For example: “Mind your p’s and q’s.” Or this: “My favorite team is the Oakland A’s.”
However, do not use an apostrophe when referring to the plural of multiple letters. For example: “He learned his ABCs.” Or this: “A number of VIPs attended the company picnic.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>For dates (years), it goes before the number, not after it. For example, if you are referring to the 1920s, you would write ’20s. The apostrophe replaces the 19.
The apostrophe must curve to the left. You probably noticed that if you type a single apostrophe before a number or letter, it curves to the right. Simply type a second apostrophe (it curves to the left) and delete the first one.
Note that you do not use an apostrophe between the number and the “s.” That’s because you are not omitting anything. The same rule applies to other numbers, such a temperatures or sizes. For example: “Today’s temperatures will be in the low 60s.” or “The shoe store had several size 7s.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>Always use “who” when referring to people and animals with names. For example: “Producers who were forced to delay planting in the spring may have lower yields at harvest.” “Bootsie, who doesn’t like riding in the car, yowled all the way to the vet clinic.”
Only use “that” when referring to inanimate objects and animals without names. For example: “The trees that were killed by Dutch elm disease have been removed.” “All of the cows that were pregnant this spring have calved.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>The general rule is to spell out numbers below 10 and use figures for 10 and above. However, like most rules, this one has several exceptions. Here are a few of the common instances when you would use figures for amounts below 10:
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>“In” describes the location of a person, animal or thing. For example, you would say: “The stray cows were found in the corn field” or “Oak and elm trees are common in North Dakota forests,” NOT “The stray cows were found within the corn field” or “Oak and elm trees are common within North Dakota forests.”
“Within” implies a sense of limits on something. Thus, you would say: “You must complete this test within 30 minutes.” This indicates you can’t take more than 30 minutes to complete the test, but you can take less time.
“In” also can be used in a time sense, but it indicates a certain activity will take a specific amount of time. For example: “I can walk around the block in five minutes.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>You’ve probably seen or even written something such as this: “I currently am reading a great book.” Or this: “The kids are playing ball now.”
You don’t need to include “currently” or “now” because the “am” and “are” are present tense, which means the action is occurring at this time. That makes “currently” or “now” repetitious when the sentence already indicates a time element.
“I am reading a great book” and “The kids are playing ball” are perfectly clear and shorter, too, which is good because writing concisely will help hold readers’ attention.
Ellen Crawford, Information Specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>I’m sure you’ve seen or heard a variation of this: “The book is located on the table.” Or how about this: “The barn is located near the machine shed.”
If you take out the “located,” the sentence still makes sense, so why include it? “The book is on the table” is shorter, too.
You can use “located” if you mean something has been found. For example: “I located the missing calf.” But why not just say “found”? “I found the missing calf.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>These are examples in which it’s not necessary: “Both Tom and Dick attended the play.” Or this: “Prices for both wheat and corn were much higher this year.”
Just remember that “both” refers to two people or things. It’s not necessary in these examples because the two people (Tom and Dick) or things (wheat and corn) are specified. “Both” is needed only when those people or things are not identified and you want the reader to know you are referring to two individuals or items.
Here are some examples of its correct usage: “We met Lisa and Susan, who are sisters.” or “We met both sisters.” “Researchers planted switchgrass in trial plots 12 and 14.” or “Researchers planted switchgrass in both trial plots.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>Brand name is a nonlegal term for a service mark or trademark.
Use a generic version when possible. For example: “Camp activities will include swimming, canoeing and in-line skating (not Rollerblading).” “Put all of the ingredients into a slow cooker (not Crock Pot) and cook on high for six hours.”
However, using a brand name is unavoidable sometimes. For example, “Baythroid XL is one insecticide registered for use in barley.” In this case, a generic term would not be specific enough.
If we use brand names in an Extension publication, this is what the university attorney suggested we put at the end of the publication: The NDSU Extension Service does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to trade names, trademarks or service names.
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>If you are referring to the organization, capitalize. For example, “The NDSU Extension Service is hosting a sheep shearing clinic Sept. 23.” The reason for capitalizing the words is that they are the proper name of the organization.
Also, use the organization's complete name – North Dakota State University Extension Service – on first reference to the organization.
On future references to the organization in the same document, Extension is OK, but be sure to capitalize it. That’s to distinguish the organization from the generic “extension.” For example, “Presenters for the workshop will include Extension livestock specialists.”
Ellen Crawford, Information Specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>Note the apostrophe goes between “4-H” and “er.” That’s because the apostrophe replaces the “memb” portion of “member.”
For example: “Jane Smith has been a 4-H’er for four years.”
When referring to more than one 4-H member, simply add an “s” to 4-H’er. You do not need another apostrophe before or after the “s.” For instance: “Four 4-H’ers were selected to attend the national conference.”
Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>If you are referring to time, the correct one is a.m. “The field tour will start at 10 a.m.” Always lowercase the letters and use periods.
The same rule applies to p.m. “The storm started about 3:30 p.m.”
AM is short for the amplitude modulation system of radio transmission. “The only radio station in town is an AM station.”
PM mainly is used in countries such as England and Canada; it stands for prime minister.
Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391
]]>You’ve probably seen, or heard, statements such as these: “The movie will start around 3 p.m.” “We’ve scheduled meetings around the state.” And my favorite: “I’ll meet you around about noon.”
The problem with using “around” is that it means “surrounding.” So in the meetings example, you’re saying you are holding them in surrounding states, not in the state. Better ways to say this are: “We’ve scheduled meetings across the state” or “We’ve scheduled meetings throughout the state.”
"Around" also is vague and open to interpretation. If you want people to show up for an event on time, you need to be precise: “The movie will start at 3 p.m.”
If you mean to give people a little leeway, then use “about” or “approximately.” For example: “I’ll meet you about noon.” That tells others you will meet them at noon or as close to it as possible. Or this: “The fundraiser brought in approximately $2,500.” That means this figure is accurate within a few dollars.
Ellen Crawford, Information Specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>“Myself” is not a substitute for “me” or “I.”
You’ve probably seen a sentence such as this: “Please contact Jane Smith, Kate Doe or myself for more information about the workshop.” The “myself” is incorrect. “Me” is the correct word.
The best way to determine which is right is to delete the other people in the sentence. You would not say “Please contact myself.” You would say “Please contact me for more information about the workshop.” So the sentence should be: “Please contact Jane Smith, Kate Doe or me for more information about the workshop.”
“Myself” is a reflexive pronoun. Think of it this way: I look in the mirror and see a reflection of myself.
A reflexive pronoun always is the object of a sentence; it never can be the subject. A subject is the one doing something in a sentence, and the object is the one having something done. So if I pet the cat, I am the subject and the cat is the object. You wouldn’t say “Myself petted the cat,” so don’t say “Fred and myself petted the cat.”
Ellen Crawford, Information Specialist, (701) 231-5391
]]>You’ve probably heard this phrase: “We would like to thank … .”
The sentiment is admirable, but you aren’t accomplishing your goal of actually thanking someone. What you are saying is that you have the desire to show your appreciation and you would do it if you could.
The best way to acknowledge someone’s efforts is by simply saying: “We thank … .” For example: “We thank bean growers for participating in this survey.” “I thank my colleagues for their assistance in developing this publication.”
Ellen Crawford, Information Specialist, (701) 231-5391
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