G0472 Week 11 : Consistency and Word Usage

1. G0472Week 11 :Consistency and Word Usage

2. Learning Outcomes The students are expected to be able to appy consistency in editing manuscripts.

3. Apply Consistency • Within an article: proper names, dates (chronology), etc. • Within a graphics layout (abbreviations, capitalization, fonts, etc.)

4. Apply Consistency • In a multipage layout (body text, headlines, captions, art elements) • In a story package, i.e. multiple stories, sidebars

5. Word Usage • This listing includes some of the troublesome words, terms, and expressions most frequently found in Experiment Station journal paper and bulletin manuscripts. • Any glossary of word usage assumes that what is acceptable for some uses may not be for others. Some terms and expressions are worn-out cliches and have outlived their usefulness; other expressions and terms, though not incorrect, are not precise.

6. Word Usage • Above ("the above method," "mentioned above," etc.) -- Often, you are referring to something preceding, but not necessarily above; a loose reference, convenient for writers, but not for readers. Be specific. You know exactly what and where, but your readers may have to search (sometimes through much preceding material). • Affect, effect -- Affect is a verb and means to influence. Effect, as a verb, means to bring about; as a noun, effect means result. • All of, both of -- Just "all" or "both" will serve in most instances.

7. Yes, you can begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction! If you decide to begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction, keep these three things in mind: • Be sure that a main clause follows the coordinating conjunction. • Do not use a coordinating conjunction to begin every sentence. Use this option only when it makes the flow of your ideas more effective. • Do not use a comma after the coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are not transitional expressions like for example or first of all. You will rarely use punctuation after them.

8. Examples • While I was answering the telephone, Buster, my cat, jumped onto the kitchen counter and swatted all of my jalapeño-stuffed olives onto the dirty kitchen floor. So I had to rinse off the cat hair and crumbs sticking to these delicacies before I could add them to the salad. • Flying down the bumpy path, Genette hit a rock with the front wheel of her mountain bike, flew over the handlebars, and crashed into a clump of prickly palmetto bushes. Yet even this accident would not deter her from completing the race.

9. Remember the differences! Apparently (apparent) -- means obviously, clearly, plainly evident, but also means seemingly or ostensibly as well as observably. You know the meaning that you intend, but readers may not. Ambiguity results. Use obvious(ly), clear(ly), seeming(ly), evident(ly), observable or observably, etc., as needed to remove doubt.

10. Read the following website to get the complete List: • Word Usage In Scientific Writing http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/checklist.html • The coordinating Conjunction http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htm