The original "Omit needless words" seems to have mutated in the wild: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-11-08/news/0911070240_1_promise-writing-elements

The original "Omit needless words" seems to have mutated in the wild: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-11-08/news/0911070240_1_promise-writing-elements http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-11-08/news/091107024... 'A reader of "The Elements of Style" once sent E. B. White a clipping of a book review that misquoted William Strunk as having advised writers to "Use less words!" White wrote back: "I often wish Strunk could come alive so that I might hear the gnashing of his teeth."'