LECO52030 MEGHA PRAKASH - Mechanics of Writing

                 Mechanics of Writing

            

              Academic writing becomes complete only when we comply with the mechanics and conventions of writing specified for our discipline. That is, formal assignments require adherence to punctuation rules, and stylistic restrictions. Depending on our discipline we should follow certain style guides. Besides, our writing should display our respect for academic integrity.

Punctuation 

           Punctuation plays an important role in making our writing clear and accurate. Wrong use of punctuation is often looked at a sign of imperfect education.The meaning of a sentence depends on where the punctuation is placed.The punctuation marks that are quite essential in achieving perfection in academic writing include comma, colon, semi- colon, period, brackets, dash, hyphen, paranthesis, and quotation marks.

Comma ( , )

   In writing the use of comma tells the reader to pause or the word preceding the comma is part of list. A comma can used in a variety of ways in writing.

1) After the introduction word or phrase.

2) To list the nouns in a sentence.

3) To list coordinating adjectives.

4)To separate two independent clauses

5)To separate interrupting words and         expressions in a sentence.

6) To set off a quote from the rest of a sentence.

Semicolon ( ; )

          A semicolon indicates a pause or a break in a sentence which is longer than a comma but shorter than a period. Usually semicolons separate two closely related independent clauses in a sentence. They are also used to replace comma in a series.

1) To combine two closely related independent clauses not linked by a coordinating conjunction.

2) To separate items on a list when the items are phrases or one of the items includes a conjunction or a comma.

3) To replace a period, if the writer wishes to reduce the gap between linked sentences in a paragraph.

4) The word  'however'' comes after a semicolon or a period, and, it is followed by a comma.

Colon ( : )

        Colons are often used in formal and informal contexts. 

1)  To separate two independent clauses where the first introduces or explains the second.

2) To start a list of items.

3) To introduce a quotation that is independent from the structure of the main sentence.

4) To separate title from the subtitle.

Double Quotation ( "" )

          In academic writing double inverted commas or 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.

1) Quotation marks help us to differentiate ideas/ words of the others from our own ideas.

2) To set off titles of essays, journals and magazine articles, poems and short stories.

Single Quotation Mark( '' )

           The single quotation mark becomes handy when we introduce a word or a phrase as a technical term; and when you use a word as a word. Besides, if we want to show a quote within a quote we can show the first quote in double inverted commas and the quote within in single inverted commas.

Apostrophe ( ' )

           The main use of apostrophe is to indicate a contraction or a possession. It is also used to form the plural of a number, letter, symbol, abbreviation, or a word presented as a word; and to indicate some omitted letters in informal writing.

Parentheses and brackets ( ) [ ]

                 As a general punctuation mark, parentheses are used to expand the preceding information; to expand abbreviations, and to insert dates. In academic style of writing parantheses are used to give in text citations - the names of the author, year of publication, page number.

Dash ( _ )

       Dash is also called 'em dash'. It should not be confused with its slightly shorter version, en dash ( - ) and the hyphen (-). An em dash is three times longer than a hyphen. Em dash can be used to replace a colon, comma or parantheses. However, using em dashes in the place of parenthesis and commas are confirmed less formal.Em dashes can indicate a break in the flow of the sentence, to give some additional information. Em can also be used to make sentences more emphatic. En dash is used to indicate inclusive page numbers and dates. Space is not needed before or after an dashes.

Hyphen (-)

          Recent times have witnessed widespread use of hyphenated words. It brings variations in the way hyphens are use by different writers.

1) In compound words beginning with an adverb, hyphen is used only if the adjective comes before the noun. If such compound adjectives come after a noun they may not take hyphens.

2) Hyphens are used between prefix and a proper noun, and prefix and a number.

Period ( . )

         The period is considered as the simplest punctuation mark. Period falls at the end of a sentence.

1) Sentence ending with question mark or exclaimation mark don't require periods.

2) A direct question ends with a question mark, but an indirect question ends with a period. 

Capitalization  

       It refers to writing the first letter of a word in uppercase and the rest in lowercase.v

1) The main words of a title.

2) proper nouns and adjectives derived from proper nouns.

3) days and months.