Language

  • Punctuation is never preceded by a space. For instance, write “Is this is a question?” and not “Is this a question ?” Putting a space before the question mark (or any other punctuation: a coma, a period, or a semicolon) is incorrect.
  • Insert a space between a word and opening brackets after it. For instance write “I like (or even love) this kind of books,” but do not write “I like(or even love) this kind of books.”
  • Use “and” instead of “&.”
  • Do not use brackets a lot in sentences.
  • Hyphens are often used in English to make a noun or an adjective that is composed from more than one word. For example you can say “a not-so-good idea” to qualify the word “idea” using a compound adjective which is “not-so-good.” Hyphens are not used with verbs nor are they used to combine words that have “and” in them. For example it is wrong to say “save-and-exit.”
  • When using a word figuratively put it between single quotes and not between double quotes. For example say: This cat ‘talks’ well. Do not say: This cat “talks” well.
  • When wanting to start in a new page do not use carriage returns (Enter) to reach the new page. Use a page break instead.
  • Do not use smilies :-) :-(.
  • Insert a space between a number and the word following it. Write “2.1 Functions” and not “2.1Functions.”