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I like the third version, without colons, because the visual break and the code formatting makes it clear that this is a new "clause," or thought, and the piece of code is not a grammatically corre...
I agree with both your points: if your first sentence stood alone, I'd omit that. But in sequence with the other two, it sounds better to leave it in. There is an actual rule in English linguisti...
As @what sensibly points out, just because you have an opinion doesn't mean it's wrong. Mention your biases up front. "I really enjoy rhyming poetry, and free verse doesn't work for me on an aest...
Given your quote in context, the obscenity works. It's blunt and to the point, and since you are in fact pointing out that people don't have time or energy for philosophy when they're starving, it'...
When I taught ENGL100, I advised students to minimize quotes (still maximize citations for their summaries and paraphrases unless it was to indicate "poetry or precision". The quote you indicated ...
The word lyrical does not mean "like a song lyric". If anything the derivation probably goes the other way. Lyrical means expressing the writer's emotions in a beautiful or imaginative way. Thus yo...
My instinct is to preserve as much of the original rhythm and flow as possible, but to make it sound readable to a native ear. In both your examples, the original uses short, punchy sentences, whic...
Rules? No, not beyond any that your publisher or editor might have. But one factor to consider is that, assuming you're not publishing in a specialized or foreign market, your readers probably wo...
This is almost never done in my experience (which is mostly with technical documentation and some journal articles), for the reason implicit in your question: it's confusing. Once you start carvin...
You definitely want to avoid the kind of clash you're describing. Intuitively, the section is composed of smaller subsections, which expand on particular areas. So a clash feels like you're saying...
This sounds closest to The Lord of the Rings, which is one enormous story split into three physical volumes. Each volume contains two parts which Tolkien labelled books, but Tolkien himself though...
This is a decision you need to make in consultation with your company's legal advisors. The ability to defend against claims is affected by both what the warranty says and how prominent it is. A ...
You cite the (or a) source that you used. If you read it in Book A and that book says it came from Book B, you cite Book A because that's your source. If you choose to follow the reference and se...
Write your book. Design your alphabet. Include the page in the front or end matter of your book. Publish.
It's important to understand what NaNoWriMo is, and what it isn't. One of the things that it is, is a powerful demonstration that yes, it is possible. If you write your words every day, they will ...
As you suspect, an unsolicited email is not good news. America Star Books is a well-known scam. The offer shoddy, overpriced self-publishing and promotion packages. They make their money charging ...
Humorous single paragraph sentence? The original Winnie the Pooh provides such a thing here. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples as well, but this is the only one that presented itself to m...
First, if your institution has a style guide, follow its recommendations if there are any. But assuming it is silent on this point or you don't have one: It's helpful to provide an outline of the...
It depends on a lot on what you're trying to say; what structure and focus you give your article. Basically, if your article prompts the question "why isn't anybody fixing this?" or "can't anythin...
I am assuming that your organization does not have an official style guide, or that this is a personal project. (If you are bound by a style guide, consult it.) I am also assuming that you aren't...
Yes, that's exactly the way I'd indicate that you as the writer/transcriber are uncertain if the word you're indicating is correct. As long as you're making it clear that you're quoting something, ...
There are two kinds of writers: plotters and discovery writers. Discovery writers sit down and just type, literally "discovering" what happens as they go, and then must go back and impose a struct...
But it's not passive voice, not really. You've just elided the subject because it's the subject of multiple clauses. Let's say your original sentence is: Born in a land without justice, sodden...
This is less of a story structure and more of a trope. (You can have very different story structures leading up to that final revelation.) Also, I don't know how many story structures actually have...
1) Mercedes Lackey famously rewrote her first trilogy seventeen times before it was published. You will not ruin your idea by writing it. 2) Even if you get your "first million terrible words" ou...
