WRITING MECHANICS

• Writing mechanics are the established rules that should be followed when writing sentences.

  • Spelling

  • Punctuation

  • Capitalization

  • The use of boldface, italics, and underline
• SPELLING - The standard spelling of words is fundamental in learning a language. It is good to know the correct spelling of words by heart. Nonetheless, you can consult the dictionary to check the spelling of a particular word.
• TIPS ON PROPER SPELLING :

  1. There are slight differences between the American English and the British English spellings. Ex: color – colour
  2. There are English words that have variant or alternate spellings, which are acceptable.
• TIPS ON PROPER SPELLING :

  3. Words with the letters i and e succeeding each other, such as receive, receipt, and deceive are commonly misspelled. Remember this simple rule: I before E except after C

  4. In adding prefixes to words, the spelling of the root word does not change. Ex: unnatural, unneeded, missend

  5. English words with double letters are often misspelled. Be aware of those words and remember their correct spellings.

  6.There are English words that contain silent letters, which are not pronounced when the words are read.
• Punctuation is a system of symbols used to give structure to a text. It guides the reader on how the text should be read.
• Commonly Used Punctuation Marks

  1.Period (.) a. It indicates a full stop or the end of a statement. When a statement ends with a word or a group of words enclosed in quotation marks, the period is placed within the quotation marks.

  b. It is used in some abbreviations. (a.m, dr., etc.)

  c. It is placed after numerals and letters in outlines and lists.
• 2.Question mark (?) a. It ends a question.

  b.It ends a question that is part of a sentence.

  c. It indicates uncertainty about a fact.
• 3. Exclamation point (!) a. It ends a sentence that expresses strong emotion or an interjection.

  b. It replaces the question mark in interrogative sentences to express strong emotion.
• 4.Apostrophe (‘) a. It is used to indicate the possessive case of nouns.

  b. It is used in place of the omitted letters in contractions. (I am -I’m did not -didn’t)

  c. It is used in some expressions like the following: For goodness’ sake For appearance’s sake
• 5. Comma (,) a. Commas are used to separate words or phrases in a list or series.

  b. A comma is used to separate clauses in sentences.

  c. Commas are used to set off words or phrases that introduce examples or explanations.
• 6. Colon (:) a. It introduces a list.

  b. It is used to introduce a quotation.

  c. It introduces a clause or a phrase that explains what comes before it.
• 7. Semicolon (;) a. It is used to indicate a stop or break that is more grounded than a comma but not as strong as a period.

  b. It separates two clauses, one of which is introduced by a conjunctive adverb or a phrase acting like one.

  c. It separates items in series if they themselves are set off by commas.
• 8. The common dash or emdash (–) a. It can be used in place of a colon or a semicolon to connect clauses, the second of which explains or expands the first clause.

  b. It can be used in place of a comma before words and phrases that introduce examples or explanations.

  c. It may introduce a summary statement after a series of words or phrases.
• Capitalization is writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while the rest of the letters of the word are in lowercase.It helps in deciphering the meaning of the words.
• The following are always capitalized in text:

  1. Proper nouns: Maggie, Quezon City
  2. Proper adjectives: Philippine, Canadian
  3. Days of the week: Monday
  4. Months of the year
  5. Specific course titles: English 11
  6. Kinship names used in place of personal names and if they are followed by personal names: Grandma, Dad, Aunt
  7. titles
• Adjectives, verbs, adverbs, nouns, and pronounsare capitalized in a title. Do not capitalize conjunctions, prepositions, and articles, except when they are the first or last word in a title.