Grammar+Guide

General** Grammar Guide ** 1. Keep paragraphs short as the newsprint will stretch the apparent length of each paragraph. Breaking for new paragraphs often will make the paper more reader-friendly. 2. Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns in a title or subtitle. 3. When describing the grades of students, the word “Grade” should have the letter G capitalized and the grade level written in digit form. a) CORRECT: VP students voted for Grade 11 student Prathik Muppidi.  b) INCORRECT: VP students voted for grade eleven student Prathik Muppidi. c) INCORRECT: VP students voted for grade 11 student Prathik Muppidi.  4. All titles should be italicized. This includes song titles, movies, books, albums, and video games, but not proper nouns such as place names, people, restaurant, or band names. Capitalize major words in all titles unless otherwise specified.   a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: //Stadium Arcadium// was produced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2006. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: “Stadium Arcadium” was produced by the //Red Hot Chili Peppers// in 2006.  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">c) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Stadium Arcadium was produced by the “Red Hot Chili Peppers” in 2006. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">5. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When referring to a Victoria Park sports team or club, capitalize the first letter of each word (including the words “team” and/or “club”). There should be no apostrophe after the gender adjective. Do not put the team’s name in quotation marks nor italicize it. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: The Varsity Boys Baseball Team won the silver medal.  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: The varsity boys baseball team won the silver medal. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">c) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: The varsity Boys Baseball team won the silver medal.  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">d) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: The Varsity Boys’ baseball team won the silver medal. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When referring to the stages of competition of a sports team or club, capitalize the first letter of the name of the stage. Also, if the stage requires a prefix, there should be no dash between the prefix and the root word. Watch out for when the stage name should have an “s” on the end and when it should not. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE 1:   Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: The Senior Boys Soccer Team reached the Regional Quarterfinals.    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: The Senior boys soccer team reached the regionals’ quarter-finals.    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: The Senior boys Soccer Team reached the Regional Quarter-Final.   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE 2: Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych in the Wimbledon Final. Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych in the Wimbledon Finals. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">c) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE 3:   Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: Michael Phelps set a World Record in the Semifinal swim.    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Michael Phelps set a world record in the semi-final swim.    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Michael Phelps set a World Record in the Semifinals swim.   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">7. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All punctuation in a quote should be inside quotation marks.   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">8. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Quotation marks should be used for quotations or for an expression of exaggeration, sarcasm, or opinion, but not for titles. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">9. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To start off a quote, use a colon and quotation marks, not commas. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: Betty exclaimed: “I will rap at a Friday event!”  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Betty exclaimed, “I will rap at a Friday event!” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">c) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Betty exclaimed: “I will rap at a Friday event”! (Notice how though the colon was used, the punctuation was outside the quotation marks.)  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">10. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, when a writer breaks a quote into more than one part, commas should be used in all transitions.   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: “My ideas for Treasurer<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">, ” Varun Desai said in his speech<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">, “include posting the SLC’s budget on Facebook.” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: “My ideas for Treasurer<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">. ” Varun Desai said in his speech<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">: “include posting the SLC’s budget on Facebook.”  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">11. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Avoid using “etc.” in articles. If the writer has something more to write, he or she should write it. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">12. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When using acronyms or abbreviations, write the full name with the acronym or abbreviation in brackets the first time it appears. From then on in the article, the writer is free to use the acronym or abbreviation in its shortened form. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE: The Model United Nations (MUN) club achieved great results at the Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly (SOMA).  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">NOTE: Common acronyms can be exempt from this rule. Common acronyms include (but are not limited to): TV, VP, VPCI, DECA, NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, CFL, FIFA, HIV, AIDS, TDSB, NASA, MTV, CEO, CFO, any television or radio call sign, etc. //(Don’t use this last word in your articles).// <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">13. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Do not put periods after each letter in an acronym. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: VPCI’s Chess Team //(notice how first letter of the name of the team is capitalized)// did extremely well in the City Finals //(and notice how the stage of the competition is written correctly)//.  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: V.P.C.I’s chess team did extremely well in the city’s finals. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">14. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For an article in direct question and answer interview format, write the initials of the interviewer before each question and the interviewee’s initials before each answer. However, write the full first and last names of the interviewer and the interviewee before the first set of question and answer. No periods are needed after each letter of the initials. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">15. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bold all questions and the interviewer’s initials in an interview. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE:   **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shaké Sarkhanian: “What’s it like being sports editor of the Panther Press?” **  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Harry Dai: “Well, I really enjoy it…”   **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SS: “Are you part of any sports teams yourself?” **  <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">HD: “Yes, I am a volleyball player.”   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">16. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Square brackets should be used if writers/ed wish to clarify the context of a quote.   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE: Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Original quote: “He was the MVP two years in a row,” Mr. Ivens told me. Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Clarified quote: “[Prasana] was the MVP two years in a row,” Mr. Ivens told me. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">17. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">An ellipsis should be used to show part of the quote has been omitted if the writer has excluded part of a quote. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE:    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Original quote: Trustee Coteau said: “ <span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I kinda got by with 50s and 60s. My whole academic career until actually I hit university and then I became a B+ student, which is exceptionally big for me, considering where I came from. I had to keep trying and went to summer school every single year.” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Partial quote: Trustee Coteau said: “ <span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I kinda got by with 50s and 60s…I had to keep trying and went to summer school every single year.” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">18. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Serial commas should be used in a list. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: Isabel, Harry, and Sarah are editors for the Arts and Entertainment, Sports, and Spotlight sections, respectively.   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: Isabel, Harry and Sarah are editors for the Arts and Entertainment, Sports and Spotlight sections, respectively. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">19. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Usually, punctuation goes outside of parentheses, except when the entire sentence is in the parentheses or there is a question mark or exclamation mark. As a general rule, try to avoid using parentheses in articles. Rewrite the sentence to improve flow. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">a) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE 1:   Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: The Panther Press editors met every Wednesday after school (except when there was a lockdown last week).    Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: The Panther Press editors met every Wednesday after school (except when there was a lockdown last week.)   <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">b) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">EXAMPLE 2: Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CORRECT: (Usually, you would not have an entire sentence inside brackets like this one.) Ø <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">INCORRECT: (Usually, you would not have an entire sentence inside brackets like this one). <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">20. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As a general rule, articles should be 400-500 words in length. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">21. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Big events, spotlights with considerable significance, and front page articles can be up to 800 words (maximum). <span style="font-family: Tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">