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Welcome to snoozecast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com

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I'm Stephen and I'll be guest reading tonight's episode. I'm a long-time listener to snoozecast

and also the founder of Stereo Couture, a studio specializing in music, sound, and voices for animation.

You can learn more in the show notes. In my work, my bedtime is pretty erratic and my mind is busy.

But no matter where I am or what's going on, snoozecast has given me a consistent and soothing routine

to wind down, clear my head, and get some sleep. So I feel honored to have this opportunity to give back.

Thanks, snoozecast. This episode is brought to you by the active voice.

Tonight we'll read the first part to the writing style guide, The Elements of Style,

written by William Strunk Jr. in 1918, published in 1920.

Strunk was a professor at Cornell University and wrote the book for use at the University.

He is best remembered for the version of this guidebook and large to 1959 by his student, New Yorker writer, E.B. White.

Now in its fourth edition, it is the most frequently assigned book on college syllabuses

and continues to earn both praise and criticism over a century after its first publication.

Let's get cozy, close your eyes, relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now take a few deep breaths.

Chapter 1. Introductory. This book aims to give in a brief space the principal requirements of plain English style.

It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention on a few essentials.

The rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated.

It lays down three rules for the use of the comma, instead of a score or more, and one for the use of the semicolon.

In the belief that these four rules provide for all the internal punctuation that is required by 19 sentences out of 20.

...