Questions tagged [writing]
This tag is for questions specifically related to written English. PROOFREADING essays, emails, abstracts, etc. is strictly OFF-TOPIC.
449
questions
1
vote
0answers
39 views
Correct usage of the phrase ‘ease of use’ - not proof-reading [on hold]
‘I have experience generalizing tools for repeated and ease of use.’
The sentence should convey both that one has experience generalizing tools for repeated use and ease of use. Specifically, can ‘...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
When could, historically, verbs be capitalised?
Don't you Remember,
The Fifth of November,
'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day,
I let off my gun,
And made'em all run.
And Stole all their Bonfire away.
Quote source: https://en....
1
vote
2answers
65 views
I'm Looking For A Word Like Deepity But To Describe Writing That Misses Its Intent
A few months ago, I read a review of some political writer's book on either the Washington Post, The Atlantic, The New York Times or somewhere like that, that described the author's attempt to seem ...
0
votes
2answers
300 views
NORMINAL — normal or with nominal mistake?
At the very end of the live-stream for the nominal SpaceX STP-2 mission, the presenter places what appears to be a baseball cap onto the table. It reads "NORMINAL" (sic).
My first thought was how ...
-2
votes
0answers
20 views
Usage of “although” in this sentence [migrated]
"Many students complain about the pile of homeworks they have to do. Although, they fail to realize the importance homeworks in retention of information.."
is the usage of although acceptable / ...
-2
votes
1answer
20 views
Alternative ways of saying “in a question”
Recently, I've reported back to my customer representative and got stuck when I needed to say that some task will be solved in some ticket.
I usually play around with Language and try to diversify ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
When to use 'a,' 'an,' or 'the'? [migrated]
I am confused when to use them. Example in below email:
Dear Journal of Business News, I have received the information about subscribing to your journal. I have a few questions about your journal. ...
1
vote
0answers
14 views
Is this a dialogue tag?
Lately, I've been pondering about this question.
First of all, we already know that dialogue tags consist of a noun or a pronoun followed by a verb like "said," and "ask."
"Like this one," I ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Should commas really be put in the beginning of a sentence if I put something in front of the subject?
I am currently a student at a school with a fairly low english level. I live in a non-english country. I am bringing this up not becuase it really changes anything, but rather to clarify that the ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Can this be considered a dialogue tag?
Lately, I've been pondering about this question.
First of all, we already know that dialogue tags consist of a noun or a pronoun followed by a verb like "said," and "ask."
"Like this one," I ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
(n-1)st/th: n minus oneth or first? [duplicate]
Should I write (n-1)th or (n-1)st
Relatedly, is it "n minus oneth" or "n minus first".
Thanks!
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Should a comma be included when listing age?
When listing age under someone's name for reference, does there need to be a comma between "age" and the number?
My company is running an ad for a beauty supplement featuring our brand ambassador for ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
What is the correct way of writing a reference to file types / extensions?
I am a data scientist and regularly refer to various file types when writing to others.
My question is this: what is the correct and/or proper way to refer to a file type and which of the following ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Colloquial sentence endings like “is all” and “is how”
I'm writing dialogue for a short story and I want to 'transcribe' the characters' colloquialisms in a way that best adheres to the rules of written English (I'm an ESL speaker). My protag ends some of ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Should I use passive voice in academic writing? [duplicate]
Yesterday I learned that it is better to use active voice instead of passive voice in writing.
Well today I had an academic essay test and I used active verbs throughout the whole essay.
She told ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
Can I use it is time to go back to in a formal academic essay?
First, The Islamic revolution occurred in 1979, bringing a whole set of radical conservative changes to a once liberal westernized Iran. Second, One of these changes was the enforcement of veils and ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Should I capitalize “the” if it has a comma preceding it in a title?
If I am citing a resource and "the" comes before the main title, should I put the "the" at the end with a comma preceding it?
0
votes
2answers
31 views
Comma before and
Is it wrong?
I 've read this at the Journal New York Times. We should be using a comma before and just when we have two independent clauses. That growth is connected to "expanded" of the first ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Should I use the plural form when i refer to a feature in different things?
I confront the following situation so often in many different cases:
Assume that I want to write about the cars of two persons, then which of the followings is correct?
I asked them about the model ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
“This chapter describes” or “This chapter WILL describe?”
My question is about the use of the present or future tense when describing what the current project being written does/will do:
Should it be "This thesis will investigate whether...," or "This ...
0
votes
2answers
194 views
What is recasting in a sentence?? how do you recast a sentence cannot move forward in access course until I get past this?
I have failed this section of my course three times and just cant get it into my head, I thought it was rearranging a sentence, or adding context always wrong!!
Please could a kind person write me a ...
-1
votes
2answers
51 views
Are there any references that the English language is written and read from left to right and from top to bottom? [duplicate]
What is the basis this?
I have practically done hours of research and I couldn't find any source or reference about this.
I AM NOT ASKING WHY. I AM ASKING FOR A REFERENCE.
0
votes
1answer
53 views
What is a regular font? [closed]
Here is the context: "Write your essay in a regular font".
What does it mean by "regular font"? What classifies as a regular font?
Thanks!
1
vote
1answer
57 views
What is the definition of dig? If someone begins to cut into a surface is it considered that they have dug something? if not, why not?
According to the following extract:
Mrs. Baker wanted to go ice fishing. She read several books on the subject, and finally, after purchasing all the necessary equipment, she went onto the ice. ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Can we use “id est” in lieu of “i.e.” in academic writing?
In an academic, format context, can we write id est instead of its abbreviated form (i.e.)?
