Questions tagged [formatting]
Questions about text appearance: styling, placement, fonts, indents, bullets.
402
questions
1
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0answers
30 views
How do you format a song when it's part of a larger spoken piece?
I'm editing a children's book which includes songs. I usually format the songs as a block quote in a slightly smaller type size and centred on the longest line. However, I've just come to a song that ...
-1
votes
1answer
30 views
How do I do inline indentation from another book with open office?
I'm wanting to do something like the following, but am unsure how to do it:
As we become attached in the spirit two people developing a shared conscience (Deuteronomy 31:6) of what they may or may ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
In Microsoft Word outlines, is it possible to set an outline level for topic sentences?
Can topic sentences be outlined in MS word after the full text has been written? I would like to use Word's outline feature to revise a paper. I need to work on the first sentences of the paragraphs....
0
votes
2answers
77 views
Is it acceptable for a published short story to serve later as the prologue of a novel?
If I was to publish an original short story to get feedback for a concept and characters, would publishers find it distasteful if I then wanted to include the same text later as the prologue part of a ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
What is the preferred way of writing small numbers in academic writing?
I need to represent small numbers in multiple tables. I am wondering which is the preferred way:
1.235e-3, or 1.235x10^-3?
The issue is that the latter requires more width than the former. Hence, most ...
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Italicizing for emphasis
I've noticed that I have had a lot of dialogue between characters with words that need to be said with a noticeable amount of emphasis, and in order to get that emphasis I have had to italicize lots ...
0
votes
3answers
69 views
How do you format a dialogue when it is interrupted by an action verb or sound?
"I wanna be - pants the president."
How do you format a dialogue when it is interrupted by an action verb or sound? I don't think this is the proper way. I am looking for a better ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Comma after adverb
Should you include a comma after an adverb, just before the adverb or not include a comma at all in this example. The adverb in question being 'prematurely'.
1 On Tuesday, the EU’s attempt to reach a ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Does “mock-cried” require a hyphen?
I mock cried into his shoulder. vs
I mock-cried into his shoulder.
The old man smiled at me with his old man charm. vs
The old man smiled at me with his old man-charm.
Mock modifies the verb cry, so ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
An alternative to quotation marks to improve readability in a sentence?
In general, you should use quotation marks for the titles of shorter pieces of work. But what if I'm listing several file names off a computer?
I went to his folder labeled “School Stuff.” I opened ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Should a password/username be written in quotes or italics?
In a creative writing context, how should computer passwords/usernames appear?
I opened Todd’s laptop and typed in his password: Battle_Ship76. I went to the settings and changed his password: ...
14
votes
3answers
3k views
How do you insert lyrics into a novel?
She suddenly began singing "Cruella De Vil Cruella De Vil If she
doesn't scare you No evil thing will To see her is to take a sudden
chill Cruella, Cruella She's like a spider waiting for the ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
How do you introduce a sung part in a novel?
Let's say that the characters sing a song such as this one:
Cruella De Vil
Cruella De Vil
If she doesn't scare you
No evil thing will
To see her is to take a sudden chill
Cruella, Cruella
She's like ...
0
votes
2answers
57 views
Formatting new line options with actions and dialogue in fiction
I am getting confused about whether rules determine new paragraph positions or if it's sometimes arbitrary. Some choices seem clear cut, but in the sentence: 'I regarded...' it reads fine to me in ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Is there a way to include your Patreon page when the credit rolls after a movie?
Is there a way to include your Patreon page when the credit rolls after a movie?
Me and some friend are going to release a short movie and we want to add a Patreon page during the credits, is there a ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
How do I fix this automatic indentation in listing?
I listed items but somehow it starts automatically indenting. I faced similar problems earlier and somehow they always start at number 10. How do I fix this?
3
votes
1answer
88 views
What is the proper format for filetype extensions in technical writing?
We are writing a collaborative paper that will include various examples of data types. When stating the data type file extension, how should it be presented?
For example,
"The platform will be ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
How do you add information about the music, sounds, camera actions in a trailer script?
Format your script elements. There are several different parts of the
script that require specific formatting so that they conform to
industry standards:[10]
Scene Heading: This is also called a “...
1
vote
0answers
45 views
Microsoft Word Formatting issue with KDP (How to move titles in the middle of the page?)
I have my nicely formatted word file to upload to the KDP page for Kindle publishing. When I launch the preview the titles are too high up on the page. This is not a problem for chapter titles, since ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
How can I add an hyphen to the chapter titles of my index without adding it to the titles of the actual chapters?
I'm going to give you an example, just for clarity (I'm using Word). Here is what I'd like my index titles to look like:
Chapter 1 - The Great Return
Chapter 2 - Lucy's Dinner
etc...
Whereas the ...
2
votes
4answers
199 views
How should I include foreign language into my story if the main character/s is/are multilingual
I am writing a story in English and my main character is bilingual and of a different culture. The characters and narrator uses common words in the familiar language (e.g. Spanish).
Do I need to ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Using em dash in a sentence spanning over multiple lines [duplicate]
When using em dash in a sentence which runs to multiple lines, especially in poetry, can it be the last word of the continuous sentence? For example, let us consider the following Wordsworth poetry.
...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
How do you write a YouTube description for a music clip?
How do you write a YouTube description for a music clip? Is there some kind of conventions? What are some of the conventions and are there templates out there that shows you how to properly credit ...
2
votes
2answers
129 views
Structure to follow while writing very short essays
I have to write essays in two examinations which will be conducted soon. Those exams need essays to be written in 250 words. The topics are given on the time of the exams and are usually anything ...
