8 THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE than the comma,less power to separate than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash.It usually follows an inde pendent clause and should not separate a verb from its complement or a preposition from its obiect.The examples in the lefthand column,below,are wrong;they should be rewritten as in the righthand column Your dedicated whittler Your dedicated whittler requires:a knife,a piece of requires three props:a wood,and a back porch knife,a piece of wood,and a back porch. Understanding is that Understanding is that penetrating quality of penetrating quality of knowledge that grows knowledge that grows from:theory,practice, from theory,practice, conviction,assertion,er- conviction,assertion,er- ror,and humiliation. ror,and humiliation. Join two independent clauses with a colon if the second interprets or amplifies the first. But even so,there was a directness and dispatch about animal burial:there was no stopover in the undertaker's foul parlor,no wreath or spray A colon may introduce a quotation that supports or con- tributes to the preceding clause. The squalor of the streets reminded her of a line from Oscar Wilde:"We are all in the gutter,but some of us are looking at the stars." The colon also has certain functions of form:to follow the salutation of a formal letter,to separate hour from minute in a notation oftime,andto separate the title ofa work from its subtitle or a Bible chapter from a verse. Dear Mr.Montague: departs at 10:48 P.M Practical Calligraphy:An Introduction to Italic Script Nehemiah 11:7
Understanding is that penetrating quality of knowledge that grows from: theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, and humiliation. 8] THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE than the comma, less power to separate than the semicolon, and more formality than the dash. It usually follows an independent clause and should not separate a verb from its complement or a preposition from its object. The examples in the lefthand column, below, are wrong; they should be rewritten as in the righthand column. Your dedicated whittIer Your dedicated whittIer requires: a knife, a piece of requires three props: a wood, and a back porch. knife, a piece of wood, and a back porch. Understanding is that penetrating quality of knowledge that grows from theory, practice, conviction, assertion, error, and humiliation. Join two independent clauses with a colon if the second interprets or amplifies the first. But even so, there was a directness and dispatch about animal burial: there was no stopover in the undertaker's foul parlor, no wreath or spray. A colon may introduce a quotation that supports or contributes to the preceding clause. The squalor ofthe streets reminded her of a line from Oscar Wilde: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." The colon also has certain functions of form: to follow the salutation of a formal letter, to separate hour from minute in a notation oftime, and to separate the title ofa work from its subtitle or a Bible chapter from a verse. Dear Mr. Montague: departs at 10:48 P.M. Practical Calligraphy: An Introduction to Italic Script Nehemiah 11:7
ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE9 8.Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interrup- tion and to announce a long appositive or summary. A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma,less formal than a colon,and more relaxed than parentheses. His first thought on getting out of bed-if he had any thought at allwas to get back in again. The rear axle began to make a noise-a grinding,chat- tering,teeth-gritting rasp The increasing reluctance of the sun to rise,the extra nip in the breeze,the patter of shed leaves dropping-all the evidences of fall drifting into winter were clearer each day. Use a dash only when a more common mark of punctu ation seems inadequate. Her father's suspicions Her father's suspicions proved well-founded-it proved well-founded.It was not Edward she cared was not Edward she cared for-it was San Francisco for,it was San Francisco Violence-the kind you Violence,the kind you see on television-is not see on television,is not honestly violent-there lies honestly violent.There lies its harm its harm. 9.The number of the subject determines the num ber of the verb. Words that intervene between subject and verb do not affect the number of the verb The bittersweet flavor of The bittersweet flavor of youth-its trials,its joys,its youth-its trials,its joys,its adventures,its challenges- adventures,its challenges are not soon forgotten. -is not soon torgotten. A common blunder is the use of a singular verb form in a relative clause following "one of."or a similar expres- sion when the relative is the subject
ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE [9 8. Use a dash to set offan abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary. Adash is a mark ofseparation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses. His first thought on getting out of bed-ifhe had any thought at all-was to get back in again. The rear axle began to make a noise-a grinding, chattering, teeth-gritting rasp. The increasing reluctance ofthe sun to rise, the extra nip in the breeze, the patter ofshed leaves dropping-all the evidences offall drifting into winter were clearer each day. Use a dash only when a more common mark of punctuation seems inadequate. Her father's suspicions proved well-founded-it was not Edward she cared for-it was San Francisco. Violence-the kind you see on television-is not honestly violent-there lies its harm. Her father's suspicions proved well-founded. It was not Edward she cared for, it was San Francisco. Violence, the kind you see on television, is not honestly violent. There lies its harm. 9. The number ofthe subject determines the number ofthe verb. Words that intervene between subject and verb do not affect the number of the verb. The bittersweet flavor of The bittersweet flavor of youth-its trials, its joys, its youth-its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges- adventures, its challenges are not soon forgotten. -is not soon forgotten. A common blunder is the use of a singular verb form in a relative clause follOwing "one of ." or a similar expression when the relative is the subject.
10] THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE One of the ablest scien- One of the ablest scien- tists who has attacked this tists who have attacked this problem problem One of those people One of those people who is never ready on who are never ready on time time Use a singular verb form after each,either,everyone, everybody,neither,nobody,someone. Everybody thinks he has a unique sense of humor. Although both clocks strike cheerfully,neither keeps good time. With none,use the singular verb when the word means “no one'”or“not one. None of us are perfect. None of us is perfect. A plural verb is commonly used when none suggests more than one thing or person. None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right A compound subject formed of two or more nouns joined by and almost always requires a plural verb. The walrus and the carpenter were walking close at hand. But certain compounds,often cliches,are so inseparable they are considered a unit and so take a singular verb,as do compound subjects qualified by each or every. The long and the short of it is. Bread and butter was all she served Give and take is essential to a happy household. Every window,picture,and mirror was smashed A singular subject remains singular even if other nouns are connected to it by with,as well as,in addition to,except, together with,and no less than. His speech as well as his manner is objectionable
10] THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE One ofthe ablest scientists who has attacked this problem One ofthose people who is never ready on time One ofthe ablest scientists who have attacked this problem One ofthose people who are never ready on time Use a singular verb form after each, either, everyone, everybody, neither, nobody, someone. Everybody thinks he has a unique sense of humor. Although both clocks strike cheerfully, neither keeps good time. With none, use the singular verb when the word means "no one" or "not one." None of us are perfect. None of us is perfect. Aplural verb is commonly used when none suggests more than one thing or person. None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right. Acompound subject formed oftwo or more nounsjoined by and almost always requires a plural verb. The walrus and the carpenter were walking close at hand. But certain compounds, often cliches, are so inseparable they are considered a unit and so take a singular verb, as do compound subjects qualified by each or every. The long and the short ofit is . Bread and butter was all she served. Give and take is essential to a happy household. Every window, picture, and mirror was smashed. A Singular subject remains singular even if other nouns are connected to it bywUh, as well as, in addition to, except, together with, and no less than. His speech as well as his manner is objectionable
ELEMENTARY RULES OF USAGE 11 A linking verb agrees with the number of its subject. What is wanted is a few more pairs of hands. The trouble with truth is its many varieties Some nouns that appear to be plural are usually con strued as singular and given a singular verb. Politics is an art,not a science. The Republican Headquarters is on this side of the tracks. But The general's quarters are across the river. In these cases the writer must simply learn the idioms. The contents of a book is singular.The contents of a jar may be either singular or plural,depending on what's in the jar- jam or marbles. 10.Use the proper case of pronoun The personal pronouns,as well as the pronoun who, change form as they function as subject or object. Will Jane or he be hired,do you think? The culprit,it turned out,was he. We heavy eaters would rather walk than ride. Who knocks? Give this work to whoever looks idle In the last example,whoever is the subject of looks idle;the object of the preposition to is the entire clause whoever looks idle.When who introduces a subordinate clause,its case depends on its function in that clause. Virgil Soames is the Virgil Soames is the can- candidate whom we think didate who we think will will win. win.[We think he will win. Virgil Soames is the Virgil Soames is the candidate who we hope to candidate whom we hope elect. to elect.[We hope to elect him.]
