1. Part 4: Managing Mechanics and Spelling

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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