If the answer is "pick a method and be consistent", your question may be one of style.
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 ...
19
votes
17answers
1k views
Are complex sentences uncommon or unwanted in English?
I wrote my opinion essay using a lot of different complex grammatical structures, linking words and so on, and some of the sentences were even over 4 lines long.
However, I was afterwards told by my ...
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?
12
votes
5answers
525 views
How much should I describe things or persons, that are not important for the story?
I discussed a book with a friend, and he disliked that the author described a person who is dying shortly after and has no further effect on the story over a page or more. The same would go for ...
2
votes
1answer
459 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 ...
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 ...
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
266 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
8answers
351 views
How much leeway can be expected from an editor regarding my preference for nonstandard punctuation?
As I hope to present a unique style to the world, as I am not especially tolerant of being told I'm doing things "wrong" when that's a subjective statement related to writing style, and as I've never ...
24
votes
7answers
558 views
When is it okay to tell?
One of the major mantras of writing fiction is "show, don't tell".
Is it ever okay to tell? When?
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 ...
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. ...
12
votes
5answers
471 views
Is discovery or outline writing connected to personality type (e.g. MBTI)
I'm on a bit of a Myers-Briggs spree at the moment (which is dangerous, because it is so easy to read way more into it than you are supposed to).
For those of you who are not familiar with it, it is ...
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
3answers
354 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
5answers
548 views
How should dialog be formatted?
Is there any "official" rule that I should keep in mind when formatting character dialog?
Line breaks, placement of quotes, mixing dialog with action descriptions etc.
For example, I want to build a ...
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
527 views
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
147 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 - ...
26
votes
3answers
491 views
Explicitly correcting yourself while writing - how appropriate is it ?
Like so:
He worries – well, not worries, but laments a little – that he senses people don't read Henry James anymore
(sentence source: Monkey See, NPR Blogs )
I've used this style myself ...
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 ...
12
votes
7answers
1k views
Why does using this “-ing” verb construction make my writing weaker?
I had to write a scholarship essay, wherein I wrote this sentence:
Over the ensuing years I read as much as I could, trying to increase my knowledge and understanding of my own language.
I sent ...
4
votes
5answers
330 views
How to explain something mid sentence
I'm writing a review for a fiction book and I'm using a lot of terminology that is specific to the book and I feel that it has to be given some context and explanation. Otherwise any reader would be ...
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
195 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
735 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
344 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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
722 views
Pros ans cons of writing a plot based on the present and past tense (character's point of view)?
I'm not sure if I should write my first book in the present or past tense.
The book is about a doctor in a clinic who is analysing his patients.
e.g.
I said, VS I say.
I thought for a while ...
1
vote
0answers
482 views
Which Pen Is Best For Writing/Signing Important Documents? [closed]
Regular pens or gel ink pens? What do you say?
13
votes
8answers
1k views
What breaks suspension of disbelief?
So much of Sci-Fi and Fantasy requires the viewer (or reader) to suspend their disbelief: The speed of light can be circumvented, magic works, vampires are real (and may or may not sparkle), etc.
...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
489 views
Strunk and White vs “Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace” by Williams and Colomb
I'd like to improve my writing and have been considering getting either The Elements of Style by Strunk and White or Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace by Williams and Colomb. What are their ...
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 ...
9
votes
4answers
310 views
How do you avoid the problem of all the characters in your story sounding the same?
There's a common flaw that I can easily detect in amateur writing, (and of course my own) which essentially boils down to all the characters "sounding the same", dialogue-wise anyway. Trying to ...
2
votes
5answers
520 views
What does “Exposition and Ammunition – back story” mean in screenwriting?
I am just starting my first screen writing class and I got an assignment that says: Exposition and Ammunition – back story. I have been searching online but I don't get it. Can someone explain it for ...
5
votes
1answer
332 views
Is an overview clearer when outlined with bullet points, or when written in paragraphs?
I am writing a short piece for a technical audience. In essence I have three main points, each with sub-points. A few of the sub-points themselves have sub-points. I cannot help but find it clearer ...
5
votes
2answers
80 views
Could anyone point me in the direction of some resources on conversational writing
Im looking to improve my writing , i would love to know if anyone has any tips on developing an engaging conversational writing style.
5
votes
4answers
346 views
What makes a good action scene?
Action, in any storytelling medium, is the relationship between build up and pay off. While cinema may emphasize the payoff (pyrotechnics play well to theater-going crowds) it seems that the written ...
12
votes
2answers
719 views
What needs to be included in a corporate style guide?
What kinds of things need to be included in a corporate style guide that can't already be found in S&W, AP, Chicago Style, etc?
3
votes
6answers
203 views
Please help me improve this sentence…
In a first-person narrative, I’d like to use the following sentence:
It took me nearly a decade to write this script, and now I’d pitch it to the top producer in Hollywood.
I’m not following ...
4
votes
2answers
86 views
What are some ways to denote presentation style outside of written text.
I would like my document as I am writing it to be independent of software layouts as I think it would be a better decision to make at the end of the process. What would be good ways to denote ...
0
votes
0answers
354 views
Why Haruki Murakami's novels are so addictive and popular all over the world (cross cultural popularity)? [closed]
I've read two books by Haruki Murakami so far. I felt attracted all the time while I was reading, and the weird thing is that I don't know why. I was surprised to know that my writing teacher (an ...
