Number usage: fractions
Spell out fractions standing alone or followed by of a, of an, or of the.
The gap was three fourths of an inch.
Hyphenate fractions when they are used as adjectives and spelled out.
There was a two-thirds majority in favor.
Use numerals for mixed fractions unless they begin a sentence.
The recipe calls for 3 1/2 tablespoons of oil.
Four and one-quarter percent is the current interest rate.
Number usage: large numbers
Use numerals for numbers through the thousands.
There were 3,450 people in attendance.
Use text for large round numbers.
The city has more than one hundred thousand inhabitants.
Use numerals and text in numbers in the millions or larger.
The population of the United States is almost 304.1 million.
Use commas for numbers with more than three digits.
The book has 1,234 pages.
Number usage: text or digits?
Spell out one through nine. Use numerals for 10 and above.
There are three rules listed in this blog post.
We will probably cover over 12 rules concerning number usage.
If a sentence or paragraph contains multiple numbers applying to the same category, treat them consistently. If one must use numerals, then all should use numerals.
In three months, I presented 85 grammar posts and 5 non-grammar posts.
Spell out a number at the beginning of the sentence or rephrase the sentence.
Two-hundred people attended the concert.
The concert was attended by 250 people.
Fiesty beige soldiers receive brief reign
Yes, that is a strange title, but notice all the ie and ei words.
Here is a familiar spelling rhyme for ie and ei.
i before e
except after c
or when sounding like a
as in neighbor and weigh
Of course there are exceptions to this rule. Here are just a few of them:
– seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure, counterfeit, forfeit, neither
– friend, conscience, science, sufficient, mischief, financier
The stitch in this seam doesn't seem right
seem means to appear outwardly
seam means joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
silicon means a nonmetallic element (hard)
silicone means a polymer made from silicon (rubbery)
suit means a matching jacket and trousers
suite means one of a group of connected rooms
torturous means painful
tortuous means having many turns
An envelope envelops the letter inside
envelope is a noun meaning something used to enclose
envelop is a verb meaning to enclose
fount is something from which water flows
font is a receptacle for holy water
quit means to stop doing something
quite means very, as in quite large
quiet means with little or no sound
real means not artificial, as in This is real ice cream.
really means actually, as in I am really tired today.
I'll be devastated if you renege on your promise.
devastate not devistate
hierarchy not hiarchy
lambaste not lambast
renege not renigg
risque not riska
taught not tought
Run a spellchecker, then congratulate yourself.
acquaintance not aquaintence
affidavit not affidavid
cacophony not caucaphony
cataracts not cataracs
congratulations not congradulations
definitely not definately
Don't be needlessly wordy
Don’t use more words than necessary. Here are a few examples of words that are often preceded by completely–which means fully, totally or utterly. These words are extremes and cannot be made more extreme so the use of completely is unnecessary.
annihilate means to reduce to nothing
destroy means to damage beyond use
eliminate means to destroy so that it no longer exists
ignorant means without knowledge
monopolize means to dominate something by excluding everyone else
surround means to enclose on all sides
unnecessary means not necessary
Prepare now for the common-cold season
Prepare by practicing your common-cold-related spelling.
The common cold is a viral upper respiratory tract infection that causes the mucous membranes to secrete mucus producing phlegm. Since it is viral, not bacterial, there is usually no need for prescription medication. Often acetaminophen, decongestants or antihistamines are used for relief. It is contagious and hard to develop a resistance against due to its many variations.
[I am not giving medical advice here. I am just rambling to use all the words.]