If the answer is "pick a method and be consistent", your question may be one of style.
4
votes
4answers
60 views
What paragraph style should I use for an e-book?
I have often heard of the advice that "use a style that works best in your situation".
In regard to paragraph styling for an ebook, there are a few options:
A single space (between paragraphs) and ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Writing a newspaper article summary
First of all, I'd like to apologize in advance for my horrible English, but it's not my primary language and I still can't help but make some blunders.
I have been assigned to write a newspaper ...
16
votes
8answers
502 views
Could I reach the level of good writing style as non-native language speaker?
I currently write in Russian, but I think of switching to English to gain more audience and to play with both languages and linguistics.
So could I ever reach the level of native English writers and ...
3
votes
2answers
89 views
Creative writing use and abuse
I am wondering what is the limit, if any, of justifying one's writing style as being creative.
I have often seen the use of a single word or phrase as a 'sentence' for creating impact. Example: "It ...
7
votes
3answers
133 views
Techniques to write for a wider audience
Many years ago, I wrote a short story that used specific information from my cultural background e.g. a belief that if you dream something, it is a form of a vision (superstition, some may say!). This ...
0
votes
2answers
26 views
What is the correct location for page numbers in a report?
I am writing a report on our project in school, and we were discussing what would be the best place for the page numbers. It seems obvious, at least to us, that the page numbers should be ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Comma between the following clauses in AP Style?
The AP style says that a comma is not needed between two clauses that have the same subject. However, it would become ambiguous if I removed the comma fromt the following:
When you walk straight ...
12
votes
5answers
674 views
I'm getting tired of “he said” “she said” in dialogue; how do I get around it?
I get tired of "he said", "she said", "they replied". Is there a better, but still reasonable way, to indicate dialogue?
4
votes
2answers
72 views
Punctuating dialogue with oneself
I am wondering what is the convention for punctuating dialogue with oneself.
In particular, if a character speaks to himself, does the words need to be put in open and closed quotes. Note that the ...
6
votes
2answers
97 views
What's with all the hate on adjectives and adverbs?
Ok, I'm starting to get a feel for this, but I'm hoping someone can explain it more clearly for me.
I learned in all my English classes that sensory imagery is important, which naturally involves a ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
Should I indent the first line of the first paragraph in a chapter?
I was reading a thesis report of a friend and I noticed that he didn't indent the first line of the first paragraph in each chapter. I don't remember noticing it anywhere before until I saw it there ...
5
votes
5answers
180 views
Best Practices To Learn By Reading?
I've been browsing writers.se for a while and I've noticed a lot of folks state you have to READ to be able to write. I'm currently having trouble working time to read fiction into my daily routine.
...
4
votes
1answer
42 views
What is the proper format/style for using and properly citing code in an APA paper?
I'm working on a paper that covers concurrency in Java, however to properly explain many concepts I feel code samples are basically needed.
However, I don't know how to properly cite code I've ...
5
votes
1answer
161 views
Are different styles/storylines prefered in different languages/cultures?
I am German. Can I apply the hints for style or story-building given here, or by English authors, without a second thought to my own work written in German? Or are there differences in how style or ...
7
votes
4answers
160 views
How to avoid specifying the gender in English when the original text does not specify it?
I'm translating a short story from Korean into English. One problem I frequently face is the 'antecedent pronoun agreement' when the original text leaves the 'gender' of the subject unspecified (and ...
2
votes
3answers
89 views
Do empty pages need a number?
I would like to start each chapter on the right side of the book, as there are few chapters with a different point of view. I know numbering has to continue on the white page which might appear in ...
2
votes
0answers
39 views
How to cite a Terms of Service in APA style
I need to cite a Google condition using APA style.
I have the following paragraph, but when I pass it through Viper I get plagiarized. How shall I do?
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Maintaining the consistency of voice and spontaneity throughout a piece
So straight to it, I don't write very long pieces. Usually poetry or flash fiction and a smattering of short stories whenever it needs to be longer, though I have aspirations (mostly just dreams) of ...
4
votes
4answers
174 views
Does writing in a certain mood change how a writer writes?
I'm not sure if this is right for this part of Stackexchange, but since there is no psychology section, here we go:
I'm currently writing the same short story several times with the intention of ...
-1
votes
3answers
48 views
Which one is correct? [closed]
This book will expand your knowledge of Italian food and allow you to surprise your friends and family with authentic home-cooked meals that taste delicious.
or
This book will expand your knowledge ...
-1
votes
2answers
71 views
Writing style — comma, period and re-referring the object of the first sentence again as subject in second sentence [closed]
Alex look around the room, it's almost empty except few small empty boxes and few clothes.
Alex look around the room. It's almost empty except few small empty boxes and few clothes.
Alex ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Chopped sentences with too many conjunction, and repeating the subject again and again
I have tendency to write chopped sentences with too many conjunctions, repeating the subject again and again. I don't want that but I'm not skilled in English.
For example how do write the following ...
1
vote
4answers
352 views
Which tense should I use when writing a post about a journey?
What tense could I use when I write about a journey? Suppose if I write about a train journey and describe the countryside, would using a present tense create a deeper impact to the reader? I could ...
1
vote
3answers
124 views
The value of labeling book sections
My wife is beginning a novel, and she's written four chapters in under six pages. I suggested that she consider using page breaks or lowercase Roman numeraled sections instead of chapters because a ...
8
votes
2answers
161 views
Overuse of bullet points
I collaborate with someone who insists on making every sentence (or two) in a business document into a bullet point, by prefacing it with a bullet.
