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 blue honest, energetic, but headstrong He 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 SENTENCE Inevitably, [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] “There’s a heated discussion about homosexual marriage, some people reject it because they think it is against nature. “ --This passage contains two independent clauses” There’s 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 as “Marjorie’s 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 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 has been 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, has been 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]