Something related to "The Elements of Style"-the first vertion

1.       In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last, while in the names of business firms the last comma is omitted.

 

2.       The abbreviations etc. and jr. are always preceded by a comma, and except at the end of a sentence, followed by one.

 

3.       If the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, so, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still required. In general, however, it is best, in writing, to avoid using so in this manner; there is danger that the writer who uses it at all may use it too often.

 

4.       A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.

 

5.       As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.

 

6.       The need of making a particular word the subject of the sentence will often determine which voice is to be used.

 

7.       A common fault is to use as the subject of a passive construction a noun which expresses the entire action, leaving to the verb no function beyond the completing the sentence.

 

8.       Negative words other than not are usually strong.

 

9.       Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form.

 

10.  Correlative expressions (both, and; not, but; not only, but also; either, or; first, second, third; and the like) should be followed by the same grammatical construction.

 

11.  In presenting the statements or the thought of some one else, as in summarizing an essay or reporting a speech, the writer should avoid intercalating such expressions as “he said,” “he stated,” “the speaker added,” “the speaker then went on to say,” “the author also thinks,” or the like.

 

12.  The proper place for the word, or group of words, which the writer desires to make most prominent is usually the end of the sentence.

 

13.  Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end, i.e., the effectiveness of the periodic sentence (a sentence gives its mean only as the last word is read) arises from the prominence which it gives to the main statement.

 

14.  The expression within is punctuated as if it stood by itself, except that the final stop is omitted unless it is a question mark or an exclamation point.

 

15.  Formal quotations, cited as documentary evidence, are introduced by a colon and enclosed in quotation marks (this rule is questioned and to be verified). Quotations grammatically in apposition or the direct objects of verbs are preceded by a comma and enclosed in quotation marks.

 

16.  As a general practice, give the references in parenthesis or in footnotes, not in the body of the sentence. Omit the word act, scene, line, book, volume, page, except when referring by only one of them.

 

17.  Titles. For the titles of literary works, scholarly usage prefers italics with CAPITIALIZED initials. Omit initial A or The from titles when you place the possessive before them.

 

18.  To compare to is to point out or imply resemblances, between objects regarded as essentially of different order; to compare with is mainly to point out differences, between objects regarded as essentially of the same order.

 

19.  “Etc.” NOT to be used of persons. This word might be used in a closed-style sentence for patent writing. At the end of a list introduced by such as, for example, or any similar expression, etc. is incorrect.

 

20.  “Fact” merely used for illustrating the matters of a kind capable of direct verification, rather than the matter of judgment.

 

21.  However. In the meaning nevertheless, not to come first in its sentence or clause. When however comes first, it means in whatever way or to whatever extent.

22.  LESS refers to quantity, FEWER to number.