Better: The only way to win against a fire is to practice rules of fire prevention regularly and thoroughly. ERRORS  IN  AGREEMENT You probably have no trouble, most of the time, with agreement of verb and subject. You are not tempted to write: “The propellers was damaged.” But how about, “The propeller and shaft was damaged”? Wrong, to be sure,  but  it  is  an  easy  mistake  to  make  when  you  are thinking  of  the  two  parts  of  a  compound  subject  as belonging  together.  It  should,  of  course,  read  “The propeller and shaft were damaged.” In  a  compound  subject  with  “or”  or  “nor”  as  a connective, the verb should agree in number with the last noun in the subject. Incorrect:  Neither the propellers nor the rudder are damaged. Correct: Neither the propellers nor the rudder is damaged. When  a  parenthetical  expression  beginning  with words  such  as  “together  with,”  “with”  or  “including” comes  between  the  subject  and  the  verb,  there  is  a temptation to make the verb plural as if the subject were . compound. Consider the following example: Incorrect:   One  mast,  together  with  a  spar running athwartship, are used for flags. correct:   One   mast,   together   with   a   spar running athwartship, is used for flags. Disagreement between subject and verb sometimes one of these verb qualities — taking a subject — differs “to.”   “Whoever”   is   the   subject   of   the   clause   and occurs  because,  in  a  complicated  sentence,  a  nearby noun is mistaken for the subject. This is the case in the following  example,  in  which  the  plural  nouns  “officers” and “commands” seem to have confused the writer. The subject of the sentence, however, is “duty.” Incorrect: The primary duty of such staff dental officers  serving  in  these  commands  are very similar to those of a district dental officer. Correct: The primary duty of such staff dental officers  serving  in  these  commands   is very similar to that of a district dental officer. Correct: The primary duties of such staff dental officers  serving  in  these  commands  are very similar to those of a district dental officer. GERUNDS A gerund is a verb (verb form) used like a noun. For example:  Running  is good exercise. A gerund retains 6-20 some  of  its  verb  qualities,  however,  such  as  taking  a subject or object, or being modified by adverbs. Only from  what  would  be  used  with  the  same  verb  if complete. The subject of a gerund is in the possessive case instead of the nominative. For example: Had you heard about his passing the test? “Passing” is a gerund with “his” as the subject and “test” as the object. The complete phrase is used here as the object of the preposition “about.” ERROR IN NOUN CLAUSES The   pronoun   that   introduces   a   noun   clause   is sometimes  given  the  wrong  case  because  of  the  writer’s failure to recognize the structure of the sentence. The case of any pronoun is determined by its use in the clause of which it is apart. Note the following examples: Incorrect:   The  award  will  go  to  whomever submits the best entry. Correct: The award will go to whoever submits the best entry. “Whoever submits the best entry” is a noun clause. The whole clause is used as the object of the preposition therefore nominative. COPY-EDITING MESSAGE RELEASES AND  NEWSWIRE  COPY LEARNING   OBJECTIVE:   Identify   the methods used in copy editing message releases and  newswire  copy. A message  is  an  official  communication  in  brief form  transmitted  by  rapid  means  such  as  telegraph, radio,  flashing  light,  flaghoist  or  semaphore.  A  message is  usually  received  by  a  command’s  communications department,   reproduced,   then   distributed   to   staff members of departments concerned. It is tersely written, contains  many  abbreviations  and  is  printed  in  capital letters. However, when operations and time permit, timely news releases are transmitted in news style and contain all  the  information  necessary  for  a  good  news  story. Sentences  are  grammatically  complete,  including  the necessary   articles,   adjectives   and   adverbs.   A   good message news release is very similar to newswire copy as   it   arrives   in   a   radio,   television   or   newspaper newsroom. It requires only copy editing and duplicating to get it ready for release to news media.