Media Writing

imply, infer

Writers or speakers imply in the words they use. A listener or reader infers something from the words.

suit, suite

You may have a suit of clothes, a suit of cards, or be faced with a lawsuit . There are suites of music, rooms and furniture.

years

When a phrase refers to a month and day within the current year, do not include the year: The hearing is scheduled for June 26 . If the reference is to a past or future year, include the year and set it off with commas: Feb. 14, 2025, is the target date . Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries: the 1890s, the 1800s . Years are an exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure is not used to start a sentence: 2013 was a very good year.

pedal, peddle

When riding a bicycle or similar vehicle, you pedal it. When selling something, you may peddle it.

lake

Capitalize as part of a proper name: Lake Erie , Canandaigua Lake , the Finger Lakes . Lowercase in plural uses: lakes Erie and Ontario ; Canandaigua and Seneca lakes .

bloc, block

A bloc is a coalition of people, groups or nations with the same purpose or goal. Block has more than a dozen definitions, but a political alliance is not one of them.

mantel, mantle

A mantel is a shelf. A mantle is a cloak.

family names

Capitalize words denoting family relationships only when they substitute for a person's name: I wrote Mom a letter. I wrote my father a letter.

boats, ship

A boat is a watercraft of any size but generally is used to indicate a small craft. A ship is a large, seagoing vessel. The word boat is used, however, in some words that apply to large craft: ferryboat, PT boat. Use it, not the pronoun she, in references to boats and ships. Use Arabic or Roman numerals in the names of boats and ships: the Queen Elizabeth 2 or QE2; Titan I, Titan II. The reference for military ships is IHS Jane's Fighting Ships; for nonmilitary ships, IHS Fairplay Register of Ships.

cannon, canon

A cannon is a weapon; plural is cannons. See weapons. A canon is a law or rule, particularly of a church, or a musical composition.

censer, censor, censure

A censer is a container in which incense is burned. To censor is to prohibit or restrict the use of something. To censure is to condemn.

citizen, resident, subject, national, native

A citizen is a person who has acquired the full civil rights of a nation either by birth or naturalization. Cities and states in the United States do not confer citizenship. To avoid confusion, use resident, not citizen, in referring to inhabitants of states and cities. Citizen is also acceptable for those in the United Kingdom, or other monarchies where the term subject is often used. National is applied to a person residing away from the nation of which he or she is a citizen, or to a person under the protection of a specified nation. Native is the term denoting that an individual was born in a given location.

internet

A decentralized, worldwide network of computers and other devices that can communicate with each other. The web, like email, is a subset of the internet. They are not synonymous and should not be used interchangeably in stories. See SEE REST IN BOOK

irregardless

A double negative. Regardless is correct.

felony, misdemeanor

A felony is a serious crime. A misdemeanor is a minor offense against the law. A fuller definition of what constitutes a felony or misdemeanor depends on the governmental jurisdiction involved. At the federal level, a misdemeanor is a crime that carries a potential penalty of no more than a year in jail. A felony is a crime that carries a potential penalty of more than a year in prison. Often, however, a statute gives a judge options such as imposing a fine or probation in addition to or instead of a jail or prison sentence. A felon is a person who has been convicted of a felony , regardless of whether the individual actually spends time in confinement or is given probation or a fine instead. Convicted felon is redundant. See prison, jail

abbreviations and acronyms

A few universally recognized abbreviations are required in some circumstances. Some others are acceptable depending on the context. But in general, avoid alphabet soup. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms that the reader would not quickly recognize. Abbreviations and most acronyms should be avoided in headlines. Guidance on how to use a particular abbreviations or acronym is provided in entries alphabetized according to the sequence of letters in the word or phrase. An acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words: laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). An abbreviation is not an acronym.BEFORE A NAME: Abbreviate titles when used before a full name: Dr., Gov., Lt. Gov.., Mr., Mrs., Rep., the Rev., Sen. and certain military designations listed in the military titles entry. For guidelines on how to use titles, see courtesy titles; legislative titles; military titles; religious titles; and the entries for the most commonly used titles. AFTER A NAME: Abbreviate junior or senior after an individual's name. Abbreviate company, corporation, incorporated and limited when used after the name of a corporate entity. See entries under these words and company names. In some cases, an academic degree may be abbreviated after an individual's name. See academic degrees. WITH DATES OR NUMERALS: Use the abbreviations A.D., B.C., a.m., p.m., No., and abbreviate certain months when used with the day of the month. Right: In 450 B.C.; at 9:30 a.m.; in room No. 6; on Sept. 16. Wrong: Early this a.m. he asked for the No. of your room. The abbreviations are correct only with figures. Right: Early this morning he asked for the number of your room. See months and individual entries for these other terms: IN NUMBERED ADDRESSES: Abbreviate avenue, boulevard and street in numbered addresses: He lives on Pennsylvania Avenue. He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. See addresses. STATES: The names of certain states and the United States are abbreviated with periods in some circumstances. See state names; datelines; and individual entries. ACCEPTABLE BUT NOT REQUIRED: Some organizations and government agencies are widely recognized by their initials: CIA, FBI, GOP. If the entry for such an organization notes that an abbreviation is acceptable in all references or on second reference, that does not mean that its use should be automatic. Let the context determine, for example, whether to use Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI. See second reference. AVOID AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONS: Do not follow an organization's full name with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses or set of by dashes. If an abbreviation or acronym would not be clear on second reference without this arrangement, do not use it. Names not commonly before the public should not be reduced to acronyms solely to save a few words. SPECIAL CASES: Many abbreviations are desirable in tabulations and certain types of technical writing. See individual entries. CAPS, PERIODS: Use capital letters and periods according to the listings in this book. For words not in this book, use the first-listed abbreviation in Webster's New World College Dictionary. Generally, omit periods in acronyms unless the result would spell an unrelated word. But use periods in most two-letter abbreviations: U.S., U.N., U.K., B.A., B.C., (AP, a trademark, is an exception. Also, no periods in GI, ID, and EU.) In headlines, do not use periods in abbreviations, unless required for clarity. Use all caps, but no periods, in longer abbreviations when the individual letters are pronounced: ABC, CIA, FBI. Use only an initial cap and then lowercase for abbreviations and acronyms of more than five letters, unless listed otherwise in this Stylebook or Webster's New World College Dictionary.

flounder, founder

A flounder is a fish; to flounder is to move clumsily or jerkily, to flop about: The fish floundered on land. To founder is to bog down, become disabled or sink: The ship floundered in the heavy seas for hours, then foundered.

hangar, hanger

A hangar is a building. A hanger is used for clothes.

nicknames

A nickname should be used in place of a person's given name in stories only when it is the way the individual prefers to be known: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson . When a nickname is inserted into the identification of an individual, use quotation marks: Sen. Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson, Paul "Bear" Bryant. Capitalize without quotation marks such terms as Sunshine State, the Old Dominion, Motown, the Magic City, Old Hickory, Old Glory, Galloping Ghost . See

accused

A person is accused of, not with, a crime. To avoid any suggestion that an individual is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as accused slayer John Jones; use John Jones, accused of the slaying.

party affiliation

A political figure's party affiliation is often relevant, but not always. Include party affiliation if a politician's actions could reasonably be seen as having an effect on policy or debate, or if readers need it for understanding. But reference to party affiliation is not necessary when a story has no link to politics. If in doubt, err on the side of including party affiliation. .

inflation

A sustained increase in prices. The result is a decrease in the purchasing power of money. There are two basic types of inflation: Cost-push inflation occurs when increases in the price of specific items, such as oil or food, are big enough to drive up prices overall. Demand-pull inflation occurs when the amount of money available exceeds the amount of goods and services available for sale.

troop, troops, troupe

A troop , in its singular form, is a group of people, often military, or animals. Troops , in the plural, means several such groups. But when the plural appears with a large number, it is understood to mean individuals: There were an estimated 150,000 troops in Iraq . (But not: Three troops were injured .) Use troupe only for ensembles of actors, dancers, etc.

Senate

Capitalize all specific references to governmental legislative bodies, regardless of whether the name of the state or nation is used: the U.S. Senate , the Senate , the Virginia Senate , the state Senate , the Senate . Lowercase plural uses: the Virginia and North Carolina senates . See governmental bodies . Lowercase references to non-governmental bodies: the student senate at Yale .

junior, senior

Abbreviate as Jr. and Sr. and do not precede by a comma: Martin Luther King Jr. The notation II or 2nd may be used if it is the individual's preference. Note, however, that II and 2nd are not necessarily the equivalent of junior ; they often are used by a grandson or nephew. Be clear in distinguishing between father and son on second reference if both names appear in a story. The elder Smith and the younger Smith is one option; Smith Sr. and Smith Jr. is also acceptable. The possessive form: Smith Jr.'s career .

accept, except

Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude.

email

Acceptable in all references for electronic mail . Also: esports . Use a hyphen with other e-terms: e-book, e-reader, e-commerce

LGBT

Acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender , or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and/or queer . In quotations and the formal names of organizations and events, other forms such as LGBTQIA and other variations are also acceptable with the other letters explained. I generally stands for intersex , and A can stand for asexual (a person who doesn't experience sexual attraction), ally (a person who is not LGBT but who actively supports the LGBT community) or both. Queer is acceptable for people and organizations that use the term to identify themselves. Do not use it when intended as a slur.

