How about proper grammer such as how to write "aka" or "US" (with periods or wit

1. 82

   Alexander Markposted 15 years ago

   How about proper grammer such as how to write "aka" or "US" (with periods or without?).
   
   Or perhaps explain in layman's terms how to capitalize titles without going into things like pronouns or adverbs. You seem to know everything so I figure you're the perfect person to ask.

   replyreport
2. 69

   brad4lposted 15 years ago

   Well, I certainly don't know everything or even all that much in the grand scheme of things, but I am pretty good with grammar.
   
   To answer your first question, using periods is often a matter of preference and either is correct. More and more, people are not using periods though. The main thing is to be consistent with your choice, so don't write an article that uses U.S. once and US another time.
   
   The title capitalization can be a little tricky, but the main thing is to capitalize the first and last word. Otherwise, you can capitalize most words. Conjunctions(and, or,) prepositions(after, among,) and "to" should NOT be capitalized.
   
   Also, it is "Grammar" not "Grammer"

   replyreport
3. 61

   patfulposted 15 years ago

   Just a quick comment on American English: we like to say something as quickly as possible. A new term enters our vocabulary and we shrink it as soon as we can. Example: in the early days of the U.S. space program, we heard about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It didn't take long for us to crunch it into NASA. "Technical" becomes "tech". "Text messaging" becomes "texting".
   TARP was the acronym (a word created out of the initials for something) for a recent government aid program. I can't even remember what the letters T and A and R and P stood for.
   When an acronym has been made into a recognizable word, you don't have to use the periods any more. But US or U.S., as the previous writer said, can be acceptable. Just be consistent in which one you use.

   replyreport
4. 49

   Hub Llamaposted 15 years ago

   Actually, you will find that for formal or academic writing, you should always use periods for any abbreviation including a.k.a. and U.S. This is especially true when referencing any organization such as U.S. District Court, or U.S. Senate.
   
   A note regarding aka is that if writing for a newspaper or magazine, or anyone else that wants "AP Style," the AP Stylebook says to use aka with no periods or spaces, and notes that this is an "exception to Websters".
   
   For titles, just don't capitalize the,of, and, or for, (unless they are the first word) and you will be right 99% of the time.

   replyreport
5. 59

   foreignpressposted 15 years ago

   There are numerous style books. Associated Press has been mentioned. I use Chicago Manual of Style. Any published style book -- and a dictionary -- will suffice.

   replyreport
6. 0

   Pani Midnyte Odinposted 15 years ago

   #1. You spelled grammar wrong.
   
   #2. It is proper to write them as a.k.a. or U.S.A. However, it is acceptable to write them without periods.
   
   #3 Titles are tricky, but I normally capitalize any of the words I view as important, as well as the first and last word of the title.

   replyreport
7. 61

   furnituremanposted 14 years ago

   aka means "also known as." Normally, every letter of it should have a dot--a.k.a. Also, with US, which means United States. But modern writing allows even without dots although quite unusual. Regarding the titles, prepositions and articles should not be capitalized. Ex: "How to Be in Business without Capital". Thank you and more power.

   replyreport