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 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) 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. Its= possessive form of it (objects like dog, car, or cat) Its food is in a container in the garage.

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.