3.4.1.1 Problem Statement
3.4.1.2 Purpose
3.4.1.3 Scope
3.4.1.4 Authorization
3.4.1.5 Sample Title and Introduction: Astronautical Engineering Design Report
3.4.1.6 Sample Title and Introduction: Mechanical Design Report
3.4.1.7 Sample Title and Introduction: Biology Report
3.4.1.8 Sample Title and Introduction: Information Systems Report

3.4.2 Background
3.4.3 Theory
3.4.4 Design and Decision Criteria
3.4.5 Materials and Apparatus
3.4.6 Procedure
3.4.7 Work Plan
3.4.8 Results
3.4.9 Discussion
3.4.10 Conclusion

3.4.10.1 Sample Short Conclusion: Biology
3.4.10.2 Sample Long Conclusion: Aero-Astro Engineering

3.4.11 Recommendations

3.5 End Matter

3.5.1 References
3.5.2 Appendixes
3.5.3 Indexes

4. Graphs and Figures

4.1 Reasons for Using Graphics

4.2 Common Graphics

4.2.1 Working Drawings
4.2.2 Tables
4.2.3 Bar Graphs
4.2.4 Line Graphs
4.2.5 Pie Graphs
4.2.6 Illustrations
4.2.7 Diagrams
4.2.8 Photographs
4.2.9 Exploded Views
4.2.10 Schematic Diagrams
4.2.11 Flowcharts
4.2.12 Timetables (Gantt Charts)

4.3 General Guidelines for Graphics

4.3.1 Accurate Labeling
4.3.2 Numbering Graphics
4.3.3 Integrating Graphics and Text

5. Paragraphs

5.1 Paragraph Unity

5.1.1 Topic Sentences

5.2 Paragraph Coherence

5.2.1 Transitional Devices

5.2.1.1 Transitional Words and Phrases
5.2.1.2 Common Transitional Words and Phrases

5.2.2 Linking Pronouns
5.2.3 Repetition of Key Words

5.3 Paragraph Development

5.3.1 Exemplification
5.3.2 Narration
5.3.3 Process
5.3.4 Description
5.3.5 Comparison and Contrast
5.3.6 Analogy
5.3.7 Cause and Effect
5.3.8 Classification and Division
5.3.9 Definition
5.3.10 Analysis
5.3.11 Enumeration

6. Sentences

6.1 Stacked Modifiers and Nouns
6.2 Wordiness

6.2.1 Passive Voice and Active Voice
6.2.2 Nominalizations
6.2.3 Unnecessary Repetition
6.2.4 Unnecessary Words and Phrases

6.3 Overloaded Sentences
6.4 Sentence Fragments
6.5 Comma Splice
6.6 Fused Sentences
6.7 Stringy Sentences
6.8 Agreement

6.8.1 Subject-Verb Agreement

6.8.1.1 Two or More Nouns
6.8.1.2 Sentences Beginning with There
6.8.1.3 Indefinite Pronouns
6.8.1.4 Collective Nouns
6.8.1.5 Quantifiers

6.8.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

6.9 Lack of Parallelism
6.10 Choppy Sentences
6.11 Misplaced Modifiers

6.11.1 Interrupted Sentence Structure
6.11.2 Modifiers of Nouns
6.11.3 Adverb Modifiers

6.12 Dangling Modifiers
6.13 Double Negatives
6.14 Faulty Comparisons

6.14.1 Nonparallel Comparisons
6.14.2 Incomplete Comparisons
6.14.3 Ambiguous Comparisons

6.15 Inappropriate Shifts

6.15.1 Tense
6.15.2 Mood
6.15.3 Person
6.15.4 Voice

6.16 Sequence of tenses
6.17 Pronoun Reference

6.17.1 Unclear Pronoun Reference
6.17.2 Broad Pronoun Reference

6.18 Pronoun Case

7. Words

7.1 Abstract and General Language
7.2 Vague Language
7.3 Ornate Language
7.4 Technical Terms
7.5 Biased Language

7.5.1 Sexist Language
7.5.2 Ageist Language
7.5.3 Language Biased against People with Disabilities
7.5.4 Ethnically and Racially Biased Language

