Writing Workshop: Mechanics

Writing Workshop: Mechanics

Capitalisation

​Words that are always capitalised

1. The first word of a sentence

2. Proper nouns, that is names of people, places, companies, organisations and so on; e.g., the University of London, the Department of Chemistry

3. Days of the week and months of the year

4. Adjectives which are derived from proper nouns; for example, French window, English essay

5. Religious names; for example, the Bible, the Quran

6. Names of planets; for example, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, but it is not usual to capitalise sun, moon, earth.

7. Titles before names: Mr Jones, Mrs Smith, Dr Green (Please note that it is not usual to place a full stop after these titles, although this practice was common in the past.) 

​Words that are capitalised according to their meaning

1. Internet is capitalised when used as a noun; for example, “I searched the Internet when conducting research”, but it is not capitalised when used as an adjective; for example, “I now have a new internet provider.”

    

2. “Department” is capitalised when it refers to a specific department; for example, the Mathematics Department, but not when used generally; for example; government departments.

3. Titles and positions; for example, "PR Manager", but “in all companies, managing directors have considerable responsibility”. 

Words that are capitalised according to style or personal preference

This category often involves titles such as president, prime minister, king, queen, chancellor. When used alone, it is more usual not to capitalise them. “The president opened the new embassy”. However, some styles would require them to be capitalised, such as “The new French embassy was opened by the President”. This sentence implies the “President of France” so the word would be more likely to be capitalised.

When such titles are accompanied by a specific name, they are always capitalised; for example, “Queen Elizabeth II”, “The Chancellor of Germany, “The Secretary General of the United Nations”. 

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• He was born in New York city.

• He was born in New York City.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• His parents were from the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

• His parents were from the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Multiple Choice

Which one is correct?

• When we were in Washington, we saw President Biden.
  

•   When we were in Washington, we saw president Biden.

Multiple Choice

Which one is correct?

• The senator was talking to the president.
    

• The Senator was talking to the President.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• Many good American writers come from the South.
    

• Many good American writers come from the south.

Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

• Go South for three blocks, then turn right.
    
  

• Go south for three blocks, then turn right.

How To Write Numbers

​Writing numbers in words

When writing numbers in words, the general rule is to spell out numbers from one to nine and use numerals for numbers 10 and above. For example:

• Three participants attended the conference.

• The study included 15 respondents.

Exceptions to this rule include instances where numbers begin a sentence. In such cases, it’s advisable to spell out the number regardless of its value. For instance:

• Seventy-five per cent of the respondents preferred option A.

Additionally, when numbers are part of a title, subtitle, or proper noun, they are typically expressed as numerals. For example:

• “2 Years of Environmental Policy Reform: A Case Study”

• “Chapter 10: Statistical Analysis”

​Rules for writing numbers

• Consistency: Maintain consistency in how numbers are presented throughout the document.

• Exceptions: Familiarise yourself with exceptions to the general rules, such as ordinal numbers (first, second, third) and fractions (one-half, three-quarters), which are typically expressed in words.

• Clarity: Prioritise clarity and readability when presenting numerical information. Use formatting techniques, such as commas in large numbers and decimals, to enhance comprehension.

• Units of Measurement: When using units of measurement, ensure consistency and accuracy. Follow standard conventions and abbreviations, and provide clear explanations where necessary.

Write the correct answer for each sentence, using either words to spell out the numbers (thirty-one) or numerals where appropriate (31). Write "Correct" if the sentence is correct as is.

Punctuation

Comma

• Use a comma to join two independent clauses and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, nor, so).

Road construction can be inconvenient, but it is necessary.

The new house has a large fenced backyard, so I am sure our dog will enjoy it.

• Use a comma after an introductory phrase, prepositional phrase, or dependent clause.

To get a good grade, you must complete all your assignments.

Because Dad caught the chicken pox, we canceled our vacation.

After the wedding, the guests attended the reception

Comma

• Use a comma to separate elements in a series. Although there is no set rule that requires a comma before the last item in a series, it seems to be a general academic convention to include it. The examples below demonstrate this trend.

On her vacation, Lisa visited Greece, Spain, and Italy.

In their speeches, many of the candidates promised to help protect the environment, bring about world peace, and end world hunger.

• Use a comma to separate nonessential elements from a sentence. More specifically, when a sentence includes information that is not crucial to the message or intent of the sentence, enclose it in or separate it by commas.

John's truck, a red Chevrolet, needs new tires.

When he realized he had overslept, Matt rushed to his car and hurried to work.

Comma

• Use a comma between coordinate adjectives (adjectives that are equal and reversible).

The irritable, fidgety crowd waited impatiently for the rally speeches to begin.

The sturdy, compact suitcase made a perfect gift.

• Use a comma after a transitional element (however, therefore, nonetheless, also, otherwise, finally, instead, thus, of course, above all, for example, in other words, as a result, on the other hand, in conclusion, in addition)

For example, the Red Sox, Yankees, and Indians are popular baseball teams.

If you really want to get a good grade this semester, however, you must complete all assignments, attend class, and study your notes.

Comma

• Use a comma with quoted words.

