RULE 1: Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding (‘s)  What does it mean to POSSESS something?  What does SINGULAR mean?  Possessive singular example:  Charles’s friend OR Charles’ friend  the witch’s cauldron  Exception: Ancient Names like Jesus= Jesus’ bread  Exception: Moses’ laws=the laws of Moses  hers, its, theirs, ours, and yours have no apostrophe  Indefinite pronouns (ex: one, somebody else, anyone, someone, anybody) use apostrophe  somebody else’s umbrella

It’s and Its are different!!  It’s= a contraction meaning it is  It’s a cold day outside.  It’s is NOT POSSESSIVE  Its= possessive form of it (objects like dog, car, or cat)  Its food is in a container in the garage.  ITS’ IS NOT A WORD!!!

RULE 2: In a series with three or more items and one CONJUNCTION (and, or, but…) use a comma after each item except the last item.  Red, white, and blue are the colors of the American flag.  I went to the store and bought bread, milk, and eggs.  I went to the store and bought bread and milk.  EXCEPTION: In names of businesses the last comma is usually omitted.  Smith, Brown and Company represented his case.

RULE 3: Enclose parenthetic expressions with commas.  The best way to see the country, unless pressed for time, is to travel by foot.  NEVER omit one comma and leave the other.  The best way to see the country unless pressed for time, is to travel by foot.  Standard form for dates:  April 6, 1986  Or omit the comma: 6 April 1986

Rule 3 continued…  A name or title in a direct address is parenthetic.  If, Sir, you refuse, I cannot predict what will happen.  Well, Susan, this is a mess you are in.  Abbreviations etc., i.e., and e.g., abbreviations for academic degrees, and titles following names are parenthetic.  Letters, packages, etc., should go there.  John Smith, Ph.D., entered the room.  Rachel Simonds, Attorney  EXCEPTION: Don’t use a comma for Jr.  James Smith Jr. NOT James Smith, Jr.  Don’t separate a noun with a restrictive term of identification.  Billy the Kid

RULE 4: Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause.  What’s an independent clause?  We started school at 7:19, but Billy didn’t arrive until 8:00.  When the subject is the same for both clauses of the sentence use a comma for but, not and.  I have heard your argument, but I am unsure.  I have heard your argument and am unsure.

RULE 5:Don’t join two independent clauses with just a comma  If you break the above rule you create a comma splice (another word for a run-on).  Fix a run-on by:  Inserting a semi-colon (;)  Mary Shelley’s works are engaging; they are full of wonderful ideas.  Breaking it into two separate sentences  Mary Shelley’s works are engaging. They are full of wonderful ideas.  Adding an appropriate conjunction  Mary Shelley’s works are engaging, for they are full of wonderful ideas.

RULE 5 continued…  Note: if the second clause is preceded by an adverb (accordingly, besides, therefore, then, or thus), and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still necessary.  I had never been in that place before; besides, it was dark as a tomb.  Exception to semi-colon rule in Strunk and White pg. 6,7

RULE 6: Do not use periods where commas should be.  Breaking the above rule will create a fragment. A fragment doesn’t make sense on its own and is missing a critical part of speech, usually a verb or noun.  I met him at the airport. Going home from New York.  She was an interesting talker. A woman who had traveled all over the world.  EXCEPTION: Usually seen in dialogue, a sentence can be clipped if it fits with the tone of the work.  Again and again he called out. No reply.