more than, over

Acceptable in all uses to indicate greater numerical value. Salaries went up more than $20 a week. Salaries went up over $20 a week.

adverse, averse

Adverse means unfavorable: He predicted adverse weather. Averse means reluctant, opposed: She is averse to change.

affect, effect

Affect, as a verb, means to influence: The game will affect the standings. Affect, as a noun, is best avoided. It occasionally is used in psychology to describe an emotion, but there is no need for it in everyday language. Effect, as a verb, means to cause: He will effect many changes in the company. Effect, as a noun, means result: The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions. It was a law of little effect.

allusion, illusion

Allusion means an indirect reference: The allusion was to his opponent's war record. Illusion means an unreal or false impression: The scenic director created the illusion of choppy seas.

government

Always lowercase, never abbreviate: the federal government, the state government, the U.S. government .

dollars

Always lowercase. Use figures and the $ sign in all except casual references or amounts without a figure: The book cost $4. Dad, please give me a dollar. Dollars are flowing overseas. For specified amounts, the word takes a singular verb: He said $500,000 is what they want. For amounts of more than $1 million, use up to two decimal places. Do not link the numerals and the word by a hyphen: He is worth $4.35 million. He proposed a $300 billion budget. The form for amounts less than $1 million: $4

dates

Always use Arabic figures, without st , nd , rd or th . See years and months .

adopt, approve, enact, pass

Amendments, ordinances, resolutions and rules are adopted and approved. Bills are passed.

altar, alter

An altar is a tablelike platform used in a religious service. To alter is to change.

assassin, killer, murderer

An assassin is one who kills a politically important or prominent person. A killer is anyone who kills with a motive of any kind. A murderer is one who is convicted of murder in a court of law. Preferred use: Joe Smith was convicted of second-degree murder.

engine, motor

An engine develops its own power, usually through internal combustion or the pressure of air, steam or water passing over vanes attached to a wheel: an airplane engine , an automobile engine , a jet engine , a missile engine , a steam engine , a turbine engine . A motor receives power from an outside source: an electric motor , a hydraulic motor

epidemic, pandemic

An epidemic is the rapid spreading of disease in a certain population or region; a pandemic is an epidemic that has spread worldwide. Use sparingly; follow declarations of public health officials.

anticipate, expect

Anticipate means to expect and prepare for something; expect does not include the notion of preparation: They expect a record crowd. The have anticipated it by adding more seats to the auditorium.

youth

Applicable to a boy or girl from age 13 until 18th birthday. Use man or woman for individuals 18 and older.

infant

Applicable to children through 12 months old.

boy

Applicable until 18th birthday is reached. Use man or young man afterward.

academic titles

Capitalize and spell out formal titles such as chancellor, chairman, etc., when they precede a name. Lowercase elsewhere. Lowercase modifiers such as department in department Chairman Jerome Wiesner.

last

Avoid the use of last as a synonym for latest if it might imply finality. The last time it rained, I forgot my umbrella , is acceptable. But: The last announcement was made at noon may leave the reader wondering whether the announcement was the final announcement, or whether others are to follow. The word last is not necessary to convey the notion of most recent when the name of a month or day is used: Preferred: It happened Wednesday . It happened in April . Correct, but redundant: It happened last Wednesday . But: It happened last week . It happened last month .

bad, badly

Bad should not be used as an adverb. It does not lose its status as an adjective, however, in a sentence such as I feel bad. Such a statement is the idiomatic equivalent of I am in bad health. An alternative, I feel badly, could be interpreted as meaning that your sense of touch is bad.

beside, besides

Beside means at the side of. Besides means in addition to.

bay

Capitalize as an integral part of a proper name: Hudson Bay, San Francisco Bay. Capitalize also San Francisco Bay Area or the Bay Area as the popular name for the nin-county region that has San Francisco as its focal point.

login, logon, logoff

But use as two words in verb form: I log in to my computer.

canvas, canvass

Canvas is heavy cloth. Canvass is a noun and a verb denoting a survey.

Capitol

Capitalize U.S. Capitol and the Capitol when referring to the building in Washington: The meeting was held on Capitol Hill in the west wing of the Capitol. Follow the same practice when referring to state capitols: The Virginia Capitol is in Richmond. Thomas Jefferson designed the Capitol of Virginia.

Congress

Capitalize U.S. Congress and Congress when referring to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Although Congress sometimes is used as a substitute for the House, it properly is reserved for reference to both the Senate and House. Capitalize Congress also if referring to a foreign body that uses the term, or its equivalent in a foreign language, as part of its formal name: the Argentine Congress , the Congress . Lowercase when used as a synonym for convention or in second reference to an organization that uses the word as part of its formal name: the Congress of Racial Equality , the congress .

Supreme Court of the United States

Capitalize U.S. Supreme Court and also the Supreme Court when the context makes the U.S. designation unnecessary. The chief justice is properly the chief justice of the United States , not of the Supreme Court : Chief Justice John Roberts . The proper title for the eight other members of the court is associate justice . When used as a formal title before a name, it should be shortened to justice unless there are special circumstances: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .

military titles

Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's name. See the lists that follow to determine whether the title should be spelled out or abbreviated in regular text. On first reference, use the appropriate title before the full name of a member of the military. In subsequent references, do not continue using the title before a name. Use only the last name. Spell out and lowercase a title when it is substituted for a name: Gen. John Jones is the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. The general endorsed the idea. In some cases, it may be necessary to explain the significance of a title: Army Sgt. Maj. John Jones described the attack. Jones, who holds the Army's highest rank for enlistees, said it was unprovoked. In addition to the ranks listed on the next page, each service has ratings such as machinist , radarman , torpedoman , etc., that are job descriptions. Do not use any of these designations as a title on first reference. If one is used before a name in a subsequent reference, do not capitalize or abbreviate it. Moreover, each service branch has its own systems of abbreviating officer and enlisted ranks e.g., COL for colonel in the Army, CMDR for Navy commander that vary widely from AP style. However, the Department of Defense uses AP's military titles in news releases because the abbreviations are easily understood. ABBREVIATIONS : The abbreviations, with the highest ranks listed first: MILITARY TITLES ARMY Commissioned Officers Rank Usage Before a Name general Gen. lieutenant general Lt. Gen. major general Maj. Gen. brigadier general Brig. Gen. colonel Col. lieutenant colonel Lt. Col. major Maj. captain Capt. first lieutenant 1st Lt. SEE CHAPTER FOR REST

judge

Capitalize before a name when it is the formal title for an individual who presides in a court of law. Do not continue to use the title in second reference. Do not use court as part of the title unless confusion would result without it: No court in the title: U.S. District Judge John Bates , District Judge John Bates , federal Judge John Bates , Judge John Bates , U.S. Circuit Judge Priscilla Owen , appellate Judge Priscilla Owen . Court needed in the title: Juvenile Court Judge John Jones , Criminal Court Judge John Jones , Superior Court Judge Robert Harrison , state Supreme Court Judge William Cushing . When the formal title chief judge is relevant, put the court name after the judge's name: Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. ; Chief Judge Karen J. Williams of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals . Do not pile up long court names before the name of a judge. Make it Judge John Smith of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court . Not: Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge John Smith . Lowercase judge as an occupational designation in phrases such as contest judge Simon Cowell .

political parties and philosophies

Capitalize both the name of the party and the word party if it is customarily used as part of the organization's proper name: the Democratic Party , the Republican Party . Include the political affiliation of any elected officeholder. Capitalize Communist , Conservative , Democrat , Liberal , Republican , Socialist , etc., when they refer to a specific party or its members. Lowercase these words when they refer to political philosophy (see examples below). Lowercase the name of a philosophy in noun and adjective forms unless it is the derivative of a proper name: communism, communist ; fascism, fascist . But: Marxism, Marxist ; Nazism, Nazi . EXAMPLES : John Adams was a Federalist, but a man who subscribed to his philosophy today would be described as a federalist. The liberal Republican senator and his Conservative Party colleague said they believe that democracy and communism are incompatible. The Communist Party member said he is basically a socialist who has reservations about Marxism. Generally, a description of specific political views is more informative than a generic label like liberal or conservative .

colon (entry is in the Punctuation Guide)

Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence: He promised this: The company will make good all the losses. But: There were three considerations: expense, time and feasibility. EMPHASIS : The colon often can be effective in giving emphasis: He had only one hobby: eating. LISTS: A frequent use of a colon is at the end of a sentence or phrase to introduce lists, tabulations, texts, etc. See lists, bulleted lists . LISTINGS : Use the colon in such listings as time elapsed ( 1:31:07.2 ), time of day ( 8:31 p.m. ), biblical and legal citations ( 2 Kings 2:14; Missouri Code 3:245-260 ). DIALOGUE : Use a colon for dialogue. In coverage of a trial, for example: Bailey: What were you doing the night of the 19th? Mason: I refuse to answer that. Q&A : The colon is used for question-and-answer interviews: Q: Did you strike him? A: Indeed I did. INTRODUCING QUOTATIONS : Use a comma to introduce a direct quotation of one sentence that remains within a paragraph. Use a colon to introduce long quotations within a paragraph and to end all paragraphs that introduce a paragraph of quoted material. PLACEMENT WITH QUOTATION MARKS : Colons go outside quotation marks unless they are part of the quotation itself. MISCELLANEOUS : Do not combine a dash and a colon.

