If the answer is "pick a method and be consistent", your question may be one of style.
7
votes
9answers
869 views
How to write realistic female dialogue
I just can't make my dialogue sound like it's being said by a woman. As a friend of mine pointed out, "This woman talks just like you, Jack."
I tried imitating the speech patterns of various females ...
0
votes
1answer
184 views
Statement of Purpose writing style
I cannot decide which style is better in writing Statement of Purpose for graduate school application.
I am asked a few questions in writing the SOP, such as purpose in applying for graduate study, ...
3
votes
3answers
263 views
How to discover clichés
What is the best way to find out if a certain phrase is considered a cliché?
Is there an online resource, a specialized dictionary-like lookup?
EDIT
I found these so far:
Cliché Finder
Movie ...
1
vote
3answers
525 views
Are there alternatives to 'in such a way'? [closed]
Considering the sentence:
I'd like to do ... in such a way that ... is achieved.
Does this sound wordy? If so, is there a way to streamline it?
2
votes
5answers
200 views
How do I keep up with current written English language?
I am a speaker of English as a foreign language. I appreciate that English is a living language and that different regions in the world use English differently. I wanted to know how I can keep up with ...
13
votes
2answers
299 views
Techniques to disguise authorship of text
As Wikipedia and at least one answer on this site suggest, the name stylometry encompasses certain techniques to determine authorship of text. Although stylometry itself appears to require a certain ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
When is it correct to capitalize terms/phrases in a personal statement?
I'm writing a personal statement for graduate admissions, and I've a query regarding the use of capitalization in the midst of sentences. For example, is it correct/expected to capitalize the names of ...
1
vote
0answers
60 views
How to use His/My/Your permutations in adressing persons [closed]
I'd like to understand the rationale of when, why and how His/My/Your are used in titles of addressing people.
For example, the standard commonly accepted uses are:
"His Honour"("His Grace", or ...
4
votes
4answers
991 views
Writing a Lullaby
I need to write a short folk lullaby as part of my story, but am having trouble getting the feel of it in my lyrics.
What are the general conventions of writing a lullaby? Any general principles ...
3
votes
3answers
483 views
How to write English in Merlin (TV Series) style?
I find the writing style of the show Merlin to be very good, and much better than current/modern English usage. Details about the show can be found at IMDB's Merlin page, and Wikipedia's entry about ...
4
votes
7answers
176 views
Unpunctuation: bug or feature?
Cormac McCarthy's style is worthy of a topic all its own. I've read all his books. Hasn't written a bad one, though some owe more or less of a debt to Faulkner. Anyway, to the point: he doesn't use ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
How do I sign a (formal) email?
My email client includes a signature beneath the text of my writing. Currently it is of the form:
------------
John Doe
Acme Widget Company
123 Elm Street
Metropolis, USA
phone:222-555-1212
...
7
votes
4answers
320 views
Spaceships - It or She?
I'm writing a Science Fiction novel and describing a space ship. Sea Ships are usually feminine, while space ships don't seem to be either feminine or neutral.
Would you stick to one? Or would you ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
What sytles and templates are available to write a brief? [closed]
I want to write a brief on a conference I recently attended. What resources and styles should I consider to make this document effective and professional?
5
votes
3answers
158 views
Italicize part of a word in fiction?
I am wondering if I can or should take a bit of stylistic license and italicize just part of a word:
He took a sharp turn back into a side street, and collided hard with something that sent him ...
2
votes
1answer
462 views
How to reference data files, APA-style?
I'm preparing an assignment which requires two MS Project files to be submitted, containing WBS/GANTT charts for a fictional project, and a textual explanation of what I did and why, which.
(All the ...
6
votes
2answers
75 views
First person with co-authors?
I'm rewriting a technical book that will list two authors: the original author and me. Much of the text has been changed and there are some informal parts where reader is addressed in first person: "I ...
2
votes
6answers
267 views
How should I phrase “requests” to a higher-ranked individual in another department?
At work, I lead a small team of programmers. I often have to request equipment and services from our I.T. department, and all of those requests have to go directly to the C.I.O., which is an ...
12
votes
2answers
57 views
Notes Placement
Why is it standard for a book's notes to be placed at the very end of the book—book endnotes—while only a small minority of books place each chapter's notes at the end of each respective ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Help with Impersonal Past Tense
'The Report is to be presented in the “impersonal past tense” e.g.
Personal – I worked in the Design Department.
Impersonal – The work was carried out in the Design Department.'
...
6
votes
2answers
132 views
What is this writing standard called, and where can I look up the exact details?
My English instructor said that he wants us to submit a heading and a header on our essays, taking the following form.
The first page only should have our name, his name, the date, the subject (not ...
2
votes
3answers
77 views
What's the best way to distinguish between co-authors?
I know a couple of people who are co-authoring a book, and they have been debating how to go about distinguishing between the two of them in their content. They have an outline of topics that they are ...
3
votes
2answers
129 views
All persons fictitious - where to place it?
I've got an all persons fictitious disclaimer similar to the one mentioned at All persons fictitious disclaimer — ideas regarding modification? but where should I place it?
Bear in mind, this is a ...
3
votes
3answers
355 views
First Person Voice - Same as speaking?
When writing in first person, if the POV character talks with a certain dialect or type of diction (eg. "I ain't got all day! Hurry it up, will ya?") should they narrate with the same accent, or can ...
