Investigates the influence of handwriting style and composition errors on the marking of essays. (DS)

Special issue devoted to the topic of standard spoken usage. (VM)

Outlines a method which can be used with native speakers of English as well as foreign learners, and which can be extended to the teaching of anything which lends itself to tagmemic analysis. (FB)

A study of a North Carolina newspaper indicates that newspapers using fully integrated electronic editing systems have fewer errors in spelling, punctuation, sentence construction, hyphenation, and typography than newspapers not using electronic editing. (GT)

Reprints the inaugural address of the 1986 president of the National Council of Teachers of English. Examines issues in English instruction such as emphasizing facts over reasoning; developing a sense of audience; mechanics; dialects; and literature instruction. (RS)

Claims that punctuation contributes substantially to writing effectiveness. Argues that punctuation's primary function is to signal the "prosody" (patterns of pitch, stress, and hesitations) that authors have in mind when they write. Observes that a sensitivity to the sound of written language is essential for the effective use of…

Describes ERIC as an up-to-date database that has relatively few items that center on conventions and mechanics, and yet there are hundreds of citations including ERIC descriptors such as spelling, grammar, and syntax. Presents a seven-item annotated bibliography of journal articles and books (published in ERIC between 1991 and 1993). (PA)

Discusses the government-approved simplification of French spelling, and describes rectifications of spelling problems frequently found in forming or using accents, verbs, hyphens, noun plurals, and other anomalies. (CB)

Discusses new rules on German orthography that went into effect in 1998. Only a few areas of German spelling and punctuation are affected, but some of the rules will result in spelling changes in German textbooks and German words that are taught in basic and advanced courses. Provides background information and a summary of the changes.…

Discusses the qualities it takes for journalism students to be good interviewers and outlines several guidelines to follow. Lists seven "Boy Scout rules of interviewing." Gives a list of eight points on how to "punctuate what people say." (SC)

Shows how an editing assignment emphasizing punctuation can help students in a first-year writing class discover new ideas and perspectives as part of the revision process. Considers a class that experimented with editing punctuation for a dual purpose--as a revision heuristic as well as for correctness. Reconsiders editing and revision…

This handbook for writers is designed to be a practical guide to the conventions of the English language in its written form. The handbook also offers information and advice on composition and grammar and on a selection of other editing- and publishing-related topics. Chapters in the book are: (1) Punctuation; (2) Capitals, Italics, and Quotation…

The 33 activities in this book reinforce the rules of written English by providing students with practice in editing a variety of formats. The activities help students develop a basic understanding of the rules of grammar and mechanics (generally taught in grades 8 and up) in context and exercise their critical thinking abilities by identifying…

This composition manual explains how to write a student essay: planning, organizing, and revising. It also offers standards for bibliography, format, grammar, and punctuation. (CNP)

"Writeability" is concerned with helping writers and editors produce materials on easier readability levels. A major input of most readability formulas is vocabulary difficulty. One way to increase readability is to use simple vocabulary or shorter words since word frequency studies show that more common words are shorter. The other…