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punctuation: spacing
As a general rule, in English there is no space before and one space after a punctuation mark. Exceptions follow. Period No space before or after a decimal period between numerals: 10.6 million Canadians $7.45 A space before and none after a decimal period not preceded by a numeral: a .22 calibre rifle A space after a period following a person’s initial: W. S. Avis No space before or after a period in multiple numeration: subsection 2.5.12 No space before or after a period that is followed by a comma or a closing quotation mark, parenthesis or bracket: John Fraser Jr., Ellen Putniak and George Zeller were nominated. (See Chapter 21.) No space before the periods following the capital letters in the official abbreviations of provinces and territories, and no space after such periods except the last one: P.E.I. Y.T. Ellipsis points A space before, between and after ellipsis points: There was little he could say . . . so he said nothing. Note: There is an alternative format for the ellipsis. It requires no spaces between the ellipsis points (…). However, a space is inserted before and after the ellipsis when it is used between two words (“Interviews … have”), between a comma and a word (“In fact, … we have”), or between end punctuation and the beginning of a new sentence (“fell drastically. … But”). Question mark and exclamation mark No space before or after a question or exclamation mark that is followed by a closing quotation mark, parenthesis or bracket: The delegate added, "Is it not high time we tightened our belts and dealt with the deficit?" Comma No space before or after a comma that is followed by a closing quotation mark: "Stop procrastinating," she said. The terms "interfacing," "conferencing" and "downsizing" are now part of the language of business. No space before or after a comma used to separate triads in numbers (see Note 2 in 5.09 Decimal fractions): $12,670,233 Colon No space before or after a colon used to express ratios or the time of day in the 24-hour system, or to separate chapter and verse, volume and page, act and scene in references to books, plays, etc.: a slope of 1:4 We arrived at 15:30 Psalms 39:5 Parentheses and brackets One space before and none after an opening parenthesis or bracket within a sentence; no space before or after a closing parenthesis or bracket that is followed by a punctuation mark: Please read the enclosed booklet (Using Your Modem); it will help you take full advantage of your new communication tool. No space before or between parentheses enclosing subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, etc., in citations from legislation: subparagraph 123(4)(b)(ii) Em dash, en dash and hyphen No space before or after these marks when they are inserted between words, a word and a numeral, or two numerals: I will support you in any way I can—even to the point of silence. —Eugene Forsey a few 90-cent stamps pp. 134–200 Oblique No space before or after an oblique used between individual words, letters or symbols; one space before and after the oblique when one or both of the items it separates contain internal spacing: n/a thesaurus / collocation dictionary Language and Society / Langue et société Apostrophe No space before or after an apostrophe within a word. One space before and none after an apostrophe used to indicate omitted figures in dates: the committee’s report the employees’ suggestions the class of ’79 Quotation marks One space before and none after an opening quotation mark within a sentence; no space before or after a closing quotation mark that is followed by a punctuation mark: The Minister spoke of "a full and frank discussion with all parties"; a resolution to the conflict is expected within the week.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
How to capitalize holiday greetings
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An English blog post on how to capitalize holiday greetings.
Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, if you’re sending out holiday greetings this year, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the correct capitalization. Here’s all you need to know to make your greetings letter-perfect!
Season’s greetings / Compliments of the season
Don’t capitalize “greetings” in “Season’s greetings.” It’s the first word, “season’s,” that may sometimes need a capital.
Capitalize the word “season’s” when you use “Season’s greetings” by itself:
Season’s greetings!
But don’t capitalize “season’s” when it falls in the middle of a sentence or phrase:
Sending you season’s greetings,
The Liskas
Also, note that it’s “season’s” (with an apostrophe and an “s”), not the plural “seasons.” The possessive form is needed because “season’s greetings” stands for “greetings of the season.”
A similar greeting, “compliments of the season,” follows the same rule. Capitalize the first word (in this case, “compliments”) if the greeting is used by itself, but not if it appears in the middle of a sentence or phrase:
Compliments of the season!
Our compliments of the season to you and your family!
And remember that what you’re extending to others is “compliments” (with an “i"), not its homonym, “complements.”
Happy holidays
As with the greetings above, capitalize the first word, “happy,” when you use “Happy holidays” on its own:
Happy holidays!
But lower-case “happy” when it is used midway through a sentence or phrase:
We hope you have happy holidays!
Wishing you happy holidays!
Note that no capital is used for “holidays” in either case. The same is true, of course, of the word “holiday” in the singular:
We wish you all the joy of the holiday season!
Greetings for specific holidays
Always capitalize the names of specific holidays like “Hanukkah,” “Christmas,” “Kwanzaa” and “New Year’s Day” (or “New Year’s,” for short), regardless of their position in a sentence, because they’re proper nouns.
The same is true of “New Year” when it refers to New Year’s Day. But don't capitalize “new year” when referring to the actual year:
We wish you all the best in the new year!
Let’s get together in the new year!
In greetings for specific holidays, capitalize the first word (usually “happy” or “merry”) when the greeting appears alone:
Happy Hanukkah!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy New Year!
But when positioned in the middle of a sentence or phrase, “happy” or “merry” should be lower-cased:
Wishing you a happy Hanukkah!
I hope you have a very merry Christmas!
We wish you a happy Kwanzaa!
Have a happy New Year!
Now that you’ve read these guidelines on capitalizing greetings, you can send out your cards and letters with confidence and start the holidays off right!
And on that note, I wish you a happy holiday season and all the best in the new year!
Source : Blogue Nos langues (billets de collaborateurs et collaboratrices)
Kicking the em dash habit
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An English blog post on the spaced en dash and unspaced em dash.
