“The audience, which had at first been indifferent, became more and more interested.”

“This book is intended for use in English courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. It aims to give in a brief space the principal requirements of plain English style. It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention (in Chapters II and III) on a few essentials, the rules of usage and principles of composition most commonly violated. The numbers of the sections may be used as references in correcting manuscript.”

“The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.”

“If you use a colloquialism or a slang word or phrase, simply use it; do not draw attention to it by enclosing it in quotation marks. To do so is to put on airs, as though you were inviting the reader to join you in a select society of those who know better.”

“5. Do not join independent clauses by a comma.”

“1. Form the possessive singular of nouns with 's.”

“3. Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.”