If the answer is "pick a method and be consistent", your question may be one of style.
2
votes
0answers
37 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?
5
votes
4answers
151 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.
...
0
votes
1answer
47 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
33 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
140 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
45 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
57 views
Writing style — comma, period and re-referring the object of the first sentence again as subject in second sentence
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
37 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
63 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
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 ...
-1
votes
0answers
39 views
Introducing a character [closed]
JOHN MICHAELSON, in his late 40s, is sitting in a couch, reading a
book. He is lean and hard. His eyes look tired and depressed, and
there is a vacuum in his life; we see that in his face.
I ...
1
vote
3answers
120 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
138 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
57 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
55 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
52 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
77 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
614 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?
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
64 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
124 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 ...
0
votes
3answers
97 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
130 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
347 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
104 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
179 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
54 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
328 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
89 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
74 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
653 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
76 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
47 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
54 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
574 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, ...
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
73 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
71 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
89 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
97 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
370 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
91 views
What language style should I use for a tech blog?
I am getting ready to launch a tech/personal opinion blog slightly more geared towards technical details. What documentation style is best for a journalistic/technical doc style?
Thanks.
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 ...
10
votes
9answers
369 views
Initial Writing Medium
I am curious which is better for a beginning writer (or writer) starting a new story. Pen and paper or the computer?
Pen & Paper is a lot more sketchy (like the layout of this site) which gives ...
8
votes
1answer
6k views
What are the differences between narrative and descriptive writing?
What are the differences between narrative and descriptive writing? While writing either what should we keep in mind?
6
votes
5answers
232 views
Must every piece of speech get its own paragraph?
I've had a few people read pieces of narrative writing I've done, and they seem to take issue with the fact that I sometimes put a piece of speech inline with the rest of a non-dialogue paragraph, ...
4
votes
3answers
182 views
Very long sentences: personal style or just bad writing?
I'm writing a story targeted towards children in which the protagonist is a young girl. I find that in writing her dialog and the narrative, I'm producing a lot of very long sentences, to the point ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Possible interactions of punctuation marks with the word “however” in a novel
When using the word however in my story, I feel like using a semicolon before it disrupts the flow of words in the readers head too much.
So, is the usage of a comma or semicolon necessary in front ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
71 views
Knowing When To Cite?
In my essay (specifically a recount essay of a moment in the past), my objective is to end with the discussion of Death as a being (because my recounted moment will be related to death). I'd like to ...