Bold. Dramatic. Assertive. Powerful. These are just some of the words used to describe my favourite punctuation mark: the em dash!
The unspaced em dash
I'm a long-time fan of unspaced em dashes to separate the elements of a sentence or title in English. In fact, I delight in peppering my texts with these long dashes to create suspense or highlight an interruption. And I'm not alone: most Canadian and American style guides support my preference. But the unspaced em dash, entrenched though it is in North America, has a rival that's been gaining ground.
The spaced en dash
Consider the following sentences:
"Yogourt" or "yogurt"—which is right?
"Yogourt" or "yogurt" – which is right?
In the first sentence, I used an unspaced em dash (—) to offset the question. In the second one, I used a spaced en dash ( – ). (And in case you were wondering which dash was right, the answer is … both!) Personally, I find that the first sentence has more "oomph" than the second one. The difference between the two sentences is subtle, but it's there. For that reason, I'm not the biggest fan of spaced en dashes.
But I'm learning to live with them. Why? Because they're popping up everywhere, and they're endorsed by some pretty credible sources.
Support for the spaced en dash
Some major British publishing houses (including Cambridge University Press and Penguin) use spaced en dashes. And many writers and graphic designers on this side of the Atlantic also prefer spaced en dashes for readability and aesthetics, finding them less distracting than unspaced em dashes.
Moreover, in his influential work The Elements of Typographic Style, Canadian typographer Robert Bringhurst also advocates spaced en dashes. He states that the em dash is too long in many modern fonts and claims that it's passé:
The em dash is the nineteenth-century standard, still prescribed in many editorial style books, but the em dash is too long for use with the best text faces. Like the oversized space between sentences, it belongs to the padded and corseted aesthetic of Victorian typography.
So, move over, em dash, and make way for your leaner and airier cousin. With time, I may even learn to like the spaced en dash. Perhaps it's an acquired taste …
What about you? Which dash would we find in your writing? Let us know in the comments section!
Source : Blogue Nos langues (billets de collaborateurs et collaboratrices)
Capitalization: To capitalize or not to capitalize?
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An English-language quiz on capitalization rules.
Capitalization rules can cause confusion for many writers. See if you can untangle the web of rules in this quiz!1. Which of the following centred titles is capitalized properly?The Year Of The Flood (Margaret Atwood)Son of a smaller hero (Mordecai Richler)Dance on the Earth: A Memoir (Margaret Laurence)2. In which of the following sentences is internet written properly?Tory searched the internet for hours to find just the right quote.The company installed a private Internet to connect its branches.The students were told to use the Internet for their research.3. In which of the following sentences is atlantic provinces capitalized properly?Many great musicians come from the Atlantic provinces.The Atlantic Provinces are a big tourist destination.The West Coast and the Atlantic provinces are very different regions.4. The word government is always capitalized .when used in legal titles (the Government of Nunavut)when used in short forms of legal titles (the Federal Government)when used in the plural (the provincial and territorial Governments)5. In which of the following sentences is member of Parliament capitalized properly?The Members of Parliament voted on the bill.The Member of Parliament for Calgary West is very popular.As a Member of Parliament, you represent your constituents.6. In which of the following sentences is web written properly?I watch all my movies on the web.He did not know how to work the Webcam.The web-based software can be downloaded for free.7. A heading that starts at the left-hand side of a page should be capitalized as follows:Setting the time on your clock radioSetting the Time on Your Clock RadioSetting The Time On Your Clock Radio
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
asterisk at end of a sentence
When an asterisk and a punctuation mark (e.g. period, question mark, exclamation mark) appear at the end of a sentence, the asterisk follows the punctuation mark, with no space between them. For example: Melby states that this decision was sound.* Melby attempts to justify his decision as being sound!* As for the explanation at the bottom of the page (e.g. author’s, editor’s or translator’s note), place the asterisk immediately before the explanation. *Here Melby is referring to… Notes referenced by an asterisk or other symbol should come before any numbered footnotes in the list at the bottom of the page.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
italics: legal references
The following guidelines explain how to deal with legal references in running text. Court cases The names of court cases appear in italics in both legal and general writing: Cooper v Hobart Graat v R In Jordan House Hotel Ltd v Menow, the Supreme Court ruled that the owner of a bar must ensure that intoxicated customers have a safe way home. Legislation In general writing, titles of legislation appear in roman type (i.e. not in italics): The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was passed in 2012. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Immigration and Refugee Board is empowered to hear cases involving refugee matters. However, in legal writing and in many Canadian government documents, titles of legislation are placed in italics: The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was passed in 2012. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Immigration and Refugee Board is empowered to hear cases involving refugee matters. Do not italicize short forms such as “the Act” or “the Charter”: The Act defines environment as including land, water and air; organic and inorganic matter; living organisms; and natural systems. Do not italicize the abbreviation for the title of a piece of legislation, especially when it follows the title written in full. Readers not familiar with the legislation may think that the abbreviation is part of the title. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
numbers: money
Sums of money are usually expressed in numerals, except when they refer to round or indefinite amounts or are used in a formal or legal context: $5.98/m² a fare of 75¢ but a few thousand dollars a twenty-dollar bill Payments shall be made in equal instalments of two hundred and thirty dollars per month. Use the following forms: 65¢ or $0.65 or 65 cents (not $.65 or .65¢) two million dollars or $2 million or $2,000,000 a two-million dollar loan $100 (not $100.00, when standing alone, or $100.) five dollars or $5 (not 5 dollars) $5 worth or five dollars’ worth The abbreviations B for billion, M for million and K for thousand are often encountered, especially in newspaper headlines. Avoid them in formal writing. Note that there is no space between the numeral and the letter: Foreign aid reduced by $5B in budget When dollar amounts are used with SI symbols, the following forms are required: $11.50/m² (not $11.50/square metre) $3.99kg (not 3.99/kilogram or $3.99/kilo) 98¢/L (not 98¢ per litre) Place the dollar sign before the numeral in question.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
Editing matters: Helping your text to shine
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An English blog post called Editing matters: Helping your text to shine, written by Anne Louise Mahoney from Editors Canada.
