Please Try and be Reader Friendly - Very Informative

[Rajesh Nair]

Two of the more commonly used comprehensive style guides are “The Associated Press Stylebook,” commonly called “AP style,” and “The Chicago Manual of Style,” commonly called “Chicago style.” Nearly all of the recommendations in “Writing for and about WMU” are consistent with AP style, which is the standard for the styleguides of most universities and for writing for the Web.

Many of the more common errors of style, grammar and punctuation relate to emphasis. What we have to say is very important, and we want to be certain the reader knows it is very important. To demonstrate importance or to emphasize our point, we often violate basic rules.

Common errors

• Using ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
• Capitalizing Common Nouns
• Underlining words to create emphasis
• Placing words within quotation marks “to create emphasis”
• Using bold face or italic type to create emphasis
• Concluding sentences with more than one exclamation point!!!!

The use of these techniques creates print and electronic publications that are unattractive and difficult to read.

CAPITAL LETTERS and “quotation marks” should never be used for emphasis. Bold type, italic type, underlined words and exclamation points may be used for emphasis, but should be used sparingly.

Many style guides suggest that exclamation points should not be used in business writing. In any event, never use more than one exclamation point to end a sentence.

Make your meaning clear and emphasize your most important points by organizing your writing. Identify the points you wish to make. What is the single, central theme or purpose of this correspondence or publication? What are the important supporting themes or points? Identifying what you want to say before you try to say it will always produce better communication.

Always try to write from the perspective of the reader. What is obvious to you will not necessarily be obvious to your readers. When in doubt, it is better to err on the side of too much information.

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ranair