Punctuation
When and how does one use an ellipsis?
With a space before and after. Ellipses are used to show that words have been cut out or to show a dangling thought or pause.
When do you use italics?
On an emphasized word and on a word in a different language. May also use to clarify.
What is our preferred dictionary?
Merriam-Webster.
Affect vs. Effect
Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun.
The Great Depression was in the 1930's.
The Great Depression was in the 1930s. (Also: If truncated, it would be the '30s.)
[ ] vs. ( ) ?
[ ] Square brackets are used to insert words that weren't there before.
( ) Parentheses are used for side comments.
How do we designate book and movie titles?
Italics
Okay, OK, ok, o.k., O.K.
Okay
When do we capitalize a person's title?
President Joe Biden. The president, Joe Biden. Joe Biden, the president. The president of the U.S. said ...
Elizabeth Thomas' family is the absolute best.
Elizabeth Thomas's family is the absolute best.
How do you properly format an em dash?
Spaces before and behind, and make sure it's an em dash, not an en dash.
Oxford comma?
Yes
T-shirt, t-shirt, t shirt, T shirt
T-shirt
Which vs. That
"That" is essential. "Which" is extra information.
There are a lot of girls that love hats.
There are a lot of girls who love hats.
When do you use single quotation marks?
When do you include the state/country of a city?
When the city is not a capital or well known. SFTH rule: Don't include the state/country if most cities in the text are in that state/country.
What is the format for times of day?
7:00 in the morning unless the client always does otherwise
Further vs. Farther
Further is metaphorical. Farther is a physical distance.
Timmy, whose picture is on the wall, is dead. (Technically, "whom" was correct, but we avoid using it.)
"Which is correct?" he asked. "How am I supposed to know"? she said. "What do you think?", she asked.
"Which is correct?" he asked.
What numbers are written out?
One through one hundred, then all round hundreds, thousands, etc. This does not include money or percentages, which are numerals.
When do we add an explanation of jargon?
If the client and their family are entrenched in that culture, don't. Use your discretion, but readers can use Google if they need a definition.
Lie vs. Lay
Present tense: You lie down, you lay something else down. She is lying down.
Past tense: You lay down on the bed, you laid something down beside you.
I told him I was LDS.
I told him I was a Latter-day Saint.