William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Use the first person in writing.

Vigorous writing is concise.

Place yourself in the background.

The active voice is usually stronger than the passive.

Do not join independent clauses with a comma.

Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.

A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences.

Omit needless words.

Be clear.

The active voice is usually preferable to the passive.