"The Elements of Style" by William Strunk & E.B. White

• Elementary Rules of Usage:
• Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ‘s.
• In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.
• Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.
• Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause.
• Do not join independent clauses with a comma.
• Do not break sentences in two.
• Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list of particulars, an appositive, an amplification, or an illustrative quotation.
• Use a dash to set off an abrupt break or interruption and to announce a long appositive or summary.
• The number of the subject determines the number of the verb.
• Use the proper case of pronoun.
• A participal phrase at the beginning of a sentence must refer to the grammatical subject.
• Elementary principles of Composition:
• Choose a suitable design and hold to it.
• Make the paragraph the unit of composition.
• Use the active voice.
• Put statements in positive form.
• Use definite, specific, concrete language.
• Omit needless words.
• Avoid a succession of loose sentences.
• Express coordinate ideas in similar form.
• Keep related words together.
• In summaries, keep to one tense.
• Place the emphatic words of a sentence at the end.
• An approach to style:
• Place yourself in the background.
• Write in a way that comes naturally.
• Work from a suitable design.
• Write with nouns and verbs.
• Revise and rewrite.
• Do not overwrite.
• Do not overstate.
• Avoid the use of qualifiers.
• Do not affect a breezy manner.
• Use orthodox spelling.
• Do not explain too much.
• Do not construct awkward adverbs.
• Make sure the reader knows who is speaking.
• Avoid fancy words.
• Do not use dialect unless your ear is good.
• Be clear.
• Do not inject opinion.
• Use figures of speech sparingly.
• Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity.
• Avoid foreign languages.
• Prefer the standard to the offbeat.