A

Abb or Abb X: abbreviations.	Ap or Ap X apostrophes.
Ad: Adjectives and Adverbs.	Art: articles.
Agr: agreement (Subject-Verb)
Agr: agreement (Pronoun).

Back to top

B

Br or Br X: brackets.

Back to top

C

C: commas.	Col or Col X: colons.
C2nd: additional comma needed.	Comp: incomplete comparisons.
Cap or Cap X: capitalization.	Cont: contractions.
Ch: choppy sentences.	CS: comma splices.
Circ: circular reasoning.	CX: unnecessary commas.
Cl: clichés.

Back to to

D

D, DT or DX: dashes.

Deg: comparative, superlative degree.

DM: dangling/misrelated modifiers.

Back to top

E

Ell, Ell T, or Ell X: ellipses.

EP: end punctuation.

Back to top

F

Fl: flabby sentences.

Frag: fragments.

FS: fused sentences.

Back to top

G

G or G1: glossary of usage.

Back to top

H

h/s: he or she.

Hy, Hy T, or Hy X: hyphens.

Back to top

I

Id: Idioms, idiomatic prepositions.	Inter: artificial interruptions.
Inf: informal, slang, regionalisms.	Irr: irregular verbs.
Intensive, reflexive: pronouns.	Ital, Ital T or Ital X: italics.

Back to top

J

J: jargon, pretentious language.

Back to top

M

Mix: shifts and mixed constructions.

Mixed met: mixed metaphors.

Back to top

N

N: numbers.

Neg: double negatives.

Back to top

P

Par: parallelism.	PC: pronoun case.
Paren or Paren X: parentheses.	Prep or Prep X: prepositions.
Part: participial endings.	PV: passive voice.
Past perf: past perfect.

Back to top

Q

QM: quotation marks.	QQ: quotations within quotations.
QMD: quotation marks with dialogue.	QMT or QMX: quotation marks.
QMP: punctuation with quotations.

Back to top

R

Red: redundancy.	Rep: repetition.
Ref: pronoun reference.	RO: run-on sentence.

Back to top

S

SC or SCX: semicolons.	Sim: simplify complicated sentences.
Sh or Pro sh: pronoun reference shifts.	SPL: spelling checklist.
Sh or VT sh: shifting tenses.	SV: subject-verb agreement.
SI: split infinitives.

Back to top

T

T: titles (punctuation).

Back to top

V

Var: vary sentence patterns.	VT: verb tense.
Voc: meaningless and lifeless words.	VTR or VI: transitive and intransitive verbs.
VS: subjunctive mood.

Back to top

W

Wdy: wordiness and repetition.

Wh: who and whom.

WW: wrong word.

Back to top

 

Part Five

MF: MANUSCRIPT FORM

THE ESSAY

WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE

QUOTING LITERATURE

CW: CREATIVE WRITING

DOCUMENTATION

 

Back to top

MF: Manuscript Form

1. Mrg: margins.	7. MFP: punctuation.
2. Hdg: heading.	8. MFQ: quotations.
3. MFT: title.	9. Cit: citations.
4. Spacing: spacing.	10. Mat: materials.
5. Ind: indentation.	11. Hwtg: handwriting.
6. Pg: pagination.

Back

The Essay

ET: titles.	EC: conclusion.
EI: introduction.	EO: outlines.
EPara: paragraphs.	ETop or ETh: topic, thesis.
ETrans: transitions.

Back

Writing about Literature

LO: avoid mystery openings.	L Terms: avoid using literary terms for their own sake.
LC: place commas carefully.	L11: do not repeat what was said in class.
LTh: make your thesis interpretative.	L Tone: maintain an objective tone.
LSum: avoid plot summary, paraphrase.	L Org: mechanical organization.
LCon: provide context.	LA: refer clearly to the author.
LVT: use present tense.	L15: unnecessary background.
LT: avoid dull titles.	L16: secondary sources.
LI: avoid the irrelevant "I"	LR: avoid in/of the poem/story/play.
LB: do not boast.	LSh: avoid this shows that.

Back

Quoting Literature

QLD: documentation.	QLI: introducing quotations.
QLN: enumeration.	QLV: vary handling of quotations.
QL Ex: extracted quotations.	QL Punc: punctuation.
QLP: quoting poetry.	QLC: comma.
QL Ell: ellipses.	QL Col: colon.
QL Changes: changes in quotations.	QL No punc: no punctuation.

Back

CW: Creative Writing

General Rules

CW1: obey basic writing rules.	CW Ad: use modifiers with restraint.
CW Show: show, don't tell.	CW Vul: vulgar language.
CW Con: consistent style and tone.	CW 6: archaic English.

Fiction and Drama

CWA: action.	CWD: introducing dialogue.
CWP: plot.	CW VT: verb tense.
CWC: characterization.

Poetry

PT: theme and idea.	PP: punctuating poetry.
PD: diction.	PR: rhyme.
PLE: line endings.	PM: meter.
PSS: sentence structure.	PF: formatting poetry.

Back

Documentation

Doc Resp: responsibilities.	Doc Bib: bibliography.
Doc Form: parenthetical citation.	Doc Notes: notes.

Back

Back to top