LEC052040, SAMBATH U M, "The Mechanics of writings"

The mechanics of writings

The mechanics of Academic writing follow certain techniques to communicate effectively to the readers. The mechanics of writing assist in attaining clarity and accuracy of the document. The major aspects involved in the mechanics of writing include punctuation, capitalization, and abbreviation.

The major mechanics include

PUNCTUATION  

 Punctuations are the set of signs used to bring clarity in expression. It also enables to strengthen the arguments.
The important marks of punctuation are


Full stop ( . )

The full stop or period indicates the longest pause.it is used to
* mark an end of an assertive sentence
* after abbreviations and initials

Comma ( , )

The comma indicates the shortest pause.it is used ;
*to separate three or more words
*to mark off words in apposition
*to separate words, phrases, or clauses, inserted into the body of a sentence
Semicolon
the semicolon indicates a pause greater than that indicated by the comma. It is used;
*to separate clauses of a compound sentence if they contain several commas.
*to indicate closely related statements
eg; To err is human; to forgive, divine.
 

Interrogation mark ( ? )

The mark of Interrogation is used to indicate a direct question; it should not be used in indirect speech.

Exclamation mark ( ! )

The mark of exclamation is used after Interjections, Exclamatory phrases, exclamatory sentences, and Emphatic commands:
      alas! Hello! Bravo! Shut up!

Inverted commas ( ' ' ) ( " " )

Inverted commas or quotation marks are used to indicate quotations or Direct Speech. They may be single(‘’) or double(“”).

Apostrophe ( ' )

The apostrophe is used:
*to indicate the omission of a letter or letters;
        don’t, can’t, I’ve
*to show the possessive case;
      Rita's book, John’s pen

Dash ( --- )

Dash is also known as ‘em dash’. the dash is used:
*To mark a break in a sentence.
*To indicate words in apposition or explanation.

Hyphen ( - )

The hyphen is used:
*To form a compound word from two other words.
*To form a compound from two other words which are separated by a Preposition.

Parenthesis and bracket ( ) [ ]

*To enclose information that clarifies the meaning of the preceding or following sentence.
*To expand abbreviations and to insert dates.
* In academic writing parenthesis is used to give an in-text citation.
* Brackets are used to insert a clarification, a translation, parenthesis within parenthesis, a change in capitalization.

CAPITALISATION


A Capital has to be used :
*At the beginning of a sentence.
*At the beginning of a quotation.
*At the beginning of a line verse.
*To begin all proper Nouns, and Adjectives formed from them.
*To write the pronoun ‘I’.
*For personifications;
    Love is not Time’s fool.

ABBREVIATION

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a written word or phrase. Abbreviations may be used to save space and time, space and time, to avoid repetition of long words and phrases, or simply to conform to conventional usage.


Reference;

1. Concise English Grammar by V.K. Moothathu

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LEC052004. Agna Philip. "Critical analysis of the significance of Lear's madness in King Lear"

Critical analysis of the significance of Lear’s madness in King Lear      Lear, the tragic hero of Shakespeare’s play King Lear is a king whose insane behaviour contributes a significant part in the play. His madness paved the way for his redemption and made him a better human. It also serves to provide a message to the leaders of Jacobean England as well.    Lear’s decision to divide the kingdom was an insane behaviour of suspicion. “Myths abounded about the catastrophic consequences of such division, leading to bloody civil war and fratricide. Shakespeare was writing during the reign of James I, a king seeking to strengthen ties between his two hostile kingdoms, England and Scotland” (Fox 255). Lear’s lunacy to divide the kingdom and its terrible consequences are portrayed as a caution for King James. Moreover, the play aids King James to realize the strength of natural power over human potency.    The effect of storm made Lear understand the insign...
Read more

LEC052009.Annette Sebastian. Critical analysis of the significance of 'equivocator' in Macbeth.

  The elements of equivocator overshadows throughout the tragic play  Macbeth  by William Shakespeare. Equivocator is a person who bends the language to deceive someone from interpreting the truth hidden in it. Equivocation was a defending strategy used by Jesuits in Shakeperean time to save their lives from the protestants. Its use was a heated debate during the Gun-powder plot.Written during the 1606, Macbeth reflects the socio-political aspects of the period.The equivocator portrayed in the porter's dream alludes to the Jesuit priest Henry Garnet. The technique of equivocation was brilliantly implemeted in the play through various charcters and their dialogues.The elemets of equivocation fills the play and it has also helped the audience in anticipating the plot.  Historically, the equivocator in the porter’s dream alludes to the trial of Henry Garnet for his complicity in the Gun-powder plot.Henry Garnet was a Jesuit priest who was hanged proving guilty in Gun-po...
Read more

LEC052001 Adwaidh. S Critical analysis of the equivocator in Macbeth

  Equivocation in Macbeth can be examined in the light of historical events. The playwright uses equivocators to condemn and criticize the act of equivocation practiced by the Jesuit Priests of  England, who planned the gun powder plot to execute the king James I of Scotland . Throughout Macbeth's life equivocation is playing crucial roles from his transformation into the king to his tragic death. In Macbeth there are more episodes of equivocation, compared to a single episode in Shakespeare's early play Hamlet , which was written in 1599. The play is filled with equivocal appearances-women with beard, Macbeth in "borrowed robes", a day turned into night, a peaceful castle without and a burning cauldron of evil within.  The Gunpowder Plot was discovered in 1605,finding father Henry Garnet guilty of the plan. Macbeth was written in 1606,with much more episodes of equivocation than the early play Hamlet which was written in 1599 and had only a single episode of equiv...
Read more