sentences

Capitalize the first word of every sentence, including quoted statements and direct questions:

organizations and institutions

Capitalize the full names of organizations and institutions: the American Medical Association ; First Presbyterian Church ; General Motors Corp. ; Harvard University, Harvard University Medical School ; the Procrastinators Club ; the Society of Professional Journalists. Retain capitalization if Co. , Corp. or a similar word is deleted from the full proper name: General Motors . See company, companies ; corporation ; incorporated . SUBSIDIARIES : Capitalize the names of major subdivisions: the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors . INTERNAL SEE DEF FOR MORE

courtesy titles

Capitalize the full proper names of courts at all levels. Retain capitalization if U.S. or a state name is dropped: the U.S. Supreme Court , the Supreme Court , the state Superior Court , the Superior Court , Superior Court . For courts identified by a numeral: 2nd District Court , 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals . For additional details on federal courts, see judicial branch and separate listings under U.S. and the court name. See judge for guidelines on titles before the names of judges.

newspaper names

Capitalize the in a newspaper's name if that is the way the publication prefers to be known. Do not place name in quotes. Lowercase the before newspaper names if a story mentions several papers, some of which use the as part of the name and some of which do not. It is unnecessary to provide state identification for a newspaper cited in the body of a story if the newspaper is in the same state as the dateline. For example, a story datelined Newport, R.I., would reference the Providence Journal, not the Providence (Rhode Island) Journal. However, the state should be included and spelled out in the body of undated stories or stories datelined in other states. Where location is needed but is not part of the official name, use parentheses:

magazine names

Capitalize the initial letters of the name but do not place it in quotes. Lowercase magazine unless it is part of the publication's formal title: Harper's Magazine, Newsweek magazine, Time magazine. Check the masthead if in doubt.

months

Capitalize the names of months in all uses. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan. , Feb. , Aug. , Sept. , Oct. , Nov. and Dec. Spell out when using alone, or with a year alone. When a phrase lists only a month and a year, do not separate the year with commas. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with commas. EXAMPLES: January 2016 was a cold month. Jan. 2 was the coldest day of the month. His birthday is May 8. Feb. 14, 2013, was the target date. She testified that it was Friday, Dec. 3, when the crash occurred. In tabular material, use these three-letter forms without a period: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec .

historical periods and events

Capitalize the names of widely recognized epochs in anthropology, archaeology, geology and history: the Bronze Age, the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Pliocene Epoch . Capitalize also widely recognized popular names for the periods and events: the Atomic Age, the Boston Tea Party, the Civil War, the Exodus (of the Israelites from Egypt), the Great Depression, Prohibition . Lowercase century : the 18th century . Capitalize only the proper nouns or adjectives in general descriptions of a period: ancient Greece, classical Rome, the Victorian era, the fall of Rome . For additional guidance, see separate entries in this book for other epochs, events and historical periods. If this book has no entry, follow the capitalization in Webster's New World College Dictionary, using lowercase if the dictionary lists it as an acceptable form for the sense in which the word is used.

planets

Capitalize the proper names of planets. In order from the sun, they are Mercury , Venus , Earth , Mars , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus and Neptune . ( Pluto was redefined as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.) Capitalize Earth when used as the proper name of our planet: The astronauts returned to Earth. Capitalize nouns and adjectives derived from the proper names of planets: Martian , Venusian . But lowercase adjectives derived from other heavenly bodies: solar, lunar .

days of the week

Capitalize them. Do not abbreviate, except when needed in a tabular format: Sun , Mon , Tue , Wed , Thu , Fri , Sat (three letters, without periods, to facilitate tabular composition).

holidays and holy days

Capitalize them: New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Groundhog Day, Easter, Hanukkah , etc. King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. See individual entries for the official dates and when they are observed if they fall on a weekend. The designation of a day as a federal legal holiday means that federal employees receive the day off or are paid overtime if they must work. Other requirements that may apply to holidays generally are left to the states. Many follow the federal lead in designating a holiday, but they are not required to do so.

city council

Capitalize when part of a proper name: the Boston City Council. Retain capitalization if the reference is to a specific council but the context does not require the city name: BOSTON (AP) - The City Council ... Lowercase in other uses: the council, the Boston and New York councils, a city council. Use the proper name if the body is not known as a city council: the Miami City Commission, the City Commission, the commission, the Louisville Board of Aldermen, the Board of Aldermen, the board. Use city council in a generic sense for plural references: the Boston, Louisville and Miami city councils.

legislature

Capitalize when preceded by the name of a state: the Kansas Legislature . Retain capitalization when the state name is dropped but the reference is specifically to that state's legislature: TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Both houses of the Legislature adjourned today. Capitalize legislature in subsequent specific references and in such constructions as: the 100th Legislature , the state Legislature . If a given context or local practice calls for the use of a formal name such as Missouri General Assembly , retain the capital letters if the name of the state can be dropped, but lowercase the word assembly if it stands alone. Lowercase legislature if a story uses it in a subsequent reference to a body identified as a general assembly. Lowercase legislature when used generically: No legislature has approved the amendment. Use legislature in lowercase for all plural references: The Arkansas and Colorado legislatures are considering the amendment. In 49 states the separate bodies are a senate and a house or assembly . The Nebraska Legislature is a unicameral body. All members are senators .

House of Representatives

Capitalize when referring to a specific governmental body: the U.S. House of Representatives, the Massachusetts House of Representatives . Capitalize shortened references that delete the words of Representatives : the U.S. House, the Massachusetts House . Retain capitalization if U.S. or the name of a state is dropped but the reference is to a specific body. BOSTON (AP) The House has adjourned for the year. Lowercase plural uses: the Massachusetts and Rhode Island houses . Apply the same principle to similar legislative bodies such as the Virginia House of Delegates . See organizations and institutions for guidelines on how to handle the term when it is used by a nongovernmental body.

Gospel(s), gospel

Capitalize when referring to any or all of the first four books of the New Testament: the Gospel of St. John, the Gospels . Lowercase in other references: She is a famous gospel singer.

earth

Capitalize when used as the proper name of the planet, lowercase for other uses. The astronauts returned to Earth. He hopes to move heaven and earth. She is down-to-earth. The pattern applies to Mars, Jupiter, Earth, the sun and the moon.

supreme courts of the states

Capitalize with the state name ( the New Jersey Supreme Court ) and without the state name when the context makes it unnecessary: the state Supreme Court , the Supreme Court . If a court with this name is not a state's highest tribunal, the fact should be noted. In New York, for example, the Supreme Court is a trial court. Appeals are directed to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. The state's highest court is the Court of Appeals.

Bible

Capitalize, without quotation marks, when referring to the Scriptures in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Capitalize also related terms such as the Gospels, Gospel of St. Mark, the Scriptures, the Holy Scriptures. Lowercase biblical in all uses. Lowercase bible as a nonreligious term: My dictionary is my bible. Do not abbreviate individual books of the Bible. Old Testament is a Christian designation; Hebrew Bible or Jewish Bible is the appropriate term for stories dealing with Judaism alone. The standard names and order of Old Testament books as they appear in Protestant Bibles are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Jewish Bibles contain the same 39 books, in different order. Roman Catholic Bibles follow a different order, usually use some different names and include the seven Deuterocanonical books (called the Apocrypha by Protestants): Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch. The books of the New Testament, in order: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

complement, compliment

Complement is a noun and a verb denoting completeness or the process of supplementing something: The ship has a complement of 200 sailors and 20 officers. The tie complements his suit. Compliment is a noun or a verb that denotes praise or the expression of courtesy: The captain complimented the sailors. She was flattered by the compliments on her project.

compose, comprise, constitute

Compose means to create or put together . It commonly is used in both the active and passive voices: She composed a song. The United States is composed of 50 states. The zoo is composed of many animals. Comprise means to contain , to include all or embrace . It is best used only in the active voice, followed by a direct object: The United States comprises 50 states. The jury comprises five men and seven women. The zoo comprises many animals. Constitute , in the sense of form or make up , may be the best word if neither compose nor comprise seems to fit: Fifty states constitute the United States. Five men and seven women constitute the jury. A collection of animals can constitute a zoo. Use include when what follows is only part of the total: The price includes breakfast. The zoo includes lions and tigers.

damage, damages

Damage is destruction or loss: Authorities said the storm caused more than $1 billion in damage. Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc.: The woman received $25,000 in damages.

his, her

Do not presume maleness in constructing a sentence. Usually it is possible, and always preferable, to reword the sentence to avoid gender: Reporters try to protect their sources. If essential, the pronoun they may be used as a singular, with a plural verb: The Obama administration told public schools to grant bathroom access even if a student's gender identity isn't what's in their record. The official said they are afraid for their safety. Be sure the context makes clear that only one person is involved.

