1. Fundamentals of Writing
Chapter 11

2. Sentences Keep the subject and verb close together
Use short, concise, sentences
Use active voice
Use action verbs
Use transitions

3. Paragraphs Topic Sentence Body Closing
Introduces the subject and provides the focus of the paragraph
Body
Supports or develops the subject introduced by the topic sentence
Closing
Summarizes or applies the subject addressed in the paragraph to the facts of a case

4. Paragraphs Transition Sentence Length
Connects the subjects in different paragraphs
Length
Avoid extremely long, extremely short, or extremely lengthy paragraphs

5. Word Selection and Usage
Avoid excessive or redundant words
Avoid noun/verb strings, as they are redundant
Avoid nominalizations (nouns made from verbs)
Avoid legalese and use plain English
Do not use archaic words
Use gender-neutral terms
Know commonly misused words and use them correctly

6. Grammar The subject and verb must agree in person and number
Use a consistent verb tense
Use parallel construction so that items listed are similar in grammatical structure
Avoid superfluous verbs

7. Grammar Avoid problems involving modifiers Misplaced Modifiers
Dangling Modifiers
Squinting Modifiers
Split Infinitives

8. Grammar
Pronouns must agree in number (singular/plural) and gender (feminine/masculine/neutral) with the nouns to which they refer (their antecedents)

9. Adverbs, Adjectives, and Conjunctions
A word used to modify a noun or pronoun
Adverb
A word used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb
Conjunction
A word that connects words, phrased, clauses or sentences

10. Adverbs and Adjectives
Many but not all adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective
Use an adjective if the word following a linking verb describes the subject of the sentence; use an adverb if the word refers to the verb

11. Adverbs and Adjectives
Use a comparative adjective to compare two things; use a superlative adjective to compare three or more things
Place adverbs used for emphasis immediately before the word or phrase they modify

12. Conjunctions
Use a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, or, but, for, so, yet, nor) when joining clauses and words of equal rank
Use correlative conjunctions in pairs (e.g., either/or, neither/nor, if/then, both/and, since/therefore) to link items of equal rank

13. Punctuation Basic Uses of Commas
Before a coordinating conjunction joining two main or independent clauses
After an introductory phrase
After each item in a series of three or more items
To avoid a misreading of the subject

14. Punctuation Basic Uses of Commas (continued)
To separate coordinate adjectives
To set off transitional or interpretive words or phrases
To set off nonrestrictive clauses, appositives, contrasting phrases, quotations, and descriptive titles

15. Punctuation Uses of Semicolons
To separate major elements of complex sentences
To separate items in a series if the items are long or if one of the items has internal commas

16. Punctuation Uses of Colons
To introduce a list or series preceded by a complete sentence
To introduce or emphasize a quotation
To join two separate but related clauses and emphasize the latter

17. Punctuation Uses of Apostrophes
To make singular nouns possessive (followed by s)
To make plural nouns possessive (after the final s)
To make a compound word or word group possessive
To form contractions (not usually used in formal writing)

18. Punctuation Quotation Marks Ellipses
Used to set off short quotes (less than 50 words)
Not used with long, block quotes
Used to indicate that a word is used in a special way, is a special term, or is questionable
Ellipses
Indicate the omission of part of a quotation

19. Punctuation Brackets Parentheses
Show changes in or add information a quotation
Indicate an error in an original quotation
Parentheses
Enclose information that is outside the main idea of the sentence
Enclose references to other cases, attached material, or an appendix

20. Punctuation Hyphen Em Dash Forms compound modifiers and compound nouns
Emphasizes something
Sets off a list or a brief summary containing commas
Shows an abrupt change of thought or direction