Just say adios to Strunk and White.

http://www.amazon.com/Adios-Strunk-White-Handbook-Academic/d...

I have a copy of Strunk and White, but I like other advice on writing much better. The new book by Steven Pinker that is promised in Jerry Coyne's post about Pinker's project

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/steve-pin...

is a book that I expect to be especially helpful for Hacker News participants. The book isn't finished yet, but Pinker's lecture on how to write

http://video.mit.edu/watch/communicating-science-and-technol...

includes a convincing critique of Strunk and White.

Students who have read Strunk and White should read two other critiques of Strunk and White,

1) the essay "50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice" by Geoffrey K. Pullum,

http://chronicle.com/article/50-Years-of-Stupid-Grammar/2549...

and

2) Adios, Strunk & White: A Handbook for the New Academic Essay by Gary and Glynis Hofman.

http://www.amazon.com/Adios-Strunk-White-Handbook-Academic/d...