Writing Style Guides

noun soft, light, and fluffy material used for stuffing or padding

verb to shake or move something, typically a pillow or cushion, to make it softer and more comfortable

• The fluff on the pillow made it extra comfortable.
• I love how soft and fluffy this blanket is.
• That puppy is so fluff, I just want to cuddle it all day.
• Her speech was full of fluff and lacked any real substance.

noun a person who is an expert in grammar; someone who studies or teaches grammar

• The grammarian carefully analyzed the text for any errors in syntax or punctuation.
• My friend is a bit of a grammarian and always corrects my grammar when we text.
• The grammarian in our group is always the first to point out when someone uses 'your' instead of 'you're'.
• As a grammarian of emotions, she could read between the lines of his text messages.

adjective exaggerated or pretentious in style or language

• The speaker's high flown rhetoric impressed the audience at the academic conference.
• I couldn't understand all the high flown language in that book.
• His high flown ideas are way too out there for me.
• Her dreams were always high flown, reaching for the stars.

adjective not elegant; lacking in refinement or grace

• The design of the building was considered inelegant by the architect.
• Her outfit looked a bit inelegant for the formal event.
• That dance move was so inelegant, it was hilarious!
• His speech was inelegant, lacking the finesse of a seasoned orator.

adverb modestly is an adverb that describes the manner in which something is done in a humble or unassuming way.

• She dressed modestly for the job interview, opting for a simple blouse and slacks.
• He always lived modestly, never spending too much on unnecessary things.
• I'm just a modestly paid intern, so I can't afford to go out to fancy restaurants all the time.
• Despite his modestly sized apartment, he always found ways to make it feel cozy and welcoming.

adjective describing something that is easy or enjoyable to read

• The report was presented in a highly readable format, making it easy for all stakeholders to understand.
• I like books that are really readable, you know, ones that you can't put down.
• That article was so readable, I finished it in one sitting.
• His emotions were written all over his face, making his feelings easily readable to everyone in the room.

noun excessive or unnecessary use of words, especially in a literary or formal context

• The contract was filled with unnecessary verbiage, making it difficult to understand.
• I can't stand reading all the verbiage in these legal documents.
• Why do they always have to use so much verbiage in their emails?
• Her speech was full of flowery verbiage, but lacked substance.

noun a word made up of two or more words that are joined together without spaces

adjective describing a word that is formed by combining two or more words without spaces

• The closed compound 'firefighter' refers to a person who extinguishes fires.
• I learned that 'bedroom' is a closed compound word, unlike 'living room'.
• In texting, people often use closed compounds like 'bff' for 'best friends forever'.
• The term 'self-esteem' is a closed compound that represents one's confidence and self-worth.

noun a punctuation mark (,) used before the conjunction 'and' or 'or' in a list of items

adjective describing the specific comma style used in the Oxford University Press style guide

• The use of the Oxford comma is a common practice in academic writing.
• I always use the Oxford comma when I'm writing for school.
• Forget about the Oxford comma, no one cares about that stuff.
• The Oxford comma is like the cherry on top of a well-written sentence.

noun a person who advocates or adheres to a prescriptive attitude or doctrine, especially in language usage

• The prescriptivist linguist argued that certain grammar rules must be followed at all times.
• My friend is such a prescriptivist when it comes to punctuation in text messages.
• Don't be such a prescriptivist about how I speak, it's annoying.
• The chef was a prescriptivist when it came to following the recipe exactly.