Transcript Rule 1 Powerpoint

Strunk & White
The Elements of Style
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE, WRITE
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE WELL, READ AND
LEARN STRUNK & WHITE’S ELEMENTS OF
STYLE AND WRITE
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Rule #1
 Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ‘s
(even if the word ends in s)
 Hammurabi’s code
 Dickens’s last novel
 James’s cello
Is the decline of the English language down
to ignorance or apathy?
Don't know. Don't care.
Follow the rule whatever the final consonant
 Charles’s friend
 Burns’s poem
 The witch's malice
Ahhh . . . English & its exceptions
 Historical names (ancient historical names)

Such as Jesus, Moses, Isis
Exceptions
 Pronominal possessives such as her, its, theirs,
yours, ours
 But – indefinite pronouns DO use the apostrophe to
show possession


One’s rights
Somebody else’s umbrella
Plurals: An apostrophe NEVER designates that
plural form of a noun!!
 Form the possessive case of a plural noun by adding
an apostrophe after the final letter if it is an s or by
adding ‘s if the final letter is not an s.
 The student’s book was missing.
 Several students’ books were missing
 The students searched for their missing book.
Recent Errors
 Victoria’s Secret new campaign
 (BODY is a brand name.)
Videos for Grammar Geeks :-)
 Grammar Girl’s Explanation
No one cares about grammar when you’re selling
sexy lingerie
 Plural of an initialism (incorrect)
Contractions
 The apostrophe is used to mark omitted letters in
contractions.
 It’s is a contraction for it is.
 Its is the possessive for it.
 It’s a wise dog that scratches its own fleas.
 It’s a smart student that memorizes its Strunk &
White rules.
Upcoming quiz
 Quiz Wednesday on use Deadly Sin 1, Deadly Sin 2,
Deadly Sin 3, and Deadly Sin 4.