4
votes
3answers
85 views
Mixing prose and verse
I’m writing a novel and one of my characters speaks in poetic verse, should I format her dialogue differently to my characters who communicate in the traditional manner?
10
votes
8answers
2k views
Is italicizing parts of dialogue for emphasis ever appropriate?
Is it ever appropriate to use italics to emphasize parts of dialogue to show which words the speakers is putting emphasis on? I used to do this quite frequently, but I was told that this was a sign of ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Should I use a comma or a colon? [closed]
I am a bit confused as to whether I should use a comma or a colon for the following sentence:
Art quickly became a world where I could trust my abilities, a world where I can share my emotions and ...
6
votes
2answers
346 views
In story writing, can I switch between stating the character's thought in italics to indirectly narrating them?
For example, if I am stating my character's thoughts in this way:
That was scary! He thought.
Can I switch to saying something like the below further on in my story?
He thought it was scary.
Or should ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Consistency of text divider symbols
In one chapter I have written of my fiction book, I used the ✻ symbol to divide text. Because, in the chapter, I have to differentiate past vs present (in the specific chapter it switches from ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
Correct typography for the name of an event [closed]
When you write the title of a book, you put it in italics. What about the title of an event, such as the Super Bowl or the World Cup? Of everything I looked at, this has the most information, but ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Presenting a Character's Thoughts
Is this an acceptable introductory paragraph to a fictional character's memoir? I'm not sure if the first sentence should be in quotations or have its own line and be italicized..
How often do you get ...
0
votes
2answers
34 views
How should I format chapters in my manuscript?
I'm in my final stages of editing before I send my manuscript to beta readers. I'm wondering how I should format chapter titles. Do I put them as a header, or as a slightly larger, bolder font?
(This ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Format for Historical Fiction Book
I am close to finishing my historical fiction book, and I need to know the following:
Should you indent at the beginning of every paragraph?
If you do indent, what size should the indent be?
Size of ...
8
votes
1answer
147 views
Should I capitalise a lower-case last name at the start of a sentence?
I have a fairly quick question. I am wondering if I should capitalize a last name when it comes at the start of a sentence if it starts with a lower-case letter.
Example: In my essay, I am citing ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Is there a format to use when referencing?
I am writing an introductory-level book about civil engineering and construction. I list the references at the very back. I show the title and name of the author at a minimum. Do I need something else?...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
When writing and formatting a novel, what are the rules for scene breaks? Is it okay to use both asterisks and double spaces?
I have found information on this topic of scene breaks available on the internet to be quite conflicting and I've frustrated myself into a lot of confusion. Some authors use only double spaces to ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Writing Style Guides
I am a college student and I find myself writing more essays, citing sources, and formatting papers according to their style guides (APA,MLA,...). However I found that most style guides are updated ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Open Office sequential page numbering left pages
I have a document where I have left pages only (Format > Page > Layout settings > left only), so the page numbers start from 2 and increases by 2 every page (2-4-6...). Instead, I need them ...
0
votes
2answers
226 views
How do I punctuate a slogan?
I have the following slogan:
I sell, I build
I want to make sure it's clear and concise. I did not add a period, because I know it's not a full sentence. However, I want to make sure it's ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
How do you format dialogue within a parargraph?
He made his way over to the crimson red telephone box that basked in the afternoon sunlight. Ted knew she was hiding in there. “You can come out now." He swung open the door, with a callous look ...
2
votes
2answers
44 views
Correctly phrasing a sentence containing “along with” followed by a list
I have the following sentence structure and I am wondering about the best way to phrase it:
"Along with A, B, C and D have been shown to influence the production of E."
What I am trying to ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
In a book manuscript, what are the spacing guidelines?
What is the spacing distance between the chapter title and the first paragraph?
If I am using double spacing between sentences, is it the same for between a title and a paragraph?
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Short Story versus Novel format [closed]
I have just completed a draft erotic short story I have never professionally published fiction before but I believe this story "sizzles". This story is around 4000 words. I have rough ...
0
votes
4answers
128 views
How exactly does a book go from typewritten pages into an actual mass-produced unit ready for the consumer, and do authors have any control?
I want to be clear that I'm asking about this both for the present time, where nearly everyone does everything digitally, and for "back in the day", such as the 1970s or 1950s or 1920s or ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
How to properly include credits for the author, location, date and time?
I'm working on an amateur article about various topics and want to include my name (as the author), location of where I'm currently writing the article, and the current date and time.
I've seen many ...
1
vote
2answers
33 views
Formatting a story collection for submission to publishers
Anyone know of a definitive online resource on formatting a story collection for submission to publishers and agents? One knotty question in particular: does one use the title of the book throughout ...
2
votes
2answers
100 views
How do you write a large number in a sentence?
I was there for 45,400,000 (forty-five million, four hundred thousand) seconds
I was there for 45,400,000, forty-five million, four hundred thousand, seconds?
3
votes
4answers
109 views
Hyphen for “multiple-response”?
I'm writing a help document for a website that tests people. In much of the copy for the website, I've referred to "multiple-choice" questions with the hyphen.
Now, I have to write about multiple ...
2
votes
2answers
190 views
Referring to groups and unnamed individuals from groups in a screenplay
The following extract is from a screenplay I'm writing. I could really use some advice on how to format it, particularly around referring to groups of people and an unnamed person from a group.
Bob ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
How to start writing an autobiography [duplicate]
I’m planning to write my autobiography. I don’t know where to start. Please give some tips and tricks to kickstart the project. I know it’s my personal stuff. But still some hacks from experienced ...
