From Jane Austen to James Patterson, every author has their own way of writing. And that writing is often discussed in terms of “style.” Essentially, style refers to “how” something is written — it is ...

“Sept. 30, 1659. I, poor, miserable Robinson Crusoe, being shipwrecked, during a dreadful storm in the offing, came on shore on this dismal unfortunate island, which I called ‘the Island of Despair,’ ...

TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online ...

The first element of good style is clearness, and this may or may not be combined with literary elegance. It is usual to regard a split infinitive as a sign of indifference to pure English, yet this ...

I’m a sucker for a good book and it’s even better if I have a great place to read it. “Novel Interiors: Living in Enchanted Rooms Inspired by Literature,” by Lisa Borgnes Giramonti (Potter Style, $35) ...

I know how to tell you the truth in a sentence so dense and complicated and filled with jargon that you will not be able to comprehend. I also know — using my clearest and most engaging prose — how to ...

Matthew Kirschenbaum does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations ...