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What is a good prose style? When I think about this question, I’m reminded of George Orwell, who famously named aesthetic enthusiasm as one of the “four great motives” for writing.
For him, it was the “perception of beauty in … words and their arrangement” and the “pleasure in the impact of one sound on another.”
C.S. Lewis (November 29, 1898–November 22, 1963) echoed this belief in his book “On Writing (and Writers): A Miscellany of Advice and Opinions.” In “The Power of Style,” he writes: “You have started the question of prose style in your letter and ask whether it is anything more than the ‘literal meaning of the words.’ On the contrary, it means less — it means the words themselves.” Then he adds:
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For every thought can be expressed in a number of different ways: and style is the art of expressing a given thought in the most beautiful words and rhythms of words.
For instance, a man might say, “When the constellations which appear at early morning joined in musical exercises and the angelic spirits loudly testified to their satisfaction.”
Expressing exactly the same thought, the Authorized (King James) Version says, “When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”
Thus by the power of style, what was nonsense becomes ineffably beautiful.
I’m a freelance writer with 6 years of experience in SEO blogging and article publishing. While you’re here, get the latest updates by subscribing to my newsletter.
