How do you properly write the phrase in a work of fiction: Its legs were shaped like a u. Should the u be capitalized. Should it be in quotations? Thanks.
That does sound better. How would you fix this: Its legs resembled an upside down u. Or is that okay?
I'd probably use a different, somewhat larger font for the U. 'Its legs resembled an upside down U.' (or 'inverted' U)
I'd paint a better picture in the reader mind than an upside down u The legs were reminiscent of a weeping willows branches, that seemed to dive outward, reaching for the freshly cut grass.
Maybe say something about its legs being "one smooth curve, like an upside-down U," or something like that. I think if you're going to use a U it should be capitalized, but I wouldn't use quotes. Also, it's okay to break grammar rules as long as you have your reason and it works the way you want it to.
hmmm .... Are we talking about... Its legs were badly twisted after the incident, mangled into a U-shape. or The creature was like something he had never seen. Four eyes, no noticeable nose and its legs were curved into a U.
Go with the capital. Last night, I was reading over something I'd written and discovered I'd done this without thinking about it: ("broken U-shape", in this case, means there are gaps in the corners - they're not adjoining.)
It's legs were shaped like an M, but not just any M, a lowercase M, or rather, "m". And it wasn't exactly an "m", more of an "m" with one of its extremities truncated, two-thirds of an m. Also, take that picture and flip it upside down. Find something better to compare it to than letters of the alphabet. I honestly don't know what a U-shaped leg is supposed to look like. I'd say most legs look like U's if you have both of them. Well, maybe more of an upside down V...unless the person is fat.
