modifiers Numbers Numbers Differ according to style guide MLA use numerals for numbers above one hundred (starting with 101) MLA spell out numbers one hundred and below MLA spell out large round numbers (fifteen million) APA spell out numbers one through nine, 10 and above written numerically Both when one number immediately follows another, spell out one number and use numerals for other (three 100-meter events, 25 four-poster beds) Numbers use numerals according to convention Dates July 4, 1776; 56 BC; AD 30 Addresses 77 Latches Lane, 519 West 42 nd Street Percentages 55 percent (or 55%) Fractions, Decimals , 0.047 Scores 7 to 3, 21 18 Statistics average age 37, average weight 180 Surveys 4 out of 5 Exact amounts of money - $105. 37 Divisions of books volume 3, Chapter 4, page 189 Divisions of plays act 3, scene 3 (or act III, scene iii) Numbers (cont.) use numerals according to convention Identification numbers serial number 10988675 Time of Day 4:00 p.m., 1:30 a.m. When not using a.m. or p.m., write out the time in words (two oclock in the afternoon, twelve noon, seven in the morning) Exercise 22.1 1. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were 4 young men from Liverpool, England, who formed what would become the most popular rock band of all time. 4 = four 2. On January twenty-five, 1964, the Beatles first hit entered the U.S. charts. Twenty-five = 25 3. The song I Want to Hold Your Hand spent seven weeks at number one and 14 weeks in the top 40. 14 = fourteen Exercise 22.1 4. Almost immediately, the Beatles began to attract 1000s of screaming fans everywhere they went. 1000s = thousands 5. Throughout the nineteen-sixties, the Beatles were the worlds most popular group. Nineteen-sixties = 1960s 6. During the eight years of the Beatles reign on the charts, they had more than forty three-minute pop hits. Three-minute = 3-minute Exercise 22.1 7. By the 2 nd half of the decade, he Beatles had stopped touring. 2 nd = second 8. They performed live together for the last time on the roof of Three Savile Row, the headquarters of their doomed record company, Apple. Three = 3 9. 150 employees worked for Apple, which eventually went bankrupt. 150 = One hundred fifty 10. By no means did each Beatle earn twenty- five percent of the groups profits, for Lennon and McCartney wrote more than ninety percent of the songs. Ninety = 90 Parallelism Balance Parallel Ideas Balance parallel ideas in a series Children who study music also learn confidence, discipline, and they are creative. Children who study music also learn confidence, discipline, and creativity. Impressionist painters believed in focusing on ordinary subjects, capturing the effects of light on those subjects, and to use short brushstrokes. Impressionist painters believed in focusing on ordinary subjects, capturing the effects of light on those subjects, and using short brushstrokes. Balance Parallel Ideas Balance parallel ideas presented as pairs Parallel ideas linked with coordinating conjunctions Emily Dickinsons poetry features the use of dashes and capitalizing common words. Emily Dickinsons poetry features the use of dashes and the capitalization of common words. Balance Parallel Ideas Balance parallel ideas presented as pairs Parallel ideas linked with correlative conjunctions Eitheror, neithernor, not onlybut also, bothand, whetheror The clerk told me either to change my flight or take the train. The clerk told me either to change my flight or to take the train. Thomas Edison was not only a prolific inventor but also was a successful entrepreneur. Omit was Balance Parallel Ideas Repeat function words to clarify parallels By, to, that, because Our study revealed that left-handed students were more likely to have trouble with classroom desks and rearranging desks for exam periods was useful. Our study revealed that left-handed students were more likely to have trouble with classroom desks and that rearranging desks for exam periods was useful. Ex. E.4 Parallelism 1. The United States uses large amounts of energy, is depending heavily on oil, and imports much of that oil. energy, depends heavily 2. Burning oil for energy pollutes the air, destroys an irreplaceable commodity, and is wasting resources. and wastes resources. Ex. E.4 Parallelism 3. During the 1970s, an embargo made oil expensive and it was not easy to get. expensive and difficult to get. 4. The oil crisis led to a wider interest in alternative energy sources that would be renewable, environmentally sound, and would cost less than oil. sound, and less expensive than Ex. E.4 Parallelism 5. Some new homes used solar heating, although it was expensive to install and despite its being still relatively untested. Omit despite its being 6. Many Americans expected electric cars to be perfected and that they would be widely available by the end of the twentieth century. Omit that they would be Ex. E.4 Parallelism 7. Instead, the embargo ended, the cost of oil dropped, and there were declining gasoline prices. and gasoline prices declined. 8. At the same time, money to invent alternative energy technologies, to develop new products, and for marketing the products dried up. and to market the products Ex. E.4 Parallelism 9. Scientists and those who study the environment hope that there will be plentiful renewable energy sources someday. Scientists and environmentalists who study 10. It would be better to have alternative energy possibilities soon than waiting for the worlds oil reserves to run dry. soon than to wait for the worlds Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers Modifiers should point clearly to the words they modify As a rule, related words should be kept together! Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify Limiting modifiers = only, even, almost, nearly, just These should appear in front of a verb only if they modify the verb At first, I couldnt even touch my toes, much less grasp them. If they limit the meaning of some other word in the sentence, they should be placed in front of that word. The cathedral almost took six centuries to complete. The cathedral took almost six centuries to complete. Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify If you just interview chemistry majors, your picture of the student bodys response to the new grading policies will be incomplete. If you interview just chemistry majors, your picture of the student bodys response to the new grading policies will be incomplete. If you interview just chemistry majors, your picture of the student bodys response to the new grading policies will be incomplete. Put limiting modifiers in front of the words they modify In the United States in 1860, not all black southerners were slaves. In the United States in 1860, all black southerners were not slaves. In the United States in 1860, not all black southerners were slaves. Place phrases and clauses so that readers can see at a glance what they modify The soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in 2004 in a limousine sent by Adidas. He had surgery in a limousine??? Traveling in a limousine sent by Adidas, the soccer player returned to the clinic where he had undergone emergency surgery in 2004. Place phrases and clauses so that readers can see at a glance what they modify There are many pictures of comedians who have performed at Gavins on the walls. The comedians are performing on the walls? On the walls are many pictures of comedians who have performed at Gavins. The robber was described as a six-foot-tall man with a heavy mustache weighing 170 pounds. Thats a heavy mustache!!! The robber was described as a 170-pound, six-foot-tall man with a heavy mustache. Place phrases and clauses so that readers can see at a glance what they modify A squinting modifier leads to ambiguity The exchange students we met for coffee occasionally questioned us about our latest slang. Did they meet occasionally? Or did the questioning happen occasionally? The exchange students we occasionally met for coffee questioned us about our latest slang. The exchange students we met for coffee questioned us occasionally about our latest slang. Move awkwardly placed modifiers A sentence should flow from subject to verb to object without lengthy detours along with way Hong Kong, after more than 150 years of British rule, was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997. After more than 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997. After more than 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong was transferred back to Chinese control in 1997. Avoid awkward split infinitives Infinitive = to plus base form of a verb (to think) Split infinitive = modifier between to and verb (to carefully balance, to completely understand) When a long word or phrase appears between parts of the infinitive, result is usually awkward If possible, the patient should try to avoid going up and down stairs. The patient should try to if possible avoid going up and down stairs. If possible, the patient should try to avoid going up and down stairs. Dangling Modifiers Modifier fails to refer logically to any word in the sentence Opening the window to let out a huge bumblebee, the car swerved into an oncoming truck. The document understood the need for checks and balances? Opening the window to let out a huge bumblebee, Sally lost control and the car swerved into an oncoming truck. Exercise 10.1 1. Recently, several sports have gained popularity that no one had heard of thirty years ago. Recently, several sports that no one had heard of thirty years ago have gained popularity. 2. With a name that suggests their dangerous allure, members of Generation X are attracted to these athletic events. With a name that suggests their dangerous allure, extreme sports are attracting members of Generation X. Exercise 10.1 3. These Generation X games often involve going to inaccessible places, which include snowboarding and sky-surfing. These Generation X games, which include snowboarding and sky-surfing, often involve going to inaccessible places. 4. Snow activities are especially popular that can be done on remote mountain-tops. Snow activities that can be done on remote mountain-tops are especially popular. Exercise 10.1 5. Some of these sports have become so widely accepted that participants can now compete in the Olympics, such as freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Some of these sports, such as freestyle skiing and snowboarding, have become so widely accepted that participants can now compete in the Olympics. 6. Gasping at the antics of snowboarders, mountain bikers, and other athletes, these daredevils prove that the sports world really has changed. Gasping at the antics of snowboarders, mountain bikers, and other athletes, fans can see that the sports world really has changed. Exercise 10.1 7. Only these in-your-face athletes are a small part of what is interesting about the changes taking place in sports today. These in-your-face athletes are only a small part of what is interesting about the changes taking place in sports today. 8. Occasionally, even fans of extreme sports know that the quest for adventure leads people into dangerous situations. Even fans of extreme sports know that the quest for adventure occasionally leads people into dangerous situations. Exercise 10.1 9. Environmentalists also point out unfortunately that in some remote wilderness areas, extreme sports are taking their toll on nature. Environmentalists also point out that in some remote wilderness areas, extreme sports are unfortunately taking their toll on nature. 10. Probably, whether people love them or hate them, extreme sports will continue to inspire extreme reactions. Whether people love them or hate them, extreme sports will probably continue to inspire extreme reactions. For next Wednesday... Read chapter on cause & effect writing