elements of style, part 1
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ELEMENTS OF STYLE, PART 1. 5 MOST IMPORTANT RULES. 2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last . 3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas . 4. Place a comma before and or but introducing an independent clause . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ELEMENTS OF STYLE, PART 1
ELEMENTS OF STYLE, PART 1
5 MOST IMPORTANT RULES
2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction,
use a comma after each term except the last . 3. Enclose
parenthetic expressions between commas .4. Place a comma before and
or but introducing an independent clause .5. Do not join
independent clauses by a comma .6. Do not break sentences in
two
2. In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction,
use a comma after each term except the last .
red, white, and bluehonest, energetic, but headstrongHe opened the
letter, read it, and made a note of its contents.
4. Place a comma before and or but introducing an independent
clause
WRONG
Inevitably, some of the money goes towards administration costs and
some money might even be wasted on projects that are badly
organized.
RIGHT
Inevitably, some of the money goes towards administration costs[,]
and some money might even be wasted on projects that are badly
organized.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
SUBJECT AND VERB THAT CAN STAND INDEPENDENTLY AS A SEPARATE
SENTENCEInevitably, [some of the money goes towards administration
costs] and [some money might even be wasted on projects that are
badly organized].[some of the money goes towards administration
costs][some money might even be wasted on projects that are badly
organized].
5. . Do not join independent clauses by a comma .
ALSO CALLED A RUN ON SENTENCE [RO]Theres a heated discussion about
homosexual marriage, some people reject it because they think it is
against nature. --This passage contains two independent clauses
Theres a heated discussion about homosexual marriage. Some people
reject it because they think it is against nature.
6. Do not break sentences in two
Also called sentence fragment [SF](a)If you had talked with them
and asked advises of them. (b)Then even if your decision turns out
to be a failure or a mistake, you can spare yourself some
responsibilities.Neither (a) nor (b) can stand independently(a) +
(b)= a complete sentence
. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas .
The best way to see a country, unless you are pressed for time, is
to travel on foot.This rule is difficult to apply; it is frequently
hard to decide whether a single word, such as however, or a brief
phrase, is or is not parenthetic. If the interruption to the flow
of the sentence is but slight, the writer may safely omit the
commas.
But whether the interruption be slight or considerable, he must
never omit one comma and leave the other. Such punctuation
asMarjories husband, Colonel Nelson paid us a visit yesterday.
(X)My brother you will be pleased to hear, is now in perfect
health.(X)--is indefensible.
Non-restrictive relative clauses are, in accordance with this
rule, set off by commas.The audience, which had at first been
indifferent, became more and more interested.
Similar clauses introduced by where and when are similarly
punctuated.---In 1769, when Napoleon was born, Corsica had but
recently been acquired by France.---Nether Stowey, where Coleridge
wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, is a few miles from
Bridgewater.
In these sentences the clauses introduced by which, when, and
where are non-restrictive; they do not limit the application of the
words on which they depend, but add, parenthetically, statements
supplementing those in the principal clauses. Each sentence is a
combination of two statements which might have been made
independently
The audience, which had at first been indifferent, became more
and more interested.
The audience was at first indifferent. Later it became more and
more interested.
In 1769, when Napoleon was born, Corsica had but recently been
acquired by France.Nether Stowey, where Coleridge wrote The Rime of
the Ancient Mariner, is a few miles from Bridgewater.
Napoleon was born in 1769. At that time Corsica had but recently
been acquired by France.Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient
Mariner at Nether Stowey. Nether Stowey is only a few miles
fromBridgewater.
Restrictive relative clauses are not set off by commas.The
candidate who best meets these requirements will obtain the
place.In this sentence the relative clause restricts the
application of the word candidate to a single person. Unlike those
above, the sentence cannot be split into two independent
statements.
Relative clauses can be broken down into two types: (1)
restrictive and (2) non-restrictive.A restrictive clause provides
information that is pertinent or essential to the meaning of the
sentence.A non-restrictive clause, also called a parenthetical or
an appositive, contains information that is extra. Information
contained in a non-restrictive clause may be removed from the
sentence altogether without changing the overall meaning of the
sentence. Because this information is not crucial to the meaning of
a sentence, it is set apart with commas, or, more emphatically,
with dashes, or parentheses.
1. Charles Dickens who was great writer in the late 19th Century
is the author of Little Dorrit.2. The piece of chocolate cake which
probably has a million calories in it was delicious.3. My favorite
place to ski is Snow Basin in Utah which is one of the least
crowded resorts.4. The guy that my old roommate married is
boring.5. He reads and studies maps for fun which is no
exaggeration.
6. I love the weather which has been so nice lately in
Arizona.7. My graduation from Arizona State University this August
which I am extremely elated about hasbeen hard earned.8. I am
jealous of the guy in my neighborhood who drives a hot 1969 Chevy
Camaro.9. Methods of Teaching English which is my favorite class
this semester meets on Tuesday nights.10. I had the answer that
made the most sense.
1. Charles Dickens, who was great writer in the late 19th
Century, is the author of Little Dorrit.[N]2. The piece of
chocolate cake, which probably has a million calories, in it was
delicious.[N]3. My favorite place to ski is Snow Basin in Utah,
which is one of the least crowded resorts.[N]4. The guy that my old
roommate married is boring.[R]5. He reads and studies maps for fun.
which is no exaggeration.[N]
6. I love the weather which has been so nice lately in
Arizona.[R]7. My graduation from Arizona State University this
August, which I am extremely elated about, hasbeen hard
earned.[N]8. I am jealous of the guy in my neighborhood who drives
a hot 1969 Chevy Camaro.[R]9. Methods of Teaching English, which is
my favorite class this semester, meets on Tuesday nights.[N]10. I
had the answer that made the most sense.[R]