Writing Guide

[UA Fan]

Alumni (plural): a group of graduates. Correct: "The Class of 2010 are now alumni of the University of Akron"; Incorrect: "I am an alumni of the U of A".

Alumnus (singular): a male graduate; E.g. "Keith Dambrot is a U of A alumnus"

Alumna: (singular): a female graduate..."she is an alumna of the U of A"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alumnus

"Alumni" (a plural form) is often incorrectly used as a singular form for both genders; for example, "I am an alumni of Duke University," as opposed to "I am an alumnus/alumna of Duke University." This usage is erroneous in formal or historic usage. The prevalence of this usage is likely due to an ignorance of Latin grammar and the fact that printed documents and university merchandise almost always use the plural form of the word.

[UA Fan]

it's = it is. E.g. "It's supposed to rain tomorrow" ("It is supposed to rain tomorrow")

its (possessive); E.g. "The team gave its best effort on the field"

[Blue & Gold]

Thanks, UAFan!

But I think your title should read, "Writing Guide: It's Never Too Late To Learn"

Lol

Just joshin' w/ you bud. I honestly appreciate the alumni-alumnus-alumna info. I often incorrectly use "alumni."

[Blue & Gold]

it's = it is. E.g. "It's supposed to rain tomorrow" ("It is supposed to rain tomorrow")

its (possessive); E.g. "The team gave its best effort on the field"

Along these lines, it would be: Correct - "The Zips scored a touchdown."

But how about this one, English majors... "The Zips' new fieldhouse." You put the possessive apostrophe after "Zips," correct?

[zip37]

And 'data' = plural i.e. > [greater than] one , datum = singular.

[UA Fan]

it's = it is. E.g. "It's supposed to rain tomorrow" ("It is supposed to rain tomorrow")

its (possessive); E.g. "The team gave its best effort on the field"

Along these lines, it would be: Correct - "The Zips scored a touchdown."

But how about this one, English majors... "The Zips' new fieldhouse." You put the possessive apostrophe after "Zips," correct?

You got it. People often want to use an apostrophe to form a plural, as in "The Zip's scored a touchdown". Major no-no

[UA Fan]

Thanks, UAFan!

But I think your title should read, "Writing Guide: It's Never Too Late To Learn"

Did I do that?! Er, I mean, Good catch...you passed the test!

[Zipmeister]

Bye the way, I originally thought that this is the best thread ever published on this board. Than I reconsidered; now I can think of to that is better.

[Dr Z]

Good thread topic. I'm pretty easy since I'm a right brain thinker.

Don't use all caps. Start a sentence with a capital letter. End a sentence with a period.

Learn to use the insert link, and insert image buttons (I hate when somebody pastes a link in the thread, especially since I made a how to.).

The rest I can deal with.

Oh yeah, I forgot my biggest complaint, junking up threads by hitting the wrong reply button. I made a how to on that also. Nothing worse for me than navigating through a thread that four people replied to a five paragraph post and have the post repeated over and over. I used to "clean" threads up, but it became a part time job.

[UADavid]

A vs an. The rule is that you use a before words that start with a consonant sound and an before words that start with a vowel sound. Make sure every marketing idea is correctly written before submitting to UA. The proof readers at UA have, in the past, been awol.

[Dave in Green]

Correct hyphenation can make a significant difference in meaning. One of the warnings below is more appropriate for the beach, and the other for a seafood restaurant:

Look out for the man eating shark.

Look out for the man-eating shark.

The rule is to use a hyphen with compound adjectives, which are formed when two or more adjectives work together to modify the same noun.

[UA Fan]

Correct hyphenation can make a significant difference in meaning. One of the warnings below is more appropriate for the beach, and the other for a seafood restaurant:

Look out for the man eating shark.

Look out for the man-eating shark.

The rule is to use a hyphen with compound adjectives, which are formed when two or more adjectives work together to modify the same noun.

Good one. Saw this group on facebook: "Let's eat Grandma" or "Let's eat, Grandma" -- punctuation saves lives !

[UA Fan]

Bye the way, I originally thought that this is the best thread ever published on this board. Than I reconsidered; now I can think of to that is better.

Witch won's ?

[Zippysgotagun]

Shall I launch into a lengthy dissertation on the differences between "there," "they're," and "their"?

By the way, note the placement of the commas (not comma's) in that sentence.

[Blue & Gold]

Yes, good work with the placement of your commas. They belong inside the quotation marks, not outside. Common error.

So, good show, Zippysgotagun! Or should it read, "Zippy'sgotagun?" Lol.

And, ZNO, notice the placement of the question mark.

[UA Fan]

Shall I launch into a lengthy dissertation on the differences between "there," "they're," and "their"?

By the way, note the placement of the commas (not comma's) in that sentence.

I never liked that rule so I often ignore that one

[UA Fan]

And "noone" is not a word. Try "no one". (notice my rebellious placement of the period)

[MDZip]

And "noone" is not a word. Try "no one".

Peter Noone would beg to differ.

[UADavid]

And "noone" is not a word. Try "no one".

Peter Noone would beg to differ.

Or Jasper "Buddy" Noone Blood Work

[ZachTheZip]

You guys would love Bob the Angry Flower's guide to grammar.

[Zipmeister]

Whoever wrote the statement attributed to Shawn that appears on Rasor's site could teach most of the participants on this board a thing or two about writing.

[UA Fan]

"would have"/"could have"/"should have"

rather than

would of, could of, should of...

[ZachTheZip]