Spring 2010Good Writing, Style

Questions from Ch. 1 and Ch. 3

How news is gathered

Associated Press, Reuters and other wire copy like PR Newswire

Reporters gather news

Week Three Readings

The Oatmeal Media College Grammar Girl

More on Good WritingAvoid long, complex sentences Put the best information first Sentence organization Write in active voice Avoid technical terms and jargon Avoid unnecessary words Get a thesaurus/dictionary

More on Good Writing (cont.)Avoid clichés If using slang, remember Can the sentence be written another

way? Some slang words/terms are not well

known Avoid generalizations and if List titles of sources first

Capitalization – titles Capitalize title of authority before a

namePresident Barack Obama or President Hosni

Mubarak

Use lowercase when standing alone or following a nameThe president met with the attorney general.

Capitalization – directions Capitalize names of specific regions and

areasMiddle East, East Allegheny

Use lowercase when referring to a compass directionThey headed east.

Capitalization Capitalize the if is part of organization

The American University in Cairo

Capitalize titles of poems, films, books, songs, TV shows, artwork, etc.

Use quotation marks around titles“The Grapes of Wrath”

Capitalization Capitalize and spell out first through

ninth in street names129 Fourth St.

Use numerals for 10th and above1549 21st Ave.

AbbreviationsAbbreviate months when used w/specific

datesOct. 2, 2007

In most cases, do not abbreviate the months of March, April, May, June or July

Proper names are always capitalizedSpanish book or French department

AbbreviationsSpell out first mentions of most

organizationsSubsequent references may use an

acronymThe American University in Cairo AUC

Abbreviations of well known organizations should not be spelled outYMCA, FBI, IBM

AbbreviationsAbbreviate doctor in all referencesAbbreviate most professional and

government titlesDr. Lisa Anderson

Do not abbreviate president or vice president or titles of cabinet officers

Names and TitlesUse a sources complete name on the

first referenceUse only the last name on subsequent

referencesDo not use Miss, Mr., etc. unless it is a

part of an accepted pseudonymMister Rogers

NumbersSpell out numbers from zero to nine

He gave me three dollars.

Use numerals for 10 and aboveThere were 16 apples in the basket.

Numbers at the start of a sentence are spelled outTen days later …

NumbersUse numerals w/distance, weight, ages,

etc.He is 5 feet 8 inches and weights 197 pounds.The store offered a 15 percent off coupon.oAnd spell out symbols like percent, point, etc.

When specifying time, use numerals, a.m. or p.m. and day or date4:15 p.m. Tuesday

Numbers / MoneyMoney in millions or more, round numbers

take the dollar sign; million and billion are spelled outThe lottery is only $1.35 million this week.

Numerals are used in amounts less than a millionThe company earned $125, 000 on that project.

Spell cents in amounts less than $1My brother found 15 cents.

CommaDrop the comma before the and when

you list items in a seriesHer dress was bright yellow, pink and red.

Tight Writing Exercise #1See handout

"Remember, the easiest thing for the reader to do is to quit reading.“

~Barney Kilgore, Wall Street Journal

Project #2: Audio Essay

Blogging Assignment