Mechanics

No, mechanics aren’t the people who repair your car. Mechanics are the “nuts and bolts” of writing: capitalization, spelling, punctuation.

What’s wrong with the following (sources are in parenthesis)?

Are you suited to be an entrepreneur? Should you give up your “day job?” (ad in business magazine)

Use the enclosed checks by Jan. 17, 2001 to take advantage of our low interest rate. (credit-card mailing)

Her projects include a British miniseries, Highway Robbery, commercials for Neiman Marcus, Canon and Nike, and still-photo shoots for Vogue, Twist and Rolling Stone magazines. (biography of photographer)

J.D. Vivian has lived in Boston, Quonset Point, R.I., Rota, Spain, Albany, Ga., and Key West, Fla. (premeditated errors on the part of J.D.)

Fifth grade math teacher Patty McDonald of Covington, Washington uses “zoo-rithmetic,” data gathered at a local zoo to teach math. (ad in magazine)

Are bathrooms done in a theme — such as French Provincial — “tacky?” (letter to interior-design columnist)

Could you have PMDD? (ad for Sarafem, an anti-PMDD drug)

From left are Robert Germain, chief executive officer of the YWCA, Blaise Burchfelter of ABC Development, Nancy Jones of ABC Development, and Paul Alfredo of ABC Development, and Joseph Franklin, YMCA board chairman. (photo caption in newspaper)