Strunk & White Rules 1-5
Packet Review
Mr. Haskey
CA9
November 4, 2010
Strunk & White Rule 1
Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ‘s.
Possessive: giving an object ownership over something
Singular: only one of an object
Noun: person, place, thing, idea
Strunk & White Rule 1
Its vs. It’s
Its is giving the object “it” ownership over something.
It’s is a shortened version of the words “it is.”
Basically, if you can replace “it’s” with it is, you should
use the apostrophe. If you can’t, you should use “its.”
Its’ IS NOT A WORD!
Examples
My cousin got in trouble for stealing a childs bicycle.
No change
Childs’ bicycle
Child bicycle
Child’s bicycle
Questions to ask:
Does an object in this sentence own something?
Yes, the child owns the bicycle.
Is this object singular?
Yes, it is just one child.
Strunk & White Rule #1
The correct answer is D.
Like the rule says, add ‘s to a possessive singular noun.
Strunk & White Rule 1
The dog dug in the yard for it’s bone.
No change
Its bone
Its’ bone
It bone
Does an object own something in this sentence?
Yes, the dog owns the bone.
Is the object singular?
Yes, it is just one dog.
Strunk & White Rule 1
The correct answer is B.
This relates to the aforementioned it’s vs. its rule.
Its’ will never be correct- it is not a grammatically
correct word.
You cannot change the its to it is and have the sentence
make sense.
Only logical answer is B.
Strunk & White Rule 1
The teacher found the student’s backpack in her classroom.
No chance
Student backpack
Students backpack
Students’ backpack
Does an object own something in this sentence?
Yes, the student owns the backpack.
Is the object singular?
Yes, it is one student.
Strunk & White Rule 1
The correct answer is A.
No change needed to be made here- the singular noun
already had ‘s to show possession.
Strunk & White Rule 1
My mother thinks its okay for me to skip my homework
tonight.
No change
Its’ okay
It’s okay
It okay
Does an object have ownership in this sentence?
Technically yes, the student owns the homework, but
possession is already shown through the use of the word “my.”
And there is not a singular noun in this sentence which owns
something.
Strunk & White Rule 1
The correct answer is C.
Another its vs. it’s rule. In this case, you can replace it’s
with it is, and the sentence still makes sense.
Strunk & White Rule 1
The companys employees were unhappy with their small
holiday bonuses.
No change
Companies
Company’s
companies’
Does an object have ownership?
Yes, the company owns the employees.
Is the object singular?
Yes, it is one company. It is not plural because then it would
be spelled “companies.”
Strunk & White Rule 1
The correct answer is C.
Strunk & White Rule 2
In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction,
use a comma after each term except the last.
Series: items in a row (a list)
Terms: the actual things listed
Single: one
Conjunction: Connecting word- for, and nor, but, or, yet, so
Comma: ,
Strunk & White Rule 2
1. Beautiful homes attractive city squares and a mild
climate are characteristics of Savannah, Georgia.
Is a series of items present?
Yes, the beginning of the sentence is a list
Are there three or more items in the list?
Yes, 1- homes, 2- city squares, and 3- climate
Is a single conjunction present?
Yes- and
Strunk & White Rule 2
Correct:
Beautiful homes, attractive city squares, and a mild
climate are characteristics of Savannah, Georgia.
Because all of the questions were “yes” on the previous
slide, you put a comma after each item in the list
except the last one.
Strunk & White Rule 2
Shops and restaurants have transformed the old
warehouse area.
Is a series of items present?
Yes.
Are there three or more items in the list?
No- only two.
Strunk & White Rule 2
Correct as is because the list only has two items. No
comma(s) needed!
Strunk & White Rule 2
Tourists enjoy shopping visiting historic homes and
sampling Southern cuisine.
Is a list present?
Yes
Are there three or more items in the list?
Yes- 1-shopping, 2-homes, 3- cuisine
Is a single conjunction present?
