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Abbreviations
Avoid using such abbreviations as: gov't, dept., etc.
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Dates
It is customary to spell out the names of
centuries (e.g.: the twentieth century). Specific dates should be written
as concisely as possible (e.g.: May 7, 1955; NOT May 7th, 1955). The
scientific method of writing dates is DAY, MONTH, YEAR (e.g.: 7 November,
1978), or for computers, usually DD/MM/YY (or DD/MM/YYYY).
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Foreign Words
Words or phrases belonging to
foreign languages, especially LATIN, should be underlined, or preferably,
in italics (e.g.: et al., in vitro, in utero, etc.).
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Numbers
Spell out the numbers from one to ten,
use figures for all others.
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Percent
Do not use "%" in standard prose.
Instead, write out the word "percent."
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Summaries
Keep to one tense. When summarizing
the action of a drama, use the present tense. When summarizing a poem,
story, or novel, use the present, or past tense, if it seems more
natural to do so.
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Titles
Book titles are usually enclosed in
quotation marks, or underlined.
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However
Avoid starting a sentence with
"However..." when the meaning is "Nevertheless..."
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INCORRECT: | The roads were destroyed.
However, we were finally able to reach the camp. |
| CORRECTED: |
Even though the roads were destroyed, we finally
reached the camp. |
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Unique
The word means "without equal" and
hence, DEGREES of uniqueness are impossible.
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INCORRECT: | It was the most unique egg beater on
the market. |
| CORRECTED: |
It was a unique egg beater. |
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