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Sports writer looking for Grammar help

Discussion in 'Writers' Workshop' started by Vincent Miracle, Mar 4, 2016.

  1. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    Fact. Unfortunately, too many schools in my area don't realize the difference. So unless we follow up with them, often times, it will be reported however they announced it.
     
  2. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    Not really grammar, but I struggle with this....

    First reference: Wade Baldwin IV
    Second reference: Is it Baldwin IV or just Baldwin?
     
  3. HandsomeHarley

    HandsomeHarley Well-Known Member

    Hmm ... I have never come upon that one.

    Just a guess, but if it were me, if the story talks about more than one of the Baldwin clan, I would go with "Baldwin IV" on all of his references, but if this particular Baldwin was the only one in the story, I would stick with "Baldwin."

    Jr. and Sr., of course, would fall along these same lines.
     
  4. Riptide

    Riptide Well-Known Member

    Baldwin.
     
  5. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    Punctuation question

    Podunk scored 10 first inning runs
    OR
    Podunk scored 10 first-inning runs
     
  6. HandsomeHarley

    HandsomeHarley Well-Known Member

    Follow the rule: If it's a noun, no hyphen. If it's an adjective, use a hyphen.

    "first-inning" modifies the noun "runs," so it gets a hyphen.
     
  7. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    Thought so, but wanted to be sure.
     
  8. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    This is more style than grammar, but...
    How do you deal with numbers? Did John Doe score 7 points or did he score seven points? Stylebook just confuses me on this.
     
  9. cjericho

    cjericho Well-Known Member

    Isn't is spell out single digits?
     
  10. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    Yes, I've been told that's the rule. But then I look at Stylebook and don't know if it meshes.

    Taking an excerpt from Stylebook, here's the part I'm unsure about:
    -In narrative, spell out nine and under except for yard lines in football and individual and team statistical performances.

    Stylebook never actually gives a scoring example under 10 though, so I may be reading too far into that explanation.
     
  11. HandsomeHarley

    HandsomeHarley Well-Known Member

    Numbers less than 10 are spelled out, with exceptions.

    If you are using them for statistical purposes, they often should be numerals.

    Smith hit 7 of 8 from the floor ... Jones finished 3 for 4 with two home runs.

    If it refers to a marker on a field, use numerals.

    The nine-yard run put the ball on the Pudunk 7.
     
  12. MNgremlin

    MNgremlin Active Member

    So two home runs isn't a statistic? That's the inconsistency that makes it confusing.
     
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