- pg 1: Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's, whatever the final consonant.
- pg 2: In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, add a comma after each term except the last.
- pg 2: When using however or a brief phrase as parenthetic, you can omit commas if the setence flow is only slightly interrupted.
- pg 3: The abbreviation Jr. has commonly been regarded as parenthetic, but it is restrictive and should not be preceded by a comma.
- pg 5: If the connective and introduces an independent clause, you can omit the comma if the relation between the two statements is close or immediate.
- pg 6: If a gramatically complete second clause is preceded by an adverb, and not by a conjunction, then a semicolon is still required.
- pg 6: A comma is preferable to a semicolon if the clauses or short and alike in form, or the tone is easy and conversational.
- pg 7: An emphatic word or expression can serve the purpose of a sentence if warranted; this typically happens in dialogue.
- pg 7: A colon has more effect than the comma, less separation than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash.
- pg 8: Join two independent clauses with a colon if the second interprets or amplifies the first.
- pg 9: A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses.
- pg 9: It is wrong to use a singular verb form in a relative clause following one of... or an expression when the relative is its subject.
- pg 10: With none, use a singular verb when the word means no one or not one, and a plural verb if it suggests more than one thing or person.
- pg 10: A singular subject remains such even if nouns are connected to it by with, as well as, in addition to, except, together with, and no less than.
- pg 12: A pronoun in a comparison is nomitive if it is the subject of an understood verb. In general, avoid such verbs by supplying them.
- pg 13: A participal phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.
- pg 15: The first principle of composition is to forsee or determine the shape of what is to come and pursue that shape.
- pg 16: Begin a paragraph with a sentence that suggests the topic or one that helps the transition.
- pg 17: Paragraph breaks used only for show read like the writing of commerce or of display advertising.
- pg 18: The need to make a particular word the subject of a sentence often determines whether active or passive voice is used.
- pg 18: Habitual use of the active voice makes for forcible writing; additionally, the sentence usually becomes shorter.
- pg 20: The reader is dissatisfied with being told only what is not; the reader wishes to be told what is. So express even a negative in a positive form.
- pg 20: Save the auxilaries would, should, could, may, might, and can for situations involving real uncertainty.
- pg 21: The surest way to arouse and hold the reader's attention is by being specific, definite, and concrete.
- pg 22: In exposition and argument, even when dealing with general principles, the writer must furnish particular instances of their application.
- pg 23: Write with vigor; this requires not that sentences be short or that detail is avoided, but that every word tell.
- pg 24: The fact that should be revised out of every sentence; who is, which was, and the like are often superfluous.
- pg 26: Recast loose sentences to remove the monotony; do so however best represents the real relations of the thought.
- pg 26: A likeness of form enables the reader to recognize more readily any likeness of content and function.
- pg 27: When words requiring particular preposiitons join in compound construction, all these prepositions must be included, unless they are all the same.
- pg 27: Correlative expressions (both, and; not, but; not only, but also; either, or; first, second) should be followed by the same grammatical construction.
- pg 28: Bring together words and groups of words that are related in thought, and keep apart those that are not so related.
- pg 29: The subject of a sentence and the principal verb should not be separated by a phrase or clause that can be moved to the beginning.
- pg 29: The relative pronoun, such as who, whom, whoever, whomeever, whose, that, or which, should immediately follow its antecedent.
- pg 30: Modifiers should come next to the words they modify. If several expressions modify the same word, rearrange so that no wrong relation is suggested.
- pg 31: Keep summaries to one tense; shifting between tenses gives the appearance of uncertainty and irresolution.
- pg 32: The proper place for the word or group of words that the writer wants to make most prominent is at the end.
- pg 33: Any element in the sentence other thant he subject becomes emphatic when placed first.