Canadian style is a bit of this and a bit of that: some British style, some US style, and some Canuck style! So how can you keep it all straight if you’re writing for Canadian readers?
Here’s where an editor can help. Editors are experienced professionals who have learned their skills in training programs or on the job. We can bring consistent spelling and other styles to your text, as well as suggest ways to make sure the text is clear, well organized and engaging for the intended audience. From books to online materials (and everything in between), editors help text to shine.
Many editors refer to Professional Editorial Standards, a valuable guide to the knowledge, skills and practices usually needed for editing English-language materials.
The standards outline the work that needs to be done during the four main stages of editing:
structural editing (improving organization and content)
stylistic editing (clarifying meaning and refining the language)
copy editing (ensuring correctness, accuracy, consistency and completeness)
proofreading (correcting errors in text and images when material is in layout or its final format)
Some of the things we check include:
the need to Canadianize (adapt a text for Canadian readers)
inclusivity (avoidance of insensitive or offensive terms)
spelling (is it Canadian?)
compounds and hyphens
capitalization
abbreviations
punctuation
measurements (metric, imperial, time, geographical and more)
citation (using various referencing systems)
legal and ethical issues
French used in an English text
Editors work on countless subject areas in the corporate, technical, government, not-for-profit, academic, educational and publishing sectors.
Would you like to make your text shine with the help of an editor? The Editors’ Association of Canada (Editors Canada), a not-for-profit organization that promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communication, can definitely help you. For more information, visit Editors Canada.
Source : Blogue Nos langues (billets de collaborateurs et collaboratrices)
How to write the date
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A quiz on how to write the date in English.
Knowing how to write the date correctly is important. After all, you want people to show up at your event on the day you expect them! Test your knowledge by seeing if you can choose the correctly written date in the questions below.1. What's the correct way to write the date in numbers if you're referring to the fifth day of June in the year 2017?2017-06-052017-05-062. How do you write the date on which New Year's Day falls?January 1st, 2017January 1, 20173. The cross-country ski event was scheduled for .Friday, January 15Friday January 154. Alana and Sean got married in .June, 2007June 20075. The concert will take place on .19 May, 2018May 19, 20186. You must send in your entry form before to take part in the contest.May 1, 2018May 1, 2018,7. The Oktoberfest Festival lasted from .September 16–October 3September 16—October 3September 16 to October 3
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
abbreviations: time zones
Time zones are abbreviated when used with a specific time. Note that capitals are used, without periods. 4:30 p.m. EST 7:15 a.m. MST When no specific time is given, time zones are written out in full: Pacific Standard Time Mountain Standard Time The six time zones in Canada and their abbreviations are listed below: Newfoundland Standard Time – NST Atlantic Standard Time – AST Eastern Standard Time – EST Central Standard Time – CST Mountain Standard Time – MST Pacific Standard Time – PST From March to November, when clocks are put ahead one hour, the time zones are on daylight saving time (DST): Newfoundland Daylight Time – NDT Atlantic Daylight Time – ADT Eastern Daylight Time – EDT Central Daylight Time – CDT Mountain Daylight Time – MDT Pacific Daylight Time – PDTSource : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
We will remember them: Remembrance Day
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An English quiz with language-related questions about Remembrance Day
On November 11, we mark Remembrance Day to preserve the memory of all Canadians in military service who gave their lives in time of war.Choose the correct answer for each of the sentences below.1. Canada’s National War Memorial was unveiled in 1939 by King George VI.his majestyhis MajestyHis Majesty2. The National War Memorial stands majestically in Confederation Square in the heart of Ottawa.down towndowntowndown-town3. Remembrance Day initially commemorated the end of the .first world warfirst World WarFirst World War4. For millions of people, including public servants, Remembrance Day is a .statutory holidayStatutory holidayStatutory Holiday5. Remembrance Day is observed in countries that belong to the .Commonwealth of NationsCommonwealth of nationscommonwealth of nations6. The poppy, seen as a of the sacrifices made by fallen soldiers, grew over the battlefields of World War I.cymbalsymbol7. Remembrance Day was originally called .Armistisse DayArmistice DayArmistise Day8. The poppy has become an emblem of Remembrance Day because of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae.Lieutenant-colonellieutenant-colonelLieutenant-Colonel9. “In Flanders Fields” is John McCrae’s .best-known poembest known poemmost well known poem10. During the First World War, Indigenous soldiers served in every major of the war.theatrecinematroop
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
Do you have the right time?
