Questions tagged [formatting]
Questions about text appearance: styling, placement, fonts, indents, bullets.
332
questions
2
votes
3answers
69 views
Using a prominent phrase from the title of a film in the body of an article, essay or paper, without referencing the title
I'll start with a clear example. You are writing an essay about the film The Wizard of Oz. Following the rules of titles, you put the film title in italics whenever you use it.
But then you use the ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
Awkward language translation
So I’m currently writing a book that takes place in Finland, though I am American and speak English. My main character’s name can be used as a play on words, and people use it to mock him throughout ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Unit of measurement and formatting
Often I see mm stuck with the number like this: 9mm semi auto pistol. However, in most situations we see "10 km", so are there specific rules in certain situations? Because it seems for gun the unit ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Telephone Conversations [duplicate]
The Situation: I am writing a short story. My POV character is listening to another person having a telephone conversation. The POV character only hears the one person speaking and not the responses.
...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
Switching languages within dialogue [duplicate]
I'm writing a story which requires frequent switching between languages, sometimes in the same sentence.
I thought about writing the foreign language in italics, but the problem is that I already use ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
Italicising Fictional Company names throughout [duplicate]
If I have created a fictional theatre with it’s own name, and italicise the name with it’s first appearance in the story, do I need to keep it in italics whenever it’s mentioned after that?
Eg: We ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Specific MLA Question on In-Text Citation
How do I format an in-text citation in MLA format when the sentence ends as a parenthesis?
For example: Stuart Appleby won three races in his career (but lost all others) (Fredricks 23).
It looks ...
21
votes
6answers
4k views
Using font to highlight a god's speech in dialogue
At one point in my story, the characters are addressed by a god. In the ensuing dialogue, this god has a more archaic way of speaking, but even so, I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to visually ...
5
votes
1answer
44 views
Where should question marks be put in fragmented lines of poems?
For example, in the lines:
Say what good really is a life,
When so thoroughly deprived of joy
Is my restless mind,
Hurting constantly, in a dreadful strife?
When it needs so many lies,
...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Formatting a conversation
In a novel, how would one best represent a recorded conversation between two people played back to a larger audience? The normal rules apply regarding quotation marks and beginning a new paragraph ...
13
votes
5answers
1k views
How to display a duet in lyrics?
I wonder if someone can tell me whether there is a convention when laying out a lyric to show different parts (or even a chorus). In my novel, there are a number of poems and lyrics. They are set in ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
How to introduce a character properly
I'm working on a screenplay and I know the basics of formatting, however I still don't get why the first time a character speaks some line, it has to be written as
He or Man
instead of his actual ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Multiple lines of dialogue and action from a single character
I am in the middle of writing a scene between two characters, a cello player, Lisa and her friend from college, Jack. Lisa has recently lost her sight, and Jack is trying to encourage her back into ...
6
votes
1answer
105 views
Is there a good resource on all different formatting and writing styles throughout history?
I noticed writers in the past used a different format, in terms of punctuation, indentation, quotations, spacing, and paragraph length, and the format can be different from author to author and from ...
9
votes
2answers
699 views
How would you write the dialogues of two characters talking in a chat room?
How would you write do the dialogues of two characters talking in a chat room? I am seriously wondering about the format. Should it look like regular dialogues, what about emoticons like OWO and ;) ...
6
votes
2answers
229 views
How should I present a resort brochure in my general fiction?
In my story the protagonist goes to live in a health resort. The receptionist presents her with a brochure of activities. At the moment I have written like this in a word document;
After patiently ...
3
votes
1answer
115 views
Are there stylistic overlaps between novels and comic books? [closed]
I am going to quote from a novel that in my opinion shows many stylistic overlaps of novels and comic books: The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey. I am holding that novel in my hand now.
The use of a lot of ...
2
votes
3answers
92 views
Can we dialoguify sounds?
Can we dialoguify sounds? By dialoguifying I mean turning something that shouldn't be put in quote when that something correspond to sounds into a dialogue by putting it between quotes and treating it ...
6
votes
1answer
469 views
How to plan the font size in a fiction?
I have planned my book to be around 250 pages. Because that is my target audience. In my country I can sell the book of that length for around 250-300 rupees. (*Its just my plan, I don't know yet how ...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
How to plan length of a chapter? [duplicate]
I have planned my book to be around 250 pages. Because that is my target audience. In my country I can sell the book of that length for around 250-300 rupees. (*Its just my plan, I don't know yet how ...
3
votes
2answers
75 views
What are the indentation rules for the paragraph introducing a bulleted list?
I'm writing a formal document for my company where it'll be shared and used by a number of teams. Unfortunately, we don't have any official standard style guide to follow, so I've attempted to be as ...
7
votes
2answers
112 views
Breaking dialogue with actions from another character
This can get... confusing, which is why I tend to avoid it, but sometimes, I really want it there.
“What?!” [said Character B.] I laughed, giving her a minute to process
my words. “You’re getting ...
3
votes
2answers
79 views
How do you transcribe a dialogue when abbreviations are used?
How do you transcribe a dialogue when abbreviations are used?
For example, when people uses acronyms like FBI or abbreviations like a.m., do we just write them as we write them when they're in a ...
6
votes
1answer
64 views
In the Windows version of Scrivener for Screenplay formatting, how do format for action/dialogue/shot?
There is a way to automatically change the indices to respect whether it is a line of dialogue or a description of the setting, but I can't find a way to bring the menu up consistently when hitting "...
1
vote
2answers
206 views
How to convert dialogue in to paragraph?
This is my first time writing a novel. In my novel, there is a part of the married life of my protagonist who is a woman. I don't have any experience of married life so I have taken inspiration from a ...