datelines

Datelines on stories should contain a city name, entirely in capital letters, followed in most cases by the name of the state, country or territory where the city is located. DOMESTIC DATELINES : A list of domestic cities that stand alone in datelines: ATLANTA BALTIMORE BOSTON CHICAGO CINCINNATI CLEVELAND Stories from all other U.S. cities should have both the city and state name in the dateline, including KANSAS CITY, Mo. , and KANSAS CITY, Kan . Spell out Alaska , Hawaii , Idaho , Iowa , Maine , Ohio , Texas and Utah . Abbreviate others as listed in this book under the full name of each state. Use Hawaii on all cities outside Honolulu. Specify the island in the text if needed. Follow the same practice for communities on islands within the boundaries of other states: EDGARTOWN, Mass. , for example, not EDGARTOWN, Martha's Vineyard . Use BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. It's an incorporated city and the dateline for the Golden Globes movie awards, sponsored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. STATE SERVICES : Additional cities in a state or region may stand alone. U.S. POSSESSIONS : Apply the guidelines listed below in the ISLAND NATIONS AND TERRITORIES section and the OVERSEAS TERRITORIES section. INTERNATIONAL DATELINES : These international locations stand alone in datelines: AMSTERDAM BAGHDAD BANGKOK In addition, use UNITED NATIONS alone, without a N.Y. designation, in stories from U.N. headquarters. BALKANS : With the independence of Montenegro from Serbia-Montenegro formalized in 2006, use a Montenegro- only dateline, such as PODGORICA, Montenegro . Stories originating in Serbia carry a Serbia-only dateline: BELGRADE, Serbia . With the independence of Kosovo in 2008, use Kosovo in the dateline, such as PRISTINA, Kosovo . CANADIAN DATELINES : Datelines on stories from Canadian cities other than Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto should contain the name of the city in capital letters followed by the name of the province. Do not abbreviate any province or territory name. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES : For cities in the former Soviet Union, datelines include city and republic name: ALMATY, Kazakhstan . OTHER NATIONS : Stories from other international cities that do not stand alone in datelines should contain the name of the country or territory (see the next section) spelled out. SPELLING AND CHOICE OF NAMES : In most cases, the name of the nation in a WITHIN STORIES : In citing other cities within the body of a story: No further information is necessary if a city is in the same state as the datelined city. Make an exception only if confusion would result. Follow the city name with further identification in most cases where it is not in the same state or nation as the dateline city. The additional identification may be omitted, however, if no confusion would result. For example, Boston stands alone without Massachusetts in a story datelined NEW YORK . Provide a state or nation identification for the city if the story has no dateline. However, cities that stand alone in datelines may be used alone in those stories if no confusion would result.

discreet, discrete

Discreet means prudent, circumspect : "I'm afraid I was not very discreet," she wrote. Discrete means detached, separate : There are four discrete sounds from a quadraphonic system.

disinterested, uninterested

Disinterested means impartial , which is usually the better word to convey the thought. Uninterested means that someone lacks interest.

route numbers

Do not abbreviate route . Use figures and capitalize route when used with a figure: U.S. Route 70, state Route 1A.

committee

Do not abbreviate. Capitalize when part of a formal name: the House Appropriations Committee . Do not capitalize committee in shortened versions of long committee names: The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee , for example, became the Senate banking committee.

animals

Do not apply a personal pronoun to an animal unless its sex has been established or the animal has a name: The dog was scared; it barked. Rover was scared; he barked. The cat, which was scared, ran to its basket. Susie the cat, who was scared, ran to her basket. The bull tosses his horns. Capitalize the name of a specific animal, and use Roman numerals to show sequence: Bowser, Whirlaway II. For breed names, follow the spelling and capitalization in Webster's New World College Dictionary. For breeds not listed in the dictionary, capitalize words derived from proper nouns; use lowercase elsewhere: basset hound, Boston terrier.

lady

Do not use as a synonym for woman . Lady may be used when it is a courtesy title or when a specific reference to fine manners is appropriate without patronizing overtones

input

Do not use as a verb in describing the introduction of data into a computer.

on

Do not use on before a date or day of the week when its absence would not lead to confusion, except at the beginning of a sentence: The meeting will be held Monday. He will be inaugurated Jan. 20. On Sept. 3, the committee will meet to discuss the issue. Use on to avoid an awkward juxtaposition of a date and a proper name: John met Mary on Monday. He told Obama on Thursday that the bill was doomed. Use on also to avoid any suggestion that a date is the object of a transitive verb: The House killed on Tuesday a bid to raise taxes. The Senate postponed on Wednesday its consideration of a bill to reduce import duties.

prison, jail

Do not use the two words interchangeably. DEFINITIONS : Prison is a generic term that may be applied to the maximum security institutions often known as penitentiaries and to the medium security facilities often called correctional institutions or reformatories . All such facilities usually confine people serving sentences for felonies. A jail is normally used to confine people serving sentences for misdemeanors, people awaiting trial or sentencing on either felony or misdemeanor charges, and people confined for civil matters such as failure to pay alimony and other types of contempt of court. See felony, misdemeanor . The guidelines for capitalization: PRISONS : Many states have given elaborate formal names to their prisons. They should be capitalized when used, but commonly accepted substitutes should also be capitalized as if they were proper names. For example, use either Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Walpole or Walpole State Prison for the maximum security institution in Massachusetts. Do not, however, construct a substitute when the formal name is commonly accepted: It is the Colorado State Penitentiary , for example, not Colorado State Prison . On second reference, any of the following may be used, all in lowercase: the state prison , the prison , the state penitentiary , the penitentiary . Use lowercase for all plural constructions: the Colorado and Kansas state penitentiaries . JAILS : Capitalize jail when linked with the name of the jurisdiction: Los Angeles County Jail . Lowercase county jail , city jail and jail when they stand alone

Xmas

Don't use this abbreviation for Christmas .

drunk, drunken

Drunk is the spelling of the adjective used after a form of the verb to be : He was drunk. Drunken is the spelling of the adjective used before nouns: a drunken driver , drunken driving . DUI , driving under the influence ; DWI , driving while intoxicated ; follow official state usage..

illegal immigration

Entering or residing in a country without authorization in violation of civil or criminal law. Except in direct quotes essential to the story, use illegal only to refer to an action, not a person: illegal immigration , but not illegal immigrant . Acceptable variations include living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission . Do not use the terms alien , an illegal , illegals or undocumented (except when quoting people or government documents that use these terms). Do not describe people as violating immigration laws without attribution. Specify wherever possible how someone entered the country illegally and from where. Crossed the border? Overstayed a visa? What nationality?

farther, further

Farther refers to physical distance: He walked farther into the woods. Further refers to an extension of time or degree: She will look further into the mystery.

faze, phase

Faze means to embarrass or disturb: The snub did not faze her. Phase denotes an aspect or stage: They will phase in a new system.

figuratively, literally

Figuratively means in an analogous sense , but not in the exact sense . He bled them white. Literally means in an exact sense; do not use it figuratively. Wrong: He literally bled them white. (Unless the blood was drained from their bodies.)

flier, flyer

Flyer is the preferred term for a person flying in an aircraft, and for handbills: He used his frequent flyer miles; they put up flyers announcing the show . Use flier in the phrase take a flier , meaning to take a big risk .

governmental bodies

Follow these guidelines: FULL NAME : Capitalize the full proper names of governmental agencies, departments and offices: The U.S. Department of State, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Boston City Council, the Chicago Fire Department . WITHOUT JURISDICTION : Retain capitalization in referring to a specific body if the dateline or context makes the name of the nation, state, county, city, etc. unnecessary: The Department of State (in a story from Washington), the Department of Human Resources or the state Department of Human Resources (in a story from Georgia), the City Council (in a story from Boston), the Fire Department or the city Fire Department (in a story from Chicago). Lowercase further condensations of the name: the department, the council , etc. For additional guidance see assembly ; city council ; committee ; Congress ; legislature ; House of Representatives ; Senate ; Supreme Court of the United States ; supreme courts of the states . FLIP-FLOPPED NAMES : Retain capital names for the name of a governmental body if its formal name is flopped to delete the word of : the State Department, the Human Resources Department . GENERIC EQUIVALENTS : If a generic term has become the equivalent of a proper name in popular use, treat it as a proper name: Walpole State Prison , for example, even though the proper name is the Massachusetts Correctional Institute-Walpole . For additional examples, see legislature ; police department ; prison, jail . PLURALS, NONSPECIFIC REFERENCES : All words that are capitalized when part of a proper name should be lowercased when they are used in the plural or do not refer to a specific, existing body. Some examples: All states except Nebraska have a state senate. The town does not have a fire department. The bill requires city councils to provide matching funds. The president will address the lower houses of the New York and New Jersey legislatures. NON-U.S. BODIES : The same principles apply. Capitalize the names of the specific governmental agencies and departments, either with the name of the nation or without it if clear in the context: French Foreign Ministry , the Foreign Ministry . Lowercase the ministry or a similar term when standing alone.

state names

Follow these guidelines: SPELL OUT : The names of the 50 U.S. states should be spelled out when used in the body of a story, whether standing alone or in conjunction with a city, town, village or military base. No state name is necessary if it is the same as the dateline. This also applies to newspapers cited in a story. For example, a story datelined Providence, R.I., would reference the Providence Journal , not the Providence (Rhode Island) Journal . See datelines . EIGHT NOT ABBREVIATED : The names of eight states are never abbreviated in datelines or text: Alaska , Hawaii , Idaho , Iowa , Maine , Ohio , Texas and Utah . Memory aid: Spell out the names of the two states that are not part of the contiguous United States and of the continental states that are five letters or fewer. IN THE BODY OF STORIES : Except for cities that stand alone in datelines, use the state name in textual material when the city or town is not in the same state as the dateline, or where necessary to avoid confusion: Springfield, Massachusetts , or Springfield, Illinois . Provide a state identification for the city if the story has no dateline, or if the city is not in the same state as the dateline. However, cities that stand alone in datelines may be used alone in stories that have no dateline if no confusion would result. ABBREVIATIONS REQUIRED : Use the state abbreviations listed at the end of this section: In conjunction with the name of a city, town, village or military base in most datelines. See datelines for examples and exceptions for large cities. In lists, agate, tabular material, nonpublishable editor's notes and credit lines. In short-form listings of party affiliation: D-Ala. , R-Mont. See party affiliation entry for details.

