Writing Rules-Numbers, Time, and Dreams. Oh My!

There are so many writing rules it’s hard to keep track. Some are sophisticated, others are subtle. Have you ever given a thought to how numbers should be written in a novel or how writers handle scenes with timestamps? Is there a difference between a specified time used in dialogue or in prose? What about dreams and tabloid headlines? Should you put a movie title in all caps, italics, or quotation marks? How about song titles? Are you aware of the RAVEN rule? These writing issues may seem inconsequential and you may think you know how to manage their correct forms. Trust me, some of the nuances are not that obvious. Buckle up my fellow writers while I help you navigate some of the edicts in the great sea of writing rules that you may not know.

***Always consult the manual your publisher uses. Many fiction novels rely on the Chicago Manual of Style. Self-published authors pick a style manual and stick with it as you write. Consistency is key.

LET'S GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS WITH SOME QUICK TIPS

NUMBERS

The general rule is to spell out numbers from zero to one hundred—seven, thirty, etc.

Always hyphenate numbers with two words—eighty-nine, fifty-four, etc.

For numbers higher than 100—Numerals are the go-to—105, 4,200, etc.

Round numbers are the exception, so spell them out —five thousand, etc.

Millions and billions—Use a mix of words and figures—10 million, 19 billion

Sentence Exception—Never begin a sentence with a numeral. Instead, spell it out.

Dialogue—Aim to reflect natural speech—“Wow, grandma gave me a hundred bucks.”

Exception 1 in dialogue—If the number is large or complex use figures—“I counted 3,497 contestants.”

Exception 2 in dialogue—If the character is referencing a technical identifier—“She is staying in Room 342.”

Age—spell it out—My mentor just turned sixty.

Highway Names and Exits— He took Exit 17 South on the Southern State Parkway.

Highway Names and Exits in Dialogue—“Get off at seventeen south on the Southern State,” she told him.

Exception—Don’t begin a sentence with the numeral—(Incorrect)— “17 South is the exit you want.”

                    (Correct)— “Exit 17 South is the one you want.”

TIME

Spell out times in narrative and dialogue. They always have dinner at six o’clock.  

For a.m./p.m. use numerals or when an exact time is important like when using a timestamp—

5:00 a.m.: Stare out the window.

6:00 a.m.: Watch the sunrise.

***The timestamp can be italicized to set it apart from the narrative.

No Hyphen when joining the hour and the minutes when they are spelled out in a standard time notation—The meeting is at four thirty (Correct) The meeting is at four-thirty (Incorrect)

Dialogue—“It's eleven in the morning."

If a character is being very specific “How does a six a.m. run sound?”

Narrative—They had an eleven a.m. appointment every Saturday.

DATES

Dates—Use a mix of figures and words for specific dates—August 13, 2010

Use Numerals for Specific Years—1991

Use Cardinal Numbers for Days of the Month—March 25 not March 25th

TITLES OF MAJOR, SELF-CONTAINED WORKS 

The general rule of thumb for titles in writing is: ITALICIZE

Books

Movies

TV Shows

Magazines/Newspapers — headlines in quotes no italics, no bold

Albums

Plays

Use Quotation Marks For Shorter Works That Are Part Of A Larger Whole

Book chapters

Articles

Headlines

Songs

Poems

A book title cited at the end of a page in a novel (typically in a footnote or endnote) should be italicized.

DREAMS

If the Dream is Short—generally 1-2 paragraphs, it can be italicized. If the dream scene is longer than that, italics may cause reader fatigue, so avoid it. Instead, set the dream apart from the narrative before and after by using space.

Remember to make it clear to the reader that the character is dreaming. Here are a few options:

Option 1- Clair closed her eyes and a beautiful dream began.

Option 2- Clair drifted off thinking about the things she’d never do.

Option 3- Thoughts of his mystery woman crept in. His eyes closed and an incredible dream began.

MISCELLANEOUS RULES

The RAVEN Rule—Remember Affect is a Verb, Effect is a Noun

The storm affected many residents.

The storm had a profound effect on the residents.

To Lay (means to place or put something down): This verb requires a direct object (you "lay" something down).

He laid her on the bed.

I lay my cards on the table.

To Lie (means to recline or rest): This verb does not take a direct object (you simply "lie" down).

Present tense: She lies down to rest.

Past tense: She lay down yesterday.

Farther—Used for physical, measurable distance.

She swam three miles farther than intended.

Further—Used for figurative or metaphorical distance, or to mean "additional".

We need to discuss this further before deciding.

Who (Subject)—Used when the word is doing the action.

Who ate the last piece of cake?

Whom (Object)—Used when the word is receiving the action.

To whom should I address this letter?

Hung—The standard past tense for suspending an object.

She hung the clothes out to dry.

Hanged—Reserved specifically for the execution of a person.

The witches were hanged at dawn.

***Consistency and Readability are Paramount