Part I: Chapter 3 Clutter Summary

This chapter is all about simplicity, the opposite of clutter. Simplicity is not the direct opposite ("direct" can be cut) of clutter; it is the opposite, so write just that: simplicity is the opposite of clutter, and do not repeat yourself.

The author rightfully accuses politicians of being the greatest bad influence on the English language when it comes to euphemism and clutter. He lays out many examples from the Vietnam War period, yet the situation has not improved. The world of business and finance is not much better with politician's habit of using fad terms.

Zinsser draws brackets around the parts of his students' prose that can be safely eliminated. He does this rather than crossing out in order that the students learn to recognize clutter. This method seems to work, as some of his former...