8. Punctuation

8.1 Periods
8.2 Commas

8.2.1 Introductory Elements
8.2.2 Coordinating Conjunctions Joining Independent Clauses
8.2.3 Elements in a Series
8.2.4 Coordinate Modifiers
8.2.5 Nonrestrictive Modifiers
8.2.6 Parenthetic Elements
8.2.7 Elliptical Constructions
8.2.8 Specialized Uses of Commas
8.2.9 Superfluous Commas
8.2.10 Placement of Commas with Other Punctuation

8.3 Colons
8.4 Semicolons
8.5 Question Marks
8.6 Exclamation Marks
8.7 Apostrophes
8.8 Quotation marks
8.9 Hyphens
8.10 Dashes
8.11 Parentheses
8.12 Brackets

9. Mechanics

9.1 Capitalization
9.2 Italics
9.3 Abbreviations
9.4 Acronyms
9.5 Numbers
9.6 Enumeration
9.7 Symbols
9.8 Equations
9.9 Spelling

10. Citing Sources and Listing References

10.1 Using the Language of Your Source Appropriately
10.2 Acknowledging Sources
10.3 Basic Structure and Formats of Citation Styles

10.3.1 Citing Online Sources
10.3.2 Specific Citation Styles

10.4 American Psychological Association (APA) Author-Date Style

10.4.1 General Structure
10.4.2 Guidelines for APA Parenthetical Citation

10.4.2.1 Name of Author Included in Text
10.4.2.2 Placement of Parenthetical Citations
10.4.2.3 Page Numbers
10.4.2.4 Quotations
10.4.2.5 One Work by Two Authors
10.4.2.6 One Work by Three, Four, or Five Authors
10.4.2.7 One Work by Six or More Authors
10.4.2.8 More Than One Work by the Same Author
10.4.2.9 More Than One Work by Different Authors in the Same Parenthetical Citation
10.4.2.10 Two Works by the Same Author in the Same Year
10.4.2.11 Two Works by Different Authors with the Same Last Name
10.4.2.12 Organizational Author
10.4.2.13 Unknown Author
10.4.2.14 Personal Communication and Other "Nonrecoverable" Information

10.4.3 Use of Endnotes
10.4.4 APA Reference List

10.4.4.1 Content Guidelines
10.4.4.2 Page Format
10.4.4.3 General Structure of Entry
10.4.4.4 Books
10.4.4.5 Journal Articles
10.4.4.6 Electronic Sources

10.5 Modern Language Assocation (MLA) Author-Page Style

10.5.1 General Structure
10.5.2 Guidelines for MLA Parenthetical Citation

10.5.2.1 Placement of Parenthetical Citations
10.5.2.2 Name of Author Included in Text
10.5.2.3 Page Numbers
10.5.2.4 Quotations
10.5.2.5 One Work by Two or Three Authors
10.5.2.6 One Work by Four or More Authors
10.5.2.7 More Than One Work by the Same Author
10.5.2.8 More Than One Work by Different Authors in the Same Citation
10.5.2.9 Two Works by Different Authors with the Same Last Name
10.5.2.10 Organizational Author
10.5.2.11 Unknown Author
10.5.2.12 Personal Communication and Other "Nonrecoverable" Information

10.5.3 Use of Endnotes or Footnotes

10.5.3.1 Endnotes
10.5.3.2 Footnotes

10.5.4 MLA List of Works Cited

10.5.4.1 Content Guidelines
10.5.4.2 Page Format
10.5.4.3 General Structure of Entry
10.5.4.4 Books
10.5.4.5 Journal Articles
10.5.4.6 Electronic Sources