company names

For a company's formal name, consult the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. before Inc. or Ltd. , even if it is included in the formal name. You must include the full company name somewhere in the story. This ensures the story will be among the search results on major websites. The formal name need not be used on first reference for example, Costco is acceptable for Costco Wholesale Corp. but it should be contained in the body of any story in which the subject matter could affect a company's business. For example, include the corporate name in a story on an earnings report, or in a story on a plane crash that could affect the airline's stock price. However, the corporate name might be irrelevant in a story about a political candidate's appearance at a local retail store. If "The" is part of the formal company name it should be included. For example: The Walt Disney Co. Generally, follow the spelling preferred by the company, but capitalize the first letter of company names in all uses: e.g., Adidas , Lululemon . Exceptions include company names such as eBay , which have a capital letter elsewhere in the name. However, company names should always be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence. For corporate news, AP may use the legal name from the Securities and Exchange Commission filing rather than a company's preference. Do not use all-capital-letter names unless the letters are individually pronounced: BMW . Others should be uppercase and lowercase. Ikea , not IKEA ; USA Today , not USA TODAY . Do not use symbols such as exclamation points, plus signs or asterisks that form contrived spellings that might distract or confuse a reader. Use Yahoo , not Yahoo! ; Toys R Us , not Toys "R" Us ; E-Trade , not E*Trade . Use an ampersand only if it is part of the company's formal name, but not otherwise in place of and . Use the lowercase unless it is part of the company's formal name. Here are some major U.S. companies, listed alphabetically with ticker symbols and headquarters: 3M Co. (MMM) St. Paul, Minn. Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Abbott Park, Ill. Alcoa Corp. (AA) New York (One of two companies created in November 2016 when the former Alcoa Inc. was split into Alcoa Corp. and Arconic Inc.) The Allstate Corp. (ALL) Northbrook, Ill. Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) Mountain View, Calif. Altria Group Inc. (MO) Richmond, Va. Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) Seattle American Express Co. (AXP) New York American International Group Inc. (AIG) New York Amgen Inc. (AMGN) Thousand Oaks, Calif. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) The Woodlands, Texas Anthem Inc. (ANTM) Indianapolis (previously WellPoint Inc.) Apple Inc. (AAPL) Cupertino, Calif. Arconic Inc. (ARNC) Pittsburgh (One of two companies created in November 2016 when the former Alcoa Inc. was split into Alcoa Corp. and Arconic Inc.) AT&T Inc. (T) Dallas Bank of America Corp. (BAC) Charlotte, N.C. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) Omaha, Neb. Best Buy Co. (BBY) Richfield, Minn. Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) Cambridge, Mass. Boeing Co. (BA) Chicago Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) New York Carnival Corp. (CCL) Miami Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) Peoria, Ill. CBS Corp. (CBS) New York Chevron Corp. (CVX) San Ramon, Calif. etc.

foul, fowl

Foul means offensive, out of line. A fowl is a bird, especially the larger domestic birds used as food: chickens, ducks, turkeys.

accident, crash

Generally acceptable for automobile and other collisions and wrecks. However, when negligence is claimed for proven, avoid accident, which can be read by some as a term exonerating the person responsible. In such cases, use crash, collision or other terms.

girl

Generally acceptable to describe males or females younger than 18. While it is always inaccurate to call people under 18 men or women and people 18 and older boys or girls , be aware of nuances and unintentional implications. Referring to black males of any age and in any context as boys , for instance, can be perceived as demeaning and call to mind historical language used by some to address black men. Be specific about ages if possible, or refer to black youths , child , teen or similar.

fractions

Generally spell out amounts less than 1 in stories, using hyphens between the words: two-thirds , four-fifths , seven-sixteenths , etc. Use figures for precise amounts larger than 1, converting to decimals whenever practical. When using fractional characters, use a forward-slash mark (/): 1/8 , 1/4 , 5/16 , 9/10 , etc. For mixed numbers, use 1 1/2 , 2 5/8 , etc. with a full space between the whole number and the fraction. AP systems may automatically replace some fractions with single-character versions: 1/2 may be replaced by ½ . These can be left in the form the system changes them to. (You may also choose to set the options on your system so that these replacements are not made.)

media

Generally takes a plural verb, especially when the reference is to individual outlets: Media are lining up for and against the proposal . The word is often preceded by "the." Sometimes used with a singular verb when referring to media as a monolithic group: The media plays a major role in political campaigns.

good, well

Good is an adjective that means something is as it should be or is better than average. When used as an adjective, well means suitable, proper, healthy. When used as an adverb, well means in a satisfactory manner or skillfully. Good should not be used as an adverb. It does not lose its status as an adjective in a sentence such as I feel good. Such a statement is the idiomatic equivalent of I am in good health. An alternative, I feel well , could be interpreted as meaning that your sense of touch is good.

grisly, grizzly

Grisly is horrifying, repugnant. Grizzly means grayish or is a short form for grizzly bear .

homicide, murder, manslaughter

Homicide is a legal term for slaying or killing. Murder is malicious, premeditated homicide. Some states define certain homicides as murder if the killing occurs in the course of armed robbery, rape, etc. Generally speaking, manslaughter is homicide without malice or premeditation. A homicide should not be described as murder unless a person has been convicted of that charge. Do not say that a victim was murdered until someone has been convicted in court. Instead, say that a victim was killed or slain . Do not write that X was charged with murdering Y. Use the formal charge murder and, if not already in the story, specify the nature of the killing - shooting, stabbing, beating, poisoning, drowning, etc.: Jones was charged with murder in the shooting of his girlfriend. Examples: An officer pulled over 29-year-old John White, who was arrested and charged with murder, according to Andrew Johnson, the county sheriff's spokesman. The 66-year-old amateur photographer has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the slaying of four women. The killings occurred between 1977 and 1979. Prosecutors say Adams raped, tortured and robbed some of them before killing them. Cook County Sheriff James Jones says a shooting that left a man and a woman dead appears to be a murder-suicide.

each other, one another

Two people look at each other . More than two look at one another . Either phrase may be used when the number is indefinite: We help each other. We help one another

hyphen (entry is in the Punctuation Guide

Hyphens are joiners. Use them to avoid ambiguity or to form a single idea from two or more words. Use of the hyphen is far from standardized. It is optional in most cases, a matter of taste, judgment and style sense. But the fewer hyphens the better; use them only when not using them causes confusion ( loose-knit group , but tax code changes ). Think of hyphens as an aid to readers' comprehension. If a hyphen makes the meaning clearer, use it. If it just adds clutter and distraction to the sentence, don't use it. If the sheer number of hyphens in a phrase, or confusion about how to use them, can daunt either the writer or the reader, try rephrasing. It's a guide about how to use hyphens wisely , not it's a how-to-use-hyphens-wisely guide . These guidelines include changes in 2019, most notably removal of the requirement to hyphenate most compound modifiers after versions of the verb to be . In addition, see individual entries in this book and in Webster's New World College Dictionary. AVOID AMBIGUITY: Use a hyphen whenever ambiguity would result if it were omitted. See COMPOUND MODIFIERS section for details. Also: He recovered his health. He re-covered the leaky roof. The story is a re-creation. The park is for recreation. COMPOUND MODIFIERS: When a compound modifier two or more words that express a single concept precedes a noun, you must decide: Hyphenate that modifier, or not? Often there's not one absolute answer. But in general: No hyphen is needed if the modifier is commonly recognized as one phrase, and if the meaning is clear and unambiguous without the hyphen. Examples include third grade teacher, chocolate chip cookie, early morning traffic, special effects embellishment, climate change report, public land management, first quarter touchdown, real estate transaction . Do use a hyphen if it's needed to make the meaning clear and avoid unintended meanings: small-business owner, better-qualified candidate, little-known song, French-speaking people, free-thinking philosophy, loose-knit group . (Think of the different possible meanings or confusion if the hyphen is removed in each of those examples.) Often, arguments for or against a hyphen could be made either way. Is the term alternative rock playlist clear without the hyphen, or could it be read as a rock playlist that is an alternative to another playlist ? Again, try to judge what is most clear and logical to the average reader. Also, consult Webster's New World College Dictionary. In this case, the dictionary recognizes alternative rock as a phrase. Thus: alternative rock playlist , no hyphen. Hyphenate well-combinations before a noun, but not after: a well-known judge , but the judge is well known . Generally, also use a hyphen in modifiers of three or more words: a know-it-all attitude, black-and-white photography, a sink-or-swim moment, a win-at-all-costs approach . Consider carefully, though, before deciding to use more than three modifiers. No hyphen is needed to link a two-word phrase that includes the adverb very and all adverbs ending in ly : a very good time, an easily remembered rule . Many combinations that are hyphenated before a noun are ..... SEE CHAPTER FOR REST

academic degrees

If mention of degrees is necessary to establish someone's credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use instead a phrase such as: John Jones, who as a doctorate in psychology. Use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree, master's, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. Also: an associate degree (no possessive). Use such abbreviations as B.A., M.A., LL.D. and Ph.D. only when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. Use these abbreviations only after a full name - never after just a last name. When used after a name, an academic abbreviation is set off by commas: John Snow, Ph.D., spoke. Do not precede a name with a courtesy title for an academic degree and follow it with the abbreviation for the degree in the same reference.