7
votes
5answers
3k views
All persons fictitious disclaimer — ideas regarding modification?
I'm creating a parody/spoof magazine which contains some "real" advertisements and businesses in.
How should I word an "all persons fictitious" disclaimer to include fictitious businesses?
This is ...
19
votes
5answers
1k views
“All of a sudden…” ?
I am writing a manuscript for a novel. It's my first attempt, and often I find myself wanting to write "suddenly" or "all of a sudden". I do this when I want the scene to change in an instant, or ...
3
votes
5answers
231 views
Which English grammar should be followed when writing for a global audience?
In relation to my question on Usage of 'z' in the word serialized in English?, it seems I was mistaken in assuming there is a generally accepted correct variant of English.
The question Which variant ...
12
votes
3answers
241 views
How to create space
Recently, a few snippets of my fiction have received critiques along the lines of 'Does not give a sense of space'. Or 'needs more description, sights and sounds'.
I think where I am going wrong is ...
0
votes
2answers
131 views
What can I write to improve reader participation at this blog?
I work for a costume company that has a company blog intended to inspire costuming and general ideas. We focus on Halloween sales, but we also have Renaissance and Oktoberfest themed costumes that ...
3
votes
3answers
78 views
Is it acceptable to mix how you address the reader in an instructional Wiki?
I'm working on a Wiki article that explains to new developers how our product life-cycle works.
Originally, my goal was to completely avoid the word "you" and use a more general description like "the ...
0
votes
2answers
148 views
Is there anything wrong with saying “Thanks” several times in the same email? If not, how could I correct it?
E.g. here is an email I just sent:
Hello X,
Okay I see - thanks very much for all the code! I'll definitely have
to take some time to study it before I can ask any questions. :)
Also - ...
4
votes
6answers
433 views
Referring to oneself in first vs. third person in online profiles
Suppose I am writing a post/blog, how should I mention myself?
For example,
Ray Wenderlich (Site Admin)
Ray is an indie software developer currently focusing on iPhone and iPad development. ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
Punctuation-Quote or Quote-Punctuation?
I'm writing a document using the Chicago Manual of Syle. I have not access to the full guide, only to what's provided on-line.
Now I wondering as to whether, in the main text itself, I should use the ...
1
vote
4answers
339 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
What is this citation style called?
What is this citation style called:
P. Schmid-Saugeon, J. guillod & J.P.
Thiran, Towards a Computer-Aided
Diagnosis System For Pigmented Skin
Lesions, Computerized Medical Imaging
and ...
1
vote
1answer
199 views
Vancouver citation
I just want to confirm if I did this correct.
I have this reference:
G. Burg, Das Melanom, Serie
Gesundheit: Piper/VCH, (1993).
And, want to convert it to vancouver style. In this case, this ...
4
votes
2answers
155 views
Style of writing as told from the point of view of the main character
What would be a good style for writing a story from one point of view while keeping the narration interesting? I mean you can't go into too much detail as what a person does during the day is fine for ...
3
votes
3answers
196 views
Is it okay to quote a saying, even if i don't know who said it?
If it is okay to quote then how should i quote it. For example,
"Many wealthy people are little more
than janitors of their possessions."
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
Now if i don't ...
3
votes
3answers
118 views
Formatting blog posts like the pros
I am new to writing. I have seen Jeff Atwood's blog and I am really impressed how he writes. I have seen a similar manner on wordpress docs too. I am still confused with some issues while writing. ...
8
votes
1answer
744 views
What are widely-used UK-English style guides?
In the UK, what are the equivalents to Chicago Manual of Style, the Associated Press style guide, Yahoo, APA, MLA, etc? Most importantly, what are their intended audiences? (AP is used for ...
11
votes
4answers
615 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?
6
votes
4answers
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
232 views
What is the style used in ISO/IEC publications?
I'm in the process of preparing a document to be sent to ISO/IEC WG14. What is the official style used in ISO/IEC publications (if there is one)? If there is no official style guide, is there a ...
3
votes
1answer
345 views
Writing an artist statement , not a thesis
Question
Hello,
I need guidance writing an artist statement for a gallery. Specifically, what's good practice, and what should be avoided?
Thanks,
Thoughts
I'm a visual artist appearing in a gallery ...
8
votes
5answers
119 views
What style suggestions are common for which words are used in hyperlinks?
With a purpose of avoiding "More details here" style links that do not provide any information in the link itself, what styles are common/popular/suggested?
A good example case (with bold as the ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
How to close read and do an oral presentation on it in 12 minutes orl less? [closed]
so i am going to recieve a random passage from the book "1984" and will be given 12 minutes to read it, write all over it, and then do a 4+ minute oral presentation on it.
My teacher also says to ...
8
votes
5answers
654 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?
1
vote
0answers
486 views
Which Pen Is Best For Writing/Signing Important Documents? [closed]
Regular pens or gel ink pens? What do you say?
1
vote
2answers
140 views
What free tools are there to help me improve my English?
I am in the process of writing a research paper in Computer Science. Are there any free tools/browser plugins/web sites/latex plugins that would help me improve my English? I am looking for some nice ...
4
votes
4answers
94 views
Is it a Good or Bad thing to use 'I' Regularly in Magazine Articles?
Do readers want to read articles where the author refers to themselves and their experiences, or would they prefer the author to leave themselves out of the article?
When I say 'readers' I'm ...
