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Tips for writing well
1. The lead
To write a daily newspaper story, there are some basic rules that the student must practically
memorize, knowing that they must always use indirect and direct speech (in quotation marks). By
doing so, you will never again find it difficult to write an informative text in a journalistic style.
Your only concern, then, will be just to detect among your interviewee's words what he said that
was most important or interesting and which, therefore, should be placed in the opening (lead).
Here is a (classic) lead format that the reporter should always keep in mind:
Lead: The president (profession or position) of Companhia Docas do Estado de São Paulo
(Codesp),
João
da
Silva,
said
that
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
“Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”, he said, in an interview with fourth-year
Journalism students at Santa Cecília University (UNISANTA).
2nd paragraph: According to Silva, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
“Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”, he explained.
3rd paragraph: To the president of Codesp, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
“Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,” he added.
4th
paragraph:
According
to
Silva,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
"Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", he assured.
5th paragraph: The president of Codesp also said that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
"Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", he concluded.
The same scheme can be repeated with variations as in the example below:
Lead: Santos coach José da Silva said yesterday that center forward Joãozinho will no longer wear
the club's shirt in the Campeonato Paulista. According to the coach, the striker has his head
focused on Real Madrid's dollars and is in no psychological condition to play.
2nd paragraph: To the coach, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. “Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,” he
stated.
3rd paragraph: According to the technician, xxxxxxxxxxxx. “Xxxxxxxxxxxxx,” he added.
4th paragraph: Silva also said that xxxxxxxxxxx. “Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx”, he concluded.
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NOTE: The rule is to always use the surname when the interviewee is male and the first name
when the interviewee is female. But there are exceptions when the source is better known publicly
by their first or middle name.
2. Tips taken from the O Estado de S. Paulo Writing and Style Manual
• Always write the full name of the company or body first and then place the acronym in
parentheses. Examples: The International Monetary Fund (IMF)... The National Industry Council
(CNI)... Write all acronyms up to three letters in capital letters. If the acronym forms a word,
write: Companhia Docas de Santos (Codesp). Then, always use the acronym in the text.
• Acronyms that have already been identified with the name of a company or are well known do
not need explanation. Examples: Petrobras, Telesp, Varig, PSDB, PT.
• Acronyms with four or five letters are capitalized when each letter is pronounced separately.
Examples: CMTC, CNBB, CPFL, BNDES, ANTT.
• There are acronyms that can have uppercase and lowercase letters in their original structure.
Examples: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), University
of Brasília (UnB), Brazilian Athletics Confederation (CBAt).
• If you started the text in the past, always follow it in the past. Example: don't start using disse
and then change it to diz.
• Always write alert to (something). Never write Fulano warns that (...). But use: Be alert about
(something).
• Always use your surname when you are a man. And the name when you are a woman.
• Do not put a comma between subject and predicate.
• Do not start a sentence with a number.
• Always attribute statements to the interviewee. Don't assume your opinions.
• Do not use the first person plural. Always use the third one. The text must be impersonal.
• Build periods with a maximum of two or three lines. Paragraphs, to facilitate reading, should
have five typed lines. Every 20 lines, it is advisable to open an intertitle.
• Simplicity is the essential condition of the text. Remember that you write to be read by all types
of readers, without exception.
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• As a rule, adopt the direct order, as it is the one that most easily leads the reader to the essence
of what you want to say.
• The simplicity of the text does not necessarily mean the repetition of tired forms and phrases or
vocabulary poverty. Avoid fuss, vocabulary pedantry, technical terms and gratuitous erudition.
• Report the facts in as few words as possible. For example: do not write oppose veto, when you
can simply write veto.
• Always prefer the simplest word: voting is always better than suffrage; intending is always better
than intending or intending, court is always better than cutting; passenger is always better than
user; Election is always better than election.
• Try to banish fads and commonplaces from the text. See some tired formulas that you should
avoid: at the level of, leaving something to be desired, reaching a d common enominator, explode
like a bomb, close with a flourish, a secret kept under lock and key, say the last goodbye.