This is typically done across a multi-page ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Multiple tasks and a step by step tutorial
To my knowledge step-by-step tutorials should have the form of a ladder, where you describe how to get to a place step by step– accomplishing a single task at the end. Is it possible to accomplish ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Does this excerpt strike a balance between the formality of steampunk and accessible writing?
I'm having a bit of trouble, since I'm writing in a semi-new genre. I ordinarily write fantasy with a modern-day setting, but my latest experiment is steampunk set in not-exactly-Earth, so it has a ...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
What are the advantages of different date formats in resumes and CVs?
I've seen a somewhat related question, but it doesn't answer my question quite right. Say you're writing an event that happened on a single day, and you need to put it in your resume or CV. So how ...
1
vote
3answers
81 views
Improving techniques independently: Description
How can I improve my technique in description?
Which things I should avoid in description?
How can I know, that I put "enough" description and will go to narration?
My description technique is bad ...
11
votes
4answers
16k views
Citation in AP style journalism
I'm writing feature articles and trying to adhere to AP style, but I'm not sure how to attribute a source. I'm familiar with academic citation (APA, MLA), but have never done this in journalism.
...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
A more effective way of writing this dialogue:
I'm translating a story, and there is scene in it where an ex-colleague asks the man who had slapped the female protagonist the reason for his doing so. In reply, all he says is something like, “What ...
0
votes
3answers
101 views
Words in author's native language?
Why in some essays or articles there are words in author's native language?
(In other words, the essay is in English and there are some Spanish word spread out in whole essay)
Does it necessarily ...
4
votes
4answers
145 views
Is it acceptable practice to use contractions in a fictional first person narrative for children?
I am writing a children's story in first person, present tense. Aside from the quotes from characters, all of the text is meant to represent the narrator's own thoughts, and either describes what they ...
4
votes
5answers
375 views
Using dashes in writing dialogue
Does anyone use em dashes (or two hyphens) to denote speakers in dialogue passages? Joyce does this as does William Gaddis. Many others. I practice it, but my only "conceptual understanding" is that ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Am i using “he/she” too often during action scenes?
I'm not sure if I am being too overly critical of what I write or if I am actually falling into that "He/She" echo. By that I mean, using "he" or "she" over and over during the action, or combat in ...
1
vote
3answers
191 views
How to use parentheses
Parentheses have many uses; I find myself reaching for them often. Increasingly though, I realise I can convey the same meaning without parentheses with little or only minor loss in succinctness. ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Should I punctuate abbreviations for Old English, Middle English etc. in academic writing?
When using an abbreviation such as OFr (Old French) or ME (Middle English) in academic writing, what is the best way to stylise it? Masses of punctuation looks messy, but I am concerned my assignment ...
7
votes
5answers
335 views
Avoiding cultural differences
I'm not a native English speaker, but I write in English.
I'm now visiting the US, and I have made some very interesting observation regarding the way ordinary life goes on here. It made me think of ...
5
votes
1answer
107 views
What is the correct way to write a fractional number in a formal letter?
If I'm talking about a length of time in a cover letter, let's say 5.5 years, what would be the correct way to write this?
five-and-a-half years
5-1/2 years
5.5 years
4
votes
1answer
82 views
singular or plural for index entries
I am in the final stages of writing a book and currently I am preparing the index. Are there any rules whether index entries should be listed in singular or plural?
Currently I have
Markov chains, ...
8
votes
5answers
667 views
Do you have to be good at grammar to get published?
I am not very good at grammar. Is there someone who would go through and correct your grammatical mistakes, even if you are not good at grammar? Who would this person be?
3
votes
2answers
95 views
How to cite multiple chapters from same book in Vancouver style?
How can I cite multiple chapters from the same book? Do I have to use separate reference numbers, if they are by different authors?
3
votes
2answers
54 views
Standardizing capitalization within a bibliography or footnotes when your sources have used different standards
I’m compiling a bibliography and want to know if I should standardize the capitalization within the titles of the articles. I understand that copying mistakes/typos, etc., is one thing, and usually ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Critique of this short text about inequality and contempt
I understand it is possible to ask for critiques here and ask that you guide me to adapt this question if needed.
Now, I feel the need every now and then to get a thought down on paper. However, I am ...
14
votes
6answers
583 views
What are some ingredients of really engaging non-fiction?
Some of the best non-fiction writers, in terms of sales at least, seem to be able to write in a really engaging and easy to read style that makes their work hard to put down. For example, ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
Should paragraphs split over pages in thesis?
I am writing a technical thesis with quite a few figures, tables and equations. These items break up the "flow" of the document. To mitigate this some journals suggest placing such items at the top or ...
3
votes
1answer
77 views
How do I change a novel from first person to limited third person?
For various reasons (increased clarity, and an interested agent), I'm rewriting what was once two first-person POVs into a third person limited POV.
Other answers have previously established the ...
5
votes
1answer
98 views
How to quote from a foreign journal that has not been translated?
I need to quote from a journal written in Arabic. What should I do? Write it first in Arabic then followed by translation and indicating that it is my own translation (translated by author)? Can I ...
1
vote
5answers
104 views
Are there rules for, or guidelines on, time gaps between a plot's scenes/chapters?
I've been reading a host of old favourites, classics and authors outside of my usual reading pool, in an effort to dissect the writing (from plot, characters and environment to voice, pacing and ...
12
votes
4answers
372 views
How do you map out your storyline?
There are various ways for mapping out the storyline that you will use for a story. One of them is to create a bullet-point outline, which would theoretically be useful because of the hierarchy system ...
