PREFACE

In medias res
(Into the midst of things, into the heart of the matter)

Words are the ultimate source of power; they are a writer’s armor in a thick fight. If woven perfectly on papers, they light the pages, draw the readers to a common goal, mold the masses into a cultured society, and change the world into a better place to live in. However, if an unguided hand wrinkles the labor, its power to inform, to influence, and to entertain the minds and the emotions of the readers will never triumph.

These are the reasons why the Manual of Style and Usage for Scholastic Journalism was written and published. It saw the need to recognize conflicting style and usage in scholastic journalistic writings. As a reference material, it aims to straighten out the usage of the acquired language in the pursuit of excellence in scholastic journalism.

The styles–conventions of abbreviation, capitalization, spelling, use of numbers, use of punctuation marks, and use of names and titles–are crisp and simple, ensuring an instant reference in the heat of deadlines. It is a set of tools and tricks and of tones and voices for scholastic journalists and an important ingredient in the setting of an academic community.

All extracted from The Makati Science Vision’s journey through the years, from School Year 1997-1998 to School Year 2007-2008, and sourced from consolidated online resources, grammar and journalism books, and manuals of style and usage here and abroad, this reference material will be a guiding hand for gutsy pen adventurers of the "written world." Though this is not written as the ultimate standard in scholastic journalism, this is the resolution to the thorny issues in word usage, inconsistencies, and lack of uniformity; this is the support and protection of the scholastic journalist’s growing craft.

NOTE: Italics are used to indicate examples, not to indicate that a word, a phrase, a clause, a sentence, or a paragraph must be set in italics. Only sample materials and frequently asked questions will be posted in this blog.




ALIXANDER HABAN ESCOTE
May 27, 2004
Makati Science High School 10th Anniversary