“Omit needless words.” — William Strunk Jr.

“Yo, too many songs: weak rhymes that’s mad long. /
Make it brief, son. Half short and twice strong.” — The Gza

Simple. Concise. Strunk Jr. delivered his no-nonsense phrase in the 1918 first edition of his landmark work The Elements of Style — guidelines that still ring true to this day.

The Gza (of the Wu-Tang Clan) emphatically delivered the same message to his hip-hop peers nearly 80 years later on the song “As High As Wu-Tang Get.” I’ve always enjoyed juxtaposing these phrases. Together, they reveal a truth that transcends time and audience.

I did not grow up an eager student of the English language. Quite the contrary, I never cared much for its rules or the snobbery it exuded. To be honest, I still don’t. However, growing up listening to rap music — street poetry — evoked an appreciation for the art of storytelling. I developed an anthropologist’s curiosity, a documentarian’s honesty, and an ear for a poet’s rhythm.

Today, while I loathe the label of grammar snob, I play one on TV. I’ve debated the virtues of the Oxford comma. I’ve stood fast for the proper use of the em dash (much to my coder’s chagrin). I’ve waffled on the use of hyphens for certain compound modifiers. Deep down, while I may not ride for the rules of language like 2Pac rode for Cali, ultimately, I’ve been around the block and can help a brand tell its unique story.