This tag is for questions specifically related to written English.
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 ...
21
votes
5answers
10k views
What is the best format to use when writing out dates?
What format of date is appropriate for different contexts (business, personal) in written English, nowadays?
1st of April, 2010
April the 1st, 2010
April 1, 2010
April 01, 2010
another one
6
votes
2answers
758 views
Capitalization for a bullet list
The following is from some software documentation we are writing:
NOTE: Refreshing a report may be necessary or helpful when:
you believe the data in the report has changed since it was ...
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 ...
17
votes
5answers
726 views
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
Certain brands, such as Yahoo!, insist that the exclamation is part of their name. In writing about such a brand or company, is the inclusion of the vanity punctuation right, wrong, or optional?
I ...
105
votes
14answers
10k views
Do most languages need more space than English?
I saw the following statement on User Experience:
Supporting multiple languages can break the user interface, because most languages need more space than english
This seems to be a gross ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
What are sentences like “the longer X, the more Y” called and can they be used in formal written English?
What is the type of sentence exemplified below called? Is it appropriate to use it in a scientific paper and formal written English in general?
1.
The more pronounced the variation, the
more ...
20
votes
5answers
3k views
Is it alright to use lowercase “i” or should you always use “I” (uppercase)?
I frequently edit questions on StackOverflow, and I always fix the "i" into "I".
See this edit revision for instance.
When i I start my tomcat, i I am getting this problem.
How could i I resolve ...
20
votes
4answers
744 views
Should you always use the accent in foreign words like “résumé”?
You can see in the aboutCV page of Stackoverflow Careers site that the word resumes is mentioned -- Not résumés or résumés.
What should be the common practice here?
What about other words like café?
5
votes
2answers
3k views
What (grammatical) tense to use when doing reference in a paper?
For example, A published a paper with title B in 2000.
Then, in my paper:
A says / said that [C works / worked out perfectly].
and
B illustrates / illustrated that [C works / worked out ...
8
votes
5answers
744 views
Is it OK to add a question mark to show inflection?
When asking a question you generally have to raise your voice at the end of the sentence, is it okay to stuff a question mark in order to show inflection?
A couple examples:
'That really happened?'
...
4
votes
8answers
2k views
Are contractions like “didn't” forbidden in written English? [duplicate]
Possible duplicate of:
Using contracted forms (“don't”, “let's”) in a formal text
Usage of contractions like “it's” and “that's” in textbooks
Should ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it “a SSD” or “an SSD”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
an SQA or a SQA?
Do you use “a” or “an” before acronyms?
Since SSD (solid-state drive) is pronounced es-es-dee, I'm wondering whether one ...
18
votes
3answers
3k views
Capitalisation of nouns in English in the 17th and 18th centuries
It seems to have been common practice in the 17th and 18th centuries in Britain to capitalise the first letters of nouns in English, e.g.
At which Time he prov'd himself the Noah's Dove, that ...
12
votes
2answers
442 views
The usage of “sic” in writing
I have seen many articles that use quotes from players like:
We gonna [sic] be working hard over the summer cause we gotta [sic] get better.
What is sic? Where does it come from?
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
0
votes
2answers
324 views
Repeating “to” in a list of verbs connected by “and”
"This group’s main duties are to carry out information systems audits in Colombian banks and to make research and develop new regulations on information technologies and systems in the banking ...
37
votes
7answers
2k views
Which variant of English should I use when my target audience is the world?
I know that all variants of English (American English, British English, etc.) can be generally understood by everybody who knows any of the English variants. However, there are some regionalisms that ...
5
votes
3answers
809 views
Is it correct to write “a 5-mm-thick layer”?
Do I need hyphens? Should I use the indefinite article or zero article?
11
votes
2answers
18k views
Should I write “that being said” (vs. “that's been said” or “Having said that”)?
I often write what "sounds" right (being not a native English speaker/writer), and I believe the expression "that being said" to be fairly common, as opposed to a more complete form like "that's been ...
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?
4
votes
3answers
928 views
Usage of italics in writing
In which cases is a word, or a group of words written in italics?
Is italics used in specific contexts, or it is quite normal to write words in italics?
1
vote
1answer
342 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 ...
41
votes
13answers
1k views
If an insertion in parentheses ends with a smiley, how do I distinguish between the two?
I know smileys are not part of written language (yet), and any questions about them are irrelevant to linguistics and are kind of not serious. So take my question with a smiley then.
It bugs me ...
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?
16
votes
4answers
5k views
“you” versus “You” as polite form of writing
Is it correct to write "You" with a capital Y as a form of politeness?