Yes- and
Strunk & White Rule 2
Correct:
Tourists enjoy shopping, visiting historic homes, and
sampling Southern cuisine.
Strunk & White Rule 2
My favorite foods include macaroni and cheese peanut
butter and jelly and bread and butter.
This one is tricky- it fits the rule except there are a ton
of conjunctions. However, the rule still applies because
the items are ultimately one thing
Macaroni and cheese go together
Peanut butter and jelly go together
Bread and butter go together
Because of this, the rule will still apply…
Strunk & White Rule 2
My favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, peanut
butter and jelly, and bread and butter.
Strunk & White Rule 2
This morning I woke up got dressed brushed my teeth
and ate breakfast.
A list?
Yes
Three or more items?
Yes
Conjunction?
Yes- and
Strunk & White Rule 2
This morning I woke up, got dressed, brushed my
teeth, and ate breakfast.
Strunk & White Rule 2
The street was filled with angry protesters shouting
spectators and police.
List?
Yep.
Three or more?
Yep.
Conjunction?
One- and
Strunk & White Rule 2
The street was filled with angry protesters, shouting
spectators, and police.
Strunk & White Rule 3
Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
Enclose- surround
Parenthetic Expressions- a group of related yet non
essential words to the meaning of a sentence.
Commas- ,
Example: My bulletin board, which is my favorite
color, displays student work.
Strunk & White Rule 3
Anthony who won the race became the first one in our
class to receive a trophy.
“who won the race” is a parenthetic expression here
because the sentence still makes sense without that
information
Correct:
Anthony, who won the race, became the first one in our
class to win a trophy.
Strunk & White Rule 3
The teacher was annoyed when Hillary who lives right
across the street from school was late.
“who lives right across the street” is a parenthetic
expression here
Correct:
The teacher was annoyed when Hillary, who lives right
across the street from school, was late.
Strunk & White Rule 3
Children who get everything they want often
appreciate nothing.
It might feel like “who get everything they want” is
unnecessary, but it is necessary here it adds essential
meaning to the sentence.
Correct as is.
Strunk & White Rule 3
Few people who claim to be able to predict the future
can actually do so.
Again, “who claim to be able to predict the future” is a
necessary part of this sentence.
Correct as is.
Strunk & White Rule 3
Anita who has no sense of humor couldn’t see what
made the joke so funny.
“who has no sense of humor” is unnecessary here.
Correct:
Anita, who has no sense of humor, couldn’t see what
made the joke so funny.
Strunk & White Rule 4
Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an
independent clause.
Comma- ,
Conjunction- joining word- for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so
Introducing- coming before
Independent Clause- a group of words that could stand
on its own as a complete sentence.
Strunk & White Rule 4
Arctic icebergs are rough but Antarctic icebergs are rather
flat and smooth.
Is there a conjunction?
Yes- but
Does an independent clause come after the conjunction?
Yes- that could be a complete sentence
Correct:
Arctic icebergs are rough, but Antarctic icebergs are rather flat
and smooth.
Strunk & White Rule 4
The Swedish pioneers built a town and named it after
their leader.
Conjunction?
Yes- and
Independent clause after it?
No
Correct as is.
Strunk & White Rule 4
Did Rita make this cabinet herself or did her teacher
help her?
Conjunction?
Yes- or
Complete sentence after?
Yes- could be a complete sentence
Correct:
Did Rita make this cabinet herself, or did her teacher
help her?
Strunk & White Rule 4
I respect your opinion yet I cannot agree with it.
Conjunction?
Yes- yet
Complete sentence after?
Yes- could be a complete sentence
Correct:
I respect your opinion, yet I cannot agree with it.
Strunk & White Rule 4
The train we were on had started to move and we
couldn’t find Sophia anywhere.
Conjunction?
Yes- and
Complete sentence after?
Yes- could be a complete sentence
Correct:
The train we were on had started to move, and we
couldn’t find Sophia anywhere.
Strunk & White Rule 5
Do not join independent clauses with a comma.