impasse, impassible, impassive

Impassable means that passage is impossible: The bridge was impassable. Impassible and impassive describe lack of sensitivity to pain or suffering. Webster's New World College Dictionary notes, however, that impassible suggests an inability to be affected, while impassive implies only that no reaction was noticeable: She was impassive throughout the ordeal.

innocent, not guilty

In court cases, plea situations and trials, not guilty is preferable to innocent , because it is more precise legally. (However, special care must be taken to prevent omission of the word not .) When possible, say a defendant was acquitted of criminal charges.

capitalization

In general, avoid unnecessary capitals. Use a capital letter only if you can justify it by one of the principles listed here. Many words and phrases, including special cases, are listed separately in this book. Entries that are capitalized without further comment should be capitalized in all uses. If there is no relevant listing in this book for a particular word, consult Webster's New World College Dictionary. Use lowercase if the dictionary lists it as an acceptable form for the sense in which the word is being used. As used in this book, capitalize means to use uppercase for the first letter of a word. If additional capital letters are needed, they are called for by an example or a phrase such as use all caps. Some basic principles: PROPER NOUNS: Capitalize nouns that constitute the unique identification for a specific person, place, or thing: John, Mary, America, Boston, England. Some words, such as the examples just given, are always proper nouns. Some common nouns receive proper noun status when they are used as the name of a particular entity: General Electric, Gulf Oil. PROPER NAMES: Capitalize common nouns such as party, river, street, and west when they are an integral part of the full name for a person, place or thing: Democratic Party, Mississippi River, Fleet Street, West Virginia. Lowercase these common nouns when they stand alone in subsequent references: the party, the river, the street. Lowercase the common noun elements of names in plural uses: The Democratic and Republican parties, Main and State streets, lakes Erie and Ontario. Exception: plurals of formal titles with full names are capitalized: Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald R. Ford. Among entries that provide additional guidelines are: animals, brand names, building, committee, Congress, datelines, days of the week, directions and regions, family names, food, geographic names, governmental bodies, heavenly bodies, historical periods and events, holidays and holy days, legislature, months, monuments, nationalities and races, nicknames, organizations and institutions, planets, plants, police department, religious references, seasons, trademarks, unions. POPULAR NAMES: Some places and events lack officially designated proper names but have popular names that are the effective equivalent: the Combat Zone (a section of downtown Boston), the Main Line (a group of Philadelphia suburbs), the South Side (of Chicago), the Badlands (of South Dakota), the Street (the financial community in the Wall Street area of New York). The principle applies also to shortened versions of the proper names of one-of-a-kind events: the Series (for the World Series), the Derby (for the Kentucky Derby). This practice should not, however, be interpreted as a license to ignore the general practice of lowercasing the common noun elements of a name when they stand alone. DERIVATIVES: Capitalize words that are derived from a proper noun and still depend on it for their meaning: American, Christian, Christianity, English, French, Marxism, Shakespearean. Lowercase words that are derived from a proper noun but no longer depend on it for their meaning: french fries, herculean, malapropism, pasteurize, quixotic, venetian blind. SENTENCES: Capitalize the first word in a statement that stands as a sentence. See sentences and parentheses. In poetry, capital letters are used for the first words of some phrases that would not be capitalized in prose. See poetry. COMPOSITIONS: Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio and television programs, words of art, etc. See composition titles, magazine names and newspaper names. TITLES: Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before a name. Lowercase formal titles when used alone or in constructions that set them off from a name by commas. Use lowercase at all times for terms that are job descriptions rather than formal titles. See academic titles, courtesy titles, legislative titles, military titles, nobility, religious titles and titles. ABBREVIATIONS: Capital letters apply in some cases. See abbreviations and acronyms.

children

In general, call children 15 or younger by their first name on second reference. Use the last name, however, if the seriousness of the story calls for it, as in a murder case, for example. For ages 16 and 17, use judgment, but generally go with the surname unless it's a light story. Use the surname for those 18 and older

titles

In general, confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual's name. SEE DEF FOR REST

directions and regions

In general, lowercase north , south , northeast , northern , etc., when they indicate compass direction; capitalize these words when they designate regions. Some examples: COMPASS DIRECTIONS : He drove west. The cold front is moving east. REGIONS : A storm system that developed in the Midwest is spreading eastward. It will bring showers to the East Coast by morning and to the entire Northeast by late in the day. Showers and thunderstorms were forecast in the Texas Panhandle. High temperatures will prevail throughout leaders met to talk about supplies of oil from Southeast Asia. WITH NAMES OF NATIONS : Lowercase unless they are part of a proper name or are used to designate a politically divided nation: northern France , eastern Canada , the western United States . But: Northern Ireland , South Korea . WITH STATES AND CITIES : The preferred form is to lowercase directional or area descriptions when referring to a section of a state or city: western Montana , southern Atlanta . But capitalize compass points: When part of a proper name: North Dakota , West Virginia . When used in denoting widely known sections: Southern with another common noun to form the name for a region or location: the North Woods , the South Pole , the Far East , the Middle East , the West Coast (the entire region, not the coastline itself see coast ), the Eastern Shore (see separate entry), the Western Hemisphere .

numerals (includes Roman numerals, Ordinals, and Cardinal Numbers)

In general, spell out one through nine: The Yankees finished second. He had nine months to go. Use figures for 10 or above and whenever preceding a unit of measure or referring to ages of people, animals, events or things. Also in all tabular matter, and in statistical and sequential forms. -Numbers used in counting or showing how many (2, 40, 627, etc.) are called cardinal numbers. The following separate entries provide additional guidance for cardinal numbers: amendments to the Constitution channel court names decades election returns fleet formula latitude and longitude mile parallels proportions serial numbers telephone numbers weights -Numbers used to indicate order (first, second, 10th, 25th, etc.) are called ordinal numbers. Spell out first through ninth: fourth grade, first base, the First Amendment, he was first in line . Use figures starting with 10th. -Roman Numerals They may be used for wars and to establish personal sequence for people and animals: World War I, Native Dancer II, King George V . Also for certain legislative acts ( Title IX ). Otherwise, use sparingly. Pro football Super Bowls should be identified by the year, rather than the Roman numerals: 1969 Super Bowl , not Super Bowl III .

ellipsis (...) (entry is in the Punctuation Guide)

In general, treat an ellipsis as a three-letter word, constructed with three periods and two spaces, as shown here. Use an ellipsis to indicate the deletion of one or more words in condensing quotes, texts and documents. Be especially careful to avoid deletions that would distort the meaning. An ellipsis also may be used to indicate a thought that the speaker or writer does not complete. Substitute a dash for this purpose, however, if the context uses ellipses to indicate that words actually spoken or written have been deleted. Brief examples of how to use ellipses are provided after guidelines are given. More extensive examples, drawn from the speech in which President Richard Nixon announced his resignation, are in the sections below marked CONDENSATION EXAMPLE and QUOTATIONS . PUNCTUATION GUIDELINES : If the words that precede an ellipsis constitute a grammatically complete sentence, either in the original or in the condensation, place a period at the end of the last word before the ellipsis. Follow it with a regular space and an ellipsis: I no longer have a strong enough political base. ... When the grammatical sense calls for a question mark, exclamation point, comma or colon, the sequence is word, punctuation mark, regular space, ellipsis: Will you come? ... When material is deleted at the end of one paragraph and at the beginning of the one that follows, place an ellipsis in both locations. CONDENSATION EXAMPLE : Here is an example of how the spacing and punctuation guidelines would be applied in condensing President Richard Nixon's resignation announcement: Good evening. ... In all the decisions I have made in my public life, I have always tried to do what was best for the nation. ... ... However, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in ... Congress. ... As long as there was ... a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutional process through to its conclusion, that to do otherwise would be ... a dangerously destabilizing precedent for the future. QUOTATIONS : In writing a story, to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base," Nixon said. Not "... it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base ... ," Nixon said. SPECIAL EFFECTS : Ellipses also may be used to separate individual items within a paragraph of show business gossip or similar material. Use periods after items that are complete sentences.

fewer, less

In general, use fewer for individual items, less for bulk or quantity. Wrong: The trend is toward more machines and less people. (People in this sense refers to individuals.) Wrong: She was fewer than 60 years old. (Years in this sense refers to a period of time, not individual years.) Right: Fewer than 10 applicants called. (Individuals.) Right: I had less than $50 in my pocket. (An amount.) But: I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket. (Individual items.) Fez The preferred spelling for the city in Morocco.

names

In general, use only last names on second reference. When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, generally use the first and last name on subsequent references. Generally use the name a person prefers: Thomas or Tom , depending on preference; Martine McCarthy Chang may prefer McCarthy Chang or Chang on second reference. If an individual requests it, a public name rather than a real name may be used for a political dissident, or a nom de guerre for a rebel leader, if the person's safety is an issue. In general, call children 15 or younger by their first name on second reference. Use the last name, however, if the seriousness of the story calls for it, as in a murder case, for example. For ages 16 and 17, use judgment, but generally go with the surname unless it's a light story. Use the surname for those 18 and older.

parentheses (entry is in the Punctuation Guide)

