LEC052028 Leona Maria Renny Mechanics of Academic Writing

 

Mechanics of academic writing refers to the rules in punctuation and capitalization that is to be followed while attempting a scholarly article. Conventions in academic writing enhance the task of understanding the author’s argument. It is essential to employ appropriate punctuations and capitalization while writing an academic paper. The important conventions in academic writing are as follows:

1. Capitalization:

               It is required to capitalize the first letter when copying an English title or subtitle, and all principle words. Also, the parts of speech like nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, subordinating conjunctions are to be capitalized. 

 Example: “ The Teaching of Spanish in English-Speaking Countries” (Title)

2. Comma (,): 

               A comma is used after certain introductory words or phrases, to separate words and word groups in a series of items, to separate two interchangeable adjectives, to list nouns in a sentence, to set off a quote, and to separate interrupting words and expressions in a sentence. 

Example: For most, the year is already over. 

3. Semicolon (“): 

               The punctuation mark Semicolon is used to separate two sentences where coordinating conjunction is absent. It is to be used before the conjunctive adverb when the two sentences are joined by it. It is also employed to replace a period and to separate items in a series when there are commas within the items. 

Example: Let’s go to the library to study; it’s the only place where I can fully concentrate.

4. Colon (:) 

               A colon is used in a sentence to introduce explanations, quotations or a series of items in a list. It is also used to separate two independent clauses where the first introduces the second.

Example:  He was going to buy three things: bags, books, and pens. 

5. Double quotation mark (“    “): 

                 It is used to quote something, to show quotations inside quotations or to set off titles of journals, magazine articles and essays.

            Example: “Poets,” according to Shelley, “ are the unacknowledged legislators of the world”.

6. Single quotation mark (‘   ‘):

                  It is used to emphasize a word or a term and to show a quotation inside a quotation.  

Example: As James remarked: ‘Martin’s concept of “internal space” requires close analysis.’

7. Apostrophe (‘):

                    The apostrophe is used in academic writing to show omissions and to show contractions and possession. 

Example: I haven’t met her before. 

8. Parenthesis (  ) :

                    It is used to expand abbreviations and to insert dates. Information that clarifies the meaning of the sentence that precedes or follows is enclosed in parenthesis. It is also used to give in-text citations.

Example: There are several books on the subject (see page 140).

9. Bracket [ ]: 

                     It is used to insert a clarification, a translation, parenthesis within parenthesis or a change in capitalisation. 

Example: Milton’s Satan speaks of his “study [pursuit] of revenge.”

10. Dash (—)

                     Dash or em dash can be used in a sentence in place of a comma, colon or a parenthesis. It is used to give a break in the sentence or to provide some additional information. It is also used to indicate inclusive page numbers and dates. It is three times longer than a hyphen.

Example: Carter’s sweep of the South  — Virginia was the only Southern state to vote Republican — helped give him the election. 

11. En Dash (–)

                  En dash is a mid-sized dash mostly used to show ranges in numbers and dates. An en dash is also used for clarity while forming complex compound adjectives. 

Example: The years 1861 – 1865 were a dark time in American history. 

12. hyphen (- ):

                      It is inserted between two parts of a compound sentence and before a suffix or after the prefix. Compound numbers less than a hundred are split with a hyphen. 

Example: He was tall and good-looking. 

13. Curly bracket {}:

                 The braces or curly brackets are used to denote a list within a list. 

Example: I need to go to the store today for laundry detergent, pet food, and dairy products{milk, cheese, yoghurt}."

14. Period( . ):

                    They are used at the end of the statement or after an abbreviation. In sentences ending with parenthesis, the period is placed outside the parenthesis. Sentences ending with a question mark or exclamation mark do not require a period. 

Example: There is no place like home.

                 There are books, bags, balls, etc. 

                      Mechanics of academic writing aids the scholars comprehend the meaning better. A  thorough knowledge about these punctuation marks is necessary for appropriate documentation.