Questions related to the use of proper writing style in English
61
votes
13answers
12k views
Should I put a comma before the last item in a list?
Should I put a comma before last item in list?
I would like crackers, cheese and some soda.
I would like crackers, cheese, and some soda.
7
votes
1answer
3k views
To hyphenate or not?
As a non-native speaker of English and an engineer by training, I always get confused about hyphenation and almost always end up referring to Google every time I need to make that decision.
Does ...
55
votes
1answer
3k views
When should I use an em-dash, an en-dash, and a hyphen?
I generally know how to use a hyphen, but when should I use an en-dash instead of an em-dash, or when should I use a hyphen instead of an em-dash?
22
votes
15answers
6k views
What are some examples of awkward sounding but grammatically correct sentences?
What are some examples of awkward sounding but grammatically correct sentences?
90
votes
12answers
3k views
Why do English writers avoid explicit numerals?
The junction has a stop sign on each of the four entrances.
The junction has a stop sign on each of the 4 entrances.
The first is preferred, for some reason, by many English texts. Why? I ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Style Question: Use of “we” vs. “I” vs. passive voice in a dissertation
As I'm not a native speaker and just finishing my dissertation in Computer Science, I wonder what style I should be using.
In German (my native tongue) most dissertations, school-books and scientific ...
5
votes
2answers
508 views
Usage of contractions like “it's” and “that's” in textbooks
Is it considered bad style to use abbreviations contractions like "it's" and "that's" (instead of spelling them out as "it is" and "that is") in a textbook or academic publication?
21
votes
3answers
9k views
When to use & instead of “and”
Are there rules of usage when using the ampersand "&" instead of "and"?
Are they completely interchangeable?
The ampersand seems more casual, but I'm not sure.
14
votes
2answers
433 views
Ellipsis that results in one word serving as both subject and object
Quoting from Jeff Atwood's blog:
[I expanded the team] by adding Kevin, who I didn't know, but had built amazing
stuff for us without even being asked to, from Texas. And again by adding ...
1
vote
1answer
289 views
Space before three dots? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the proper way of using triple dots and spaces before/after them?
Should there be a space before three dots?
Examples:
I don't know if this is good...
...
38
votes
9answers
3k views
Why, in old books, are dates often given with the years redacted?
silly question, and I'm not sure this is even necessarily the right forum, but it's the most appropriate on StackExchange, so here we are.
Why is it, in older books, that years are sometimes redacted ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
“The train will leave” vs. “is going to leave” vs. “leaves” vs. “is leaving”
From the grammatical point of view all are correct, just the meaning are different, please bring your clarification, thank you.
The Train will leave at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
The Train is ...
6
votes
2answers
617 views
'The fact that' versus just 'That'
Recently, I started using just 'That' instead of 'The fact that' at the beginning of some sentences. What is your opinion on this?
Example:
The fact that he answered the question wrong ...
19
votes
6answers
27k views
Is it “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”?
When should one sign a letter with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely"?
16
votes
4answers
872 views
Usage of “And” in the beginning of a sentence
Since I first learned English, I have been holding this understanding that "and", as a conj. but unlike "but", can only connect two clauses, not two sentences ended with periods.
But recently, I ...
33
votes
6answers
2k views
What is wrong in Strunk & White's “Elements of Style?”
I was reading the comments on this answer where several users claimed that Strunk & White's "Elements of Style" was "misinformed, hypocritical, and wrong" and "flat-out wrong or totally ...
21
votes
6answers
2k views
Using “utilize” instead of “use”?
My friend has been raising a ruckus about the abuse of the word "utilize" in place of the word "use." He complains that it just makes your sentences sound pretentious.
u·ti·lize [yoot-l-ahyz]
verb ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
When should you use “Title Case”?
Are there any guidelines for when you should capitalize titles/headings or not? Should you always do this in English?
I am referring to
A Capitalized Heading
vs
A capitalized heading
3
votes
2answers
381 views
“Does not make changes” or “makes no changes”
I was thinking of using this sentence on my computer program:
This action does not make changes on user's machine.
Just to be sure, I checked Google Translate which suggested:
This action ...
10
votes
7answers
2k views
Is using passive voice “bad form”?
Whenever I create a document in Microsoft Word, it complains about a lot of my sentences being in passive voice. But, when I read that sentence aloud, it sounds fine to me. I am not sure if it is just ...
15
votes
6answers
636 views
What are the principles that make certain lists sound euphonious?
Has this ever happened to you: You write a question, include a list or two in the discussion, and then come back to edit that list because the order doesn't sound "right"? Off the top of my head, I ...
8
votes
5answers
367 views
'How to' vs 'How do I'
This question is inspired by comments on a question on stackoverflow. The original poster wrote:
How to correct this error?
And comments say that it's an incorrect question. Better is
How ...
10
votes
5answers
797 views
fait accompli – to italicize, or not to italicize
Background
I was looking up the rule about italicizing foreign phrases and found an apparent consensus that the criterion is if the phrase is familiar. Well, who gets to decide that? I know perfectly ...
8
votes
0answers
404 views
When to use passive and active voice [closed]
When is it better to use passive voice in writing and speech?
When is it better to use active voice in writing and speech?
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Is using “and/or” recommended for formal writing, or is it frowned upon?
Is using "and/or" allowed in formal writing? If not, is there general way to represent the OR binary operator with as little space as possible in written English?
6
votes
3answers
1k views
“So long as” vs. “as long as”
Which phrase is more formal — "so long as" or "as long as"?
Example:
So long as Google Voice allows free long distance in North America, I will use it.
