The Elements of Style

The Elements of Style

II. ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE

# Do not join independent clauses by a comma.

If two or more clauses, grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction, are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon.

Note that if the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, so, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still required.

In general, however, it is best, in writing, to avoid using so in this manner; there is danger that the writer who uses it at all may use it too often. A simple correction, usually serviceable, is to omit the word so, and begin the first clause with as:

If the clauses are very short, and are alike in form, a comma is usually permissible:

# Do not break sentences in two.

In other words, do not use periods for commas.

In both these examples, the first period should be replaced by a comma, and the following word begun with a small letter.

It is permissible to make an emphatic word or expression serve the purpose of a sentence and to punctuate it accordingly:

The writer must, however, be certain that the emphasis is warranted, and that he will not be suspected of a mere blunder in punctuation.

Rules 3, 4, 5, and 6 cover the most important principles in the punctuation of ordinary sentences; they should be so thoroughly mastered that their application becomes second nature.

# A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.

The word walking refers to the subject of the sentence, not to the woman. If the writer wishes to make it refer to the woman, he must recast the sentence:

Participial phrases preceded by a conjunction or by a preposition, nouns in apposition, adjectives, and adjective phrases come under the same rule if they begin the sentence.

Young and inexperienced, the task seemed easy to me. Young and inexperienced, I thought the task easy.
Without a friend to counsel him, the temptation proved irresistible. Without a friend to counsel him, he found the temptation irresistible.

Sentences violating this rule are often ludicrous.

Being in a dilapidated condition, I was able to buy the house very cheap.

# Divide words at line-ends, in accordance with their formation and pronunciation.

If there is room at the end of a line for one or more syllables of a word, but not for the whole word, divide the word, unless this involves cutting off only a single letter, or cutting off only two letters of a long word. No hard and fast rule for all words can be laid down. The principles most frequently applicable are: 1. Divide the word according to its formation: 2. Divide "on the vowel:" 3. Divide between double letters, unless they come at the end of the simple form of the word:

The treatment of consonants in combination is best shown from examples:

The student will do well to examine the syllable-division in a number of pages of any carefully printed book.

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[iAweshum]

sounds kinda scary..

:(

[reddracoqueen]

It must sound scary, proper grammar and not bad writing the kind you are used to, twitard.

[iAweshum]

Well, I don't really know what twitard means; but thanks anyways.