Alfred T. Mahan wrote The Influence of Sea Power on upon History in the late 19^th century. Thisbook had a major influence on American foreign policy and the growth of the American navy. His daughter described his writing style:

It is better to say I began than I commenced; better I went than I proceeded; better I wish than I desire; better I behave than I conduct myself. ... When papa wrote his book a year ago he said: first, I will be careful to have everything right, no mistakes; next that everything shall be very clear, the sentences arranged that the reader shall easily understand; and then I will cut out all the big words. I can put short strong English wordsin their place. To do this papa had to write over and over again, and keep changing words he had written. ⁽¹⁾

1. Letters and Papers of Alfred Thayer Mahan, ed.Robert Seager II and Doris D. Maguire.Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1975 vol. 1 575-576. As quoted in First Great Triumph, WarrenZimmerman, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, New York, 2002.