• Dispense with precious words or expressions that intend to replace common terms, such as:
municipality, fire soldier, birthday, agent of the law, first representative, head of the Executive,
precious liquid, field saint, necropolis, hospital, house of laws, firecracker, bodybuilder , optional,
etc.
• Do not use the same as the subject.
• Never write what you wouldn't say. Thus, someone rejects (and does not decline) an invitation;
takes advantage of (and does not take advantage of) a situation. Prefer delay or postponement to
delay, antipathy to idiosyncrasy, discord or intrigue to chaos, violent criticism to diatribe,
obfuscation to obfuscation, etc.
• Avoid colloquial or slang terms, such as a thousand, transa, legal, money, cool, enjoy, bagulho,
etc.
• In a news text, the first paragraph must answer the six basic questions: what, who, when, where,
how and why. Information that cannot appear in the first paragraph must appear in the second
paragraph at the latest.
• Avoid linguistic errors, such as, however, otherwise.
• Treat the character in your text impersonally: no matter how popular it is, use the presenter Xuxa
(and never Xuxa) or Pelé (and never Pelé) or Lula (and never Lula).
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• Avoid colloquialisms in phrases attributed to the interviewee. Don't write: “If you have a very
tight budget, you can't do much,” the governor said. Write: “When you have a very tight budget,
you can’t do much,” said the governor.
3. Titles for daily newspaper and magazine text
In daily newspaper
• The title must, in a few words, announce the main information of the text or accurately describe
the fact. Example: Robbers rob bank branch and take 12 hostage
• To give greater strength to the title, use the present tense and not the past tense. Example: Brazil
and Argentina sign peace agreement
• In the title, the future can only be referred to when accompanied by an indication of time.
Example: Governor comes to Santos tomorrow
• The title must be extracted from the lead. If this is not possible, redo the lead because it will not
include the most important information from the article.
• Only use titles in capital letters in very special cases. The rest are always in upper and lower
cases.
• In the title, no word can be separated at the end of the line by a hyphen.
• The sentence at the bottom of the title must never be shorter than the one at the top; at most the
same size.
• Do not put a period in the title or in the thin line.
• Avoid using gerunds in the title. Also avoid words ending in “mente”, such as practically,
objectively, harshly.
• Don't make obvious titles. Example: Journalist speaks to UNISANTA students
• The news is not that the journalist gave a lecture to the students. News is what he said that was
most important or most interesting. This is what should appear in the title. The information that
the journalist gave a lecture or interview to students is secondary and, therefore, should appear in
the lead only as a complement. This type of information should only be used before the event.
Example: Journalist Francisco da Silva will be in Santos tomorrow to give a lecture to Law
students at the Santa Cecília University (UNISANTA), on the topic “The PT and foreign policy”.
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• In the title, avoid using the article as a crutch. Dispense the article whenever possible. Example:
For a PT advisor, Brazil needs US$50 billion. Do not use: For PT advisor, Brazil needs US$50
billion
• Do not use “your” or “yours” when redundant. Don't write: Codesp fires its employees. Write:
Codesp fires employees
• Do not use the future tense. Example: Short circuit would have been the cause of the fire. Use:
Short circuit may have been the cause of the fire.
• Do not share proper names. Example:
Paul's new book
Rabbit breaks record
It is better this way:
Paulo Coelho launches
book and break record
• Avoid abbreviations, such as SV for São Vicente or PG for Praia Grande. That's a lazy writer's
thing. Use S.Vicente, but not P. Grande. Abbreviations only for states such as PE, ES, RS, MT
and AM or countries such as the USA or associations such as the European Union (EU) or
universities (USP).
• On the page, avoid repeating words in the title and in the fine line.
• Do not interconnect or associate the title with the lead. They are independent. The title is a
summary of the subject.
• Information must always be attributed to someone and not taken over by the newspaper.
• Use a question mark in the title only in exceptional cases.
• Use half quotation marks in the title for words that are italicized in the text, such as soap opera
titles. Example: Last chapter of ‘Mad Maria’ breaks audience record
• Avoid rhymes. Example: Minister denies political pressure to resign
• Avoid leaving the question what? Example: Minister promises to freeze, after price adjustment
(freeze what?)