Independent clauses- group of words that can be a
complete sentence
Comma- ,
Strunk & White Rule 5
Gloria is a talented painter she won a blue ribbon in the
district art contest.
Correction one:
Gloria is a talented painter; she won a blue ribbon in the
district art contest.
Correction two:
Gloria is a talented painter. She won a blue ribbon in the
district art contest.
Correction three:
Gloria is a talented painter, and she won a blue ribbon in the
district art contest.
Strunk & White Rule 5
John’s worst fear had come true he slumped down in his
seat.
Correction one:
John’s worst fear had come true; he slumped down in his seat.
Correction two:
John’s worst fear had come true. He slumped down in his
seat.
Correction three:
John’s worst fear had come true, so he slumped down in his
seat.
Strunk & White Rule 5
Helen passed the ball Jamie rushed down the field.
Correction one:
Helen passed the ball; Jamie rushed down the field.
Correction two:
Helen passed the ball. Jamie rushed down the field.
Correction three:
Helen passed the ball, and Jamie rushed down the field.
Putting Them All Together
Today at the restaurant I noticed the overworked
employees the dirty tables and the exorbitant prices.
Rule one? Not needed
Rule two- needed!
Three- nope. Four- nope. Five- nope.
Correct:
Today at the restaurant I noticed the overworked
employees, the dirty tables, and the exorbitant prices.
Putting Them All Together
While visiting the citys famous monuments Shelly
noticed the amazing architecture of the city.
Rule one? Yes!
Rule two- no. Three? No. Four? No. Five? No.
Correct:
While visiting the city’s famous monuments Shelly
noticed the amazing architecture.
Putting Them All Together
The baby had just begun to suck it’s thumb cry for its
mom and roll over in its’ crib.
Rule one? Yes!
Rule two? Yes!
Rule three? No. Rule four? No. Five? No.
Correct:
The baby had just begun to suck its thumb, cry for its
mom, and roll over in its crib.
Putting Them All Together
Katie my best friend lives next door to me.
Rule one? No. Two? No. Four? No. Five? No.
Three? Yes!
Correct:
Katie, my best friend, lives next door to me.
Putting Them All Together
My cat Buster loves to nap on warm appliances when
he sleeps on top of the television, his tail swipes the
screen like a windshield wiper.
One? No. Two? No. Four? No.
Three? Yes! Five? Yes!
Correct:
My cat, Buster, loves to nap on warm appliances when
he sleeps on top of the television, and his tail swipes the
screen like a windshield wiper.
Putting Them All Together
At the back of the classroom, Nina sat crossing her
arms, rolling her eyes, and glaring at Mr. Beane; her
body language indicated that English was not her
favorite subject.
Correct as is!
Putting Them All Together
Freddie wanted fried chicken for lunch but the cafeteria’s
soggy grey lukewarm meat was not what he had in mind.
One? Yes- already correct
Two? Yes. Four? Yes.
Three? No. Five? No.
Correct:
Freddie wanted fried chicken for lunch, but the cafeteria’s
soggy, grey, and lukewarm meat was not what he had in mind.
Putting Them All Together
My cell phone the one I got for my birthday is already
broken.
One? No. Two? No. Four? No. Five? No.
Three? Yes!
Correct:
My cell phone, the one I got for my birthday, is already
broken.
Putting Them All Together
Simon needed to borrow a dollar for a Gatorade but he
discovered his wallet was empty I let him borrow mine.
This deals with rules four and five and has several possible
answers:
Simon need to borrow a dollar for a Gatorade, but he
discovered his wallet was empty…
That will be correct each time
…his wallet was empty; I let him borrow mine.
…his wallet was empty. I let him borrow mine.
Putting Them All Together
Never judge a book by it’s cover it might surprise you.
One? Yes! Five? Yes!
Two? No. Three? No. Four? No.
Correct:
Never judge a book by its cover; it might surprise you.
Never judge a book by its cover. It might surprise you.