Grammar: All about (Q)

Grammar: Which word to use (Q)

https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-q

1. CORRECT USAGE

1.1. Similar words mean different things…

1.2 Use the right word in context…

quite

• “I’m quite tired” means “I’m fairly tired.”
• “Have you quite finished?” means “have you completely finished?” and comes with a built-in note of irritation.
• “Quite!” means “I agree!”.

quiz

a suspect is “questioned”, not “quizzed”.

2.SPELLINGS

2.1 To hyphenate (or not)?

YES

EXCEPTIONS

2.2 One word or two?

One word

quizshow

quicklime / silver / sand

Two words

2.3 Frequently misspelt

queueing NOT queuing

quixotic

Qur’an, holy book of Islam (not Koran)

2.4 Change with form or plural

2.5 Take note of capitals

[ic = initial capitals | lc = lowercase]

Queen’s Park (the London tube station has an apostrophe ) BUT Queens Park Rangers, English football club (no apostrophe).

Queen’s speech – the Queen is Her Majesty or HM, never HRH.

3. EXPRESSIONS

4. PUNCTUATION

quotation marks

Use double quotes at the start and end of a quoted section, with single quotes for quoted words within that section.

Place full points and commas inside the quotes for a complete quoted sentence; otherwise the point comes outside:

• “Anna said: ‘Your style guide needs updating,’ and I said: ‘I agree.'”

BUT

• “Anna said updating the guide was ‘a difficult and time-consuming task’”.

When beginning a quote with a sentence fragment that is followed by a full sentence, punctuate according to the final part of the quote, eg The minister called the allegations “blatant lies. But in a position such as mine, it is only to be expected.”

Use double quotation marks for words that aren’t actually quotations, for example: These are the people who put the “style” in style guide.

Headlines and standfirsts (where absolutely necessary), captions and display quotes all take single quote marks.

For parentheses in direct quotes, which should be employed very sparingly, use square brackets.

quotes

• Where a lot of material has been left out, start off a new quote with: “He added: … “, or signify this with an ellipsis.
• Avoid “that” quotes: The prosecutors maintained that “this was not a trial about freedom of the internet. Instead, a serious issue has been raised about the rights of the individual.”

There is no reason to introduce a complete direct quote of this kind with “that”. It should be: The prosecutors maintained: “This was not a trial … “ etc.

• Colons, rather than commas, should be used to introduce quotes.
• Avoid confusing attributions: “Gordon Brown is a bully and a liar. I have had numerous complaints about his aggressive behaviour,” said Mrs Pratt. “The prime minister is completely out of control, and everyone inside No 10 knows it,” added Andrew Rawnsley.

As a general rule, and particularly with lengthy quotations, it is better to start with the attribution, so the reader does not have to engage in a series of mental double-takes trying to find out who is supposed to be saying what. It should be: Mrs Pratt said: “Gordon Brown is a bully and a liar. I have had numerous complaints about his aggressive behaviour.” Andrew Rawnsley added: “The prime minister is completely out of control, and everyone inside No 10 knows it.”

• Avoid unnecessary quotes, especially for normal, mundane words: Benítez said he was “angry” that Liverpool were being written out of the title race. Maybe use quotation marks if he was “incandescent”, or “spitting with rage”, but otherwise resist the temptation!

question marks

YES

• Use at the end of a direct question: “What is she doing tonight?”
• Also, a direct question within a sentence: “Would they make it on time? she wondered” [note: a question mark replaces the comma].
• Reproduce when part of a title: “Have you read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, the novel by Philip Dick? [note: retain the comma = the question mark is part of the title].
• Editorial uncertainty: “The patient reported taking 15(?) milligrams of aspirin.” [Or use square brackets: “15 [20?] milligrams of aspirin.”]

NO

• Indirect question: “I wonder what she’s doing tonight.”
• Requests phrased as questions: “Would you please send this report to the person indicated on the cover.”

5.GRAMMAR