E L EM E N TA R Y R U L E S 0 F USA G E [11 A linking verb agrees with the number ofits subject. What is wanted is a few more pairs ofhands. The trouble with truth is its many varieties. Some nouns that appear to be plural are usually construed as singular and given a singular verb. Politics is an art, not a science. The Republican Headquarters is on this side ofthe tracks. But The general's quarters are across the river. In these cases the writer must simply learn the idioms. The contents of a book is singular. The contents of a jar may be either singular or plural, depending on whafs in the jarjam or marbles. 10. Use the proper case ofpronoun. The personal pronouns, as weU as the pronoun who, change form as they function as subject or object. Will Jane or he be hired, do you think? The culprit, it turned out, was he. We heary eaters would rather walk than ride. Who knocks? Give this work to whoever looks idle. In the last example, whoeveris the subject oflooks idle; the object of the preposition to is the entire clause whoever looks idle. When who introduces a subordinate clause, its case depends on its function in that clause. Virgil Soames is the Virgil Soames is the cancandidate whom we think didate who we think win will win. win. [We think he will \Vin.) Virgil Soames is the Virgil Soames is the candidate who we hope to candidate WhOlll we hope elect. to elect. [We hope to elect him.]
12 THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE A pronoun in a comparison is nominative if it is the sub- ject of a stated or understood verb. Sandy writes better than I.(Than I write.) In general,avoid "understood"verbs by supplying them I think Horace admires I think Horace admires Jessica more than I. Jessica more than I do. Polly loves cake more Polly loves cake more than me than she loves me The objective case is correct in the following examples The ranger offered Shirley and him some advice on campsites. They came to meet the Baldwins and us. Let's talk it over between us,then,you and me. Whom should I ask? A group of us taxpayers protested. Us in the last example is in apposition to taxpayers.the object of the preposition of.The wording,although grammatically defensible,is rarely apt."A group of us protested as tax- payers"is better,if not exactly equivalent. Use the simple personal pronoun as a subject. Blake and myself stayed Blake and I stayed home home. Howard and yourself Howard and you brought the lunch,I brought the lunch,I thought. thought. The possessive case of pronouns is used to show owner- ship.It has two forms:the adjectival modifier,your hat,and the noun form,a hat of yours. The dog has buried one of your gloves and one of mine in the flower bed. Gerunds usually require the possessive case. Mother objected to our driving on the icy roads
12] THE E L E MEN T S 0 F STY L E A pronoun in a comparison is nominative ifit is the subject of a stated or understood verb. Sandy writes better than I. (Than I write.) In general, avoid "understood" verbs by supplying them. I think Horace admires jessica more than I. Polly loves cake more than me. I think Horace admires Jessica more than I do. Polly loves cake more than she loves me. The objective case is correct in the follOwing examples. The ranger offered Shirley and him some advice on campsites. They came to meet the Baldwins and us. Let's talk it over between us, then, you and me. Whom should I ask? A group of us taxpayers protested. Us in the last example is in apposition to taxpayers, the object ofthe preposition of The wording, although grammatically defensible, is rarely apt. "A group of us protested as taxpayers" is better, if not exactly equivalent. Use the simple personal pronoun as a subject. Blake and myselfstayed Blake and I stayed home. home. Howard and yourself Howard and you brought the lunch, I broughtthelunch,I thought. thought. The possessive case of pronouns is used to show ownership. It has two forms: the adjectival modifier, your hat, and the noun form, a hat of yours. The dog has buried one of your gloves and Oile of mine in the flower bed. Gerunds usually require the possessive case. Mother objected to our driving on the icy roads