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• There are terms that can be used in the singular to describe ignore an entire class. Example:
Server strike ends today
Eyes
• Long articles or question-and-answer interviews require placing eyes throughout the text to
improve visual impact.
• The eye must be a phrase taken from the article.
• If taken from a statement by the interviewee, the phrase must be enclosed in quotation marks.
• The sentence does not need to be copied exactly as it is in the body of the article. Can be adapted.
• Words should not be separated by hyphens.
Thin line
It's that line that is underneath the title and serves to complement the information. Widely used in
six-column titles. It can also be broken into four lines, according to the graphic design of each
newspaper.
Magazines
• The title does not necessarily need to leave the opening.
• As the space is generally smaller (in the case of weekly magazines), it is not necessary to use a
verb. Example: Bribe at gunpoint
• In general, the title only requires two or three words. Examples: Snow sale; Fun nostalgia; The
novelist of passions
• In magazines, titles always require a fine line: a phrase that helps to complement the title.
4. Photo Captions
• Preferably, use two sentences divided by colons.
• The first sentence should explain the photo in the present tense. The second must provide
information contained in the text. Example: Dilma receives FHC in Planalto: government wants
agreement with PSDB for the next elections
• Always use additional information to identify people: on the right, in the center, with a mustache,
in a dark suit or (D) or (C) or (E). It can also be used on the right, left or center.
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• Never put a full stop in subtitles, even if there is an intermediate point.
• The caption must always start on the left under the photo. Don't centralize it.
• The caption will always have one line of text.
• In exceptional cases, at the discretion of the layout, the caption may be next to the photo and
broken into several short lines.
• In captions for photos in a column, always include something other than the person's name.
Example: Ronaldinho: selected
• Avoid obvious descriptions. Example: President speaks on the phone
• Always put signature on photos (when the author of the photo is not identified, put Disclosure
or Archive)
• Illustrations, tables, maps and graphs generally do not need captions, as they tend to exhaust the
information and do not require additional explanations. Tables, maps and graphs, however, must
have titles.
5. Caption text
As it is both news and a caption, the caption text must, therefore, describe the photograph and
report the fact to the reader, in direct and objective language. There is no paragraph in the caption
text, either initial or intermediate. Ideally, the caption text should contain at least two sentences:
the first is descriptive and the second is complementary and informative. As a title, you must
reproduce some detail of the news or even summarize it in two or three words. Example: Surprise
visit
6. Call
• The front page headline must summarize the news contained in the newspaper.
• The writer needs to pay attention not to practically repeat the lead of the news that will be
published in the editorial section.
• The call must, in principle, be written with a classic lead (subject, predicate and complement),
especially if it is called Economics. But nothing prevents the writer from being creative and
writing it in another way, as long as it provides the main information and a summary of what the
reader will find within the newspaper.
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4. Don't make mistakes anymore
Correction is a prerequisite for every good professional. It is unacceptable for journalists to write
with spelling or syntactical errors. Clarity must be acquired through the study of words
(semantics), their placement and the order of sentences in the period.
Conciseness is the main quality of forensic language. It consists of searching for a brief, incisive
form for thought. The final points, separating the parts of the thought more sharply, offer the
pause the reader needs to learn concepts and reasoning.
Below are some indications so that the student does not make any more mistakes:
• It is a vice to use it as a person's name or to indicate a means. Ex: He got the job through friends.
And no: He got a job through friends. He paid the debt by check. And no: You paid for the query
by check.
• It is not correct to use the conjunction as added to that. While it is a time relationship. Ex.: The
defendant is poor while the plaintiff is rich. And no: The defendant is poor while the plaintiff is
rich.
• Avoid the general use of gerunds. Do not write phrases like: benches that fit two people, articles
constituting a code. The right thing to say is: benches that can fit two people; articles that
constitute a code.
• Memorize these common expressions in forensic writing. About means about (talk about a
subject). Approximately a year ago (we started law school about a year ago). A c erca de indicates
an imprecise future time (in about four months we will make the contract).
• Outside. This expression is used as traveling around the world. It doesn't exist outside. So, you
can't say: I traveled around the world.
