LEC052018 Devika. P Mechanics of Writing

 Mechanics of writing helps to learn the basic rules of punctuation in English. Wrong use of punctuation is one of the main reason for miscommunication in written works.The meaning of a sentence is depending up on the punctuations is placed. The following are known as the mechanics of academic writing :

Comma(,), Semicolon (;), Colon(:), Double Quotation Mark(" "), Single Quotation Mark(` ´), Apostrophe ('), Parenthesis( ) and Brackets [ ], Dash(---), Hyphen (-),  Period (.) And Capitalization.

1) Comma(,)

In writing the use of comma tells the reader to pause or the word preceding the comma is part of a list. The most common rules for using comma is following below.

*After the introductory word or phrase

*To list nouns in a sentence

*To list out coordinating adjectives  and to separate items in any other series

*To set off a quote from the rest of a sentences.

2) Semicolon  (;)

A Semicolon indicates a pause or a break in a sentence which is longer than a comma but shorter than a period. Usually Semicolon separates two closely related independent clause in a sentence. It can be used to replace commas in a sentence. They are also used to combine two closely related independent clause not linked by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, so).

3) Colon(:)

According to grammar rules colons are used in the following :

* To separate two independent clauses where the first introduces or explain the second.

* To separate title from the subtitles

* To start a list of items

4) Double Quotation Mark (" ")

In academic writing double inverted commas or double quotation marks are generally used to present a material directly taken from a source. They are also used to set off titles of essays, poems and stories. It uses to differentiate ideas or words of others from your own ideas.

5) Single Quotation Mark (`´)

The single quotation marks are used to introduce a word or a phrase as a technical term; and when you use a word as a word. Besides if you want to show a quote with in a quote, you can show  the first quote in double inverted commas and the quote wthin a single inverted Comma.

6) Apostrophe (')

The main use of apostrophe in writing is to indicate a contraction or a possession.

7) Parenthesis() and Brackets [ ]

As a general  punctuation mark, parenthesis are used to set off an information which is nonessential to the meaning of a sentence. It also used to expand or clarify the preceding or following information; to expand abbreviations, and insert dates. In academic writing Parenthesis are used to give in text citations-- the name of the author, year of the publication, page number.

8) Dash(---)

Dash(---) is also called as `em dash´. An em dash is three items longer than a hyphen.It should not be confused with its slightly shorter version, en dash(--) and the hyphen(-). It can be used to replace a colon, comma, or Parenthesis. But it is considered to be less formal in academic writing. It is used to indicate inclusive page number and dates. Space is not needed before or after en dash.

9) Hyphen(-)

Here are a few common rules for using a hyphen.

* Compound numbers less than hundred are usually spelt with a hyphen.

* It is also  used between prefix and a proper noun. Certain prefix are always followed by hyphen(ex-, self-, anti-).

10) Period (.)

A period is considered as the simplest punctuation mark. It falls at the end of a sentence. Some of the rules of period are follows:

* An indirect question ends with a period.

* An omission is indicated by a series of three periods(...).

* If a sentence ends with a Parenthesis, period is usually placed outside the Parenthesis.

* Periods are used in abbreviations like academic qualification (B. A, M. A, M. Phil).

11) Capitalization

Capitalization refers to writing the first letter of a word in uppercase and the rest in lowercase. As an academic writer you are advised to use Capitalization only if it is essential. In addition to the words of sentence the following are always capitalized:

* The main words of title.

* Proper nouns and adjectives derived from proper nouns.

* Days and months.