Questions tagged [style-manuals]
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134
questions
-1
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0answers
25 views
Words to words or word for word or words by words. which one is correct between them? [closed]
Words to words or word for word or words by words. which one is correct between them?
1
vote
2answers
85 views
“Two Fewer Items” or “Two Items Fewer”?
If I have 10 items in my bag and my friend has 12, which of the following do I say?
I have two fewer items than they do.
or
I have two items fewer than they do.
In this page from CMOS, they say:
...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
When a noun followed by a restrictive clause is preceded by “whichever” or “whatever”, it is incorrect to introduce the clause with *that*
When a noun followed by a restrictive clause is preceded by whichever
or whatever, it is incorrect to introduce the clause with that in
formal writing: Whatever book you want to look at will be sent ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
How to highlight model or category names in scientific text (if they are ordinary words)?
For example, there are two sentences
The government is considering that the crisis will follow a soft scenario ...
Dr. Jones has calculated soft and hard crisis scenarios. The input data was ...
In ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Is there an implied be verb in the sentence “American workers facing or are facing”?
American workers facing a less prosperous future than their parents’ generation have gotten the message—or at least a version of it.
Can anyone please explain the structure? Is there any implied be ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
All (*of) the students/contracts [duplicate]
According to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English
Although some object to the inclusion of of in such phrases as all of the students and all of the contracts and prefer to omit ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Can we use quotation marks to refer to a specific term on a website?
Here's the paragraph:
My first inclination is to find the search bar and type the word “Graphic design”. But, there is no search bar. On the top left panel, there are 3 tabs : “Courses”, “Programs”, ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Do you write “AT 123.com”, or “ON 123.com”? US English
US English
I have read other answers on this very question, and no one seems to be able to come up with a clear cut grammatically correct solution.
For a website/platform is it:
A) At 123.com, you ...
0
votes
2answers
247 views
“Enact Change” - Is it correct?
"How to enact change in..."
"We enacted change by..."
I've seen this used in quite a few contexts, but it doesn't seem to make much sense when I look at the word "enact" in the dictionary.
From ...
1
vote
2answers
42 views
Recommended way to format copyright?
I'm working on a website and want to have a short mention of the copyright of said website in its footer. What is the recommended formatting for such a thing?
I've seen "© YYYY Company", "© Company, ...
4
votes
3answers
261 views
What can I call a longer passage in an academic work (text equivalent to “Figure”)?
I want to number blocks of texts in my work (parts of a movie script or something the creators said) so that I can refer to them throughout the essay. Is there an equivalent to 'Figure' to label these ...
0
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0answers
21 views
Should the asterisk of a postscript correspond in size to the first asterisk, or be the same font size as the postscript's lettering?
The former makes sense in terms of its intent--which is to take off where it leaves off, the reason why an asterisk is used on both ends--but perhaps this is trumped by the importance of font size?
0
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0answers
24 views
Has “which were” been omitted before “ noted” in this text?
Has "which were" been omitted before " noted" in this text?
But there is no other evidence that the Persians of this period were the slaves of any such superstitions as that noted by Ammianus.
2
votes
0answers
39 views
Is “replace it by x” actually correct?
I've always been under the impression that, in standard English, "replace" is only paired with "by" in the passive voice, and that "replace with" is the correct active ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
When did the UK stop using full stops in abbreviations and acronyms?
I have noticed that in older (usually over 30 or 40 years old) British books and newspapers, abbreviations are without exception typeset with in full stops, as is still the practice in the United ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
Reference request: interesting writing on the topic of descriptivism and prescriptivism?
It seems to me that descriptivism versus prescriptivism is a false dichotomy. On another stackexchange site, I was recently moved to interject, in a hot and heavy dispute over split infinitives: --
...
0
votes
3answers
110 views
Where and when did the practice of using two spaces in the beginning of each sentence start, and is it still recommended?
For many years (decades at this point), I've noticed that, at least in plaintext environments, "serious" and/or "old-timer" people seem to always type like this:
This is a sentence. And here comes ...