• At par. At par. At par means aware, currently – at par is an expression only used for values. Ex.:
The broker was aware that EXB shares are at par.
• Against – in the opposite direction. To meet – in a favorable sense. Ex.: Coming to the thesis
meetings – favorably. Coming face to face – unfavorably.
• Cujo – whose. Indicate ownership. Ex.: This is the property, whose owner abandoned it. When
it does not indicate possession, the employment is that. Ex: this is the book I told you about.
• Instead of – means mere replacement. Instead of giving the idea of opposition. Ex.: Absolved,
instead of condemning (opposition). Sentenced to two years instead of three (substitution).
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• The verb to have with the meaning of existing is impersonal, as is the verb to do in the sense of
time. So, say (or write): it will be ten days, it will be ten days, there are five bushels.
• It is necessary, it is necessary, it is prohibited – they are invariable when the complement is not
determined by article, demonstrative, numeral, etc. It is wrong to say: Strangers are prohibited
from entering the service. The sentence is wrong because the word entry is determined by article
a. The correct thing is: Outsiders are prohibited from entering the service.
• More good – better. Before participle, the analytical form (better) is preferably used and not the
synthetic form (better). Ex.: The ruling was better studied (and not better studied) than the
sentence. My suggestion was better accepted than the others. This congress was better organized
than the previous one. That student is better prepared. In the judgment the fact is better interpreted
than in the sentence. Don't write: In the ruling the fact is better interpreted than in the sentence.
• Bad and bad. Mal is an adverb, therefore, it modifies a verb or adjective. Bad is an adjective, so
it modifies a noun. It must be said: malaise and not bad being.
• Half and half. When medium is an adjective, it normally agrees with the noun it refers to. Ex.:
It's already half past noon (time). I've already read half the book. The young lawyer was a little
upset at having lost the case. The leaves are a little crumpled.
• Nothing to oppose. It is common to read nothing to oppose. The correct thing is: nothing to
oppose; nothing to say, nothing to add.
•
Two years ago. It's been two years. The verb to have in the expression two years ago
indicates past tense and can be replaced by the verb to do (impersonal). Therefore, it is equally
correct to say: It has been two years. Or: two years ago. Don't say: It's been two years.
• Have place – the expression is correct when it means: to have place, to fit, to come on time, to
be opportune. Ex.: The appeal takes place, in view of the provisions of article 10. The expression
take place is incorrect in the sense of: take place, occur, occur, verify. Let it be said: The hearing
took place on the 15th. And no: The hearing took place on the 15th.
• One of those. It is generally accepted that in sentences such as: J. Mendes was one of the most
distinguished jurists... –, the verb goes to the plural, which is accepted by philologists and
language masters. The expression one of which takes the second verb into the plural because it
refers to jurists.
• Affine and to the end. Affin is an adjective and means equal, similar. Ex: We have similar goals.
In order to is a prepositional phrase and synonymous with para. Ex: I came to the office to work.
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• Cassar means to cancel, annul or disauthorize – order, mandate, license or authorization. Hunting
means chasing and catching animals or birds.
• Civil – derived from Latin civilis, is used to distinguish actions that are based on Civil Law, and
the judges or courts to which they are entrusted as opposed to commercial and criminal
expressions. Civil refers to the citizen. It is opposed to the military, who is a person taken from
society and placed in activities to defend the community.
• Length means extension, distance. Greeting is greeting.
• To defer is to respond, to grant. To defer means to postpone. Ex.: A request is granted. A meeting
is postponed.
• Closed means everything that is prohibited or prohibited. Defesso means tired, fatigued.
• Stay is staying in a place, referring to people or animals. Stay is the stay of the ship in the port,
of cars in the garages or parking lots.
• Story and history. Grammarians reject the distinction between history and story. Use: The
defendant told tall tales. The term story is reserved for tales, narratives, fictions, legends, versions
of fact, always unaccompanied by the necessary elements to constitute history in a modern way.
• Inflict means to apply punishment, punishment. To infringe is to transgress, to disrespect. Ex.:
We violated the Traffic Code; therefore, the corresponding fine will be inflicted.
