Title: Grammar
1Grammar
- Engineering Communications
2sin (a) 3 4 ? 2 11 or 14?
3(No Transcript)
4Technical Writing
5Overview
- Sentence structure
- Subject verb agreement
- Noun pronoun agreement
- Word choice
- Punctuation
- Capitalization
- Numbers
- Secrets for Readability
- Peer edit
- Self edit
- Formats
6Sentence Structure
- Identify each sentence as
- Simple
- Compound
- Complex
- Compound-complex
7Sentence Structure - Simple
- Simple independent clause (can have more than
one subject and verb) - The engineer designed the project.
- The engineer and the architect designed and built
the project.
8Sentence Structure - Compound
- Compound two independent clauses joined by a
semicolon () or a comma with a conjunction (and,
or, but, for, nor, so, yet). - The dog barked, so the cat ran.
- The bird flew the cat leaped.
9Sentence Structure - Complex
- Complex one independent clause and one
dependent clause (which, that, where, since,
because, etc.) - Since the dog barked, the cat ran.
- The bird flew because the cat leaped.
10Sentence Structure Compound-Complex
- Compound-complex at least two independent
clauses and at least one dependent clause. - While the dog was barking, the cat was running,
and the bird was flying.
11Please underline the run-on sentences and circle
the fragments.
12Lift control devices on aircraft are used to
control the vehicle in roll, pitch, and yaw
conventional control devices tend to be bulky,
heavy, and often require complex systems for
actuation and support. Because these devices are
prone to flutter. They require special attention
in the vehicle design and development stage. In
addition, conventional control. Devices tend to
require intensive and costly maintenance thus the
application of micro-electro-mechanical
translational elements, MicroTabs, in the
trailing-edge region of lifting surfaces for lift
control instead of conventional control systems
is investigated.
13Subject Verb Agreement
- A singular subject needs a singular verb while a
plural subject needs a plural verb. - Ignore phrases and clauses that separate a
subject with the verb. - If multiple subjects are joined with and, use a
plural verb. - A singular verb should be used after each,
everyone, everybody, nobody, somebody, every,
one, another, and much. - A plural verb should be used after both, few,
many, others, and several. - If a group is acting as unit, a singular verb is
used. If the members of the group are acting
separately, a plural verb should be used.
14Noun Pronoun Agreement
- Nominative vs. Objective
- Who / Whom match the m
- Who was chosen?
- (He was chosen.)
- Whom did you ask?
- (I asked him.)
15Noun Pronoun Agreement
- Agree in numbers
- Each engineer must meet with their interns.
- Each engineer must meet with his interns.
- Engineers must meet with their interns.
16Noun Pronoun Agreement
- Agree in usage
- Reflexive
- You must see if for yourself.
- Demonstrative pronoun vs. adjective
- (this, these, those)
- We must learn about pronouns because this is
important. - This example is important.
17No Personal References
- Avoid use of personal references I, we, our,
or us. - Replace with company, department, or product name
(Marketing 101 say it ten times) - We thoroughly researched the project.
- UNR thoroughly researched the project.
18Practice
- Please proofread the paragraph and make
appropriate changes.
19Alpha Systems decided to change its prototype.
The change in the computers is needed because the
customers are unhappy. Therefore, the
supervisors must meet with their designers to
make the changes. Whoever has concerns can
contact Tom or me.
20Punctuation - Comma
- Use a comma where there is a list of three or
more items. Do not use a comma if there are only
two items. - The panda eats shoots and leaves.
- The panda eats, shoots, and leaves.
- The panda eats, shoots and leaves.
21Punctuation - Comma
- Use a comma to set off an introductory dependent
clause. - Because the results were wrong, the project was
rejected. - Use a comma in a sentence where two complete
thoughts are used and separated by and, or, but,
for, nor, so, or yet. - Use a comma to separate the year from the day,
but a comma is not used to separate the year from
the month. - January 28, 2013
- January 2013
22Punctuation - Semicolons
- Use a semicolon instead of a coordinating
conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor, so, or yet). - The scientist found the results the engineer
disagreed. - Use a semicolon when two independent clauses are
joined by a transition expression (however,
furthermore, therefore, accordingly, etc.). - The scientist found the results however, the
engineer disagreed. - Use a semicolon for a long list if commas make
the meaning confusing (do not use and after a
semicolon). - She needed several items rulers for measuring
pieces of wood to create the model pen, pencil,
and paper to sketch the design calculator for
analysis.
