this separation but to consider style as the placement of words in the service of content. The way a thing is said, in other words, can not be separated from the thing itself.Style is also highly individualistic. It is a matter of the way in which specific authors put words together under specific conditions in specific works. It is therefore possible to speak of the style of Ernest Hemingway, for example, and of Samuel Clemens, even though both writers at any time are adapting their words to the situations imagined in their works. Thus authors may actually have a separate style for narrative and descriptive passages, and their style in dialogue is likely different from either of these. Indeed, it would be a mark of an inferior style if a writer were to use the same manner for all the varying purposes that must exist in a story. It must therefore be emphasized that style is to be judged on the degree of its adaptability. The better the writer, the more the writer’s words will fit the precise situation called for in the story. Jonathan Swift defined style as the right words in the right places. We may add to this definition that style is the also the right words at the right time and in the right circumstances. In its most general sense, style consists of diction (the individual words an author chooses) and syntax (the arrangement of those words and phrases, clauses, and sentences), as well as such devices as rhythm and sound, allusion, ambiguity, irony, paradox, and figurative language. Elements of Style