10.6 Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) Note Citations

10.6.1 General Structure
10.6.2 Guidelines for CMS Note Citation

10.6.2.1 Placement of Superscript Notes
10.6.2.2 Page Numbers
10.6.2.3 Quotations
10.6.2.4 Citing More Than One Work by the Same Author
10.6.2.5 More Than One Work by Different Authors in the Same Note
10.6.2.6 Two Works by Different Authors with the Same Last Name
10.6.2.7 Personal Communication and Other "Nonrecoverable" Information

10.6.3 Use of Endnotes or Footnotes
10.6.4 CMS Note List

10.6.4.1 Content Guidelines
10.6.4.2 Page Format
10.6.4.3 General Structure of Entry
10.6.4.4 Books
10.6.4.5 Journal Articles

10.7 Council of Biology Editors (CBE) Citation-Sequence System

10.7.1 General Structure
10.7.2 Guidelines for CBE Citation-Sequence System

10.7.2.1 Name of Author Included in Text
10.7.2.2 Placement of Superscript Note Numbers
10.7.2.3 More Than One Work in the Same Citation
10.7.2.4 Personal Communication and Other "Nonrecoverable" Information

10.7.3 Use of Endnotes or Footnotes
10.7.4 CBE Numbered List of References

10.7.4.1 Content Guidelines
10.7.4.2 Page Format
10.7.4.3 General Structure of Entry
10.7.4.4 Books
10.7.4.5 Journal Articles
10.7.4.6 Electronic Sources

10.8 IEEE Citation-Sequence System

10.8.1 General Structure
10.8.2 Guidelines for IEEE Citation-Sequence System

10.8.2.1 Placement of Note Numbers
10.8.2.2 Name of Author Included in Text
10.8.2.3 More Than One Work in the Same Citation
10.8.2.4 Personal Communication and Other "Nonrecoverable" Information

10.8.3 Use of Endnotes or Footnotes
10.8.4 IEEE Numbered List of References

10.8.4.1 Content Guidelines
10.8.4.2 Page Format
10.8.4.3 Books
10.8.4.4 Journal Articles
10.8.4.5 Electronic Sources

11. Parts of Speech

11.1 Nouns

11.1.1 Countable and Uncountable Nouns

11.1.1.1 Countable Nouns
11.1.1.2 Uncountable (Mass) Nouns

11.1.2 Other Grammatical Characteristics of Nouns

11.1.2.1 Gender
11.1.2.2 Number
11.1.2.3 Person

11.1.3 Proper Nouns
11.1.4 Possession

11.2 Pronouns

11.2.1 Pronoun Antecedent
11.2.2 Personal Pronouns
11.2.3 Relative Pronouns
11.2.4 Demonstrative Pronouns
11.2.5 Interrogative Pronouns
11.2.6 Indefinite Pronouns
11.2.7 Reciprocal Pronouns
11.2.8 Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

11.3 Verbs

11.3.1 Verb Tense

11.3.1.1 Simple Present Tense
11.3.1.2 Simple Past Tense
11.3.1.3 Future Tense
11.3.1.4 Present Perfect Tense
11.3.1.5 Past Perfect Tense
11.3.1.6 Future Perfect Tense
11.3.1.7 Progressive Form