Compare:
‘a walking boot which is synthetic, id est not leather’
with:
‘a walking boot which is ...
1
vote
2answers
278 views
Is “commerical” a valid and different word from “commercial”? [closed]
Googling, I see many places using the spelling commerical, but I don't see that spelling in any dictionaries at all. Is it a mistake for commercial, or are these two different words?
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Italics in Formal Essays
I want to say this quote in my essay:
"Jefferson is in every view less dangerous than Burr". I want to emphasize the word "every", so can I italicize it?
4
votes
1answer
76 views
How certain we are that runes were shaped as we present them
Specifically I am wondering about the A, F, H, J, L, and T. There are others I'm interested in but I don't want to ask too much at once, and these ones are straightforward.
The image I am looking at ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
When to use mid-sentence commas when adding a formal name
Where is it appropriate to insert a comma when putting a persons name in the middle of a sentence, such as when writing an email or letter. Is it really before AND after?
Examples:
Thank you for ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
How to write this properly?
"If you ask someone why they rewarded someone else, they will tell you
that they deserve it."
I think that the intended meaning is pretty clear, but how do you say that properly without falling ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Is there an inversion in the clause？ [closed]
The noise was like an English fox-hunt only better because every now and then with the music of the hounds was mixed the roar of the other lion and sometimes the far deeper and more awful roar of ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
When should I use “Figure out the rest” vs “figure the rest out”? Does it matter?
I'm writing something where a character tells someone else vaguely something that that she did in the past and then tacks on "I'll let you figure out the rest" at the end.
Then some of the notes of ...
1
vote
2answers
57 views
Is there a word for writing and not looking at it (while writing)?
"Writing while looking at something else" -- your hand is still moving, your writing is still legible, but your eyes are elsewhere, such as reading from the source material being copied.
0
votes
2answers
136 views
AmE/Writing: AN _hors d'oeuvres_ tray, or A _hors d'oeuvres_ tray? [duplicate]
The general rule I was given as a youngster was that if the initial sound of the noun is that of a vowel, the correct indefinite article is “an”, while if it started with a consonantal ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Enumerate reasons after because [closed]
Is it correct to enumerate reasons of something after "because" in a sentence? For example:
This product is popular because: (1) It is inexpensive. (2) It has
two-year warranty. (3) It is made of ...
3
votes
1answer
209 views
What is the history of the cursive p?
A friend of mine (relevant detail, he grew up and learned cursive in India) recently remarked to me that he missed the way that cursive "p"s used to be written. An example of this can be seen in the ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
A source for learning how to speak or write formaly? [closed]
and thanks for helping me. I would like to know if there is a source so I can learn how to speak and write formally, mostly for these topics:
-Sending a formal email to anyone or an organization or a ...
0
votes
2answers
125 views
When the title is in the form of a sentence - to capitalize the words or not?
I've heard for a "rule" that you should not capitalize the words in the title of an article, when the title is in the form of a sentence. For example:
Pneumonia is contagious. (As opposed to ...
6
votes
5answers
584 views
A word that combines the feeling of euphoria and intense, bone-deep fear
I'm trying to describe a god through the eyes of a devout follower. I've tried using awesome because I tend to use it for scenarios like this (ie. describing something beautiful and horrifying), but ...
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votes
1answer
43 views
Quoting articles of laws(ex. usage of “stipulate”, “specify”)
Article 15 of the Korean Constitution states that “all citizens shall
enjoy the freedom of choice of occupation.” Compared to Article 12 of
the Basic Law, which comprises of three clauses, Article ...
0
votes
1answer
397 views
When can I omit the subject?
Can I omit the subject if it has been mentioned in a preceding sentence?
For example, is the phrase inside the parentheses necessary in the below?:
The sculpture A exhibits degradation at a ...
0
votes
2answers
344 views
Does “His eyes fell shut” make sense? [closed]
This is something I've been writing for a while, but I know that I tend to keep writing things from my tween years that may not make sense.
Have you ever read a sentence like "his eyes fell shut" or ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Appropriate word order in a long sentence
I composed the below sentences to mean
The company should contribute to the sustainability by:
Proactive development of environmentally friendly products
Reducing environmental load
Which sentence ...
2
votes
0answers
100 views
What is the character set of the (written) English language? [closed]
More specifically:
What dictionaries or lexicons (considering all ever published) of the English language contain exhaustive lists of the characters or symbols used in the formation of the words ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Comma Separator - ACT
As I was preparing for the ACT, I came across this question:
Phrase: "Key and Peele is at its best when it deals with questions of
what is expected of mixed-race people, in a society reluctant
to let ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
How to indicate that verification/correction is requested in the document
I’ve been tasked to write a document (like a wiki) about an application for work. I don't know much about the app, other than what I'm understanding by reading the source code and minimal business ...
2
votes
0answers
58 views
How to indicate your source of information is Amazon's “Alexa”? [closed]
Is there a proper or technical way, in writing, to indicate your source of information is Alexa or some other AI (artificial intelligence)?
By this I don't mean that I have asked Alexa a factual ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
In written English, do you write fractional inequality with a percent-plus or a plus-percent? [closed]
In written English, which of the following is the correct way to convey I have a greater than or equal to ninety percent success rate according to all measures?
I have 90%+ success rate across ...
2
votes
2answers
87 views
Word for common knowledge in a scientific setting?
I remember there being a single word to represent currently accepted facts in a scientific discipline. Common knowledge, but in a scientific setting. It is a jargon-y sounding word.
You'd use it when ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Tenses to use when writing minutes
I understand that you must use past tense when writing minutes. However, there are some instances when I am not sure if past tense should be used as it would either change the meaning of the sentence ...
