Transcript PPT - Wolfweb Websites

GRAMMAR
Engineering Communications
sin (a)
3 + 4 · 2 = 11 or 14?
Technical Writing
Overview
 Sentence structure
 Capitalization
 Subject – verb
agreement
 Numbers
 Noun – pronoun
agreement
 Peer edit
 Word choice
 Formats
 Punctuation
 Secrets for Readability
 Self edit
Sentence Structure
 Identify each sentence as
 Simple
 Compound
 Complex
 Compound-complex
Please underline the
run-on sentences and
circle the fragments.
Lift 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.
Subject – 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.
Noun – Pronoun Agreement
 Nominative vs. Objective
 Who / Whom – match the “m”
Who was chosen?
 (He was chosen.)
Whom did you ask?
 (I asked him.)
Noun – 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.
Noun – 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.
No 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.
Practice
 Please proofread the paragraph and
make appropriate changes.
Alpha 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.
Punctuation - 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.
Punctuation - 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.
 September 9, 2013
 September 2013
Punctuation – 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 diagnose—before calling maintenance—the
problem.
Punctuation – 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”?
Punctuation - 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
Punctuation - 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.
Capitalization
 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.)
Word 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
Word 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
Practice
 Please choose the correct word.
1. What did Dr. Joe infer from the report
showing how the chemical affects the
test?
2. The interns continually break the
equipment. Because the project is so
mundane, they are uninterested in
doing the work.
3. Just among the four of us, I am eager
to go on vacation. I hope that we go
farther away than London.
4. Please lay fewer pieces of stationery
on the desk of the principal.
Numbers
Basic Rule: Numbers from zero to ten are
expressed as words. Numbers from 11 and
above are expressed as digits.
Numbers - 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 “o’clock” is understood
 It is five.
Numbers – 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
Numbers – Be Consistent
 Correct
 two-by-four inch piece
of wood
 2 in. x 4 in.
 Incorrect (mixing
abbreviations)
 2 by 4 inches.
Secrets of Readable Writing
 Use figures
 Use headings and subheadings
 Use topic sentences
Self Edit
Self 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.
Peer Edit
Peer Edit
 Avoid changing the meaning
 Avoid being a wordsmith
 Delete as much as possible
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.
References
 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.
Figures
 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
Tables
 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
Equations
 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)
Other Style Notes
 Block style
 One inch margins
 Single space
 Line space between paragraphs; no indent
 Page numbers
Formats
 Business letter
 Memo
 E-mail
ABSTRACT
Topic: Same topic as technical briefing
Due: Friday to SEM 131 B
Format: Memo