11.3.2 Voice
11.3.3 Mood

11.3.3.1 Indicative Mood
11.3.3.2 Imperative Mood
11.3.3.3 Subjunctive Mood

11.3.4 Auxiliary Verbs
11.3.5 Modal Auxiliaries
11.3.6 Nonfinite Verbs

11.3.6.1 Infinitives
11.3.6.2 Gerunds

11.3.7 Verb Forms

11.3.7.1 Base Form
11.3.7.2 Present Participle
11.3.7.3 Past Participle
11.3.7.4 Irregular Verbs

11.3.8 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

11.4 Adjectives

11.4.1 Determiners

11.4.1.1 Demonstrative Adjectives
11.4.1.2 Possessive Adjectives
11.4.1.3 Quantifiers

11.4.2 Participial Adjectives

11.4.2.1 Active Participial Adjectives
11.4.2.2 Passive Participial Adjectives

11.4.3 Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

11.4.3.1 Comparative
11.4.3.2 Superlative

11.5 Adverbs

11.5.1 Attitude Adverbs
11.5.2 Sentence Adverbs
11.5.3 Time Adverbs
11.5.4 Manner Adverbs
11.5.5 Quantity Adverbs
11.5.6 Comparative and Superlative Adverbs

11.5.6.1 Comparative
11.5.6.2 Superlative

11.6 Prepositions
11.7 Conjunctions

11.7.1 Coordinating Conjunctions
11.7.2 Correlative Conjunctions
11.7.3 Subordinating Conjunctions
11.7.4 Conjunctive Adverbs

11.8 Articles

11.8.1 Definite Articles
11.8.2 Indefinite Articles

11.8.2.1 Choosing between a and an

11.8.3 Usage Rules for Articles

11.8.3.1 Is an Article Necessary?
11.8.3.2 Which Article is Appropriate?
11.8.3.3 Articles and Demonstrative and Possessive Adjectives
11.8.3.4 Articles and Proper Nouns

12. Parts of Sentences

12.1 Subjects
12.2 Predicates
12.3 Objects

12.3.1 Direct Objects
12.3.2 Indirect Objects
12.3.3 Objects of Prepositions

12.4 Modifiers

12.4.1 Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Modifiers

12.5 Phrases

12.5.1 Appositive Phrases
12.5.2 Participial Phrases

12.6 Clauses

12.6.1 Independent Clauses

12.6.1.1 The Main Clause

12.6.2 Dependent Clauses

12.6.2.1 Noun Clauses
12.6.2.2 Adjective Clauses
12.6.2.3 Adverbial Clauses

13. Sentence Types and Word Order

13.1 Sentence Types Classified by Structure

13.1.1 Simple Sentences
13.1.2 Compound Sentences
13.1.3 Complex Sentences

13.2 Sentence Types Classified by Purpose

13.2.1 Declarative Sentences
13.2.2 Interrogative Sentences
13.2.3 Imperative Sentences

13.3 Word Order

13.3.1 Ordinary Word Order
13.3.2 Inverted Word Order

13.4 Placement of Phrases and Clauses

13.4.1 Old Information before New
13.4.2 Important Information in Main Clause

14. Usage Glossary

15. Writer's Resources

15.1 Style Guides

15.1.1 General
15.1.2 Technical

15.1.2.1 Astronomy and Physics
15.1.2.2 Biology and Medicine
15.1.2.3 Chemistry
15.1.2.4 Electrical Engineering
15.1.2.5 Geology and Meteorology
15.1.2.6 Mathematics

15.1.3 Electronic Sources

15.2 Dictionaries

15.2.1 Desk Dictionaries
15.2.2 Unabridged Dictionaries
15.2.3 ESL Dictionaries
15.2.4 Technical Dictionaries

15.3 Grammar and Usage
15.4 General Guides to Effective Style
15.5 Guides to Scientific Writing
15.6 Guides for Effective Graphs and Text Formats
15.7 Information on Specific Topics

15.7.1 Nomenclature, Abbreviations, and Symbols
15.7.2 Tables and Units of Measurement
15.7.3 Maps and Place Names

15.8 Useful Tables

Table of Contents

1. Planning and Producing Documents

2. Document Types

3. Elements of Technical Documents

4. Graphs and Figures

5. Paragraphs

6. Sentences

7. Words

8. Punctuation

9. Mechanics

10. Citing Sources and Listing References

11. Parts of Speech

12. Parts of Sentences

13. Sentence Types and Word Order

14. Usage Glossary

15. Writer's Resources