• To ratify is to confirm, make valid. Rectifying is correcting the error. E.g.: instead of ratifying
the declarations of the secretary, the president rectified them.
• Ten years ago – this form is incorrect because ten years ago already indicates a past fact.
Therefore, the use of the term above is unnecessary and represents a pleonasm.
• Let there be seen – in this expression, seen (and not seen) remains invariable; What varies is the
verb, always agreeing with the subject. Ex.: Given the fact (singular). Consider the events (plural).
• The presence of the preposition em in expressions using the verb estar or ir, followed by a
numeral is not correct. Ex.: The four journalists went to speak to the judge. Don't say: We went
in four journalists to talk to the judge.
• Say: The target is children. And no: The target is children. Here the verb agrees with the
predicate, a quality attributed to the subject and which completes the meaning of the verb.
Therefore, it is correct to say: Not everything is rosy.
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• Treatment expressions. The adjective or past participle agrees with the sex of the person to
whom the expression refers. Ex.: Your Excellency. you are wrong. Or: Your Excellency. is
mistaken.
• The relative who takes the verb to the third person singular. Ex: It is the witnesses who affirm
the fact. We are the ones who say this.
• In fractional expressions less than two units, the verb is singular. Ex.: One and a half (1 ½) is
enough. One and nine tenths (1 9/10) is your share.
• Expressions of quantity – weight, measure, price – such as it is a lot, it is a little, it is too much
are invariable. Ex: Six meters is too much. Two hundred thousand reais is a lot. Fifteen days to
appeal is not enough.
• In and apud – are prepositions in Latin. In is used when citing works. Ex.: in First lines of civil
proceedings. Apud is used when citing authors, that is, when one is cited by another. Ex: “Nature
is maintained by antagonisms. (Apud Ralph W.Emerson).
• Measurements. Use: The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. And no: The hearing is scheduled
for 1:30 pm. Use: With an area of 20.5 m2. And no: With an area of 20 m.2, 5.
• Even – do not use same as a personal pronoun. The forms are incorrect: I spoke to him, I read
the book and learned a lot from him, deliver us from evil and the appearance of it. With the
meaning of own, it can even be used freely. Ex.: I myself went to the hearing many times... It is
also correct to use demonstratives to give more emphasis to the phrase: This same room. It is
correct to use it as a locution. Ex: Anyway, I attended the hearing. As a neutral pronoun, it
indicates the same thing. Ex.: We left right after the hearing and he did the same.
• You have to and you have to. The construction ter expresses the idea of obligation or necessity.
It is an imperative expression. Ex: The judge must comply with the order. People will have to
follow their conscience. I have to get to the office before six o'clock (expresses necessity). Having
(something) that – always has a hidden term and does not constitute an imperative expression.
Ex.: To acquire culture, I have to read good books (I must, by a logical conclusion).
• Petition and application. The treatment is entirely in the third person, since the judge is addressed
by Your Excellency. Also in the third person is the treatment for the applicant. Don't use the
pronoun we. So, don't write: we think otherwise. But yes: the author, defendant or appellant thinks
otherwise.
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• Many times, many times. Don't use it too often randomly. Generally, you only want to speak
many times. Use many times only when you want to refer to something that happened many of
the times you were in a certain place. Ex.: On many of the occasions I was here, I was insulted.
• Don't write: It no longer exists. It's redundant. Write: It no longer exists. Or: It no longer exists.
• Do not start sentences with personal pronouns: “I thanked you for the invitation”. Write: “Thank
you for the invitation.”
5. The use of commas
The comma is a punctuation mark used to mark, in writing, a smaller pause (in speech) between
various pieces of information in a text. For its use, there are rules that must be followed. Let's see:
1) The subject is not separated from the predicate, regardless of the extension of the subject. Let's
look at the examples:
(a) The father helps the son in his difficulties.
(b) A dedicated father helps his son in his difficulties.
(c) A dedicated and attentive father helps his son in his difficulties.
In the examples, we have the following subjects: in (a) the father; in (b) the devoted father; in (c)
the dedicated and attentive father. In all cases, there is no comma.
