Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, 4th Edition

2009-2010 PowerPoint Review

Rule #5 – Do not join independent clauses with a comma.“A comma is preferable when the clauses are very short and alike in form, or when the tone of the sentence is easy and conversational.” We will focus on the EXCEPTION to the rule.

Here are some examples:• Man proposes, God disposes.

AND• Here today, gone tomorrow.

• Notice the form. They are alike. • The gates swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.

• Notice how each short independent clause is presented in sequence within the same sentence. The clauses are alike in form too.

• I hardly knew him, he was so changed.• Notice how each is a short independent clause, and there is a direct relationship

between the two. Here, the tone of the sentence is conversational. Although you would not use this in a formal paper, you would use this in dialogue.

Practice Exercise

Adults ___ listen.a) speak. Children b) speak; childrenc) speak, childrend) speak children

Rule #8 – Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary. “Use a dash only when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate.”

Let’s look at an example:BAD: Her father’s suspicions proved well-founded—it was not Edward she cared for

—it was San Francisco.WHY? The dash is not used for an abrupt break. “It was not Edward she cared for”

is not a break; it further clarifies the suspicions. Please note: most of the breaks are dependent clauses, as in this example: “His first thought on getting out of bed—if he had any thought at all—was to get back in again.” The abrupt break splits the sentence in two.

GOOD: Her father’s suspicions proved well-founded. It was not Edward she cared for, it was San Francisco.

WHY? Typically, the dash is used for dependent clauses. Here, there are independent clauses. Based on what we learned in rule #5, “It was not Edward she cared for, it was San Francisco” is correct. Joining two independent clauses in this way is fine because they are alike in form. Please note: this is rare.

Rule #8 CONTINUED – Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary.“Use a dash only when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate.”

Let’s look at an example:BAD: Violence—the kind you see on television—is not honestly

violent—there lies its harm.WHY? I know what you’re thinking: “But, Mr. Gast, this is a

dependent clause.” Now think for a moment about the way the sentence needs to be written. If dashes separate “The kind you see on television”, it is too strong. Commas are preferred because they are not as strong as dashes. As for “—there lies its harm”, it is better to make it its own sentence.

GOOD: Violence, the kind you see on television, is not honestly violent. There lies its harm.

Practice Exercise

The only feeling he ___ he had any feeling left after the vicious ___ pain.

a) had, if… hit, was b) had if… hit wasc) had—if… hit—wasd) had; if… hit: was

Practice Exercise

Her initial thought was ___ was not the first car she ___ was the second one.

a) confirmed—it… liked—it b) confirmed. It… liked, itc) confirmed; it… liked; itd) confirmed, it… liked, it

Practice Exercise

___ knowingly thrust upon others who are mistakenly perceived to be different ___ person’s ignorance.

a) Insensitivity, the kind…or inferior, reveals a b) Insensitivity; the kind…or inferior; reveals a c) Insensitivity the kind…or inferior reveals a d) Insensitivity—the kind…or inferior—reveals a

Rule #9 – The number of the subject determines the number of the verb.“A common blunder is the use of a singular verb form in a relative clause following ‘one of…’ or a similar expression when the relative is the subject.”

Let’s look at these examples:She is one of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem.Note the sentence structure:She = SUBJECTis = VERBone of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem = RELATIVE CLAUSEWithin a relative clause, subject-verb agreement is treated differently. When "who" is followed by a verb in the relative clause, look right in front of "who" to decide if the verb following will be singular or plural. Let’s look at the relative clause again: one of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem“Scientists” is plural. Therefore, the plural verb “have” is required.

Practice Exercise

Gladys is one of those students who ___ by doing.

a) learnsb) learn

Rule #9 – The number of the subject determines the number of the verb.“Some nouns that appear to be plural are usually construed as singular and given a singular verb.”

MEMORIZE THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE:

Singular Subjects:•Politics•The Republican Headquarters•The Democratic Headquarters•The Libertarian Headquarters•The Green Party Headquarters•The contents of a book•The contents of a jar (as in “jar of jam”)

Plural Subjects:

•The general’s quarters•The contents of a jar (as in “jar of marbles”)

Practice Exercise

The jar of pickles ___ in the refrigerator.a) isb) are

Practice Exercise

The jar of barbecue sauce ___ in the refrigerator.

a) isb) are

Practice Exercise

The contents of the textbook ___ organized chronologically.

a) isb) are

Practice Exercise

The Democratic Headquarters ___ to be remodeled.

a) appearb) appears

Rule #17– Omit needless words.“Many expressions in common use violate this principle.”

Examples to MEMORIZE:• the question as to whether whether (the question

whether)• there is no doubt but that no doubt (doubtless)• used for fuel purposes used for fuel• he is a man who he• in a hasty manner hastily• this is a subject that this subject• Her story is a strange one. Her story is strange.• the reason why is that becauseCreate flashcards to memorize them. Consider other variations too.

Practice Exercise

Which of the following sentences represents the preferred way of writing?

a) There is no doubt that the group gets along.b) The question as to whether he is honest

matters the most. c) Judy is a woman who is impractical. d) Taxes infuriate them.

Rule #17 CONTINUED – Omit needless words.“Who is, which was, and the like are often superfluous.”

Let’s look at two examples:BAD: His cousin, who is a member of the same firm,

likes his job.GOOD: His cousin, a member of the same firm, likes his

job.BAD: Trafalgar, which was Nelson’s last battle, is a part

of history.GOOD: Trafalgar, Nelson’s last battle, is a part of history.

Practice Exercise

Which of the following sentences represents the preferred way of writing?

a) CSI, William Peterson’s last television hit, had millions of viewers.

b) Her mother, who is an avid bicyclist, experiences pain in her knee.

c) Athens, which is the site of many architectural wonders, influences many new designs today.

d) All of the above are preferred

REVIEW RULES 20 & 22

• Meet in groups• Review important points of each rule• Create original examples that model the

sentences in the book

Practice Exercise

Which of the following sentences represents the preferred way of writing?

a) By treatment in an isolated environment, struggling plants are strengthened.

b) Chambers, in the original manuscript, includes more dialogue.c) Chicago’s first and only Olympic swimming pool opened

several decades ago with lifeguards from ten pools struggling to make it.

d) All of the above

Practice Exercise

Which of the following represents the preferred way of writing?

a) We only captured two rats. b) On Thursday at noon, Dr. Chambers will perform the

first neuron transplant surgery.c) In his eye was a look that boded mischief.d)The brother of the lifeguard, Chris, who drowned last

week, was given a proper burial.

Practice Exercise

Which of the following sentences represents the preferred way of writing?

a) Because of its structural deficiencies, the building is condemned.

b) He could never accept laziness and apathy.c) They have not improved socially and emotionally from

the beginning, though they have improved academically.d)All of the above