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  Tricky usage


Abbreviations

    Avoid using such abbreviations as:   gov't, dept., etc.



Dates

    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).



Foreign Words

    Words or phrases belonging to foreign languages, especially LATIN, should be in italics (e.g., et al., in vitro, in utero, etc.).



Numbers

    Spell out the numbers from one to ten, use figures for all others.



Percent

    Do not use "%" in standard prose. Instead, write out the word "percent."



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.



Titles

    Book titles are usually enclosed in quotation marks, or in Italics.



However

    Avoid starting a sentence with "However..." when the meaning is "Nevertheless..."
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.



Unique

    The word means "without equal" and hence, DEGREES of uniqueness are impossible.
INCORRECT:It was the most unique egg beater on the market.
CORRECTED: It was a unique egg beater.








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Owl Editing, Grey Owl Tutoring, Canada. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated: 12 March, 2010