[Grammar] Grammar Standards

Discussion in 'Competitive Analyses' started by Samphire, Jun 12, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Samphire

    Samphire Too much hard work!

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    778
    Likes Received:
    158
    Competitive Analyses Grammar Standards (Outdated as of 5/27/15 - Use these instead)

    Spelling and punctuation:
    • Pokémon should be spelled with a é. If you don't know how to type it, copy / paste it from this post.

    • Pokémon and each species of Pokémon have the same name when used in a plural sense as in a singular sense. That is to say, never write Pokémons, Espeons, or Arceuses (or Arceii for that matter). One Pokémon, two Pokémon. One Espeon, two Espeon.

    • Pokémon are not considered people, which means he/she/his/her should not be used. Use it/its, unless the Pokémon is of a singular gender (eg. Miltank, Nidoking).

    • OHKOes is a verb, OHKOs is a plural noun. Use ‘Espeon OHKOes Arceus’ not ‘Espeon OHKOs Arceus’, but ‘Espeon gets many OHKOs, including one on Arceus’, not ‘Espeon gets many OHKOes, including one on Arceus’.

    • When a type name is directly followed by the word ‘type’, a hyphen is used (Normal-type).

    • When saying that a Pokemon has ‘some typing’, a hyphen is not used. For example, ‘Latios's Dragon typing allows it to excel in OU.’

    • Never use initials to refer to items. ‘Life Orb is a powerful item on Gengar’ would be correct, as opposed to ‘LO is a powerful item on Gengar.’

    • Do not shorten item names unless they are well known terms and the full item name has been introduced beforehand as a point of reference. Examples include using Scarf, Band, or Specs for Choice Scarf, Choice Band, and Choice Specs, respectively.

    • Always spell out the full name of a stat (Salamence should always run 252 Speed EVs.). The only exception is when used in a full EV spread or in damage calculations (An alternative spread of 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD is viable with a Bold nature.).

    • Always use spaces in between the slash and numerical investment for EV spreads (Physical attackers should run a 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe EV spread.).

    • Use "formes" and not "forms" for Pokémon with forme changes such as Rotom or Deoxys. This is simply because of how Game Freak spells it.

    • The standards for forme names are as follows:
    Wormadam-G / S (Ground / Steel formes)
    Shaymin-S (Sky forme)
    Deoxys-S / A / D (Speed / Attack / Defense formes)
    Giratina-O (Origin forme)
    Rotom-C / H / W / F / S / A (Cut [Grass] / Heat [Fire] / Wash [Water] / Frost [Ice] / Spin [Flying] / Altered [Any forme that isn't part Ghost as of Generation VI])
    Meloetta-S (Steppe [Fighting] forme)
    Keldeo-R (Resolute forme)
    Kyurem-B / W (Black / White)
    Pumpkaboo-S / L / XL (Small / Large / Super; Do not use a suffix for Average or forme)
    Gourgeist-S / L / XL (see Pumpkaboo)
    Meowstic-M / F (Male / Female)
    Tornadus-T, Landorus-T, and Thundurus-T (Therian formes; do not use a suffix for Incarnate formes unless comparing them to the Therians, in which case add the suffix -I)
    Arceus-type

    • Use ‘switch-in’ as a noun when referring to a Pokémon that often switches in on another (Scizor is a common switch-in to Latias.).

    • Do not use a hyphen when using ‘switch in’ as a verb (Gyarados can switch in on Mamoswine.).

    • Use a hyphen when using ‘early-game, mid-game, and late-game’ to refer to the point in a battle when a Pokémon typically fights. For example, ‘Lucario is an amazing late-game sweeper.’

    • Use ‘Uber’ when using the term as an adjective, but ‘Ubers’ is acceptable when referring to it as a noun. ‘Garchomp is Uber in generations IV and V’ as opposed to ‘Salamence is a great partner to Rayquaza in Ubers.’

    • When referring to the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk, use RestTalk. This also goes for other accepted move combinations, including BoltBeam, VoltTurn, SubSeed, and EdgeQuake. These combinations should not be reversed; QuakeEdge is not OK. Basically, if the combination is common and normally shortened as one word, then it is acceptable.

    • Do not refer to Latias and Latios together as Lati@s.

    • When introducing something, such as a list, make sure to use a colon. For example 'Slowbro is known for two things: its defense and durability' or 'there is one fundamental thing that stands in the way of a Talonflame sweep: Stealth Rock'.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 27, 2015
    Afro Smash, IYNHE, Nog and 1 other person like this.
  2. Samphire

    Samphire Too much hard work!

