Thursday, December 17, 2009

Checking mechanics


Checking mechanics
A perfect writing should be a error-free writing. However, a error-free writing is not easy and requires more than just using good grammar. You must also use correct mechanics of writing in your essay. The mechanics of writing specifies the established conventions for words that you use in your writing. Grammar reflects the forms of words and their relationships within a sentence. For example, if you put an apostrophe in a plural word (“create two file’s”), you have made a mistake in the mechanics of writing ,not grammar.
Checking mechanics consist of Capitalization, Plurals, Numbers, Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms, and Spelling Rules. Checking on these topics is very helpful to correct your writing.
Capitalization using capital letter in the first letter of the first word. All proper nouns and proper adjective, including first name, last name, cities, countries, languages, ethnics, groups, nationalities, religious, organization, titles, titles of courses, and so on, for example, Phanupong, Kanlaya, San Francisco, USA, English language, American people, Islam, Republican party, English 82A. Capitalize letters and abbreviations of titles and organizations for example, U-turn, T-shirt, M.D., Ph.D., NAACP. Also capitalize words like father, mother, uncle, senator, and professor when they are parts of titles that include a personal name, for example, Hello, Senator Feingold.
In a sentence and a letter have several rules, that is, capitalize the first word in a sentence that is enclosed in parentheses if that sentence is not contained within another complete sentence, but do not use in the middle of another sentence, for example, The bookstore has the software. (Now all I need is the computer.) Capitalize a complete sentence that follows a colon, for example, He said: “I cannot tell you what to do now. I am very confused at all. Can you come and see me again tomorrow? ” In a letter, capitalize the first and all major words of the salutation, and capitalize only the first word of the complimentary closing, for example, Dear Professor:, Sincerely yours,. The words Internet and World Wide Web are always capitalized because they are considered proper nouns.
The second checking is checking plurals, you have to recognize how to transform common nouns to plurals. Nouns ending in a consonant are formed by adding an s to the singular form, exceptional the plurals of nouns ending in sh, ch, x, s, and z are made by adding es to the singular form, for example, dorm–dorms, credit–credits, lunch–lunches.
The plurals of common nouns that end in y ,that preceded by a consonant, are formed by changing the y to I and adding es, for example, duty–duties. The plurals of common nouns and proper nouns, that end in y and preceded by a vowel, are formed by adding only an s, for example, toy–toys, the five Faheys.
The plurals of words ending in o, that preceded by a vowel, are formed by adding an s, for example, radio–radios. But If these words preceded by a consonant, adding es would be used, for example, tomato-tomatoes.
The plurals of nouns that end in f or fe : If the final f sound is still heard in the plural form, simply add s; if the final sound is a v sound, change the f to ve and add an s, for example, roof–roofs, wife–wives.
Many foreign words (as well as some of English origin) form a plural by taking on an irregular spelling; other are now acceptable with the commonly used s or es ending, for example, child–children, alumnus-alumni, syllabus–syllabi, syllabuses. In symbols, letters, figures, and words discussed as words are formed by adding an apostrophe and an s, for example YMCA’s CD’s
Number may be spelled out or written as numerals by the following rules ; Numbers and ordinal numbers from one to one hundred are usually written as words ; numbers 101 and greater one usually written as numerals , for example ten , twenty – five 106 , 1,079 , second , twenty – fifth , 106th . If number greater than 101 are used infrequently in a piece of writing , you may spell out those that can be written in one or two words , for example , two hundred , six billion and you also use a combination of numerals and words for very large numbers , such as 1.5 million , 6 trillion.
Use only numerals for the following forms : decimals , percentages ,pages, chapters, addresses, dates, telephone numbers, identification number, and statistics and also use with abbreviations and symbols, for example, 26.2, 8%, chapter 16, pages 287-289, (212) 555-1234, 5’9”, 6lb, 8 oz., 90 F . In time and money, if time is expressed with an abbreviation, use numerals, if it is expressed in words, spell out the number such as 4:00 am. Or four o’clock .In money, if is expressed with a symbol, use numberals ; if the currency is expressed in words must spell out the number, for example , $ 20 or twenty dollars .
Use only words to express numbers, that begin a sentence and precede a compound modifier that includes a numeral, for example, Three hundred contest entries were received, The chef prepared 24 eight–ounce filets. Also use words for the names of numbered streets of one hundred or less, the names of buildings, and references to particular centuries, for example, Ninth Avenue, Two Fifty Park Avenue, and the twenty-first century.
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or a phrase. These abbreviations are always acceptable in both formal and informal writing. But In formal writing, do not abbreviate the names of states, countries, months, days, units of measure, or courses of study. Do not abbreviate the words Street, Road, Avenue, Company, and similar words when they are part of a proper name. Also, do not use signs or symbols in place of words. When abbreviations are called for (in charts, lists, bibliographies, notes, and indexes, for example), standard abbreviations are preferred. Reserve the postal abbreviations for ZIP code addresses.
An acronym is word formed from the first (or first few) letters of words in a set phrase. Even though acronyms are abbreviations, they require no periods, for example, radar radio detecting and ranging, and VISTA Volunteers in Service to America . An initialism is similar to an acronym except that the initials used to form this abbreviation are pronounced individually, for example, CIA Central Intelligence Agency.
Good writing requires correctly spelling, if you misspell, that means the reader cannot understand your story . Using the following rules of spelling is very helpful to improve your spelling .
1. Write I before e except after c, or when sounded like a as in neighbor and weigh, for example, believe, relief.
2. When a one-syllable word (bat) ends in a consonant (t) preceded by one vowel (a), double the final consonant before adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (batting). However , some multisyllable words can use the same rule, for example, prefer– preferred, begin– beginning.
3. If a word ends with a silent e, drop adding a suffix that begins with a vowel. Do not drop the e when the suffix begins with a consonant , for example, use-using-useful, like-liking-likeness.
4. When y is last letter in a word and the y is preceded by a consonant, change the y to I before adding any suffix except those beginning with I, but if preceded by a vowel, add s, for example, lady-ladies, toy-toys.
A good writer has to be patient, check the correct pronunciation of each word you are attempting to spell . Then note the meaning and history of each word as you are checking the dictionary for the pronunciation and before you close the dictionary , practice spelling the word. You have to learn some spelling rules and make a list of the word that you misspell.Finally you have to practice writing everyday.
Effective writing requires a sound understanding of the mechanics of good writing, that is a manual of basic rules that actually builds writing skills and help writer at all levels, as students and professionals improve the quality of their writing.

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