Core Grammar

How do you format block quotes?

- set a part from the rest of the text by one line of space on top of bottom -single-spaced -indented on tab on the right AND left -justified right and left

T/F: When you write the name of a city with its state, the state functions as an interruption Ex: On my way to Columbia South Carolina

Yes On my way to Columbia, South Carolina,

What are your two options for including a citation?

1. Citation Sentence - begins with an introductory word that indicates the reasoning for citing, operates as a complete sentence, includes citation material for the entirety of the proceeding content. 2. Citation Clause- interrupts a sentence and provides supporting citation for the proceeding information

What are the four reasons that an author would quote exact language in full?

1. When quoting a statute that is directly relevant to the legal question 2. you are quoting a common law concept that has developed specific meaning over time (e.g., duty of care) 3. the original text contains critical information 4. the original language is incredibly poignant, and a paraphrase would not do it justice

At what amount should you start using numerals to write a number? What are the exceptions?

100 or greater You should use numerals if a number is smaller than 100 but uses decimals You should write out a number that is 100 or greater if it begins a sentence (capitalize it) If you are writing a highly technical piece that includes lots of monetary amounts/percentages, you can just use numerals. If you are writing a series of numbers and one is 100 or greater, use numerals to describe all of them

What is the cut-off point for a quote to be made into a block quote?

50 words

How should you punctuate the end of an item in an embedded list?

A comma, unless the items are complex/contain internal punctuation, then use a semicolon

What is best practice for a lead in stem for a tabulated list?

A lead in stem that is a full sentence ending in a colon, that informs the reader how to think about the following material

How should you properly indicate that you have removed language (not substituted) from a quote? What is the exception?

An ellipsis: . . . Do not use an ellipsis to start a quoted sentence if you are omitting the beginning language. Instead, use brackets to alter the capitalization of the first word that you ARE using Ex: [P]etitioner's contension

How should you mark deeply nested quotations? How do you mark the end of a deeply nested quote?

Begin with double quotes, go to single quotes, and then alternate. If deeply nested quotes are ending at the same time, end the most recent quote with its matching quotation style, and then work back.

In legal writing, how should you make the following word possessive? What if it was plural? Boss

Boss's, bosses'

How should you signify a term of art?

By placing it in quotes

How should you cite a nested quotation?

Cite the initial quote as you would normally, but before you end the citation, cite the secondary source in parentheses using the word "quoting"

T/F: It is okay to use ordinals when writing a date in legal writing.

False

T/F: Sarcasm is acceptable in legal writing.

False, you should avoid anything that makes it appear as if you are saying something that is untrue. Avoid particularly the phrase "so-called" (and if you absolutely have to use it, never place quotations around the thing it is referring to)

T/F: Superscript is appropriate in legal writing with ordinals.

False.

T/F: Ordinals, percentages, and monetary amounts should always be written with numerals.

False. Ordinals, percentages, and monetary amounts follow the same rules as regular numbers when determining if they should be written with numerals or words.

How should you indicate that you are quoting a whole sentence but omitting the words that ended the original sentence?

Finish with a four period ellipsis: . . . .

How many numerals in a row necessitate a comma in legal writing?

Five or more.

Do terms of art need to be quoted for the entirety of a piece?

No, once the author feels they have been sufficiently established, the quotes are not necessary. Many authors choose to reintroduce the quotes in the final paragraph to once again bring attention to the specialness of the term

Should you surround your block quote in quotations?

No.

In embedded lists, do you always need to introduce it with a colon?

No. If the lead in is not a complete sentence, flow directly from stem to list

Should your citation for a block quote be on the inside or the outside of the quote?

Outside. It should follow the quote in the style of the surrounding text

List whether the following punctuation go inside or outside quotes: . , ; : ? ! What is special about ? !

Periods and commas go inside, semicolons and colons go outside. Exclamation points and question marks go on the outside if they are a part of the sentence that the author is including the quote in, but inside if they are a part of the quoted material. If they are a part of the quoted material, they function as the final punctuation and the quote doesn't need a period.

How should you punctuate the end of an item in a tabulated list?

Semicolon

How should you format a tabulated list?

Space between the lead in steam and the list, list is indented from left, single spaced, semicolon at the end of each item, use and/or at the end of the second to last item (after semicolon)

Other than length, for what reasons would an author choose to make a quote into a block quote?

To quote poetry, statutes, testimony, or some other sort of text that has a unique format that the author wishes to preserve

What is the only instance in which you need to capitalize the items of a tabulated list?

When one item spans more than one sentence

In what instances should you include an indent in a block quote?

When the material being quoted begins in a paragraph, or if the material spans multiple paragraphs

What is a nested quotation?

When the speaker currently being quoted quotes someone else

When should you use brackets in a quote?

When you are in any way altering a quotation to make grammatical sense in the context of YOUR sentence (e.g., adding capitalization, changing singular to plural, changing tense etc.)

How should you handle citations for a deeply nested quote in a block quote?

You can include the original texts' citation, or you can include it the citation for the primary quote in traditional quoted parenthetic format

What is an introductory signal and how should you format it?

an introductory signal is the word that begins a citation that tells you how it relates to the information that precedes it. it should be underlined and italicized.

When writing out a date (Day, Month, Year), which portion is the interrupter, and should therefore be surrounded in commas? What is the exception to this? Ex: On March 10 2017

the year The exception is when you say "of" March 10, 2017, On March 10 of 2017