Term
| Abbreviation Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
Some professional titles are abbreviated;0 some professional designations are written without periods, but academic degrees require periods. |
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Term
| Abbreviation Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
State names are usually spelled out; however, you should use the two-letter state abbreviations for state names when used as part of an inside address of a letter or on the envelope. |
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Term
| Abbreviation Language Skill Rule #3 |
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Definition
Use the abbreviation Re: In legal letters to represent regarding or subject. Note: In legal documents, the Re: line is not necessarily keyed below the salutation of a letter as it is the subject line in regular business correspondence. |
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Term
| Apostrophe Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
Use an apostrophe to form the possessive of nouns. For all singular nouns, add an 's. For a plural noun not ending in s, add 's. For a plural noun ending in s, add an apostrophe after the s. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
Capitalize the first word of a sentence. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
Capitalize names of people. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #3 |
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Definition
| Capitalize courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.) before names. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #4 |
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Definition
| Capitalize the brand names of products but not the product itself. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #5 |
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Definition
| Capitalize only the first letter of the important words in headings and titles. Conjunctions, articles, and prepositions ate not normally capitalized unless they are the first word of the heading or title. Titles of books should be italicized, underlines, or keyed in all capital letters. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #6 |
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Definition
| Nouns that precede numerals are capitalized except in the case of page, paragraph, line, note, size, and verse. Do not capitalize nouns when they follow numerals. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #7 |
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Definition
| Capitalize the names of individuals, buildings, organizations, religious groups, nationalities, and races. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #8 |
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Definition
| Capitalize professional titles when they immediately precede individual names. Do not capitalize titles following names except in an address or signature line. When referring to the President of the United States, the word President is always capitalized whether or not a name follows it. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #9 |
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Definition
| Capitalize days of the week, months of the year, and holidays. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #10 |
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Definition
| Capitalize the proper names of states, motels, and hotels, businesses, and cultural or entertainment facilities. Common names are not capitalized. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #11 |
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Definition
| Capitalize proper names of cities, states, rivers, mountains, etc. Common names are not capitalized. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skill Rule #12 |
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Definition
| Capitalize compass directions when they are used to name a particular part of the country. No not capitalize these words when they merely indicate a general location of directions. |
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Term
| Capitalization Language Skills Rule #13 |
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Definition
| When keying a legal document, use all capital letters for the names of the parties to a legal agreement. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence from the independent clause. (A dependent clause is a group of words that have a subject and verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. an independent clause is a group of words that have a subject and verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.) |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
| Use a comma or commas to set off a word or words that rename words they follow. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #3 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off parenthetical words or phrases that are not needed in the sentence. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #5 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off a series of three or more words, phrases, or clauses unless each word, phrase, or clause is separated by a conjunction. Be sure to put a comma before the last item in the series. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skills rule #6 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off introductory words or phrases. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #7 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to separate two independent clauses that are joined but the conjunctions and, but, or, and nor. The comma is placed before the conjunction. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #8 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to separate two adjectives that are of equal rank and modify the same noun. The word and could be placed between these adjectives, and the sentence would still read correctly. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #9 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off a prepositional phrase of four or more words at the beginning of a sentence. Do not use a comma to set off a prepositional phrase of less than four words. Although "of course" is a prepositional phrase, it is considered a parenthetical expression and is always set off by commas. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #10 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off the name of a person you are directly addressing. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #11 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to separate a date from the year and the year from the rest of the sentence. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #12 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to separate two unrelated numbers that are beside each other in a sentence. |
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Term
| Comma Language Skill Rule #13 |
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Definition
| Use a comma to set off a nonrestrictive subordinate clause. A nonrestrictive subordinate clause cannot stand alone and is dependent upon the main clause; however, it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. If the subordinate clause is restrictive and necessary to make the meaning of the sentence clear and complete, do not set it off in commas. |
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Term
| Dash Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
| Use the dash before words that summarize the preceding part of the sentence. |
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Term
| Dash Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
| Use a dash instead of a comma when emphasizing a repeated thought or statement. |
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Term
| Exclamation Point Language Skill rule #1 |
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Definition
| Use an exclamation point at the end of a thought expressing strong emotion or a command. |
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Term
| Hyphen Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
| Use a hyphen to join compound adjectives before a noun they modify as a unit. The word and cannot be placed between these adjectives because the sentence would not read correctly. |
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Term
| Hyphen Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
| Use a hyphen to show passage of time, except when used with the words form or between. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
| Spell out the house number one and use figures for all other house numbers. Spell out numbers ten ad below used for the names of streets; use figures for numbers above ten used as street names. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
| Except in format or legal writing, the day of the month and the year are usually written in figures. When the date appears in the body of a letter, the year is customarily omitted if it is the same as that which appears on the dateline. It is not necessary to use st, d, or th in dates unless the day is written before or is separated form the month. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #3 |
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Definition
| Percentages are written in figures followed by the word percent. The % symbol is used in tables and statistical data. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #4 |
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Definition
| Amounts of money, except in legal documents, are written in figures. Amounts less than one dollar are written in figures with the word cents following. In writing even sums of money, omit the decimal and double zeros. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #5 |
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Definition
| Use figures for numbers that follow an identifying noun. Use words for numbers that precede the identifying noun unless the number is above ten. Use words for numbers that begin a sentence. If the term number precedes a figure, use the abbreviation No. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill #6 |
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Definition
| Spell out numbers up to and including ten: use figures for numbers over ten. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill #7 |
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Definition
| Spell out time used with o'clock. Use figures for time with the abbreviations a.m. and p.m. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #8 |
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Definition
| Spell out common fractions appearing alone in ordinary writing. Write mixed numbers as figures. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #9 |
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Definition
| When keying monetary amounts in words within legal documents, begin each word with a capital letter followed by the monetary amount written in figures and enclosed in parentheses. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #10 |
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Definition
| Whole numbers are integers or counting numbers and do not include any fractions. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #11 |
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Definition
| Fractions are less than a whole number. |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #12 |
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Definition
| Mixed numbers include whole numbers with fractions. Note that fractions are written in figure format when they are part of a mixed number; the fractions include a numerator (number on top) and denominator (number on bottom) |
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Term
| Number/Figure Style Language Skill Rule #13 |
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Definition
| When you key 1/2, Microsoft Word will automatically print it as 1/2. When you key 1/4, it will automatically print it as 1/4 All other fractions will remain as keyed; for example, 1/3 will remain 1/3. Therefore, if you are using various mixed numbers in one sentence, it is best that they are uniform in appearance. If you have 1 1/3 in the same sentence as 2 1/2, delete the 1/2 in 2 and rekey it is 2 1/2. You can also hit the backspace immediately after keying 1/2 or 1/4 and the fraction will be changed to 1/2 and 1/4. |
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Term
| Parentheses Language Skill Rule #1 |
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Definition
| Use parentheses to enclose figures or letters that mark a series of enumerated elements within a sentence. |
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Term
| Parentheses Language Skill Rule #2 |
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Definition
| Use parentheses to enclose figures verifying a number that is spelled out. |
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