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Essential Grammar Guidelines for Writing Dates, Numbers, and Titles

Master the essentials of grammar with this comprehensive guide covering key rules for writing dates, numbers, and titles. Learn to always use Arabic figures for numbers, spell out months unless abbreviating specific ones, and appropriately capitalize titles. Discover crucial distinctions between conjunctions and prepositions, the correct use of semicolons, and the importance of avoiding colloquial language. This guide ensures clarity and correctness in your writing, vital for effective communication in any context.

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Essential Grammar Guidelines for Writing Dates, Numbers, and Titles

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  1. Grammar Crammers 1-10 G. Herbst 2011

  2. Dates • Always use Arabic figures (1, 2, 3… not I, II, III…) without st, nd, th, or rd. • Spell out all months unless used with a date • When used with a date, only abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. • When months begin sentences they must be spelled out • Examples • The game took place on Oct. 23, 2011. • October 23, 2011 was the date of the game. • Classes began Sept. 6. • Homecoming takes place in October.

  3. Numbers • One through ten are spelled out • 11 and above are written numerically • Unless the number begins a sentence • then spell out

  4. Names • Always use first and last names upon first mention for anyone • For the second mention in the same story, only use the person’s last name • Example: Dr. Gary Woods is the new superintendant for BHUSD. Woods’s last job was in San Marino.

  5. Titles • Confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual’s name • Basic guidelines: • Lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an individual’s name • Ex: The president issued a statement. • Lowercase and spell out titles when set off from a name by commas • Ex: The vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, declined to run again. • Capitalize formal titles when they are used immediately before one or more names • Ex: Principal Carter Paysinger, Student Body President Joe Shmoe • Do not capitalize teacher or student

  6. Classes and Sports Teams • Do not capitalize unless using a specific title or if class name is already a proper noun • Ex: English, social studies, Algebra II, algebra, chemistry, AP Chemistry, Spanish, US History, biology, AP European History, drama, Advanced Journalism • Names of sports teams are never capitalized • Only JV is capitalized • If using the gender in the name of the team, the apostrophe goes on the outside of the s • Ex: girls’ varsity basketball, football, track, boys’ JV soccer

  7. Where at • Do not use at to end a sentence using where • Ex: • Incorrect: That was where he was at. • Correct: That was where he was. • Incorrect: Where is the party at? • Correct: Where is the party?

  8. As/like • As • Conjunction • Correct word to introduce clauses • Ex: Jim blocks the linebacker as he should. • Like • Preposition • Use to compare nouns and pronouns; requires an object. • Ex: Jim blocks like a pro.

  9. Double negatives: NO, NO! • I didn’t do nothing is a double negative. • didn’t is negative; nothing is negative • Each negative cancels out the other • This is Colloquial English • does not follow the rules of standard grammar

  10. Because/Since • Because • Used to denote a specific cause-effect relationship • Ex: He went because he was told. • Since • Acceptable in a casual sense when the first event in a sequence led logically to the second but was not its direct cause • Ex: They went to the game, since they had been given the tickets.

  11. Imply/Infer • Imply • Writers or speakers imply in the words they use • Infer • A listener or reader infers something from the words they hear or read

  12. Semicolon • Used to indicate greater separation of thought and information than a comma can convey but less than a period implies. • It is generally best to avoid semicolons to link independent clauses and always opt for separate sentences.

  13. Semicolons • To clarify a series: • use to separate elements of a series when items in the series are long or when individual segments contain material that must also be set off by commas. • Ex: He is survived by a son, John Smith, of Chicago; three daughters, Jane Smith, of Wichita, Kan., Mary Smith, of Denver, and Susan, of Boston; and a sister, Martha, of Omaha, Neb. (Note usage of semicolon before final and)

  14. Semicolons • To link independent clauses: • Use when a coordinating conjunction such as and, but or for is not present • Ex: The package was due last week; it arrived today. • Attempt to avoid this usage by creating separate sentences. • If coordinating conjunction is present, use semicolon before it only if extensive punctuation is required in one or more of the individual clauses • Ex: They pulled their boats from the water, sandbagged the retaining walls, and boarded up the windows; but even with these precautions, the island was hard-hit by the hurricane.

  15. Semicolons • Placement with quotes • Place semicolons outside quotation marks

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