1. To join two independent clauses, use a comma followed by a conjunction, a semicolon alone, or a semicolon followed by a sentence modifier.
RULE 1 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but still ventured off unafraid.
Correct : The delivery boy knew he carried strange cargo, but he still ventured off unafraid.
Incorrect : My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture, she should have remained a student.
Correct : My math teacher doesn't know how to lecture; she should have remained a student.
2. Use commas to bracket nonrestrictive phrases, which are not essential to the sentence's meaning.
RULE 2 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : The bus driver with her ears tuned to the roar decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.
Correct : The bus driver, her ears tuned to the roar, decided to take the grumbling bus on a detour across the football field.
Incorrect : My window as dirty as it is reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
Correct : My window, as dirty as it is, reveals the beauty of nature on a snowy morning.
3. Do not use commas to bracket phrases that are essential to a sentence's meaning.
RULE 3 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : The man, who has too many ties, has too few necks.
Correct : The man who has too many ties has too few necks.
Incorrect : The cats, with six toes, are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.
Correct : The cats with six toes are a unique attraction of the tour of Hemingway's house.
4. When beginning a sentence with an introductory phrase or an introductory (dependent) clause, include a comma.
RULE 4 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.
Correct : After buying the five pound jar of marshmallow spread, he set off in search of a bulk portion of peanut butter.
Incorrect : With this he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother and father.
Correct : With this, he bestows the responsibility of his own happiness on his mother and father.
5. To indicate possession, end a singular noun with an apostrophe followed by an "s". Otherwise, the noun's form seems plural.
RULE 5 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect: Though the lobsters claws were bound, the creature made a threatening gesture as they dropped it in the pot.
Correct : Though the lobster's claws were bound, the creature made a threatening gesture as they dropped it in the pot.
Incorrect : In a democracy, anyones vote counts as much as mine.
Correct : In a democracy, anyone's vote counts as much as mine.
6. Use proper punctuation to integrate a quotation into a sentence. If the introductory material is an independent clause, add the quotation after a colon. If the introductory material ends in "thinks," "saying," or some other verb indicating expression, use a comma.
RULE 6 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled: "Gosh, I'm sick of this."
Correct :Tumbling down the hill, Jack yelled, "Gosh, I'm sick of this."
Incorrect : Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones, "You never fail to repulse me."
Correct : Her letter spoke to him in harsh tones: "You never fail to repulse me."
7. Make the subject and verb agree with each other, not with a word that comes between them.
RULE 7 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : The Thanksgiving dinner, right down to the beautiful centerpiece, were devoured by the escaped grizzly.
Correct : The Thanksgiving dinner, right down to the beautiful centerpiece, was devoured by the escaped grizzly.
Incorrect : The cart, as well as its contents, were gone.
Correct :The cart, as well as its contents, was gone.
8. Be sure that a pronoun, a participial phrase, or an appositive refers clearly to the proper subject.
RULE 8 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : Its hump decorated in strings of flowers, the programmer rode the camel through the food court.
Correct : The programmer rode the camel, its hump decorated in strings of flowers, through the food court.
Incorrect : Filled with bad gas, he drove his car to Tucson despite the knocking.
Correct : Although it was filled with bad gas, he drove his car to Tucson despite the knocking.
9. Use parallel construction to make a strong point and create a smooth flow.
RULE 9 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : I was glad to be departing for Australia but I was nervous when I left my apartment.
Correct : I was glad to be departing for Australia but nervous to be leaving my apartment.
Incorrect : The system excels at tasks such as communicating with other computers, processing records, and mathematical calculations.
Correct : The system excels at tasks such as communicating with other computers, processing records, and calculating mathematical equations.
10. Use the active voice unless you specifically need to use the passive.
RULE 10 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : A refund was given to him by the hair regeneration company.
Correct : The hair regeneration company gave him a refund.
Incorrect : A good score was achieved by the team.
Correct : The team achieved a good score.
11. Omit unnecessary words.
RULE 11 -- EXAMPLES
Incorrect : I would like to assert that the author should be considered to be a buffoon.
Correct : The author is a buffoon.
Incorrect : It would be safe to say that Gregor Samsa is not the only character in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis to undergo drastic changes.
Correct : Gregor Samsa is not the only character in Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis to undergo drastic change.