If yes, should I use that form throughout the entire letter/document, or only at specific places?
3
votes
4answers
377 views
Is it normal in English to talk about oneself in the third person in these cases?
A Japanese person said that it is often normal to talk about oneself in the third person in English. This is what he wrote:
For example, when you write a CV or an introduction of yourself, the
...
12
votes
7answers
13k views
Can “hence” be used at the beginning of a sentence?
Can the word ‘hence’ be used at the beginning of a sentence? For example:
Hence, I am not feeling well, I am unable to work.
7
votes
1answer
405 views
What name for bowdlerisation with asterisks (e.g., “f*ck”)?
I have always been intrigued by the English use of asterisks to replace vowels in words considered as offensive, and the reasons it seems somewhat language-specific. My (very related) questions on ...
7
votes
2answers
489 views
How to punctuate lists in general?
(1) How to punctuate lists in general? (2) also, what case to use?
In the case study, signal comparison could be used for:
• signals from redundant channels of emergency stop button,
• output ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How to write date range succinctly and unambiguously in American written English?
How to write date range succinctly and unambiguously in American written English?
In a sentence I usually use "from January 1, 1923 through December 31, 1986". But it is too long for use in section ...
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
2answers
1k views
What are the uses of ellipses in essays? [closed]
I’m wondering about how ellipses are used in essays. Are there any examples that I could see?
4
votes
5answers
568 views
Can you use “(sic)” in other contexts?
In Polish you can use sic to indicate not only erroneous spelling (uncorrected for editorial reasons), but also to note that the sentence should be as it is when it comes to its meaning (e.g. "The ...
4
votes
4answers
6k views
4
votes
7answers
7k views
Is there any rule for the placement of space after and before parenthesis?
I often get stuck when forming or formatting a sentence with one or more parenthesis. For example, I wrote an answer on another stackexchange site, in which I wrote:
...whereas, my phone(xperia ...
3
votes
5answers
7k views
How to add contextualizing text to a quotation?
How do you add text which provides context to a quote?
For example, consider if I were to quote someone as having said:
This is unacceptable!
Were that the whole quote, can I add any text to ...
2
votes
3answers
603 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.
...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Usage of “just”, “only” and word-order [intended meaning]
I've got these sentences, which meanings are correct (my interpretations are in brackets):
Use of only:
(1) Only in 1996, Ford sold a rebadged Mazda 626 GV over here as its rebranded Japanese ...
2
votes
3answers
732 views
Can “his/her” be replaced by “his”?
Yesterday, I asked this question on Web Apps:
If a Facebook user dies, what happens
to the account?
Actually, I wanted to ask it this way:
If a Facebook user dies, what happens
to ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Using “and” twice in a list
About using and, I've learned it is usually used in lists, between the last two items. For example:
I like movies, traveling and going out with friends.
Please tell me if the use of and ...
1
vote
3answers
514 views
Applying/earning/validating leave
When someone attends an event, he will be awarded some additional leave subject to his boss's approval. Therefore, he will need to submit a leave application to his boss for approval.
Should I call ...
-1
votes
5answers
1k views
Official e-mail
How should I begin an official e-mail if I don't know who I am writing to? I mean, normally I would write "Dear x", but when I have to send an e-mail to an institution, what should I write?
70
votes
6answers
3k views
What the #$@&%*! is that called?
Is there a name for the use of symbols in place of curse words, for example #$@&%*!?
10
votes
4answers
809 views
Recommendations for non-native English speaking bloggers
What if someone who is not a native English speaker wants to write for a blog in English, but is not sure about the correctness of his writings? How could one ensure that the article won't annoy ...
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 ...
10
votes
4answers
289 views
Is there a name for the practice of dropping pronouns in written speech?
I’m specifically thinking about emails I receive all day where someone will write:
Haven’t seen it yet. Will respond when received.
If it were spoken, we would certainly hear:
I haven’t ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Should there be a period after an equation?
This isn't a pure English question, but it is about writing style: Sometimes entities that aren't words end up being in sentences.
I know that when mathematical expressions are inline as follows:
...
9
votes
2answers
385 views
avoid the slash?
Should the slash be avoided?
For example every week/day in my head is translated to every week or day. I think I started using slashes because I saw them used in forums and in articles.
Is using ...
7
votes
4answers
453 views
Is lolspeak bad English, or just a different English?
Is lolspeak / internet speak (such as "plz send teh codez") bad English, or a different English?
I can't really describe what'd be "bad", but a lack of consistency would be an indicator it's bad.
