EIGHT: DIGGING IN Flashcards
- Formatting a manuscript
- Navigating gray areas
- Word treatment
When an editor is looking for issues that revolve around word treatment issues, what are they doing?
They’re trying to figure out if certain words take a hyphen, is two words, or is one closed-up word.
The comma is a complex mar of punctuation whose reason for being is to do what?
To guide a reader seamlessly through a sentence.
Guiding a reader through a sentence using commas involves what three precepts?
- parenthetical statements.
- restrictive clauses
- An intentional pause
What if an author does not like commas?
If an author doesn’t like commas, for instance, you will use them only when necessary to prevent misreading.
This sentence is an example of what?
In the beginning, I went with the yellow, green, and blue flag, but later, I switched to the gold and silver.
It is an example of more frequent comma usage (this sentence makes sense & is correct).
This sentence is an example of what?
In the beginning I went with the yellow, green and blue flag but later I switched to the gold and silver.
This is the same sentence like the previous one but commas are being used only when necessary (this sentence makes sense & is correct).
When it comes to deciding upon certain “gray areas” like comma usage, what is key?
The key is to go about your editing consistently, whether you and the author/editor have decided to use every comma or to use as few as possible, & depending upon whether you are using CMS or AP.
The key to navigating any gray area is what?
CONSISTENCY
For editors & writers, what is a method that can help ensure there is consistency throughout a piece when it comes to gray areas?
You can make a note for yourself and refer to that note when the situation arises again.
For CMS what are the rules regarding numbers?
You will spell out numbers zero to one hundred. Also, any number that is spoken in two words is spelled out.
For AP what are the four rules regarding numbers?
For AP style you will:
- Spell out zero through nine.
- Use figures for ten and above.
- Use figures whenever a number precedes a unit of measure
- Use a figure whenever a unit refers to ages of people, animals, events, or things.
The following is an example of what?
The nine of use climbed twenty-seven flights of stairs and felt as if we’d taken three thousand breaths.
This is an example of the way in which to use numbers when it comes to using CMS.
The following is an example of what?
The nine of use climbed 27 flights of stairs and felt as if we’d taken 3,000 deep breaths.
This is an example of how to use numbers when it comes to AP.
What is the difference between CMS usage rules involving a serial comma & AP rules involving a serial comma?
If you are following CMS usage rules, you will use a serial comma.
Though, if you are following AP rules, you will omit the serial comma.
The following is an example of what?
This is an example of CMS usage rules involving the use of a serial comma.
If you are using AP rules what would be omitted from these sentences?
The “,” serial comma.
What does the colon do?
The colon introduces a full sentence or a list.
When it comes to colon use for CMS - what are the primary rules for a sentence?
The first letter of the first word following the colon is not capitalized.
What if there is more than one sentence following the colon when it comes to CMS?
Then, the first letter of the first word is capitalized.
What are the rules for AP concerning a full sentence that occurs after a colon?
For AP you will capitalize the first letter of the first word of a full sentence, even if it stand on its own.
For both CMS & AP what are the rules for when a colon precedes a list?
For both CMS and AP, if the colon precedes a list, the first word that follows the colon will be lowercase.
The following is an example of what?
It is an example of the colon’s use for both AP and CMS. The colon being used for a full sentence.
The following is an example of what?
Amy chose three pain colors: sky blue, Navajo white, and sunset peach.
It is a list that follows a colon - in which CMS rules for serial commas are used.
The following is an example of what?
Amy chose three pain colors: sky blue, Navajo white, and sunset peach.
It is a list that follows a colon - in which AP requires the removal of the serial comma.
The two uses of the semicolon include the following:
- The semicolon is used to connect two full sentences that are closely related.
- The semicolon is used to divide a list that consists of at least one sub-list.
The following is an example of what?
Samuel loves walking the woods; he would grow up to be a true naturalist.
This is an example of two full sentences that are closely related & the semicolon is being used to connect them.
The following is an example of what?
I need to order pearls; charms; and jump rings, findings, and clasps.
This is an example of a list that consists of at least one sub-list & the semicolon is being used to divide the list.
If following AP rules what would be different about this sentence?
I need to order pearls; charms; and jump rings, findings, and clasps.
If following AP rules, the last serial comma would be removed.
What is the longest of the dashes?
The em dash.
What does the “em” dash signify?
The “em” dash signifies a parenthetic statement.
As the CMS describes it, what is a parenthetic statement?
The parenthetic statement is “an amplifying or explanatory element.”
The following is an example of what?
The em dash being used for a parenthetic statement.
What does the CMS advocate for when it comes to the use of em dashes?
The CMS advocates for closing up spaces that surround dashes.
What does the AP advocate for when it comes to the em dash?
The AP calls for spaces before and after the em dash.
What is longer than a hyphen but shorter than an “em” dash?
The “en” dash.
The two uses of the en dash includes what?
- The en dash is used for compound adjectives.
- The en dash is used for inclusive or continuing numbers.
This is an example of what?
This is an example of a compound adjective that uses the “en” dash.
This is an example of what?
This is an example of inclusive or continuing numbers that uses the en dash.
The hyphen is commonly used to do what?
The hyphen is commonly used to tie together a compound term in an effort to avoid ambiguity and enhance readability.
The following are examples of what:
Examples of compound terms that use hyphenation.
What part of speech are these compounds which utilize hyphens?
They’re compounds that are being used as adjectives.
Where are these compound adjectives occurring within a sentence?
They are occurring before the noun.
What would happen if the adjectives followed the noun?
If the adjectives followed the noun there would be no need for hyphenation.
The following are examples of what?
They’re examples of adjectives which follow a noun and therefore do not need hyphenation.
Regarding adverbs, what is a hyphen rule to remember?
Do not use a hyphen with “ly” adverbs.
What wouldn’t you do with these adverbs?
You would never use a hyphen for these “ly” adverbs.
What are the CMS rules involving titles of longer works, including magazines?
Longer works, including magazines need to be italicized.
What are the CMS rules involving shorter works and articles?
Shorter works and articles require Roman (plain) text & quotations.
The following is an example of what?
Italicized CMS being used for longer works, including magazines.
For longer works & magazines - how should they be presented according to AP rules?
Use initial caps for the principle words as well as prepositions and conjunctions of four or more letters.
What is the AP rule regarding book titles & most titles & magazines?
Put book titles and most titles for other compositions in quotes, except for magazines (use initial caps only).
What is the difference between active & passive voice?
Active sentences use stronger verbs & passive sentences just sound passive.
This kind of sentence is what?
“I cleaned the room.”
An active sentence.
This kind of sentence is what?
“The room was cleaned.”
A passive sentence.
This kind of sentence is what?
Margaret handles the ordering of the carpets.
Active sentence.
This kind of sentence is what?
The carpet ordering is handled by Margaret.
Passive sentence.
This kind of sentence is what?
Stella wrote a letter to the governor.
Active sentence.
This kind of sentence is what?
The letter to the governor was written by stella.
passive sentence.