4
votes
4answers
132 views
What format should I use when beginning a chapter with the time and location of the events?
What format should I use when beginning a chapter with the time and location of the events?
I was thinking to use:
Nine pm. Sunday, in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
but I don't think it looks good, so I ...
3
votes
2answers
77 views
When writing an error prompt, how do we tell the user the error happens in a specific tab?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tab_(interface)
I have made a medical record application that allows someone to record data about someone, but the application also allows us to add the data of a ...
2
votes
1answer
30 views
Using indents and line breaks together
I am sorry if has been asked before. I was wondering if that both Indent and Line Break in the same text are allowed (I've seen it used in some old texts and I am wondering if it still an acceptable ...
9
votes
6answers
3k views
Are there any established rules for splitting books into parts, chapters, sections etc?
I am working with an author, whose approach is to write her text, approximately divided by indicators where she wants the breaks to be, with the idea that later she and I would improve the breaks and ...
7
votes
2answers
316 views
Page count conversion from single to double-space for submissions
When an agent/publisher limits manuscript submissions to your first 50 pages, and goes on to say it should be double-spaced as an attachment, does that mean your first 50 pages from your single-spaced ...
1
vote
4answers
456 views
Is there something “wrong” with my writing? How do I improve it? [closed]
So I usually use stackexchange as a last resort, but I'm completely stumped. If this question is inappropriate here, I will gladly delete it.
None of my teachers say that anything is wrong with my ...
4
votes
2answers
171 views
Modern Markup for lengthy novel suited for self-publishing
I wrote a lengthy novel using a program I wrote.
This produces a suitable LaTeX source I can use to generate a nice-looking PDF.
Markup, beside customary division in Part/Chapter/Scene, is used to ...
3
votes
2answers
100 views
About sound effects
I'm writing a script that shows a speaker interacting with their audience. The speaker finishes speaking and the audience reacts. I wrote it like this.
Loud CHEERS from the audience.
I'm wondering ...
3
votes
4answers
387 views
How to format quick flashes in a screenplay?
Question : In my screenplay, the main character occasionally suffers quick flashes, like visions. I have been unable to assert if I am formatting these correctly. Please also note the single and ...
2
votes
2answers
65 views
Can I include diagrams in essays for complex topics?
I know that it breaks the general format of essays and that you should generally not include diagrams in essays. I just find it hard to keep clarity for parts that can be misunderstood, if interpreted ...
4
votes
3answers
157 views
Scientific Reports - Significant Figures
I'm currently writing a report where I have a table stating certain parameter values and their errors. Obviously I want the report to look nice, but since the errors of certain parameters vary by ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Correct punctuation for showing a character's confusion
I'm trying to show that the narration (third person limited) is being interrupted by the character's thought process, and I'm not sure what punctuation is best for this situation.
So far, I've tried ...
5
votes
2answers
131 views
Why do most style guides miss out the 'degrees' when reporting temperature?
In the UK, the Guardian style guide and the BBC style guide say to report temperatures as "25C" or "90F", with no degree symbol.
The NYT style guide says to "Avoid the degree symbol and the ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Including letters and other documents in a memoir
Writing my memoirs. I would like an opinion on how best to include 4 pages of letters/fax/emails. How about a 20-page composition? as addendum/exhibit? Too long to include in manuscript? Thanks for ...
2
votes
2answers
118 views
Ellipses in the middle of a paragraph?
Words words words. ...Words words words words.
Would having an ellipses right after a period like this be correct? If not, how would I incorporate them in? Would it be more like this?:
Words words ...
3
votes
1answer
415 views
How to script two scenes happening simultaneously?
I am writing a movie where a character has an interview with a news reporter. The scenes segues into a character profile of the interviewee that features a voice over from the interviewer. How would I ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
How to write out words for wordplay
Our church had to stay baroque and afloat not b-roke and awash.
baroque and broke wordplay here: not sure how to write out bahroke meaning broke
2
votes
1answer
55 views
News shot in screenwriting
I'm writing a screenplay that incorporates various news shots. I plan to use various news shots as expositions. My story takes place in the future, and I want various news shots that display the top ...
18
votes
7answers
2k views
Indicating multiple different modes of speech (fantasy language or telepathy)
All the viewpoint characters in my story are orcs and speak Orcish as their native tongue, but some are bilingual: they use English to talk to humans. Additionally, the main character has a magic ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Is it good formatting to bookend quotations with a comma when they occur in the middle of narration?
Consider the sample sentence below from a novel.
As he stared at it, Emma announced “Its blackberry cake! It’s the best cake you’ll ever taste. Honest!” And with that, she stuffed in another big ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
How do I mix linear and non-linear “choices” in an interactive novel?
In my interactive novel, I'm trying to keep the word count between choice prompts fairly short and consistent, but that means sometimes breaking up longer text into a few sections….
I've been using ...
1
vote
4answers
120 views
Is it a bad idea to use footnotes to describe new technologies in a science-fiction novel?
I am wondering if we can use footnotes to describe technologies used in a science-fiction novel instead of describing it by switching from an omniscient POV, that describes everything in a poetic way, ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
Distinguishing between unreliable frame narrator and narrator of framed story
I'm writing a work which is bookended by a frame story with an unreliable narrator.
How do I prevent confusion for the reader when the frame narrator interjects? In the framed story, the characters ...
1
vote
3answers
189 views
End-of-line hyphenation - how should it be used?
End-of-line hyphenation is the process of breaking words between lines to create more consistency across a text block. (source) A long word is broken across a line-break by means of a hyphen. It helps ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Quick punctuation request on a sentence containing a list with a colon per listed item
This is being used within a blog article, however, I want to primp it up for use in a more public and professional platform. My intrigue pertains to grammar and punctuation of the listed items in the ...
