[Newshounds]A thread devoted to grammar/style/usage questions

[johnsemlak]

If the moderators don't mind, I'd like to make this a thread devoted to questions about correct grammar, style and usage in Newshound posts and other texts about RPGs. I hope to keep all such info in one place. I'll try to paste previous questions I've asked to this thread (+ the answers) later on.

In the future, could others who post questions on the thread fill in the subject line to ease searches.

[johnsemlak]

I'd like to continue my question about what to italicize that I asked in a previous thread.

Do classes, prestige classes, feats, skills, monsters, etc. get italicized ever?

Say for example, if xxxx prestige class is available at yyyy.com

I noted that in one of EmeraldKnight's posts he italicized a new prestige class he introduced.

[Liquide]

Even though I have nothing to do with this, just a note on browser viewin here. Italics are harder to read on-screen then boldfaced letters. I ten to ignore italics in favor of normal/boldface typesets which makes me have to read news/articles twice when on the internet (not necessarily a bad thing though mind you).

Just my 2 Copper

[jmucchiello]

Originally posted by johnsemlak
I'd like to continue my question about what to italicize that I asked in a previous thread.

Do classes, prestige classes, feats, skills, monsters, etc. get italicized ever?

Say for example, if xxxx prestige class is available at yyyy.com

I noted that in one of EmeraldKnight's posts he italicized a new prestige class he introduced.

If you really want to be consistent you would download the Dragon submission style guidelines and always make sure you follow them when referring to various things.

To answer your question: Normally none of the things you mention et italicized. Spell names and magic items are the only italicized items in most d20 literature. (However, sometimes these things are placed in headings and the heading style might require italics.)

Ability names, skills, languages, feats, alignment parts (when being used as the alignment), monster types (Humanoid, Beast, etc), creature sizes (Large, Medium-size, Small), and magic schools (but not subschools or spell descriptors) are always capitalized. Everything is lower case except when starting a sentence (or in a heading). Notice that neither class nor race names are listed.

If I missed something I'll edit this post after someone points it out but I think that covers it.

Joe Mucchiello
Throwing Dice Games
http://www.throwingdice.com

[johnsemlak]

Originally posted by jmucchiello
If you really want to be consistent you would download the Dragon submission style guidelines and always make sure you follow them when referring to various things.

To answer your question: Normally none of the things you mention et italicized. Spell names and magic items are the only italicized items in most d20 literature. (However, sometimes these things are placed in headings and the heading style might require italics.)

Ability names, skills, languages, feats, alignment parts (when being used as the alignment), monster types (Humanoid, Beast, etc), creature sizes (Large, Medium-size, Small), and magic schools (but not subschools or spell descriptors) are always capitalized. Everything is lower case except when starting a sentence (or in a heading). Notice that neither class nor race names are listed.

If I missed something I'll edit this post after someone points it out but I think that covers it.

Joe Mucchiello
Throwing Dice Games
http://www.throwingdice.com

Thanks for the tip on Dragon Magazine! That's exactly what I need.

Thanks also for the language tips. That will answer a lot of questions.,