4
votes
1answer
153 views
Distinguishing lowercase proper nouns in paragraphs
I'm writing a case study about a client whose name is completely lowercase. How do I differentiate the client's name from the rest of the text, making it clear to the reader that it's a proper noun? ...
0
votes
1answer
113 views
Can I use “innovate” as a transitive verb? [closed]
For example, is it OK to say: "We're innovating our device"?
Or would I have to say something like "We're innovating in order to change our device"?
2
votes
2answers
686 views
Chicago Manual of Style Headline-Style Capitalization
In the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, §8.159, the following rules are given (among others) for headline-style capitalization:
Capitalize the first and last words in titles and subtitles ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Punctuating a question containing a quotation that itself contains a question, in MLA format
My literature teacher was explaining punctuation and its relation to quotations when writing a paper according to MLA guidelines and I thought of a question that he didn't have an answer to. I figured ...
-1
votes
1answer
70 views
Term for the error in the reason is because
A common error is to say the reason is because instead of the reason
is that. Is there an attested or unattested term for this kind of
error? (I'll leave it open exactly what kind of error it is.)
(...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
APA reference for uppercase word in title of book
I need to complete references for an assignment in APA format, but one of the books has an uppercase word in it and I'm not sure if it should remain uppercase or be changed to lowercase:
The SAGE ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
What is the correct way to refer to someone during when they previously held a different rank/position/title?
Many public officials have accomplished much over the course of their careers, having served in various capacities over the years. For example, Leon Panetta represented CA's 17th district in the ...
3
votes
1answer
382 views
Is “the most amount of {countable things}” ever an acceptable replacement for “the greatest amount of {countable things}”?
A recent BBC article reads in part,
Yellowstone officials say bison can run up to 30mph (50km/h) and are the animal responsible for the most amount of injuries within the park.
The phrase “the ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Comma between proper noun and day name
In this recent CNN article, I found the following sentence:
It was one of two incidents involving South Korea, Tuesday.
It seems the comma is intentionally being used to separate the two proper ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
When to use “And” at the start of sentence? [duplicate]
I know that and is used to join two sentences or phrases. There are some places I've read that have
And is used at the beginning of a sentence. What are the occasions when this is done?
1
vote
0answers
37 views
Is it ok to have a semicolon after a colon or em dash? (or other variations)
I've looked all over but have not found this example.
Can one use a semicolon after a colon or em-dash (or similar doubling up combinations). Is it a matter of style or is there a fast rule?
e.g.:
...
2
votes
1answer
262 views
“Kind” or “Kinds”?
I understand the basic singular/plural agreement when using kind/kinds:
This kind of person
Those kinds of people
But what do you do if the subject is not the plural "those" but rather the ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Love Experiences? Like Bonuses? Are these question fragments correct grammatically? [closed]
Or are they a product of digitalization of writing, where we shorten everything?!
"Love Experiences?" "Like Bonuses? Get more Rewards and Discounts" ...can one use these statements in writing or ...
1
vote
1answer
106 views
How does one read aloud a birth year with no death year? Eg: John Smith (1994 – )
It is common to notate someone's lifespan using the syntax [year of birth] – [year of death]. When the subject is still living, you simply omit the death year, such as 1994 –.
When reading this aloud,...
-1
votes
1answer
76 views
HAVE (negation, contraction)
Why is (1) considered correct,
but not (2) ?
(1) This would have been such had it not been for...
(2) This would have been such hadn't it been for...
P.S.: Besides, should there be commas as ...
0
votes
2answers
126 views
Use of the third-person personal pronoun subject 'he' or 'she' for an animal
Is it possible to use the personal pronoun subject he or she for an animal? One of my friends said that there is a possibility of using it for animals. My concern is that my friend did not give me the ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Past Progressive vs Past Perfect Progressive in the sentence below [duplicate]
Do both sentences (below) have the same meaning?
He was doing landscape work before he was hired by the taxi company.
