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Writing: style and format A
Aspects of writing If you’re in a hurry, you can scribble a note to someone. [write quickly, without much care] A note is likely to be in a more chatty style than, say, a business letter. [when used about writing; informal] I’ll just jot down (informal) / make a note of (more formal) your phone number before I forget it. [write something down to remember it]
She got so bored at the meeting she spent the whole time doodling. [drawing and writing irrelevant things on the paper in front of her]
I’ll copy out the information on hotels for you. [copy in writing] I’m just drafting an application letter for that job I told you about. [making a first attempt at writing something] (noun = draft: the first draft of an essay) Some students write down everything the lecturer says. [copy in writing what is spoken] She’s writing up her dissertation at the moment, so she’s very tired and stressed. [making a proper final written text based on previous drafts]
She bought the manuscript of a famous poem at the sale. [original version produced by the author]
B
Type and print Learning to touch-type was one of the most useful things I’ve ever done. [type, using all your fingers without looking at the keyboard]
I’ve finished my book. I’ll email the typescript to the publisher tomorrow. [an author’s text that has not
yet been published]
I’ll run you off a copy at the same time. [print out] I’ve done the text, but I want to format it properly before printing it. [create the page as it will appear
when printed]
I usually cut and paste or copy and paste bits of material from my notes when I’m writing an essay, then link them all together. [move text from one place to another electronically] The letters and numbers on a keyboard can all be called characters – a password often needs to be at least eight characters, for example. These words are in bold and these words are italicised / in italics. These words are in a shaded box.
These words are in a different font size from the rest and these words are in a different font or typeface. “This sentence is in double inverted commas / double quotation marks.” ‘This one is in single quotation marks / single quotes.’ This sentence is indented. [begins away from the normal margin]
Psychology Today1
** This sentence has two asterisks in front of it. • This sentence has a bullet (point) in front of it. Types of brackets: ( ) round brackets < > diamond/angle brackets [ ] square brackets { } curly brackets
An introduction2 Contents
CAPITALS or UPPER CASE (more technical) is the opposite of small letters or lower case. This person has written her name in block capitals: MONICA KEEBLE This is part of the first page of an academic book. Look at the structure and the names of the different elements. The numbers on the extract are in superscript. [written above the normal line] 168
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
Chapter 1 What is psychology?3 1.1 Some definitions4 1.2 Psychology vs psychiatry 1 4
title 2 subtitle 3 chapter heading sub-heading (within a chapter)