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    778
    Likes Received:
    158
    Capitalisation:
    • Terms coined by Nintendo should use in-game capitalisation, such as Attack, Special Defense, and Base Power. Community created terms should use normal capitalization even when used with an official term, for example ‘base Attack’ or ‘Speed tier’ would be correct.
    • Stats (Attack, Special Defense, etc.) are capitalised.
    • Pseudo-stats (accuracy, evasion) are not capitalised.
    • Types (Fire-type, Water-type, etc.) are capitalised.
    • Status effects (paralysis, sleep, including things like confusion and infatuation from attract, etc.) are not capitalised.
    • ‘Egg’ is always capitalised when talking about a Pokémon Egg of some sort. (The Pokémon's Egg hatched!) This also applies to Egg Groups. If not talking about a Pokémon's Egg, then it should not be capitalised (Delibird is actually quite a fan of scrambled eggs.)
    • ‘Choice’ in ‘Choice item’ is always capitalised when talking about any non-specific Choice item, such as Choice Specs, Choice Scarf, and Choice Band. For example, ‘Tyranitar is an excellent user of Choice items.’ When not used in context of the generalised items, then choice is not capitalised. Like this: ‘Lucario has the choice to be a physical or special attacker.’ ‘Scarf’, ‘Specs’ and ‘Band’ should also be capitalised when used on their own as a term.
    • ‘Orb’ in ‘status Orb’ is always capitalised when talking about any non-specific status Orb, such as Flame Orb and Toxic Orb. ‘Swellow can activate its ability Guts through the use of a status Orb.’ When not used in the context of the generalised items, then orb is not capitalised, like this: ‘Spoink has a beautiful orb on its head.’
    • Weather conditions (sun, rain, etc.) are not capitalised.
    • Conditions are capitalised only when the entire move name is used: ‘Scizor passed Iron Defense to Skarmory’ as opposed to ‘Scizor Baton Passed Iron Defense to Skarmory.’
    • Clauses (Sleep Clause, OHKO Clause, Item Clause, etc.) are capitalised in full.
    • Tiers (Uber, Overused, Underused, etc.) are capitalised.
    • Pokémon roles (sweeper, tank, special wall, etc.) are not capitalised.
    • All move names should be written according to the spelling, hyphenation and capitalisation of the generation the analysis is written for.
    • When not referring to an official stat, (for example Special Defense), the word ‘special’ is not capitalised. The term ‘physical’, (such as in the phrase ‘Terrakion is a formidable physical attacker’), should never be capitalised, as it is never used as part of an official term.
    • The word ‘defense’ is not capitalised when referring to a Pokémon's overall defensive ability rather than to a stat.
    • The word ‘Pokémon’ is always capitalised.
    • The word ‘nature’ is not capitalised. ‘Lucario with an Adamant nature,’ not ‘Lucario with an Adamant Nature.’
    • The word ‘suspect’ is not capitalised when referring to a Pokémon. ‘Garchomp is a suspect right now.’
    • The word ‘bulky’ is not capitalised when it prefixes a type. ‘Suicune is a bulky Water-type.’
    • The phrases ‘critical hit’, ‘dual screens,’ and the words ‘item’, ‘move’, and ‘ability’ are not capitalised.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2014
  3. Samphire

    Samphire Too much hard work!

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    778
    Likes Received:
    158
    Other
    • Names of stats in the EVs part of set templates must be in the form: 172 HP / 240 Atk / 16 Def / 16 SAtk / 20 SDef / 8 Spd. This is to ensure the importables work correctly.
    • Mainspace guides should avoid personal language (I, we, my). ‘You’ is okay, but should not be overused.
    • Subjective information presented should reflect widely held beliefs and consensus, not the opinion of any single editor.
    • In terms of the English variant used, analyses may use either American or UK English. However, they must use only one consistently throughout the analysis, never a mix of two variants. This rule applies to both spelling and punctuation rules.
    • Analyses should avoid references or analogies that may be obscure or culturally specific, for example using the phrase 'up the swanny', for something going wrong or becoming hopeless, as in 'one phasing move can send any Baton Pass strategy up the swanny' would be an analogy common to those in the UK but not of other nationalities. The same goes for references to pop culture, or any references that may be derogatory to any group or person.
    • In terms of phrasing and general layout, sentences should be easy to follow, as analyses are for anyone and everyone to read! Once corrected, read the analysis aloud to yourself, or give it to someone else to read, as this will help you to pick up on clunky phrasing, sentence lengths or obscure vocabulary.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2014
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.