Writing+-+Conventions

Helpful Writing Tips

All punctuation should go inside of quotation marks. - The boy said, "I love to write all of the time in Mr. Richhart's class." - We sang songs like "Shake It Off," and that made the bus ride more enjoyable. - I was like "whoa!"

Writing out all number from 0-99. - I saw two Eagles tackle the same player. - My friend was hoping to bring thirty-six dollars on the trip. - I woke up at six o'clock in the morning and had seven pancakes from breakfast.

What should I do with title of... - Movies, books, magazines, and music albums are always to be underlined or italicized. --- I love the book Number the Stars. --- I read this week's Rolling Stone Magazine that Taylor Swift's album 1989 is a top seller. - Title of articles, subtitles, or songs should be in quotes. --- I don't like the song "All About That Bass." --- The article, "When We Were Young," in Time Magazine was intriguing.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">When do I use "I" or "me?" <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- "I" Is used when it is the subject of the sentence. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">--- My sister and I went to the store. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">--- I love my classes this year. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">--- Ron, Mike, Jeff, and I went to the mall. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">-"Me" is usually found in the predicate. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">--- Jeff went to the mall and picked up a shirt for me. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">--- This class is so helpful to me and my deficiencies in writing.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Stop using (parenthesis)! <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- Find a better way to add information you are trying to squeeze into parenthesis.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">DON'T capitalize words for effect! <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- There is no need to capitalize a word or phrase to give it more power. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- The word will mean the same whether it is capitalized or not <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- If you need to, use a better word to emphasize its importance

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Stop trying to be cute in your formal writing. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- You are in 6th grade... act like it in your writing. You are beyond the point of trying to be cute or too silly in your formal writing. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">- You want to sound more intelligent in your writing.