The Elements of Style

Contents......Page 4
Foreword*......Page 6
 Introduction*......Page 8
1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding \'s.......Page 13
3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.......Page 14
5. Do not join independent clauses with a comma.......Page 17
7. Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.......Page 19
8. Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary.......Page 20
9. The number of the subject determines the number of the verb.......Page 21
10. Use the proper case of pronoun.......Page 23
11. A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.......Page 25
13. Make the paragraph the unit of composition.......Page 26
14. Use the active voice.......Page 28
15. Put statements in positive form.......Page 29
16. Use definite, specific, concrete language.......Page 30
17. Omit needless words.......Page 32
18. Avoid a succession of loose sentences.......Page 33
19. Express coordinate ideas in similar form.......Page 35
20. Keep related words together.......Page 36
21. In summaries, keep to one tense.......Page 38
22. Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.......Page 39
A Few Matters of Form......Page 41
Words and Expressions Commonly Misused......Page 45
An Approach to Style (With a List of Reminders)......Page 64
3. Work from a suitable design.......Page 67
4. Write with nouns and verbs.......Page 68
7. Do not overstate.......Page 69
9. Do not affect a breezy manner.......Page 70
10. Use orthodox spelling.......Page 71
13. Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.......Page 72
14. Avoid fancy words.......Page 73
15. Do not use dialect unless your ear is good.......Page 74
17. Do not inject opinion.......Page 75
20. Avoid foreign languages.......Page 76
21. Prefer the standard to the offbeat.......Page 77
Afterword......Page 80
 Glossary......Page 81
 Index......Page 86