  "Yes," she promised. Todd replied, saying, "I will be back this afternoon."

• Use a comma in a date.

  October 25, 1999

• Use a comma in a number.

  15,000,000

• Use a comma in a personal title.

  Pam Smith, MD

• Use a comma to separate a city name from the state.

  West Lafayette, Indiana

Semicolon

• Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses when the second clause restates the first or when the two clauses are of equal emphasis.

  Road construction in Dallas has hindered travel around town; streets have become covered with bulldozers, trucks, and cones.

• Use a semicolon to join 2 independent clauses when the second clause begins with a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, thus, meanwhile, nonetheless, otherwise) or a transition (in fact, for example, that is, for instance, in addition, in other words, on the other hand, even so).

  Terrorism in the United States has become a recent concern; in fact, the concern for America's safety has led to an awareness of global terrorism.

Semicolon

• Use a semicolon to join elements of a series when individual items of the series already include commas.

  Recent sites of the Olympic Games include Athens, Greece; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sydney, Australia; Nagano, Japan.

Colon

• Use a colon to join two independent clauses when you wish to emphasize the second clause.

  Road construction in Dallas has hindered travel around town: parts of Main, Fifth, and West Street are closed during the construction.

• Use a colon after an independent clause when it is followed by a list, a quotation, an appositive, or other ideas directly related to the independent clause.

  Julie went to the store for some groceries: milk, bread, coffee, and cheese.

Colon

• Use a colon at the end of a business letter greeting.

  To Whom It May Concern:

• Use a colon to separate the hour and minute(s) in a time notation.

  12:00 p.m.

• Use a colon to separate the chapter and verse in a Biblical reference.

  Matthew 1:6

Parentheses

• Parentheses are used to emphasize content. They place more emphasis on the enclosed content than commas. Use parentheses to set off nonessential material, such as dates, clarifying information, or sources, from a sentence.

  Muhammed Ali (1942-2016), arguably the greatest athlete of all time, claimed he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

Dash

• Dashes are used to set off or emphasize the content enclosed within dashes or the content that follows a dash. Dashes place more emphasis on this content than parentheses.

  Perhaps one reason why the term has been so problematic—so resistant to definition, and yet so transitory in those definitions—is because of its multitude of applications.

• Use a dash to set off an appositive phrase that already includes commas. An appositive is a word that adds explanatory or clarifying information to the noun that precedes it.

  The cousins—Tina, Todd, and Sam—arrived at the party together.

Quotation marks

• Use quotation marks to enclose direct quotations.

  He asked, "When will you be arriving?" I answered, "Sometime after 6:30."

• Use quotation marks to indicate the novel, ironic, or reserved use of a word.

  History is stained with blood spilled in the name of "justice."

• Use quotation marks around the titles of short poems, song titles, short stories, magazine or newspaper articles, essays, speeches, chapter titles, short films, and episodes of television or radio shows.

  "Self-Reliance," by Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Do not use quotation marks in indirect or block quotations.

Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, Italics (use an underline), and parentheses where ever they are needed in the following sentences.

Open Ended

1. The men in question Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene deserve awards.

2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

3. There's no room for error, said the engineer so we have to double check every calculation.

4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.

5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not to Go Camping.

6. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.

7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.

8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.

9. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.

10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate her husband and Tim, their son.

11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied All the members of my family are poor spellers. Why not me?

12. He used the phrase you know so often that I finally said No, I don't know.

13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes Benz.

14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9 19 flight, he came instead on the 10 36 flight.

15. Whoever thought said Helen that Jack would be elected class president?

16. In baseball, a show boat is a man who shows off.

17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday's sermon.

18. There was a very interesting article entitled The New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday's New York Times newspaper.

19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha must be prepared to do a great deal of work, said Jumita, the previous secretary.

20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a great controversy when it appeared.

​Punctuation Answer Key

​Punctuation Answer Key

1. The men in question (Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene) deserve awards.

2. Several countries participated in the airlift: Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

3. "There's no room for error," said the engineer, "so we have to double check every calculation."

4. Judge Carswell--later to be nominated for the Supreme Court--had ruled against civil rights.

5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article "How Not to Go Camping."

6. "Yes,"Jim said, "I'll be home by ten."

7. There was only one thing to do--study till dawn.

8. Montaigne wrote the following: "A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself."

9. The following are the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.

10. Arriving on the 8:10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate; her husband; and Tim, their son.

11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied, "All the members of my family are poor spellers. Why not me?"

12. He used the phrase "you know" so often that I finally said, "No, I don't know."

13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars: Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes Benz.

14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9:19 flight, he came instead on the 10:36 flight.

15. "Whoever thought," said Helen, "that Jack would be elected class president?"

16. In baseball, a "show boat" is a man who shows off.

17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5:21 in last Sunday's sermon.

18. There was a very interesting article entitled "The New Rage for Folk Singing" in last Sunday's New York Times newspaper.

19. "Whoever is elected secretary of the club--Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha--must be prepared to do a great deal of work," said Jumita, the previous secretary.

20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) caused a great controversy when it appeared.