Writing
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The Element of Style
- Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding's
- In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.
- Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
- Place a comma before a conjunction introducing a co-ordinate clause.
- Do no join independent clauses by a comma.
- Do no break sentences in two.
- A participial phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.
- Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.
- As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, end it in conformity with the beginning.
- Use the active voice.
- Put statement in positive form.
- Use definite, specific, concrete language.
- Omit needless words.
- Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
- Express co-ordinate ideas in similar form.
- Keep related words together.
- In summaries, keep to one tense.
- Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.