In general, use parentheses around logos, but otherwise be sparing with them. Parentheses are jarring to the reader. Because they do not appear on some news service printers, there is also the danger that material inside them may be misinterpreted. The temptation to use parentheses is a clue that a sentence is becoming contorted. Try to write it another way. If a sentence must contain incidental material, then commas or two dashes are frequently more effective. Use these alternatives whenever possible. There are occasions, however, when parentheses are the only effective means of inserting necessary background or reference information. When they are necessary, follow these guidelines:

semicolon (;) (entry is in the Punctuation Guide)

In general, use the semicolon to indicate a greater separation of thought and information than a comma can convey but less than the separation that a period implies.

in, into

In indicates location: He was in the room. Into indicates motion: She walked into the room.

indiscreet, indiscrete

Indiscreet means lacking prudence. Its noun form is indiscretion . Indiscrete means not separated into distinct parts. Its noun form is indiscreteness .

unique

It means one of a kind. Do not describe something as rather unique , most unique or very unique

rarely

It means seldom . Rarely ever is redundant, but rarely if ever often is the appropriate phrase.

it's, its

It's is a contraction for it is or it has : It's up to you. It's been a long time. Its is the possessive form of the neuter pronoun: The company lost its assets.

latitude and longitude

Latitude , the distance north or south of the equator, is designated by parallels. Longitude , the distance east or west of Greenwich, England, is designated by meridians. Use these forms to express degrees of latitude and longitude: New York City lies at 40 degrees 45 minutes north latitude and 74 degrees 0 minutes west longitude ; New York City lies south of the 41st parallel north and along the 74th meridian west .

seasons

Lowercase spring , summer , fall , winter and derivatives such as springtime unless part of a formal name: Dartmouth Winter Carnival , Winter Olympics , Summer Olympics .

coast

Lowercase when referring to the physical shoreline: Atlantic coast, Pacific coast, east coast. Capitalize when referring to regions of the United States lying along such shorelines: the Atlantic Coast, a Gulf Coast city, the West Coast, the East Coast. Do not capitalize when referring to smaller regions: the Virginia coast. Capitalize the Coast when standing alone only if the reference is to the West Coast.

a.m., p.m.

Lowercase, with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.

majority, plurality

Majority means more than half of an amount. Plurality means more than the next highest number. COMPUTING MAJORITY : To describe how large a majority is, take the figure that is more than half and subtract everything else from it: If 100,000 votes were cast in an election and one candidate received 60,000 while opponents received 40,000, the winner would have a majority of 20,000 votes. COMPUTING PLURALITY : To describe how large a plurality is, take the highest number and subtract from it the next highest number: If, in the election example above, the second-place finisher had 25,000 votes, the winner's plurality would be 35,000 votes. Suppose, however, that no candidate in this example had a majority. If the first-place finisher had 40,000 votes and the second-place finisher had 30,000, for example, the leader's plurality would be 10,000 votes. USAGE : When majority and plurality are used alone, they take singular verbs and pronouns: The majority has made its decision. If a plural word follows an of construction, the decision on whether to use a singular or plural verb depends on the sense of the sentence: A majority of two votes is not adequate to control the committee. The majority of the houses on the block were destroyed.

port, starboard

Nautical for left and right (when facing the bow, or forward). Port is left. Starboard is right. Change to left or right unless in direct quotes.

building

Never abbreviate. Capitalize the proper names of buildings, including the word building if it is an integral part of the proper name: the Empire State Building.

all right

Never alright. Hyphenate only if used colloquially as a compound modifier: He is an all-right guy.

quotation marks (entry is in the Punctuation Guide)

Never alter quotations even to correct minor grammatical errors or word usage. Casual minor tongue slips may be removed by using ellipses but even that should be done with extreme caution.

USA

No periods in the abbreviated form for United States of America .

adviser

Not advisor.

afterward

Not afterwards.

forward

Not forwards

recur, recurred, recurring

Not reoccur .

daylight saving time

Not savings . No hyphen. When linking the term with the name of a time zone, use only the word daylight : Eastern Daylight Time , Pacific Daylight Time , etc. Lowercase daylight saving time in all uses and daylight time whenever it stands alone. A federal law specifies that daylight time applies from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November in areas that do not specifically exempt themselves.

collective nouns

Nouns that denote a unit take singular verbs and pronouns: class, committee, crowd, family, group, herd, jury, orchestra, team. Some usage examples: The committee is meeting to set its agenda. The jury reached its verdict. A herd of cattle was sold. Team names and musical group names that are plural take plural verbs. The Yankees are in first place. The Jonas Brothers are popular. Team or group names with no plural forms also take plural verbs: The Miami Heat are battling for third place. Other examples: Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz. Many singular names take singular verbs: Coldplay is on tour. Boston is favored in the playoffs. Stanford is in the NCAA Tournament. But some proper names that are plural in form take a singular verb: Brooks Brothers is holding a sale. PLURAL IN FORM: Some words that are plural in form become collective nouns and take singular verbs when the group or quantity is regarded as a unit. Right: A thousand bushels is a good yield. (A unit.) Right: A thousand bushels were created. (Individual items.) Right: The data is sound. (A unit.) Right: The data have been carefully collected. (Individual items.)

hang, hanged, hung

One hangs a picture, a criminal or oneself. For past tense or the passive, use hanged when referring to executions or suicides, hung for other actions.

emigrate, immigrate

One who leaves a country emigrates from it. One who comes into a country immigrates . The same principle holds for emigrant and immigrant

underway

One word in all uses .

raised, reared

Only humans may be reared . All living things, including humans, may be raised .

principal, principle

Principal is a noun and adjective meaning someone or something first in rank, authority, importance or degree: She is the school principal. He was the principal player in the trade. Money is the principal problem. Principle is a noun that means a fundamental truth, law, doctrine or motivating force: They fought for the principle of self-determination. In a business context, principal refers to the amount of money that is borrowed in a loan, as distinct from interest that is paid.

rebut, refute

Rebut means to argue to the contrary : He rebutted his opponent's statement. Refute connotes success in argument and almost always implies an editorial judgment. Instead, use deny, dispute, rebut or respond to .

refugee, migrant

Refugees are people forced to leave their home or country to escape war, persecution or natural disaster. Migrants normally are people who move from place to place for temporary work or economic advantage.

cents

Spell out the word cents and lowercase, using numerals for amounts less than a dollar: 5 cents, 12 cents. Use the $ sign and decimal system for larger amounts: $1.01, $2.50.

U.S.

The abbreviation is acceptable as a noun or adjective for United States . In headlines, it's US (no periods).

lay, lie

The action word is lay . It takes a direct object. Laid is the form for its past tense and its past participle. Its present participle is laying . Lie also has various other meanings, including to recline, to be situated or to exist. It does not take a direct object. Its past tense is lay . Its past participle is lain . Its present participle is lying . When lie means to make an untrue statement, the verb forms are lie , lied , lying . Some examples: PRESENT OR Right: I will lay the book on the table. The prosecutor tried to lay the blame on him. Wrong: He lays on the beach all day. I will lay down. Right: He lies on the beach all day. I will lie down. The village lies beyond the hills. The answer lies in the stars. IN THE PAST TENSE : Right: I laid the book on the table. The prosecutor has laid the blame on him. Right: He lay on the beach all day. He has lain on the beach all day. I lay down. I have lain down. The secret lay in the fermentation process. WITH THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE : Right: I am laying the book on the table. The prosecutor is laying the blame on him. Right: He is lying on the beach. I am lying down.

capital

The city where a seat of government is located. Do not capitalize. When used in a financial sense, capital describes money, equipment or property used in a business by a person or corporation.

impeachment

The constitutional process accusing an elected official of a crime in an attempt to remove the official from office. Do not use as a synonym for conviction or removal from office .

comma (entry is in the Punctuation Guide)

