The Elements of Style 札记一

I. Elementary Rules of Usage

1. 单数名词所有格加上's。
不管单词末尾的辅音是什么。所以要写：Charles's friend。例外是一些古人的以 -es 或 -is 结尾的名字，和所有格 Jesus'，以及诸如 for conscience' sake、for righteousness' sake 等形式。不过，Moses' Laws 和 Isis' temple 通常替换为 the laws of Moses 和 the temple of Isis。

2. 在三项或三项以上的词语和一个连接词组成的序列中，每项词语后面都要加上逗号，除了最后一项。
如：red, white, and blue。
但在列举公司名称的场合中，最后一个逗号也常省略：Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette。

3. 用逗号将插入语隔开。
The best way to see a country, unless you are pressed for time, is to travel on foot.

非限定性定语从句是插入语，而限定性定语从句不是，所以限定性定语从句不能用逗号隔开。区分下面两句：
In 1769, when Napoleon was born, Corsica had but recently been acquired by France.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

4. 在引导独立从句的连接词前加上逗号。
The early records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed.

常见的连接词有 and、but、as（表因为）、for、or、nor 和 while（表同时）。注意，当两个从句的主语一致时，如果连接词是 but，那么就需要逗号，引导的从句的主语可省略。如果连接词是 and，且两个从句的关系紧密，逗号和引导从句的主语都可略去。
I have heard the news, but am still unconvinced.
He has had several years' experience and is thoroughly competent.

5. 不要仅用逗号连接独立从句。
要么用分号（第二句起首字母小写），要么用句号（第二句起首字母大写），要么用逗号配合连接词。
Mary Shelley's works are entertaining; they are full of engaging ideas.
Mary Shelley's works are entertaining, for they are full of engaging ideas.

而如果引导第二句的是诸如 accordingly、besides、then、therefore 或者 thus 之类的副词，依然需要分号。
I had never been in the place before; besides, it was dark as a tomb.

例外是，如果从句短小且结构上相似，或者句子的语气轻松且口语化的话，可以直接用逗号连接。
Man proposes, God disposes.

6. 不要把一个句子拆成两个。
就是不要在该用逗号的地方用句号，除非是需要强调：
Again and again he called out. No replay.

以上的3、4、5、6是标点符号使用中最重要的规则。

7. 在独立从句后用冒号引导一系列小品词，同位语，修饰语，或是阐述性的引用。
Your dedicated whittler requires three props: a knife, a piece of wood, and a back porch.
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.
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."
冒号的其他用途包括添加在正式信件的致敬语后，以及分隔时间格式的时分秒、书的主副标题、以及圣经的章与节。

8. 用破折号引导一个突然的中断或插入以宣告一个长的同位语或总结文字。
His first thought on getting out of bed – if he had any thought at all – was to get back in again.
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.

9. 主语的数决定了动词的数。
主语和动词之间的插入语不影响动词的数：
The bittersweet flavor of youth – its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges – is soon forgotten.

在“one of …”后面的定语从句动词的数取决于关系词的数：one of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem。

None 后面一般用单数，除非指代许多人：None are fallible as those who are sure they're right.

一些在概念上不可分割的组合词通常使用单数的动词：
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.

一些名词在形式上是复数，但逻辑上是单数，动词也使用单数：
Politics is an art, not a science.

10. 正确使用代词的格。
Virgil Soames is the candidate who we think will win.
Virgil Soames is the candidate whom we hope to elect.

动名词通常需要所有格：
Mother objected to our driving on the icy roads.
而现在分词作为动词使用时需要宾格：
They heard him singing in the shower.

区分以下两句：
Do you mind me asking a question?
Do you mind my asking a question?
第一句的宾语是 me，第二句是 asking a question。

11. 句首的分词短语必须指代语法的主语。
也就是说千万不可以写：
Wondering irresolutely what to do next, the clock struck twelve.