What key strokes can speed up your work in Word? Alt + 0150 = short dash (en dash) Alt + 0151 = long dash (em dash) Ctrl + Shift + End = highlight entire document Ctrl + A = select all Ctrl + B = bold Ctrl + C = copy Ctrl + insert =…
They’re = they are They’re finished with the work. Their = belonging to them Their work is finished. There = a place We left our fishing gear there. You’re = you are You’re my favorite hero. Your = belonging to you Your red cape is distracting me. Who’s = who is Who’s going to take…
When to use ‘biannual/semiannual’ and ‘biweekly/semiweekly’ ‘Biannual’ and ‘semiannual’ both mean twice a year. ‘Biennial’ means every two years. ‘Biweekly’ meetings occur every two weeks. ‘Semiweekly’ meetings occur twice a week. Since most people can’t keep them straight, just say “every other week” or “twice weekly.” A note from our Editor Question: “As ‘bimonthly’ means…
How do you align different expressions of measurements? Use the slash (/) in place of ‘per’ between two abbreviated units of measurement. 40 psi/ft 15 cm/s 40 lbm/ft Use the degree sign (°) with angles, temperatures [except metric K (Kelvin)], and compass coordinates. 20° slope 65° 2°W Abbreviate units of measurement in the text only…
‘That’ is a restrictive pronoun, which means that it introduces information that is necessary to the meaning of the sentence and therefore does not need to be set off by commas. ‘Which’ is a nonrestrictive pronoun, which means that it introduces additional information to the sentence and therefore the phrase that it introduces is set…
From Strunk & White’s Elements of Style: “Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, noncommittal language. Use the word not as a means of denial or in antithesis, never as a means of evasion.” Examples: Instead of this . . . Say this . . . He was not very often on time. He usually…
What words and expressions are you misusing? Aggravate: means “to add to” an already troublesome matter or condition. Irritate: means “to annoy.” E.g., Jeff, please do not aggravate the situation by irritating Tom—again. And/Or: is a shortcut that damages a sentence and can lead to confusion or ambiguity. Avoid using it. Please. Anticipate: should be…
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…
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…
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…