9/28/16 Mini Lessons
MINI LESSON
Spell out small numbers.
Don't use numeric characters.
When writing for a business or publication – not to
mention an English or college class – student often make a common mistake of
typing the numeric characters for numbers instead of actually spelling them
out.
For example, “I read the story of the 3 little pigs.”
This is not correct form for the context for formal writing
in a class.
Instead one should write:
“I read the story of the three little pigs.”
The exception to this is when you write dates like 1942, or
December 21st, 1967, or address like 1300 Derby Road.
Another exception to the rule is times. For example, this was written at 12:17 PM.
Bigger numbers may use numeric characters, such as over
2,525,116 students read this log last year.
But for smaller numbers, you would almost always spell them out.
MINI LESSON
There / they’re / their
Examples:
<location>
I put the remote control for the television over there.
<contraction of “they are”>
They’re going to the movies together.
<possession of something>
The crazy, predatory, cannibalistic squirrels like to hide their
victims inside of nutshells.
