Clark begins with the small and ends with the large. He progresses from describing the techniques used in grammar, word arrangement, and rhythm, through ornate style, figures of speech, and parallelism, to sentence, paragraphs, and the structure and conventions of novels. His method throughout is descriptive rather than prescriptive: he illustrates his points by examples drawn from literature and refrains from elaborate systems of his own construction. Assuming his readers know the basics of grammar and style, Clark provides an engaging description of the importance of style for the serious writer and experienced editor.