The numbers of the sections may be used as references in correcting manuscript.
The writer's colleagues in the Department of English in Cornell University have greatly helped him in the preparation of his manuscript. Mr. George McLane Wood has kindly consented to the inclusion under Rule 10 of some material from his _Suggestions to Authors_.
The following books are recommended for reference or further study: in connection with Chapters II and IV, F. Howard Collins, _Author and Printer_ (Henry Frowde); Chicago University Press, _Manual of Style_; T. L. De Vinne, _Correct Composition_ (The Century Company); Horace Hart, _Rules for Compositors and Printers_ (Oxford University Press); George McLane Wood, _Extracts from the Style-Book of the Government Printing Office_ (United States Geological Survey); in connection with Chapters III and V, _The King's English_ (Oxford University Press); Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, _The Art of Writing_ (Putnam), especially the chapter, Interlude on Jargon; George McLane Wood, _Suggestions to Authors_ (United States Geological Survey); John Lesslie Hall, _English Usage_ (Scott, Foresman and Co.); James P. Kelley, _Workmanship in Words_ (Little, Brown and Co.). In these will be found full discussions of many points here briefly treated and an abundant store of illustrations to supplement those given in this book.
It is an old observation that the best writers sometimes disregard the rules of rhetoric. When they do so, however, the reader will usually find in the sentence some compensating merit, attained at the cost of the violation. Unless he is certain of doing as well, he will probably do best to follow the rules. After he has learned, by their guidance, to write plain English adequate for everyday uses, let him look, for the secrets of style, to the study of the masters of literature.
1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's.
Follow this rule whatever the final consonant. Thus write,
This is the usage of the United States Government Printing Office and of the Oxford University Press.
Exceptions are the possessive of ancient proper names in _-es_ and _-is_, the possessive _Jesus'_, and such forms as _for conscience' sake_, _for righteousness' sake_. But such forms as _Achilles' heel_, _Moses' laws_, _Isis' temple_ are commonly replaced by