Writing, Speaking and Argument Program

Tag: Style

  • WRTG 250/LING 161

    WRTG 250/LING 161

    Solveiga Armoskaite

    M/W 12:30-1:45

    4 credits

    Why take this course?

    • You want to understand the rationale behind why English is the way it is
    • You want to write and speak on matters pertaining to language and explore the cognitive abilities of humans

    Key skills you’ll gain

    • The development of linguistic self-awareness
    • Deeper understanding of grammatical structures which you will use to sharpen your own grammatical choices
    • Deeper understanding of how LLMs/AI are driven by grammatical patterns

    Full course description


    This course is a comprehensive review of the grammar of Modern Standard English. The course will be of interest to those who wish to sharpen their language skills, or to know more about the workings of the English language whether for practical, cognitive or creative ends. Drawing on work in mostly pre-theoretical, descriptive linguistics this course reveals the mechanics of Standard English structure, with occasional detours into the finesse of usage across registers (dialect to slang). Students will learn to develop the ability to see patterns in grammar, as well as its structural possibilities and limits. Assignments will regularly involve reflection on form, usage and speaker judgments. Through a final project, students will investigate some aspect of an English variety available to them. Throughout, students will be working with their data samples of English to explore how speaker choices lead to particular grammatical structures or yield ungrammaticality. Background in linguistics or grammar not needed.

  • WRTG 252/ENGL 136

    WRTG 252/ENGL 136

    Dustin Hannum

    M/W 11:50-1:05

    4 credits

    Why take this course?

    • You want to learn more about how the intricacies grammar, usage, and style affect meaning and audience understanding.
    • You want to be able to implement that understanding to improve your own writing.
    • You want to put that understanding to use in a professional setting, including publishing, corporate communications, and collaborative authorship in STEM fields.

    Key skills you’ll gain

    • Learn the principles of copyediting and put these principles into practice in a number of contexts.
    • Improve knowledge of grammar, usage, and style.
    • Rethink and better understand the relationship between correctness and style, and develop the judgment to know which to prioritize in specific situations.
    • Complete a real-world copyediting project for publication.

    Full Course Description

    While the term “copyediting” may be associated with journalism or literary fiction, in fact it is a vital component of the publication of almost any textual materials—from scholarly and popular publishing in arts and sciences to corporate and technical communications. So what do copyeditors do? Is copyediting simply about enforcing rules of correctness? When is it okay to break those rules, or to allow others to do so, and what guides such decisions? How do copyeditors understand and negotiate the relationships and interests of readers, writers, and the publications they work for? How has the information age—including the advent of AI—changed the way copyeditors think about and approach textual editing? In this class we will address both the principles and practices of copyediting. Students will learn the principles that guide copyeditors, and then put these principles into use in a workshop setting, practicing copyediting in a variety of contexts, including a real-world project for external stakeholders.