The Basics

Question 1

Spacing

Answer 1

Use only one space between sentences.

Question 2

Ages

Answer 2

Figures for people and animals.

Words for inanimates

Question 3

States & Cities

Answer 3

Spell out names for States. Don’t include states for large cities.
Northridge, California

Question 4

a.m., p.m.

Answer 4

Lowercase with periods.

Noon and midnight stand alone.

Question 5

Numerals

Answer 5

10 and higher use numerals. Numerals for scores, percentages, court decisions, ratios, weights, million, billion

Question 6

Held, hold

Answer 6

Use held only in the literal sense. Do not use when referring to events, concerts, conventions (if you must, use sponsored or hosted)

Question 7

Months

Answer 7

Always capitalize. When used with a specific date abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dev.,

Spell out months with 5 letters or less.

• Spell out all when using alone or with a year alone: the class ended in December.
• He was born in August 1980. (No comma if there is no date)

Question 8

Percent

Answer 8

One word
-Use figures: 1 percent, 2.5 percent
-amounts less than 10 percent put zero after decimal
.06
-repeat percent with each figure: 10 percent to 30percent

Question 9

Series of three or more

Answer 9

Do not use a comma before the word “and” when listing a series of 3 or more.

Question 10

Academic degrees

Answer 10

• try to avoid abbreviation and use a phrase instead: john jones, who has a doctorate in psychology.
• use apostrophe in bachelor’s, master’s (not Associate)
• use abbreviations when needing to identify many individuals on first reference after full name. ( Daniel Moynihan, Ph.D., spoke.) ( Dr. Pam Jones, a chemist).

Question 11

Affect vs. Effect

Answer 11

• Affect verb: to influence - the game will affect the standings
• Affect noun-> best avoided
• Effect verb: to cause - He will effect many changes in the company
• Effect noun: result - the effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions.

Question 12

Died

Answer 12

Use “died” not “passed away”

Question 13

Quote Marks

Answer 13

Use quote marks for exact, word-for-word comments. Put a comma inside the ending quote marks.

“CSUN is a great place to learn,” said Stephanie Bluestein, journalism professor.

Question 14

Academic Departments

Answer 14

*Use lowercase except for words that are proper nouns or adjectives:
the department of history, the history department, the department of English
* when Department is part of the official and formal name: University of Connecticut Department of Medicine.
* Do not abbreviate department

Question 15

Over

Answer 15

Generally refers to spatial relationships but now acceptable when referring to a quantity.

• their salaries increased over $20 a week

Question 16

Seasons

Answer 16

• Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter, and derivatives such as springtime, unless part of a formal name.
• Capitalize seasons when the exact year is included: Fall 2014 semester

Question 17

To

Answer 17

Use “to” between two dates, times or numerals:

The museum, which has a mummy display from June to August, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily.

( Do not use a hyphen to separate dates, times or numerals )

Question 18

That, which (pronouns)

Answer 18

• Use “that” and “which” in referring to inanimate objects and to animals without a name.
• Use “that” for essential clauses, important to the meaning of the sentence and w/o commas: I remember the day that we met
• use “which” for the nonessential clauses, where the pronoun is less necessary and use commas: The dog, which had strong legs, was a natural jumper.

Question 19

Titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss)

Answer 19

Capitalize formal titles used directly before a person’s name. use courtesy titles only in direct quotations. Otherwise use the person’s first and las name on first reference. On second reference, use only their last name.

Question 20

Who, whom

Answer 20

• who is the pronoun used for reference to human beings and to animals with a name. Grammatically the subject (never the object) of a sentence, clause or phrase: The woman who rented the Apartment moved out without notifying the owner. Who is there?
• whom is used when someone is the object of the verb or preposition: The woman to whom the apartment was rented moved out without notifying the owner. Whom do you wish to see?