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An English-language quiz on how to write the time of day
Writing the time of day can be tricky. For each question below, choose the answer that completes the sentence correctly. Need help? Check out our writing tip on how to write the time of day.1. The annual general meeting ended at .4:30 pmp m4:30 p.m.p period m period2. Business hours: .9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.9 a.m. em dash 5 p.m.9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.9 a.m. en dash 5 p.m.3. The cafeteria is open from every day.9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.9 a.m. to 9 p.m.9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.9 a.m. en dash 9 p.m.4. The next flight to Thunder Bay leaves at .13:45 p.m.13:455. In the 12-hour system, 12:00 p.m. corresponds to .noonmidnight6. As Fiona waited outside the emergency room, time passed agonizingly slowly— .2:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m. in the morningtwo o’clock, three o’clock, four o’clock7. The train leaves Union Station at sharp.7:00 p.m.7 in numerals p.m.seven written in letters p.m.8. Grandmother usually takes an afternoon nap between one and .two thirtytwo-hyphenthirty9. In the 24-hour system, 5:00 p.m. corresponds to .15:00 hundred hours17:00 hundred hours10. The internationally recognized symbol for hour is .hhr
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
Capitalization: Proper nouns
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An English quiz on capitalization and proper nouns
When it comes to proper nouns, do you know which words take a capital and which don't? If you’re not always sure, our quiz might just help you remember some rules!In the sentences below, select the answer in which capitals are used correctly!1. On clear nights, the is easy to find.Big bear constellationbig bear constellationBig Bear ConstellationBig Bear constellation2. My daughter was able to point out the in Canada on a map.Atlantic Provinces, easternAtlantic provinces, EasternAtlantic provinces, easternAtlantic Provinces, Eastern3. The celebrates authors from Norfolk County and the Great Lakes region. Enjoy this yearly !Authors' Book fair, Book fairAuthors' book Fair, book FairAuthors' book fair, book fairAuthors' Book Fair, book fair4. After he retired, Roméo Dallaire became an advocate for human rights.Lieutenant-generalLieutenant-General5. In 2015, for the first time, a appointed a gender-balanced cabinet. Justin Trudeau's first cabinet included 15 women and 15 men.Prime Minister, Prime Ministerprime minister, Prime MinisterPrime minister, Prime ministerprime minister, prime minister6. Stephen Harper became the leader of the Conservative of Canada in 2004. The was created in 2003.Party, PartyParty, partyparty, partyparty, Party7. Louise completed graduate studies at the of the .Faculty of Law, University of Ottawafaculty of law, university of Ottawafaculty of Law, University of OttawaFaculty of law, University of Ottawa8. Poet Laureate Louise Bernice Halfe wrote "."The Landscape Of The Heartthe landscape of the heartThe landscape of the heartThe Landscape of the Heart9. The church is a heritage property located at 140 , in Ottawa.Laurier Avenue westLaurier avenue westLaurier Avenue Westlaurier avenue west10. The term does not refer to all Indigenous Peoples in Canada.First Nationsfirst nationsfirst NationsFirst nations
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
commas in a date
Use a comma to separate the day of the week from the date and the day from the year: Friday, February 13 (but Friday the thirteenth) Monday, October 26, 2015 When the date appears in a sentence in the sequence month-day-year, a comma is needed after the year as well as before it (except when the comma is replaced by a stronger mark of punctuation): He worked in my department from May 20, 2001, until October 28, 2003, when he accepted another assignment. We planned to finish the project by January 8, 2009; however, we completed the work on December 15, 2008. But when the day is omitted, there is no comma either before or after the year: He worked in my department from May 2001 until October 2004. The Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge opened in December 2003. When the date is written in the sequence day-month-year (a style more common outside of North America), commas are not used: He worked in my department from 20 May 2001 until 28 October 2003.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
Writing with numbers: How do you measure up?
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An English-language quiz on how to write with numbers.
Not only do writers have to know rules about words and grammar, but they also have to know how to deal with numbers. Try this quiz to see how you measure up!1. Which is the correct format for writing a telephone number in Canada?(123) 456-7890123-456-7890123.456.78902. Which is the correct format for writing a range of years?1990–952000–051990–053. In general texts, write numbers under 10 .as wordsas numeralsas words when the number is not followed by the term "percent"4. In financial texts (versus general texts), write numbers and percent signs like this:14 percentfourteen percent14%5. How should you write December 28, 2009, using only numbers?28-12-20092009-12-2809-12-286. Which is the correct format for writing a date with numbers and words?January 19th, 200819 January, 2008January 19, 20087. In a range of percentages, which is the correct way to use the percent sign?50–75%50 percent to 75 percent50%–75%
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
hyphens: pre-, post-
In most instances, a hyphen is not needed to connect the prefixes pre- and post- to words. Samantha and Rick attended prenatal classes before the birth of their first child. Enrolling in postsecondary education can lead to a brighter future. However, a hyphen is used in the following cases: when the root word starts with a capital: The museum has many trilobites in its Pre-Cambrian fossil collection. Is this an example of pre- or post-World War II architecture? when the root word begins with the same letter as the last letter in the prefix: Dr. Keon is a pre-eminent heart surgeon. Some veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder. when you add post or pre to a compound: Pre-nineteenth-century art focussed mainly on religious themes. Applicants taking part in the literacy test were given pre‑high school texts to read. when you connect pre or post to numbers: Current fashions mimic pre-1980s styles. The exhibit focussed on the artist’s post-1920s drawings and lithographs.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
thousand, K (thousand)
As a general rule, thousand should be expressed either in words or in numbers. Felicity received five thousand dollars as a graduation present from her grandparents. In his very first job, Patel was making $75,000 a year. The capital letter K is sometimes used informally to represent one thousand (dollars), especially in newspaper headlines. There is no space between the numeral and the letter K, as in 75K. Headline: Lottery winner gets 150K The letter K should not be used as an abbreviation for one thousand (dollars) in formal writing. The grant amounted to $150,000 (not 150K).Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
