15 Arabic Linguistic Rules to Keep Proofreaders Away | Useful Guide

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Writing clean, professional Arabic without basic spelling or punctuation errors is easier than you think. Here are 15 essential rules that will keep proofreaders away:

1. Punctuation Spacing: Most Arabic punctuation marks attach directly to the preceding word without a leading space (e.g. comma `،`, semicolon `؛`, period `.`, question mark `؟`, exclamation mark `!`, colon `:`), followed by a single space after the mark.
2. Brackets & Quotes: Enclosed text connects directly to the inner edges of brackets or quotes without spaces. Write `(بيت)` instead of `( بيت )`.
3. Conjunction Waw (و): The conjunction *Waw* attaches directly to the word following it without a space: write `والبيت` not `و البيت`.
4. Arabic vs. Latin Comma: Use the Arabic comma `،` for Arabic text rather than the Latin comma `,`.
5. Single Spacing: Never leave more than one space between consecutive words.
6. Avoid Excessive Marks: Do not stack exclamation or question marks (`!!!!!` or `؟؟؟؟؟`); a single mark is sufficient.
7. Final Yaa (ي / ى): If your mouth opens upwards when pronouncing the final Yaa, write it without dots as an Alif Maqsura (`حتى`, `إلى`). If your mouth closes down, write it with two dots (`ذكي`, `تلقائي`).
8. Distinguishing Haa (ه) from Taa Marbouta (ة): Append the word to another starting with `ال`. If pronounced as Haa, write `ه` (`مياه البحر -> مياه`). If pronounced as Taa, write `ة` (`حياة البحر -> حياة`).
9. Hamza in Nouns: All Arabic nouns take a Hamza (`أ` / `إ`) except a short list: `اسم`, `ابن`, `ابنة`, `اثنان`, `اثنتان`, `امرؤ`, `امرأة`, `الله`.
10. Hamza in Particles: All particles take Hamza (`إن`, `إلى`, `إلا`) except the definite article (`ال`).
11. Testing Hamzat Al-Wasl vs. Al-Qat': Place a `و` before the word and pronounce it. If the Alif is pronounced, write Hamza (`وأشرق`); if skipped, omit Hamza (`وانتصر`).
12. Hamza Placement (Above/Below): Place Hamza below Alif when breaking vowel sound (`إنسان`, `إقبال`), and above Alif otherwise (`أستاذ`, `أنا`).
13. Tanween Al-Fath Position: Place Tanween on the letter preceding the Alif rather than on the Alif itself (`بيتًا` according to Egyptian style).
14. Using إذًا vs. إذن: Use `إذًا` with Tanween for modern general writing; `إذن` requires classical grammatical conditions rarely met today.
15. Omitting Alif in "Ibn" (بن): Omit the Alif in `ابن` when written between two names where the second is the father (`عمر بن الخطاب`), but retain it if the second is the mother (`عيسى ابن مريم`).