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English Writing
Writing cardinal and ordinal numbers in English
Dec 2nd
After a noun we usually use a cardinal number (e.g. one, two, three etc) instead of an ordinal number (e.g.first, second, third etc). This is common in titles. Compare: the third chapter – Chapter Three the fifth act – Act Five However, the names of kings and queens are said with ordinal numbers. Henry VIII [...]
Writing Roman numbers
Dec 1st
Roman numbers are not common in modern English, but they are still used in a few cases. For example, the names of kings and queens are written in Roman numbers. In the same way, the figures on some clock faces, page numbers in the introductions to some books, and occasionally the names of centuries are [...]
Writing Numbers – nought, zero, nil
Nov 30th
The figure 0 is called nought in British English and zero in American English. When numbers are said one figure at a time, 0 is often called oh. My account number is four oh six three (= 4063) In measurements of temperature, 0 is called zero in both British and American English. Zero is followed [...]
Writing numbers in English – Fractions and decimals
Nov 29th
In English we say simple fractions like this: 1/5 – one fifth 2/7 – two sevenths 2/5 – two fifths 3/4 hour – three quarters of an hour 6/10 mile – six tenths of a mile More complex fractions are usually expressed by using the word over. 317/509 – three hundred and seventeen over five [...]
The colon
Oct 4th
The colon represents a pause of greater importance than that is expressed by a semicolon. It has the following uses: To introduce a quotation Bacon says: ‘Reading makes a full man, writing an exact man, speaking a ready man.’ To introduce an explanation Mother had to be hospitalized: she had heart trouble. A colon can [...]
The semicolon
Oct 4th
The semicolon represents a pause of greater importance than that shown by the comma. The semicolon is used to separate a series of loosely connected clauses. The giraffe is an ungainly animal; it has a long neck. Her heart was pure; her life serene. Columbus was a great navigator; he knew the world was round. [...]
The exclamation mark
Oct 4th
The exclamation mark (!) should not be used too frequently. It should be used only after real exclamations or interjections and phrases and sentences expressing sudden emotion or wish. What a terrible storm! How fiercely the wind blows! How cold the night is! Alas! Good luck! Sometimes the exclamation mark is also used after a [...]
Use of capital letters
Aug 19th
Capital letters are used: 1) at the beginning of a sentence Knowledge is power. Prevention is better than cure. 2) at the beginning of each line of poetry A little learning is a dangerous thing, Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring. 3) for names of people, places, countries, rivers, mountains etc. John, India, [...]
Acronyms and Initialisms
May 8th
Acronym The label acronym refers to a word formed by combining the first letters of the main words in a phrase. An acronym can be pronounced as a word and it has the same meaning as the original phrase Examples are given below: LASER for Light Amplification by the Simulated Emission of Radiation SCUBA for [...]
Punctuation – Full Stop
Apr 10th
Punctuation means the right use of stops in a sentence. The principal punctuation marks are: Full stop or period Comma Semicolon Colon Interrogation mark Exclamation mark Inverted commas or Quotation marks Full Stop The full stop represents the longest pause. It is used at the end of an assertive or imperative sentence: He is a [...]