On Writing Well by William Zinsser: Summary & Notes
by William Zinsser
Related reading: 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing, Dreyer's English, On Writing
In One Sentence
Good writing is clear thinking made visible—strip away clutter, write with humanity, and rewrite relentlessly.
Key Takeaways
- Clutter is the disease of writing—remove every unnecessary word
- Write for yourself first; if you're bored, the reader will be too
- Unity is crucial: one mood, one pronoun, one tense
- Use active verbs and concrete nouns; avoid passive voice and abstractions
- Rewriting is the essence of writing—there is no good writing, only good rewriting
- Write with humanity—let your personality show
Summary
The best book on writing non-fiction I have read. Where Dreyer’s English and The Elements of Style focus on grammar and words, On Writing Well goes deeper and covers specific genres, composition, interviewing, and more. If I had to recommend one book on how to write non-fiction well, this would be it.
Who Should Read This Book
- Anyone who writes professionally—journalists, bloggers, business writers
- Students wanting to improve academic and personal writing
- Non-fiction writers seeking clarity and craft
- Those who find their writing feels flat or unclear
FAQ
What is Zinsser's main writing advice?
Simplify. Cut every word that doesn't do useful work. Fight clutter—unnecessary adjectives, redundant phrases, jargon. Write one idea per sentence. Be yourself. Rewrite until every word counts. Good writing is stripped-down writing.
Click to expand comprehensive chapter-by-chapter breakdown (~15-20 min read)