2) The main information can be separated from the complementary information by a comma.
Example:
Without noticing my presence, she entered the room looking for me.
(complementary information) (main information)
Unless you have another suggestion, you can follow this route.
(complementary information) (main information)
3) Accessory terms, such as vocative and appositive, must be separated by commas:
(a) Children, don't scream!
(vocative)
(b) Dilma Rousseff, president of Brazil, made a statement on TV.
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(I bet)
4) The exp Explanatory statements must be separated by commas.
He said everything, that is, the truth.
5) A comma is used to isolate YES or NO that indicate answers.
Yes, I accept the invitation.
6) The comma can indicate ellipsis (omission of a term)
One told the truth, the other a lie. (he said)
7) When the adverbial adjunct is anticipated, a comma is used to highlight it.
Last week, everyone went to the exhibition.
8) In dates, the comma separates the locative expression.
São Paulo, January 1, 2012.
9) Some conjunctions, such as conclusive and adversative ones, are separated by commas, as
shown in the examples:
(a) I looked for my keys all over the room, but I couldn't find them.
(b) The student therefore confirmed that he passed the entrance exam.
(c) Did not study enough; therefore, it was not approved.
10) The comma separates interspersed sentences.
The truth, I know, is impossible to remain silent.
11) A comma is used to separate reduced sentences (or in nominal forms: gerund, participle or
infinitive), as in the examples:
(a) When you arrive at the location, let me know.
(b) Once the task was completed, he received his fees.
(c) When he left, he slammed the car door.
12) The comma is used to separate adverbial subordinate clauses.
(a) When he arrived at the building, he informed me.
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(Or. Sub. Adv. Temporal)
(b) Although he really wanted to, he didn't go to the store opening.
(Or. Sub. Adv. Concessiva)
In short, to understand when the comma will be prohibited, mandatory or optional, remember:
• replace the notion of breathing pause with the notion of syntactic notions;
• when using a comma, something is separated; When using two commas, something is isolated.
• do not separate with commas what maintains a logical link.
We present below a table to facilitate your reference, when necessary.
The main use cases of the comma
Prohibited comma
Example
Between subject and predicate or between predicate and subject. The French Foreign Minister is
in Brasília/ The French Foreign Minister is in Brasília.
Between verb and its complement(s). The president told the governors that he does not accept the
proposal; The minister informed journalists that he will not participate in the interview; The
minister presented all the privatization projects to the investors present.
Mandatory comma
Example
After adverbial clauses in front: If it doesn't rain, there will be a game;
When the economy collapsed, the minister resigned; Upon leaving government, the mayor will
return to teaching at the university.
Before introducing an explanatory sentence: Our team, which won the tournament this year, was
runner-up in that competition in 55 and 56.
When there is an ellipsis of the verb: Cariocas prefer the beach; São Paulo, shopping.
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To separate contiguous conjunctions: He will go to São Paulo, but, if he doesn't receive the fee
beforehand, he won't sing; He said that, when he goes to Brasília, he will try to have an audience
with the president.
Before but (with the sense of however), however, however, meanwhile, however, therefore,
therefore, etc. He played well, but lost; He studied, but failed; The agreement will not be renewed,
so jobs will be maintained.
Before and that introduces a sentence with a subject different from that of the previous one, if,
without the comma, there is the possibility of understanding the subject of the second sentence as
a complement to the verb of the first. FIFA punishes Maradona, and Pelé receives award.
To separate adverbial adjuncts of different nature: Last night, at Pacaembu, without seven starters,
in heavy rain, Corinthians defeated Juventude.
Optional comma
Example
With brief, prefixed or interspersed adverbial expressions São Paulo faces another challenge this
Saturday (or São Paulo faces, this Saturday, another challenge); The governor will participate in
a meeting in Brasília with the Minister of Finance (or The governor will participate, in Brasília,
in a meeting with the Minister of Finance).
After however, however, therefore, however, however, therefore, however, when these words or
expressions begin the period However, the president made it clear that he will not accept the
opposition's proposal (or However, the president made it clear that. ..).