time of day
On this page Abbrevations “a.m.” and “p.m.” Time of day The 24-hour system Spans of time Additional information Abbreviations “a.m.” and “p.m.” The abbreviation a.m. stands for ante meridiem, which is Latin for “before midday.” The abbreviation p.m. stands for post meridiem, which is Latin for “after midday.” Use these abbreviations with numerals only: 9:00 a.m. [not ninen i n e a.m.] 2:00 p.m. [not twot w o p.m.] These abbreviations are usually written in lower case, with periods and with no internal spacing. The Prime Minister’s speech will be broadcast at 8:05 p.m.lower case p lower case m on all stations. Regular capitals (A.M., P.M.) or small capitals (A.M., P.M.) are acceptable alternatives in headlines, lists or tables written in upper case. HeadlineHeadline in all caps: ECLIPSE AT 11:15 A.M. TODAY Time of day Except in descriptive text, write the exact time of day in numerical form. Place a non-breaking space between the time and the abbreviation a.m. or p.m.: Does the bus arrive at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.? Louis is picking me up at 11:25 a.m. In approximate expressions of time and in descriptive text, write out whole, half and quarter hours in words, omitting the abbreviations a.m. and p.m.: Drop by around six-thirty for dinner. We arrived shortly after quarter past seven in the evening. Time passed excruciatingly slowly—one o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock … When writing out the time of day in words, use a hyphen between the hour and the minutes, unless the minutes themselves are hyphenated: I leave for work between eight and eight-thirtyeight hyphen thirty. Megan usually leaves for work at about eight forty-fiveforty hyphen five. Never use a.m. or p.m. with the expression o’clock or with the words morning, afternoon, evening or night. Sarah doesn’t answer the phone after ten o’clock [not ten p.m. o’clock]. The lecture began at 4:30 p.m. [or 4:30 in the afternoon but not 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon]. The 24-hour system The 24-hour system is used in specialized fields (such as the military) and in French Canada; it’s also the most commonly used system internationally. Therefore, in documents presented in both official languages, and in international communications, you many want to use the 24-hour system for representing time of day, in accordance with International Standard ISO 8601 and the Treasury Board Federal Identity Program Manual. In this system, the abbreviations a.m. and p.m. aren’t used. The hour is represented by a two-digit number ranging from 00 to 23 (or 24), while the minutes are represented by a two-digit number ranging from 00 to 59. The colon is used as a separator between hours and minutes: 00:15zero zero fifteen (12:15 a.m., i.e. 15 minutes after midnight) 08:00zero eight hundred (8:00 a.m.) 12:00twelve hundred (noon) 15:39fifteen hundred thirty-nine (3:39 p.m.) 24:00twenty-four hundred (midnight) Seconds may also be represented by a two-digit number ranging from 00 to 59, with a colon between minutes and seconds: 14:12:2614 colon 12 colon 26 (12 minutes and 26 seconds after 2:00 p.m.) To convert time from the 12-hour to the 24-hour system, simply add 12 hours to any hour after midday: Converting time to the 24-hour system 12-hour system 24-hour system 12:00 p.m. / noon 12:0012 hundred hours 1:00 p.m. 13:0013 hundred hours 2:00 p.m. 14:0014 hundred hours 3:00 p.m. 15:0015 hundred hours 4:00 p.m. 16:0016 hundred hours 5:00 p.m. 17:0017 hundred hours 6:00 p.m. 18:0018 hundred hours 7:00 p.m. 19:0019 hundred hours 8:00 p.m. 20:0020 hundred hours 9:00 p.m. 21:0021 hundred hours 10:00 p.m. 22:0022 hundred hours 11:00 p.m. 23:0023 hundred hours 12:00 a.m./ midnight 00:00 (or 24:00)0 hundred hours or 24 hundred hours To avoid confusion between 12 a.m. and 12 p.m., use the 24-hour system, or write out the time in words, depending on the context: For 12 a.m., use 00:00zero hundred hours (or 24:0024 hundred hours), or midnight. For 12 p.m., use 12:0012 hundred hours or noon. Spans of time Use an en dash (–) to link two figures that represent a continuous time frame. Don’t put a space on either side of the en dash: Business hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. [or 9 a.m.–5 p.m.] Don’t use the en dash if the time frame is preceded by the prepositions from or between: He was absent from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. [not from 9 a.m.–10 a.m.] From must be followed by to, and between by and: Lunch is served between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. [not between 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.] In informal writing, the first a.m. or p.m. is sometimes omitted when the time span occurs in the same portion of the day (morning or afternoon). However, in formal writing, you need to repeat the abbreviation: The office is closed from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. [not from 1 to 2 p.m.] Additional information Elapsed time Daylight saving time, daylight time, standard time, summer time Quiz Do you have the right time?Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
compass points
(A similar topic is discussed in French in the article points cardinaux.) In writing compass points (or compass directions), follow the guidelines below. On this page Capitalize Do not capitalize Hyphenate Abbreviations Capitalize Capitalize when the compass points refer to part of an address: 150 East Dundas Street 111 King St. West abbreviated directions: winds NNW 28 miles SW of the city informal district names: the Eastern Townships the South Shore specific geographic divisions: the Northwest Territories North Vancouver political or administrative rather than simply geographic divisions: the West Western values Western Europe the East Coast the Far North Northern Ireland Do not capitalize Do not capitalize when the compass points are used as purely descriptive terms: southern exposure the north side of the house as compass directions: Go south four blocks. Drive north to get to the highway. as orientations: a garden to the west of the house We live east of Ottawa. for unofficial geographic divisions: northern New Brunswick the west of Saskatchewan the east coast of Canada Hyphenate Compass points containing two directions are written as one word: northeast southwest Compass points containing three directions are hyphenated: north-northeast west-southwest Abbreviations The list below shows the abbreviations for the 16 compass points. Compass point abbreviations Compass Point Abbreviation north N northeast NE northwest NW north-northeast NNE north-northwest NNW east E east-northeast ENE east-southeast ESE south S southeast SE southwest SW south-southeast SSE south-southwest SSW west W west-northwest WNW west-southwest WSWSource : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
Writing with numbers: Know the rules
Cette page s'ouvrira dans l'interface anglaise du site Web.
