What are some guidelines for using lists in your writing? Tips from Gerald J. Alred’s Handbook of Technical Writing, eighth edition include: Use only comparable items and use parallel structure. List only words, phrases, or short sentences of the same general length. Provide context by introducing each list, typically with a complete sentence followed by…
How often do you use ‘his’? ‘her’? ‘his/her’? ‘he or she’? According to the Handbook of Technical Writing (eighth edition), bias “can creep into your writing by the unthinking use of male or female pronouns where a reference could apply equally to a man or a woman” (Alred 50). Don’t say . . . “Every…
What are common email courtesies you can follow? Writing your email: NEVER type in all capitals: it’s the same thing as screaming! One- or two-word emails are seldom necessary. Responses such as “Thanks” or “Bye” are polite in conversation, but they are not necessary in emails. Always edit forwarded messages. Make sure that it is…
All ready or already? ‘All ready’ means all are ready. ‘Already’ refers to time. A lot, allot, or alot? ‘A lot’ means much. ‘Allot’ means to allocate, assign, or ration. ‘Alot’ is not a standard word: don’t use it! Arc, or ark? ‘Arc’ means arch, crescent, half moon. ‘Ark’ means a vessel or a refuge.…
When should you use active voice or passive voice in your writing? Always use the active voice unless the passive voice is more appropriate (for the purpose of tact and diplomacy). Here are some examples of sentences written in passive voice that have been rewritten in active voice: Passive: Sections A and B should be…
How do you choose the correct word in a sentence that has a fraction as its subject? Fractions such as one-half and one-third may be singular or plural, depending on the word to which the fraction refers. How do I decide? When the subject is a fraction, amount of money, measurement, weight, volume, or interval…
What do you do when you must choose between using ‘a’ or ‘an’ when it precedes a letter or word? Use ‘a’ before a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, etc.). Use ‘an’ before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u). The key is to look at the sound the word makes. Example:…
How do you know when to use who or whom? ‘Who’ replaces the subject of a clause or sentence. ‘Whom’ replaces the object in a sentence. How do I decide? Replace ‘who’ with he, she, or they. Replace ‘whom’ with him, her, or them. Examples: Can you tell me (who, whom) turned in their outlines?…
What do you do when you have ‘either/or’ or ‘neither/nor’ in your sentence? When subjects in a sentence are joined by ‘either/or’ or ‘neither/nor,’ choose the subject that is closest to the verb and make it agree! Example 1: Either the manager or the engineers (is, are) going to be fired. “Engineers,” which is closest…