Attention: this option does not exist when these words or expressions do not start the period. The
president agrees to participate in the meeting, however, he warns that he will not accept the
opposition's proposal.
Before adverbial clauses of some length that come after the main one The mayor will leave the
party if the Chamber approves the CPI on public bonds (or The mayor will leave the party, if the
Chamber approves the CPI on public bonds);
The player will not play in the next match because he was suspended by the CBF Court of Justice
(or The player will not play in the next match because he was suspended by the CBF Court of
Justice).
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6. The use of the crasis
Crase is a contraction of the preposition a with the feminine article a. Rules:
1 – A crasis is only used before a word that admits the feminine article “a”. Ex: I went to Caesar's
Rome. A cratic is not used in: I went to Rome. Love for Rome.
2 – A crasis is used when changing “a” to “ao”. Ex. I went to the city in. I went to the theater. It
is not spelled with a cratic: Writing with a typewriter, writing by hand, writing in ink, he was
injured by a bullet, distance learning. Here “a” is just a preposition. It is written: result for
everyone to see. It is said: results within everyone’s reach.
3 – A crasis is used when “a” can be replaced by “para”. Ex.: I gave this to Santa Casa. It is said:
I gave this to the Holy House. A crasis is used when “a” can be replaced by “nas”. Ex: I'm on the
verge of death. It is said: I am on the verge of death. A crasis is used when “a” can be replaced
by “pels”. Ex: We can meet at three in the afternoon. It says: We can meet at three in the afternoon.
4 - A crasis is used in that, those, that, those. Ex: I turned to that teacher. I refer to that text. I
prefer this to that option.
5 – There is a craze in: Feel free. Dress in the (fashion of) Louis XV.
6 – There is no crasis in the case of plural. It really came to blows. He gave the reward to worthy
people.
7 - There is no crasis regarding the treatment pronoun. I gave this to your excellency.
8 - There is a crasis in: Due to death, referring to prison, in obedience to the laws.
9 - There is a crasis in: This happened at two in the afternoon. I study from two to six in the
afternoon. He died at one in the morning.
7. Other tips
Rules based on Ethics apply to all professional activities linked to the written word. Below are
some of these writing standards:
1) Avoid swear words or vulgar terms such as kiss-ass, drool, face-breaking.
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2) Do not write offensive words that highlight deficiencies or physical details: bald, pot-bellied,
protruding ears, one-eyed, one-legged, one-armed. Use cross-eyed instead of cross-eyed, use
impotent instead of brush.
3) Reference should only be made to color if the person is being sought. Example: the police are
looking for two white men and a black man, accused of robbing a gas station (...).
4) Use black only if there is a report of racial discrimination. Or in unusual cases. Example:
Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States.
5) Use homosexual only if there is a relationship with the fact described.
6) In publications, minors can only be identified with their initials when they are involved in
crimes. Photos of minors must not be published. If released, the images must be distorted to
prevent identification of the minor.
7) In the case of suicide, if necessary, the circumstances of the death must be included in the news,
but not highlighted. Someone's private details should only be disclosed if they are related to the
cause of death.
8) Do not use pejorative identifications: do not use Turkish, but Arabic; do not use carcamano,
but Italian. Do not use a flat head. Do not use Jew for usurer, but only if referring to the religious
option.
9) Complainants whose lives are at risk must have their names preserved.
10) Newspapers may avoid publishing news about kidnapping at the request of the victim's family
or the Police.
11) Journalists should not play the role of the police: they should not interview (or air) people
who are under police pressure.
12) You should avoid using the word unemployed or unemployed to identify someone. Use
freelance worker.
13) Never call anyone a criminal or murderer if there is no guilt. That's up to the courts. Write:
So-and-so, suspect in the death of So-and-so (...). Exception can be made for confessed criminals
or those arrested in the act.
14) Avoid qualifying people in a way that offends the entire community. Don't write, for example:
Ceará kills his lover. Or: Italian robs bank.
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15) It is unethical to disclose salary values, even for TV professionals. This is information that
only concerns the professional himself. Unless violating people's privacy is essential to the public
interest, violating it is unacceptable.