He had been doing landscape work before he was hired by the taxi company.
0
votes
1answer
75 views
In search of a Grammar text, of any vintage, that covers such as the below
I've searched websites, written to Mr. Barth and William Safire, scanned bookstore shelves, and buttonholed likely prospects in search of a grammar text that would address matters in the manner of the ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Capitalization of titles in an essay where the original work does not capitalize its title according to style (MLA)
In my essay (MLA), I talk about Kendrick Lamar's album titled good kid, m.A.A.d city (stylized like that). Which of the following ways would be the correct way to title my essay:
Kendrick Lamar's ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
Two middle initials / data entry
When inputting names to a database (used by English and non-English language users) what would be the preferable way to tackle a name with two middle initials?
John George William Doe for example.
...
1
vote
1answer
211 views
Is “there is no longer enough resources” correct?
Is "there is no longer enough natural resources to support economic growth" correct?
Should it be There are no longer enough natural resources as verb should agree with noun "resources" which is ...
0
votes
1answer
376 views
Why isn't {-able} considered a free morpheme?
So the question is that if the morpheme, {-able}, is considered a bound morpheme, however, I am not sure why it cannot be used by itself and be considered a free morpheme, i.e. I am able to do this. ...
6
votes
4answers
5k views
Is the correct pronunciation of “Have you seen Mary's book” “Mary book”?
So there is this question about the pronunciation of the noun possessive inflection.
A certain text states that a zero allomorph is used by certain American English speakers for the noun possessive ...
23
votes
6answers
2k views
Verbs after 'as well as'—is this Merriam-Webster example wrong?
Before branding this question a duplicate, please note that I have already noticed some questions here pertaining to the use of 'as well as'. I have also noticed that none of the answers to them are ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Defining and Non defining Relative clauses
Is the following sentence a define or not defining relative clause. Since, when we remove the part enclosed in commas, the remaining part doesn't make sense, I think it is a defining relative clause ...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
Citations in Chicago Style For Direct Quote and Subsequent Paragraph - Two Citations and “Ibid.,” or One?
I apologize for the political nature of this quote, but this is what I'm working on. I am using the Chicago Manual of Style. I am wondering if, when quoting a comment in a medium-length section that ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
What sort of phrases cannot be restrictive or non-restrictive?
The Chicago Manual of Style says
A phrase that is restrictive—that is, essential to the meaning (and
often the identity) of the noun it belongs to—should not be set off by
commas.
What sort of ...
1
vote
1answer
463 views
Works cited multiple pages in MLA
I'm currently writing an essay and cites a source multiple times, but at separate pages. Just for clarity's sake, I cited pages 10-11, 15, and 19. The issue is simple enough for in-text citations, but ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
According to the Chicago manual of style for bibliographies do authors with initials have two stops before the title
According to the Chicago manual of style for bibliographies do authors with initials have two stops before the title?
So e.g.
Wells, H. G.. The Invisible Man
1
vote
0answers
68 views
Juxtaposing (more than) two sentences that can include “and” by using “and”
QUESTIONS:
Is the comma used in the below sentence necessary?
Is it okay to use different forms or parts of speech for juxtaposed elements?
I.g. In the below sentence, a noun "development" ...
3
votes
2answers
730 views
Suspended hyphen in“ever-expanding and contracting gulf”?
My hunch is a suspended hyphen is not needed preceding the second word (contracting), but the writer queried this and I'm not sure. (We go by the Chicago Manual of Style but I can't find an example ...
0
votes
2answers
807 views
When is it OK to start a sentence with “But”? [duplicate]
Is starting a sentence with a "But" still bad? I know some Harvard graduates who are native English speakers and do this when they write. Is it acceptable now?
What are some of the examples where "...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Using the Chicago Manual of Style, do colons go inside or outside quotes?
I have the following sentence:
The program identifies particular “targets” and “identifiers:” the “targets” are people who are suspected of committing a crime.
Does the colon go inside the quotes ...
