11 rules of writing

7/27/2019 11 Rules of Writing

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11 RULES OF WRITING

1. To join two independent clauses, use a commafollowed by a conjunction, a semicolon alone, or asemicolon followed by a sentence modifier.

2. Use commas to bracket nonrestrictive phrases, whichare not essential to the sentence's meaning.

3. Do not use commas to bracket phrases that areessential to a sentence's meaning.

4. When beginning a sentence with an introductoryphrase or an introductory (dependent) clause, include acomma.

5. To indicate possession, end a singular noun with anapostrophe followed by an "s". Otherwise, the noun'sform seems plural.

6. Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into asentence. If the introductory material is an independentclause, add the quotation after a colon. If theintroductory material ends in "thinks," "saying," or someother verb indicating expression, use a comma.

7. Make the subject and verb agree with each other, notwith a word that comes between them.

8. Be sure that a pronoun, a participial phrase, or anappositive refers clearly to the proper subject.

9. Use parallel construction to make a strong point andcreate a smooth flow.

10. Use the active voice unless you specifically need touse the passive.

11. Omit unnecessary words.

RULE 1 -- EXAMPLES

Incorrect -- Correct

The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo , butstill ventured off unafraid.

The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo , buthe still ventured off unafraid.

My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture , sheshould have remained a student.

My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture ; sheshould have remained a student.

Gregor has not changed physically ; but has givenhimself an excuse to separate himself from thepain of previous experiences.

Gregor has not changed physically ; however, he hasgiven himself an excuse to hide from the painof previous experiences.

RULE 2 -- EXAMPLES


The bus driver with her ears tuned to the roardecided to take the grumbling bus on a detouracross the football field.

The bus driver , her ears tuned to the roar, decidedto take the grumbling bus on a detour acrossthe football field.

My window as dirty as it is reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.

My window , as dirty as it is, reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.

King and Lucille , his customized black Gibson haveelectrified audiences all over the world.

King and Lucille , his customized black Gibson,

have electrified audiences all over the world.

RULE 3 -- EXAMPLES


The man , who has too many ties, has too fewnecks.

The man who has too many ties has too few necks.

The cats , with six toes, are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.

The cats with six toes are a unique attraction of thetour of Hemingway's house.

RULE 4 -- EXAMPLES


After buying the five pound jar of marshmallowspread he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.

After buying the five pound jar of marshmallowspread, he set off in search of a bulk portion

of peanut butter.

With this he bestows the responsibility of his ownhappiness on his mother and father.

With this, he bestows the responsibility of his ownhappiness on his mother and father.

As she begins to gain independence it is naturalfor Grete to regard the idea of dependency asrepugnant.

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As she begins to gain independence, it is naturalfor Grete to regard the idea of dependency asrepugnant.

RULE 5 -- EXAMPLES


Though the lobsters claws were bound, the creaturemade a threatening gesture as they dropped itin the pot.

Though the lobster's claws were bound, the creaturemade a threatening gesture as they dropped itin the pot.

In a democracy, anyones vote counts as much asmine.

In a democracy, anyone's vote counts as much asmine.

There is a vast age difference between Victors mother and father.

There is a vast age difference between Victor's mother and father.

RULE 6 -- EXAMPLES


Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled: "Gosh, I'msick of this."

Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled, "Gosh, I'msick of this."

Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones , "You neverfail to repulse me."

Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones : "You neverfail to repulse me."

He views the problem as a slight delay or a sicknessthat will eventually disappear , "I will go backto sleep for a few minutes and forget allthis nonsense."

He views the problem as a slight delay or a sicknessthat will eventually disappear : "I will go backto sleep for a few minutes and forget allthis nonsense."

RULE 7 -- EXAMPLES


The Thanksgiving dinner , right down to thebeautiful centerpiece, were devoured by theescaped grizzly.

The Thanksgiving dinner , right down to thebeautiful centerpiece, was devoured by theescaped grizzly.

The cart , as well as its contents, were gone.

The cart , as well as its contents, was gone.

The girl , along with her classmates, like the newteacher.

The girl , along with her classmates, likes the newteacher.

RULE 8 -- EXAMPLES


Its hump decorated in strings of flowers, theprogrammer rode the camel through the foodcourt.

The programmer rode the camel, its humpdecorated in strings of flowers, throughthe food court.

Filled with bad gas, he drove his car to Tucsondespite the knocking.

Although it was filled with bad gas, he drove his car to Tucson despite the knocking.

RULE 9 -- EXAMPLES


I was glad to be departing for Australia but I wasnervous when I left my apartment.

I was glad to be departing for Australia but nervousto be leaving my apartment.

The system excels at tasks such as communicating with other computers, processing records,and mathematical calculations.

The system excels at tasks such as communicating with other computers, processing records,and calculating mathematical equations.

RULE 10 -- EXAMPLES


A refund was given to him by the hair regenerationcompany.

The hair regeneration company gave him arefund.

A good score was achieved by the team.



The team achieved a good score.

A box of chocolates and a dozen roses werepresented to the girl by her boyfriend.

The boyfriend presented a box of chocolates and adozen roses to the girl.

RULE 11 -- EXAMPLES


I would like to assert that the author should beconsidered to be a buffoon.

The author is a buffoon.

It would be safe to say that Gregor Samsa is notthe only character in Franz Kafka's TheMetamorphosis to undergo drastic changes.

Gregor Samsa is not the only character in FranzKafka's The Metamorphosis to undergo drasticchange.

Before going to the supermarket, we made a list of the groceries we needed in order to make thefood that we intended to eat for dinner.

Before going to the supermarket, we made a list of groceries that we needed to prepare dinner.

11 rules of writing

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