These include spelling, capitalization, punctuation, handwriting and keyboarding, and sentence structure (e.g., learning to eliminate run-ons and sentence fragments). Basic writing skills are sometimes called the “mechanics” of writing.
Definition
Whether the chicken or the egg came first is a meaningless issue. This phrase has its roots in British law, where it was used to indicate a topic for debate during a moot, or student assembly, of lawyers. Its current meaning was being used more liberally by the early 1700s.
Examples
A moot point can be used to express three separate ideas:
Example: Since the deadline has passed, she no longer needs a reference letter for her application today.
Example: Jane’s husband suggested that their family travels to Bermuda because they were in desperate need of a vacation.
Example: The detective's assumption of the suspect's motivation in the case was rendered irrelevant when the DNA test revealed the thief's genuine identity.