A quiz on writing conventions related to the use of numbers.
Not only do writers have to know rules about words and grammar, but they also have to know how to deal with numbers. Try this quiz to see how you measure up!1. Which is the correct format for writing a service code?9-1-19-119112. Which is the recommended way of writing a Canadian telephone number in an international format?+1-555-555-5555+1 555-555-5555+1 555 555 55553. Which is the correct format to use in technical writing?The sample weighs 2 g.The sample weighs two g.The sample weighs two (2) g.4. Which is the correct format for writing a sentence that begins with a number?350 people are expected to attend.Three hundred and fifty people are expected to attend.Three hundred and 50 people are expected to attend.5. Which is the correct format for writing numbers with an abbreviation or symbol?For this exercise, place your arm at a 90 ° angle.For this exercise, place your arm at a 90° angle.For this exercise, place your arm at a ninety ° angle.6. Which is the correct way of forming the plural of a decade?the 1960sthe 1960’sthe 1960ies7. Which sentence is correct?Sue always has 101 excuses.Sue always has a hundred and one excuses.Sue always has 100 and one excuses.8. Which number is correctly written?four hundred and twenty-ninefour hundred twenty-nineeither (a) or (b)9. In which sentence are the numbers correctly written?Of the 130 suggestions, the committee accepted 8.Of the 130 suggestions, the committee accepted eight.Of the hundred and thirty suggestions, the committee accepted 8.10. Which is the correct format for the fraction in the sentences below?The motion passed by a four fifths majority.The motion passed by a four-fifths majority.The motion passed by a 4/5 majority.
Source : Jeux du Portail linguistique du Canada
business letters: date
These guidelines will help you to write the date correctly in a business letter. Format The date is generally written in full in a business letter. The usual North American style places the month before the day, with a comma between the day and the year: April 4, 2016 However, the date can also be written with the day before the month; in that case, no comma is used: 4 April 2016 Note that in a date that includes the year, the day is represented by a cardinal number, not an ordinal number (e.g. 4 rather than 4th in the date April 4, 2016). Placement The date appears at the left margin in full block style, but it can be placed on the right-hand side of the page to help fit in all the pieces of information required and make it easier to find correspondence filed by date. See an example of a date in a business letter in full block style in business letters: model letter.Source : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
“Latinx”: What does it mean, and how is it pronounced?
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An English blog post about the term “Latinx” and gender-inclusive writing in Spanish.
You may have recently read this term, or heard people saying “Latin-ex” out loud and been confused. Spanish is my second language, and while I was familiar with the writing convention, I was confused when I started hearing Anglophones in social activism and in news media pronouncing the letter “x,” and using its name rather than its phonetic value. I’ve never heard any word written with an “x” pronounced this way in Spanish, so what’s going on here?
“Latino” and “Latina”
Latino is short for latinoamericano and refers to the culture and people of Latin America, which comprises the countries in the Americas where the official language is Spanish or Portuguese. As a borrowed word with grammatical gender, it’s unique in English because it isn’t anglicized and maintains its masculine and feminine forms, “Latino” and “Latina,” respectively.
Binary grammatical gender
Like French, Spanish has a grammatical gender system, which is binary. There are two categories—masculine and feminine—for all things, and these categories are most often represented by a final “o” or “a.” Words that modify or refer to one another must agree in gender. Grammatical gender also corresponds to human gender, and when it comes to talking about mixed-gender groups or a generic person, the masculine gender is the default. Therefore, los latinos or los latinoamericanos (masculine, plural) is the standard way to refer to Latin American people as a group.
Gender neutrality
Other posts on the Our Languages blog have been about gender-neutral writing in English and French: “Making letters and emails gender-inclusive (opens in new tab),” “Embracing the singular ‘they’ as a gender-neutral pronoun (opens in new tab)” and “Respecter la non-binarité de genre en français (opens in new tab)” (available in French only). As with French, some see the default use of the masculine gender in Spanish as inherently exclusionary when applied to people. Additionally, non-binary people are left without any options. Several solutions for more inclusive writing in Spanish have been used, such as “o/a” or the at symbol (@) because it looks like both an “a” and an “o.” Replacing the gender-marking vowel with an “x” has also become popular.
“X” equals the unknown
This comes from a feminist Spanish writing convention wherein all vowels that mark the gender of a generic person, or group of people, are replaced with the letter “x,” the symbol for the unknown in mathematics. Los latinos becomes lxs latinxsspell l-x-s l-a-t-i-n-x-s.
However, even Spanish speakers who write this way don’t pronounce the “x,” because as a consonant replacing a vowel, it doesn’t follow the rules of Spanish pronunciation. The letter is being used for its symbolic value, rather than its phonetic value. Sometimes in a speech or announcement to a group of people, a speaker will say both standard gender variants of a noun, a phenomenon we’re familiar with in French in Canada. But in everyday speech, most people still follow standard grammar and pronounce the at symbols or x’s as o’s. In Spanish, los latinos and lxs latinxsspell l-x-s l-a-t-i-n-x-s are pronounced identically.
