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Category_MWW Blog>The Comma
A Not-Very-Well-Known Dash Rule
Most reporters use the dash simply for that ever-present interruption. There are, however, grammar rules associated with the dash.
Here's one:
When an indefinite pronoun follows ONE word and rena...
Category_MWW Blog>General
"Thank you"...
As a verb, "thank you" is two words.
...Thank you for all you do.
...I want to thank you for the chocolates.
As a noun, "thank-you" is hyphenated.
...Please send a thank-you to your grandmother....
capitalization
The Quotation Mark and Caps
The rule is that the first word of a quote is capped if it begins a grammatically complete thought or anything that stands for a complete thought. Otherwise, it is lowercase.
...Q Where were you ...
Category_MWW Blog>General
Prefixes: Solid Words or Hyphenated?
The rule is that a prefix is added to the front of a word to make a solid word.
...preordained
...postprandial
...overrated
...underfed
However, when there is already a word that has a different ...
Category_MWW Blog>General
Made-Up Words
When a word is made up but it has a normal, regular English spelling, put a pair of
quotes around it rather than using sic or verbatim to point it out as an error.
...She was just acting "obliviat...
capitalization
Capitalization after a Dash and a Colon
Capitalize the first word after a colon only when it begins a complete sentence.
...This is what I want to know: What day did he arrive?
...This is what I want to know: the day he arrived.
...He ...
Category_MWW Blog>Numbers
"A" Hundred" versus "One" Hundred
When the words are "a" hundred or "a" thousand, there is a problem for the person who
wishes to keep it as close to verbatim as possible. Technically, "a hundred" and "a
thousand" are not numbers a...
Category_MWW Blog>Numbers
Thousands
Numbers in the thousands are expressed in figures with a comma and can never be a combination of figures and words.
...sent 45,000...
...received 133,000 of them...
...offered 50,000 for it...
Wh...
Category_MWW Blog>General
Plurals of Names
When a surname has the word the in front of it, the name has to be plural -- without
regard to how it is pronounced.
...The Millers have a new car.
...We spent the time with the Wilsons.
There is...