RULE 1: Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding (‘s)

RULE 1: Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding (‘s) • What does it mean to POSSESS something? • What does SINGULAR mean? • Possessive singular example: • Charles’s friend OR Charles’ friend • the witch’s cauldron • Exception: Ancient Names like Jesus= Jesus’ bread • Exception: Moses’ laws=the laws of Moses • hers, its, theirs, ours, and yours have no apostrophe • Indefinite pronouns (ex: one, somebody else, anyone, someone, anybody) use apostrophe • somebody else’s umbrella

It’s and Its are different!! • It’s= a contraction meaning it is • It’s a cold day outside. • It’s is NOT POSSESSIVE • Its= possessive form of it (objects like dog, car, or cat) • Its food is in a container in the garage. • ITS’ IS NOT A WORD!!!

RULE 2: In a series with three or more items and one CONJUNCTION (and, or, but…) use a comma after each item except the last item. • Red, white, and blue are the colors of the American flag. • I went to the store and bought bread, milk, and eggs. • I went to the store and bought bread and milk. • EXCEPTION: In names of businesses the last comma is usually omitted. • Smith, Brown and Company represented his case.

RULE 3: Enclose parenthetic expressions with commas. • The best way to see the country, unless pressed for time, is to travel by foot. • NEVER omit one comma and leave the other. • The best way to see the country unless pressed for time, is to travel by foot. • Standard form for dates: • April 6, 1986 • Or omit the comma: 6 April 1986

Rule 3 continued… • A name or title in a direct address is parenthetic. • If, Sir, you refuse, I cannot predict what will happen. • Well, Susan, this is a mess you are in. • Abbreviations etc., i.e., and e.g., abbreviations for academic degrees, and titles following names are parenthetic. • Letters, packages, etc., should go there. • John Smith, Ph.D., entered the room. • Rachel Simonds, Attorney • EXCEPTION: Don’t use a comma for Jr. • James Smith Jr. NOT James Smith, Jr. • Don’t separate a noun with a restrictive term of identification. • Billy the Kid

RULE 4: Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause. • What’s an independent clause? • We started school at 7:19, but Billy didn’t arrive until 8:00. • When the subject is the same for both clauses of the sentence use a comma for but, not and. • I have heard your argument, but I am unsure. • I have heard your argument and am unsure.

RULE 5:Don’t join two independent clauses with just a comma • If you break the above rule you create a comma splice (another word for a run-on). • Fix a run-on by: • Inserting a semi-colon (;) • Mary Shelley’s works are engaging; they are full of wonderful ideas. • Breaking it into two separate sentences • Mary Shelley’s works are engaging. They are full of wonderful ideas. • Adding an appropriate conjunction • Mary Shelley’s works are engaging, for they are full of wonderful ideas.

RULE 5 continued… • Note: if the second clause is preceded by an adverb (accordingly, besides, therefore, then, or thus), and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still necessary . • I had never been in that place before; besides, it was dark as a tomb. • Exception to semi-colon rule in Strunk and White pg. 6,7

RULE 6: Do not use periods where commas should be. • Breaking the above rule will create a fragment. A fragment doesn’t make sense on its own and is missing a critical part of speech, usually a verb or noun. • I met him at the airport. Going home from New York. • She was an interesting talker. A woman who had traveled all over the world. • EXCEPTION: Usually seen in dialogue, a sentence can be clipped if it fits with the tone of the work. • Again and again he called out. No reply.

RULE 1: Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding (‘s)