There is a movement to create a neutral, pronounceable, grammatical gender marker, to be used for mixed gender groups and non-binary individuals. The most popular option is to replace gender-marking vowels with e’s, as in les latines.
These new options are very controversial. They are debated heavily and are not accepted by the Real Academia Española. It’s interesting, then, that the term “Latinx” has caught on in English and is being pronounced “Latin-ex.” The pronunciation of the letter “x” as “ex” is strange to me, but I think I understand why it happens.
“Latinx” as an English term
From an Anglophone perspective, there’s an instinct to neutralize terms that vary based on gender, especially after decades of purging gender variance from English professional terms, promoting acceptance of non-binary people, and moving toward gender-neutral writingNote 1 overall. “Latin” is a gender-neutral word in English, but it has been replaced by “Latino” and “Latina” when they refer to people. Because these words describe an ethnic identity partly based on shared language, it’s meaningful that they be borrowed directly, rather than translated, from Spanish. And now the term “Latinx” is emerging as a non-binary replacement for “Latino” and “Latina.”
“Latinx” was first used in English in social activism, so from the moment it entered English, the meaning of the “x” made the vocalization of this letter seem important and obvious to English speakers. They may have asked themselves, “Why change the spelling for a specific goal if it can’t be articulated in speech?” But looking at a single word obscures the rest of the Spanish grammatical gender system, and therefore the pronunciation problem—how would the “x” be pronounced between consonants in plural Spanish words such as lxs empleadxsspell l-x-s e-m-p-l-e-a-d-x-s or unxs amigxsspell u-n-x-s a-m-i-g-x-s?
Perhaps the “e” in place of the “x” will catch on more in the Spanish-speaking world and will then make its way into borrowed words in English. No matter the direction, it will be interesting to see how things progress simultaneously in both linguistic spheres.
Do similar pronunciation phenomena occur in borrowings between English and French in Canada? As a closely related language, French has a similar story to Spanish when it comes to gender-neutral writing,Note 2 but are there any differences? Does the Canadian linguistic or cultural context play a unique role in this movement in French in Canada?
Notes
Note 1
See the Guidelines for Inclusive Writing (opens in new tab), published on the Language Portal of Canada, Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Return to note 1 referrer
Note 2
For information on inclusive language in French, consult Michael David Miller’s Guide de recherche en écriture inclusive (in French only).
Return to note 2 referrer
Source : Blogue Nos langues (billets de collaborateurs et collaboratrices)
capitalization: titles of office or rank
On this page Titles directly preceding a person’s name Titles in apposition Titles used in place of a person’s name Titles used descriptively Titles in the plural Titles of respect and forms of address Adjectives derived from titles Titles directly preceding a person’s name Capitalize titles that come directly before a person’s name (whether the title is civil, military, religious or professional, or a title of nobility): Archbishop Damphousse Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland General Stanley Lord Carrington Pope Francis President Barrack Obama Prime Minister Trudeau Professor Layton King Charles III Titles in apposition Capitalize titles placed in apposition after a person’s name: Clare Smith, Director of Public Affairs Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport Titles used in place of a person’s name Capitalize titles referring to a specific person and used as a substitute for that person’s name: She met with the President of the Treasury Board yesterday. He received an email from the Chief, Public Affairs Section. The Speaker of the House gave the floor to the Leader of the Opposition. According to the Assistant Deputy Minister, this is a unique agreement. They discussed the matter with the Colonel. The Archbishop made no further comment. The Member for Winnipeg North Centre attended the town hall. Don’t capitalize titles modified by a possessive or other type of adjective: their colonel the former ambassador the Canadian prime minister Don’t capitalize titles modified by an indefinite article: a member of Parliament Titles used descriptively Don’t capitalize titles that refer to a role rather than a person: As prime minister [that is, while occupying the position], Lester Pearson introduced the new Canadian flag. He served as chair of the board for many years. She was the vice-president of sales for one of the leading marketing agencies in the country. The production manager [any person who occupies that position] assigns schedules. Don’t capitalize job titles that are used descriptively: Jane Tanaka, professor of physics, is lecturing at the university. Aki Chang is the newest physician on staff. Report to manager Cito Gaston. All expenses should be approved by the production superintendent. Technical writer John Lipon has eight years’ teaching experience. Titles in the plural Capitalize abbreviated titles in the plural: We met Profs. Sami and Nicolet. But don’t capitalize spelled-out titles in the plural: the lieutenant-governors of Quebec and Ontario Titles of respect and forms of address Capitalize titles of respect and forms of address (even when used in the plural): Your Honour Your Grace Your Excellencies Mr. Chairman Their Royal Highnesses Her Worship His Holiness Her Majesty Adjectives derived from titles Don’t capitalize adjectives derived from titles: episcopal papal ministerial correspondence presidential prerogativeSource : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
Pacific Daylight Time, Pacific Standard Time, PDT, PST
From mid-March to early November, Pacific Daylight Time is observed in Yukon and most of British Columbia. From early November to mid-March, Pacific Standard Time is in effect. Vancouver is on Pacific Daylight Time in July. Capitalization Usage is divided with regard to the use of capitals in the names of time zones. However, Canadian dictionaries and most Canadian style guides treat the official names of time zones as proper nouns and capitalize all words: Atlantic Daylight Time and Atlantic Standard Time. Abbreviations The name of the time zone is abbreviated when a specific time is stated; otherwise, it is written out in full. The abbreviations PDT and PST are in upper case, with no periods. Please arrive at the ferry dock by 6:30 a.m. PDT. Time zones may be stated with either the 12-hour or the 24-hour system (e.g. 5:15 p.m. PDT or 17:15 PDT). Your flight gets into Nanaimo at 16:45 PSTSource : Writing Tips Plus (difficultés et règles de la langue anglaise)
