Chapter 9: Spelling, Capitalization, and Abbreviations 3140 Technical Editing

Chapter 9: Spelling, Capitalization, and Abbreviations

3140 Technical Editing

Importance Errors demonstrate carelessness Credibility suffers May impair reader comprehension

Spelling Guidelines

Use spell checker Use a dictionary Keep a list of frequently misspelled words Develop mnemonics

Principal (school official—your “pal”) Stationery (writing paper)

Spelling Guidelines

Learn root words, prefixes, and suffixes sub—under mis—indicates error or wrongness dis—indicates negation in—not

Spelling Guidelines

Apply spelling rules Final “e” Final consonant (doubled with past tense or

“ing” form) web

Able/ible Respect the limits of your knowledge

Know your weaknesses

Spelling Useful list

http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk4.html

Frequently Misused Words List 143-145 More

http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk3.html

Capitalization First word of a sentence Titles People Days, months, holidays I Proper nouns

Capitalization Names of specific regions Adjectives of geographic names

Abbreviations When to use an abbreviation? Why use an abbreviation? How to punctuate abbreviations?

Summary Correct spelling, capitalization, and

abbreviations increase the accuracy and clarity of writing. Experience with language and understanding of its rules will help editors work quickly and accurately on these aspects of a document, but good editors will also depend on dictionaries and style manuals. These resources establish conventions and aid in consistency. (Rude, 3rd ed. 151)