23Punctuation - Colons
- Use a colon after a salutation in a business
letter. - Dear Dr. Joe
- Use a colon for a long list (do not use after a
verb or preposition). - The part lists includes the following items
speakers, CD player, keyboard, mouse, and
monitor. - Use a colon to separate a title from a subtitle
or hours and minutes. - Grammar for Engineers A Complete Guide
24Punctuation Quotation Marks
- Periods and commas always go inside the quotation
marks. - Colons and semicolons always go outside of the
quotation marks. - Question marks and exclamation points can go
either place. - The speaker asked, How many people like Six
Sigma? - When will the speaker stop saying um?
25Punctuation Creating Emphasis
- Emphasis
- De-emphasis parenthesis
- The managers (all engineers) were successful in
winning the proposal. - Neutral emphasis commas
- Dr. Joe, the professor, was late to class.
- Extra emphasis dashes
- We should diagnosebefore calling maintenancethe
problem.
26Capitalization
- Capitalize all official titles of honor and
respect when they precede personal names. Do not
capitalize the title if the name follows it or is
set off by commas. - Capitalize all academic degrees that follow a
name, whether they are abbreviated or written
out. - Capitalize trade names.
- Post-it notes
- Do not capitalize seasons or time (a.m. or p.m.)
27Word Choice
- Avoid clichés
- spark an interest
- Avoid contractions
- Avoid addressing the audience
- As seen in the appendix
- See the appendix
- Refer to the append
- Use keywords strategically (avoid overuse)
- Win-win synergy innovative sustainable
28Word Choice
- Avoid slang
- Avoid mean words
- Obviously
- Basically
- In simple terms
- Avoid SAT words (resist the urge to right click
synonyms) - Choose correct word
- further / farther
- between / among
29Practice
- Please choose the correct word.
30- What did Dr. Joe infer from the report showing
how the chemical affects the test? - The interns continually break the equipment.
Because the project is so mundane, they are
uninterested in doing the work. - Just among the four of us, I am eager to go on
vacation. I hope that we go farther away than
London. - Please lay fewer pieces of stationery on the desk
of the principal.
31Numbers
- Basic Rule Numbers from zero to ten are
expressed as words. Numbers from 11 and above
are expressed as digits.
32Numbers - Express as Words
- If the number begins a sentence.
- If two numbers are being used together (use
smaller of two) - Two 3-pocket file folders
- For approximations
- About a thousand
- If using ordinals
- The eleventh person
- If the work oclock is understood
- It is five.
33Numbers Express as Digits
- For dates and times
- If the number follows a noun such as page,
chapter, etc. - Page 4
- Chapter 3
- If a unit follows a number, always use digit
form. Use periods for American units no periods
for SI units. - 2 in.
- 2.5 cm
34Numbers Be Consistent
- Correct
- two-by-four inch piece of wood
- 2 in. x 4 in.
- Incorrect (mixing abbreviations)
- 2 by 4 inches.
35Secrets of Readable Writing
- Use figures
- Use headings and subheadings
- Use topic sentences
36Self Edit
37Self Edit
- Proofread important or technical material at
least twice. - To check numbers, try to read numbers
digit-by-digit backwards. - Use a yellow sheet of paper to go line by line.
- Read the material backwards. It prevents your
brain from filling in missing information. - Check all calculations in tables. This is
especially important when using Excel with
formulas. Excel will calculate several decimal
places even if it only displays a few decimals
places.
38- This paper shows that being a faithful agent to
each employer should be the second highest Canon
in the Code of Ethics. As seen in Fig. 1, after
Canon 1, this is the most frequently sighted in
cases. By increasing the order of importance, it
will hopefully illustrate that engineers should
view employers standards very highly. We need
to recognize the ethical importance of the
business we are in.
39(No Transcript)
40Peer Edit
41Peer Edit
- Avoid changing the meaning
- Avoid being a wordsmith
- Delete as much as possible
42References
- In-text citations
- ENGR 301, website
- Reference Section
- ENGR 301 (website). Retrieved from
http//www.engr.unr.edu/courses/301. - The references in the Reference Section must
match the references in the text.
43Figures
- Use Fig. unless beginning a sentence
- Have a descriptive caption
- Center caption and figure
- Place caption below figure
- If not original work, cite reference in caption
44Tables
- Have a descriptive caption
- Center caption and table
- Place unit in cell or in heading
- Place caption above table
- If not original work, cite reference in caption
45Equations
- Use Eq. () unless beginning a sentence.
- Line space above and below equation
- Right justify equation number (use a text box)
- Equation must be written as an equation (not
keyboard strikes)
46Other Style Notes
- Block style
- One inch margins
- Single space
- Line space between paragraphs no indent
- Page numbers
47Formats
- Business letter
- Memo
- E-mail
48Abstract
- Topic Same topic as technical briefing
- Due Wed., June 12
- Format Memo