FAQs on Writing the Date
Barbara Collishaw (Terminology Update, Volume 35, Number 2, 2002, page 12) Frequently asked questions Is there one correct way to write the date? Does the month or the day come first? Or is it the year? When should a date be written in numbers and when should it be written out all in words? What about abbreviations? What kind of punctuation is needed? Is it September 21st or September 21? Are there rules and standards or is it all a matter of personal taste and convenience? The answers vary according to context; however, there is some agreement among the sources consulted. Words only In the most formal writing, such as contracts, invitations, plaques and presentation documents, it is usual to write out the entire date in words. Days and months are capitalized, but dates and years are not. . . . on this sixteenth day of June, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven . . . . . . Saturday, the seventh of December, two thousand and two . . . The practice of writing a date in both numbers and letters, enclosing one form in parentheses, should only be used in contracts and similar legal documents. If such "legalese" is necessary, these forms may be used: . . . beginning in 1999 (nineteen hundred and ninety-nine) and continuing until the end of 2010 (two thousand and ten) . . . . . . beginning in nineteen hundred and ninety-nine (1999) and continuing until the end of two thousand and ten (2010) . . . Words and numbers In letters, academic papers and reports, most authorities recommend writing the month in full; they further agree that dates should be written either 14 July 2002 or July 14, 2002. Note that the day-month-year sequence has no comma but if the month comes first, there is a comma after the day and within a sentence, a comma also follows the year. If the date is written in the order day-month-year, no commas are required before, after or between the components of the date: The meeting of 10 January 1996 did little to allay tensions. If, however, the order given is month-day-year, the day and year are separated by a comma, and the year should normally be followed by a comma within the body of a sentence or sentence equivalent: September 11, 2001, was the beginning of a new era. A new era began on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. If you are stating only the month and the year, do not insert a comma: Treasury Board approved the submission in February 2002. Source: The Canadian Style, 1997, section 7.20 (examples updated) Cardinal or ordinal? Although dates are read aloud as if they were ordinal numbers (September twenty-first), it is correct to write the number in either cardinal or ordinal form or, alternatively, to write out the whole date in words. Writing the date as an ordinal number if the year is included (September 21st, 2004, or September twenty-first, 2004) is not recommended. This should be changed to the cardinal form, September 21, 2004. Cardinal and ordinal numbers in dates RECOMMENDED NOT RECOMMENDED September 21 September 21st the 21st of September Day-month order without year: 21 September September 21, 2004 21 September 2004 Ordinal number with year: September 21st, 2004 September twenty-first, 2004 Abbreviations and shorter forms Some sources (including The Canadian Style) recommend always writing out the names of the months in full, and abbreviating them only in layouts such as tables, forms and references. If necessary, the months are abbreviated to three letters, as follows: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Notice that May is not an abbreviation and so is not followed by a period. Other standard abbreviations for the months are used when space is a factor. They include one-letter forms where the meaning of J, A and M will be obvious from the month’s position in a chart or list: J (January) F M (March) A (April) M J (June) J (July) A (August) S O N D and combined one- and two-letter forms where more clarity is needed and more space is available: Ja F Mr Ap My Je Jl Au S O N D When years are abbreviated, use an apostrophe: class of ’99; flood of ’05 (but is that 1905 or 2005?). When decades are mentioned, write the word in full (the twenties) or add an s to the number; note that The Canadian Style recommends the forms without an apostrophe (the 1960s, the 70s) but other style guides consider the apostrophe optional (the 1940’s or the 90’s). When decades are referred to by special nicknames, both words are capitalized: the Roaring Twenties, the Dirty Thirties, the Swinging Sixties. Centuries are referred to in lower case: twentieth century or 20th century twenty-first century or 21st century XX century not XXth century XXI century not XXIst century Numbers only Many organizations and individuals opt for all-numeric dates, especially for lists, forms and data that will eventually be handled by computer. This not only improves readability for people who speak different languages, but makes it possible to perform sorting and mathematical operations without additional manipulation of the data. But, as Canadians are particularly aware, there are several ways to write dates in numbers. Europeans favour the day-month-year format, while Americans insist on month-day-year. How can this conundrum be resolved? Fortunately the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has considered the problem and issued a standard, ISO 8601. It covers the date and time formats used in information interchange, although the standards for dates written in words are not addressed in that document. The Canadian federal government guidelines for all-numeric dates are those found in the Federal Identity Program Manual, chapter 1.2, which refer the information seeker to the current national or ISO standard (i.e. ISO 8601:2000). According to ISO 8601:2000, both dates and times are written in decreasing order of magnitude from left to right. Dates are formatted YYYYMMDD (basic format) or YYYY-MM-DD (extended format). The basic format (without hyphens) is appropriate when computer readability and storage space are of primary importance, and the extended format (with hyphens) when the document is intended for general readers. July 1, 2002 = 20020701 = 2002-07-01 Sources The Canadian Style, 1997, Sections 4.17, 5.25, 5.14 and 7.20. International Standard ISO 8601, Second Edition 2000-12-15. Reference number: ISO 8601:2000(E). A Summary of the International Standard Date and Time Notation by Markus Kuhn (www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/iso-time.html) (www) (en) Federal Identity Program Manual, 1990, pages 26 and 27. The Gregg Reference Manual, Fifth Canadian Edition, 1999, Sections 345, 409-410, 437-439.Source : Favourite Articles (l’anglais vu par des spécialistes de la langue)
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