H. W. Fowler Quotes

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Any one who wishes to become a good writer should endeavour, before he allows himself to be tempted by the more showy qualities, to be direct, simple, brief, vigorous, and lucid.

H. W. Fowler

The English speaking world may be divided into (1) those who neither know nor care what a split infinitive is; (2) those who do not know, but care very much; (3) those who know and condemn; (4) those who know and approve; and (5) those who know and distinguish. Those who neither know nor care are the vast majority and are a happy folk, to be envied by most of the minority classes.

H. W. Fowler

Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short word to the long. Prefer the Saxon word to the Romance.

H. W. Fowler

H. W. Fowler

H. W. Fowler

Born: March 10, 1858

Died: December 26, 1933 (aged 75)

Bio: Henry Watson Fowler was an English schoolmaster, lexicographer and commentator on the usage of the English language.

Known for:

A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (1926)
The King's English (1906)
Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage
The King's English Abridged for School Use (1908)

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