As long as Google Voice allows free ...
3
votes
2answers
841 views
When is it appropriate to use non-breaking spaces?
I started using non-breaking spaces between a number and a unit of measure (10_ft), and within a name (Dr._John_Smith). I like the "look" of using non-breaking spaces to prevent titles from wrapping, ...
1
vote
1answer
340 views
Is it better to write without contractions? E.g. “cannot” instead of “can't” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using contracted forms (“don't”, “let's”) in a formal text
Usage of contractions like “it's” and “that's” in textbooks
Should contractions ...
-1
votes
4answers
926 views
Usage of “What” + verb without auxiliary one
This is a subquestion to my "And lead raptivity captive" question.
As I understood from a comment by RegDwight, it was incorrect to ask:
What mean raptivity and phrase "And lead raptivity captive"? ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Recommended books on writing well in English? [closed]
I keep "On writing well" close to me when writing something long. What other books would you recommend on the topic of good writing-style in English?
9
votes
9answers
1k views
When is it acceptable to use Internet abbreviations such as “u” or “r”?
In my business communication over Internet text messengers, for example Google Talk or Skype, I see that many people often use shorten words like u instead of you, r instead of are and the like.
How ...
3
votes
1answer
358 views
I need <something> yesterday?
Is it correct to say:
I need those reports, and I need them
yesterday.
Shouldn't it be:
I needed those reports yesterday.
Or is this aberrant usage style simply a colloquialism?
9
votes
1answer
290 views
On the usage of “etcetera”
In Spanish, we use the word etcétera at the end of an enumeration to imply there are more things to mention, which may (or not) be important, but they will be omitted. Thus, I was fairly surprised ...
6
votes
1answer
872 views
Question mark usage/position when sentence ends with a declarative quotation?
Who said "I am hungry?"
The quotation is not a question, but do I put "my" question mark there anyway?
This is related to, but not the same as Position of question mark when sentence doesn't ...
5
votes
3answers
319 views
What can I do instead of [sic]?
I have a quote that has a misplaced "to":
... they will put you to back to sleep ...
It seems like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can either:
Just delete the mistaken "to" (then I ...
3
votes
3answers
6k views
“to a degree” vs. “to an extent”
Is there a measurable difference in meaning between the phrases "to a degree" and "to an extent" (or "to some degree" and "to some extent")?
Examples:
To [some degree / some extent] that is a ...
2
votes
3answers
599 views
Is the singular “they” acceptable in formal writing? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a correct gender-neutral, singular pronoun (“his” versus “her” versus “their”)?
I am linking to this post for reference.
...
1
vote
2answers
249 views
Scientific article style: present or future
This question often pops up when writing scientific articles. Which of the two is preferred?
This issue is described in detail in Section 4.
or
This issue will be described in detail in ...
1
vote
4answers
1k views
If prepend is not part of English, why is there no postpend or subpend? And who introduces them? [closed]
I wanted to ask it already for some time but was in doubt until I've read the comment by Stan Rogers to this answer:
In the case of prepend, we have
created an artificial term that is
...
28
votes
6answers
11k views
Use of “I”, “we” and the passive voice in a scientific thesis [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Style Question: Use of “we” vs. “I” vs. passive voice in a dissertation
When the first person voice is used in scientific writing it is mostly ...
13
votes
3answers
499 views
Difference between styles of English in technical communication
I have a collaborative software project with two other users. Nearly every technical report and documentation written goes through the following editorial changes to some of the sentences (examples ...
8
votes
2answers
771 views
How to add emphasis to a modal verb
To add emphasis to a normal verb, we use the emphatic do:
He does run fast.
Do come in.
Do brush your teeth.
Obviously, with modal verbs this would be a grave mistake:
(*) He ...
5
votes
4answers
9k views
Is it correct to use this expression in an email: “Attached you may find …”?
Is it grammatical to use the expression "Attached you may find ..." in an email? For example:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Attached you may find the documents you requested.
...
If this is ...
5
votes
4answers
16k views
Is an indentation needed for a new paragraph?
Is an indentation (Tab button in Word) needed for a new paragraph when you start one? I was told to do that a long time ago but 3 years after I stopped doing it and have done it since.
Are you meant ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Is it always bad to use “get” or “got”?
Back in grammar, one of the many rules we were given was to always avoid "get," "got," or "gotten" due to their ambiguity and tendency toward poor grammar as in:
What happened to your arm? It got ...
4
votes
5answers
706 views
Is it bad behavior to add filler words such as “so”, “um” in business speak?
Sometimes when I speak with my fellows at work, I start my sentences with "so" or "um". I don't know if this a bad behavior in business speak or not? If so, how can I get rid of those filler words?
2
votes
5answers
459 views
“not found” or “is not found”
Why there is
file not found
access denied
and so on everywhere, when it should be (as far as I know)
the file was not found
the access is denied
I wonder which is actually ...
1
vote
7answers
1k views
Is technical copywriting jargon or style?
I became confused by comments to my answer insisting that Technical writing is jargon using incorrect English words.
I also looked through definitions of "prepend" in internet, all with inserted ...
7
votes
3answers
220 views
Can I say this in English: “Hard- and Software”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Use of hyphens when writing repeated compound words that has common parts
In German we can use a hyphen as indication that there is a continuation of the current word ...
6
votes
7answers
2k views
How often do people say “gotta”, “wanna” or “gonna” in English speaking countries?
I learned these three words from Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.
got|ta /g'ɒtə/
Gotta is used in written English to represent the words 'got to' when they are ...
