Part 4: Managing Mechanics and Spelling

Capitalization Pronoun “I” First Letter of a Sentence or a Quoted Sentence Unless the quote follows the word “that” Gary contested that “working conditions were terrible”. Or is divided into two parts by uninterrupted speech “My goodness,” Aunt Nancy said, “it’s too hot outside for gardening.” Proper Nouns and Proper Adjectives New York, Declaration of Independence, Fifth Street

capitalization Days of the Week, Months, Holidays Monday, April, Arbor Day Titles and Ranks (as a part of a person’s name) Professor Banks, President Nixon Titles of Works A Room With a View, In the Waiting Room

capitalization Geographic Regions History, Culture, and Religion Pacific Northwest, Africa, Andes Mountains History, Culture, and Religion Civil War, Torah, Islam, Industrial Revolution Academic and Government Institutions, Businesses, and Organizations Discount Tires, St. Olaf’s College, Nike

abbreviations Titles with Proper Names Mrs. Westerly, Dr. Herzog, Rev. Gary Splice Familiar and Unfamiliar Abbreviations NBC, NAACP, FBI Dates, Times, and Units of Measurement 1500 AD, 11:00 PM, lbs., ft. Geographical Names CA, USA, NY

Numbers Words Versus Figures Percentages, Money, Dates, Ages Spell out numbers under 10 Spell out a number if it is the first word in sentence Seventy-five people attended Saturday’s protest. Spell out a number if one precedes another It is difficult to take care of two 6-month-old children. Percentages, Money, Dates, Ages Use percent symbol (%) with figures, and the word ‘percent’ with spelled out numbers Use numbers for money, dates, and ages even if under 10

Italics and underlining With Titles of Long Works or Periodicals The Shining, The Washington Post, Top Gear Ships, Aircraft, and Spacecraft U.S.S Trinidad, Apollo 13 Foreign Words and Phrases King Richard was clearly a member of the bourgeois. For Emphasis I was simply dying for a piece of pizza.

spelling Use a reliable dictionary either in print or online You cannot always trust computer spell check Not all spelling rules are across the board Double check editing, style, and spelling before turning in any project