The following guidelines treat some of the most frequent questions about the use of commas. Additional guidelines on specialized uses are provided in separate entries such as dates and scores . As with all punctuation, clarity is the biggest rule. If a comma does not help make clear what is being said, it should not be there. If omitting a comma could lead to confusion or misinterpretation, then use the comma. For detailed guidance, consult the punctuation section in the back of Webster's New World College Dictionary. IN A SERIES : Use commas to separate elements in a series, but do not put a comma before the conjunction in most simple series: The flag is red, white and blue. He would nominate Tom, Dick, Harry or Jeannette. Include a final comma in a simple series if omitting it could make the meaning unclear. The governor convened his most trusted advisers, economist Olivia Schneider and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If Schneider and Torres are his most trusted advisers, don't use the final comma.) The governor convened his most trusted advisers, economist Olivia Schneider, and polling expert Carlton Torres. (If the governor is convening unidentified advisers plus Schneider and Torres, the final comma is needed.) Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast. Use a comma also before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases: The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude. See dash and semicolon for cases when elements of a series contain internal commas. WITH EQUAL ADJECTIVES : Use commas to separate a series of adjectives equal in rank. If the commas could be replaced by the word and without changing the sense, the adjectives are equal: a thoughtful, precise manner; a dark, dangerous street . Use no comma when the last adjective before a noun outranks its predecessors because it is an integral element of a noun phrase, which is the equivalent of a single noun: a cheap fur coat (the noun phrase is fur coat ); the old oaken bucket; a new, blue spring bonnet . WITH NONESSENTIAL CLAUSES : A nonessential clause must be set off by commas. An essential clause must not be set off from the rest of a sentence by commas. See essential clauses, nonessential clauses in the main section. WITH NONESSENTIAL PHRASES : A nonessential phrase must be set off by commas. An essential phrase must not be set off from the rest of a sentence by commas. See essential phrases, main section. WITH INTRODUCTORY CLAUSES AND PHRASES : A comma is used to separate an introductory clause or phrase from the main clause: When he had tired of the mad pace of New York, he moved to Dubuque. The comma may be omitted after short introductory phrases if no ambiguity would result: During the night he heard many noises. But use the comma if its omission would slow comprehension: On the street below, the curious gathered. WITH CONJUNCTIONS : When a conjunction such as and, but or for links two clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences, use a comma before the conjunction in most cases: She was glad she had looked, for a man was approaching the house. As a rule of thumb, use a comma if the subject of each clause is expressly stated: We are visiting Washington, and we also..The comma may be dropped if two clauses with expressly stated subjects are short. In general, however, favor use of a comma unless a particular literary effect is desired or if it would distort the sense of a sentence. INTRODUCING DIRECT QUOTES : Use a comma to introduce a complete one-sentence quotation within a paragraph: Wallace said, "She spent six months in Argentina and came back speaking English with a Spanish accent." But use a colon to introduce quotations of more than one sentence. See colon . Do not use a comma at the start of an indirect or partial quotation: He said the victory put him "firmly on the road to a first-ballot nomination." BEFORE ATTRIBUTION : Use a comma instead of a period at the end of a quote that is followed by attribution: "Write clearly and concisely," she said. Do not use a comma, however, if the quoted statement ends with a question mark or exclamation point: "Why should I?" he asked. WITH HOMETOWNS AND AGES : Use a comma to set off an individual's hometown when it is placed in apposition to a name (whether of is used or not): Mary Richards, Minneapolis, and Maude Findlay, Tuckahoe, New York, were there. If an individual's age is used, set it off by commas: Maude Findlay, 48, Tuckahoe, New York, was present. WITH PARTY AFFILIATION, ACADEMIC DEGREES, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS : See separate entries under each of these terms. NAMES OF STATES AND NATIONS USED WITH CITY NAMES : His journey will take him from Dublin, Ireland, to Fargo, North Dakota, and back. The Selma, Alabama, group saw the governor. Use parentheses, however, if a state name is inserted within a proper name: The Huntsville (Alabama) Times . WITH YES AND NO : Yes, I will be there. IN DIRECT ADDRESS : Mother, I will be home late. No, sir, I did not take it. SEPARATING SIMILAR WORDS : Use a comma to separate duplicated words that otherwise would be confusing: What the problem is, is not clear. IN LARGE FIGURES : Use a comma for most figures greater than 999. The major exceptions are street addresses ( 1234 Main St. ), broadcast frequencies ( 1460 kilohertz ), room numbers, serial numbers, telephone numbers, and years ( 1876 ). See separate entries under these headings. PLACEMENT WITH QUOTES : Commas always go inside quotation marks. WITH FULL DATES : When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma: Feb. 14, 2020, is the target date . See semicolon .

reign, rein

The leather strap for controlling a horse is a rein , hence figuratively: seize the reins, give free rein to . Reign is the period a ruler is on the throne: The king began his reign.

among, between

The maxim that between introduces two items and among introduces more than two covers most questions about how to use these words: The funds were divided among Ford, Carter and McCarthy. However, between is the correct word when expression the relationships of three or more items considered one pair at a time. As with all prepositions, any pronouns that follow these words must be in the objective case: among us, between him and her, between you and me.

either...or, neither...nor

The nouns that follow these words do not constitute a compound subject; they are alternate subjects and require a verb that agrees with the nearer subject: Neither they nor he is going. Neither he nor they are going.

broadcast

The paste tense also is broadcast, not broadcasted.

Fahrenheit

The temperature scale commonly used in the United States. The scale is named for Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, a German physicist who designed it. In it, the freezing point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point is 212 degrees.

pardon, parole, probation

The terms often are confused, but each has a specific meaning. Do not use them interchangeably. A pardon forgives and releases a person from further punishment. It is granted by a chief of state or a governor. By itself, it does not expunge a record of conviction, if one exists, and it does not by itself restore civil rights. A general pardon , usually for political offenses, is called amnesty . Parole is the release of a prisoner before the sentence has expired, on condition of good behavior. It is granted by a parole board, part of the executive branch of government, and can be revoked only by the board. Probation is the suspension of sentence for a person convicted, but not yet imprisoned, on condition of good behavior. It is imposed and revoked only by a judge.

pore, pour

The verb pore means to gaze intently or steadily: She pored over her books. The verb pour means to flow in a continuous stream: It poured rain. He poured the coffee.

carat, caret, karat

The weight of precious stones, especially diamonds, is expressed in carats. A carat is equal to 200 milligrams or about 3 grains. A caret is a writer's and proofreader's mark. The proportion of pure gold used with an alloy is expressed in karats.

allege

The word must be used with great care. Some guidelines: • Avoid any suggestion that the writer is making an allegation. • Specify the source of an allegation. In a criminal case, it should be an arrest record, an indictment or the statement of a public official connected with the case. • Use alleged bribe or similar phrase when necessary to make it clear that an unproven action is not being treated as fact. Be sure that the source of the charge is specified elsewhere in the story. • Avoid, where possible, alleged victim. It is too easily construed as skepticism of a victim's account. • Avoid redundant uses of alleged. It is proper to say: The district attorney alleged that she took a bribe. Or: The district attorney accused her of taking a bribe. But not: The district attorney accused her of allegedly taking a bribe. • Do not use alleged to describe an event that is known to have occurred, when the dispute is over who participated in it. Do not say: He attended the alleged meeting when what you mean is: he allegedly attended the meeting. • Do not use alleged as a routine qualifier. Instead, use a word such as apparent, ostensible or

jury

The word takes singular verbs and pronouns: The jury has been sequestered until it reaches a verdict. Include racial and gender breakdown only if relevant. Do not capitalize: a U.S. District Court jury , a federal jury , a Massachusetts Superior Court jury , a Los Angeles County grand jury .

essential clauses, nonessential clauses

These terms are used in this book instead of restrictive clause and nonrestrictive clause to convey the distinction between the two in a more easily remembered manner. Both types of clauses provide additional information about a word or phrase in the sentence. The difference between them is that the essential clause cannot be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence it so restricts the meaning of the word or phrase that its absence would lead to a substantially different interpretation of what the author meant. The nonessential clause , however, can be eliminated without altering the basic meaning of the sentence it does not restrict the meaning so significantly that its absence would radically alter the author's thought. PUNCTUATION : An essential clause must not be set off from the rest of a sentence by commas. A nonessential clause must be set off by commas. The presence or absence of commas provides the reader with critical information about the writer's intended meaning. Note the following examples: Reporters who do not read the Stylebook should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that only one class of reporters, those who do not read the Stylebook, should not criticize their editors. If the who ... Stylebook phrase were deleted, the meaning of the sentence would be changed substantially.) Reporters, who do not read the Stylebook, should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that all reporters should not criticize their editors. If the who ... Stylebook phrase were deleted, this meaning would not be changed.) USE OF WHO, WHOM, THAT, WHICH. See separate entries on that (conjunction) ; that, which (pronouns) ; who, whom . That is the preferred pronoun to introduce essential clauses that refer to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. Which is the only acceptable pronoun to introduce a nonessential clause that refers to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. The pronoun which occasionally may be substituted for that in the introduction of an essential clause that refers to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. In general, this use of which should appear only when that is used as a conjunction to introduce another clause in the same sentence: He said Monday that the part of the army which suffered severe casualties needs reinforcement.

admit, admitted

These words may in some contexts give the erroneous connotations of wrongdoing. A person who acknowledges that he is a recovering alcoholic, for example, is not admitting it. Said is usually sufficient.

every one, everyone

Two words when it means each individual item: Every one of the clues was worthless. One word when used as a pronoun meaning all persons: Everyone wants their life to be happy. (Don't use his with everyone; it presumes maleness. They/them/their may be used as singular in such constructions if essential, but rewriting is preferred: All people want their lives to be happy. )

allude, refer

To allude to something is to speak of it without specifically mentioning it. To refer is to mention it directly.

arrest

To avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as arrested for killing. Instead, use arrested on a charge of killing. If a charge hasn't been filed, arrested on suspicion of, or a similar phrase, should be used.

differ from, differ with

To differ from means to be unlike. To differ with means to disagree.

execute

To execute a person is to kill that person in compliance with a military order or judicial decision.

flaunt, flout

To flaunt is to make an ostentatious or defiant display: She flaunted her intelligence. To flout is to show contempt for: He flouts the law.

rifle, riffle

To rifle is to plunder or steal. To riffle is to leaf rapidly through a book or pile of papers.

stationary, stationery

To stand still is to be stationary . Writing paper is stationery .

military units

Use Arabic figures and capitalize the key words when linked with the figures: 1st Infantry Division (or the 1st Division ), 5th Battalion , 395th Field Artillery , 7th Fleet . But: the division , the battalion , the artillery , the fleet

decades

Use Arabic figures to indicate decades of history. Use an apostrophe to indicate numerals that are left out; show plural by adding the letter s : the 1890s , the '90s , the Gay '90s , the 1920s , the mid-1930s .

amendments to the Constitution

Use First Amendment, 10th Amendment, etc. Colloquial references to the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination are best avoided, but where appropriate: He took the Fifth seven times.

legislative titles

Use Rep. , Reps. , Sen. and Sens. as formal titles before one or more names. Spell out and lowercase representative and senator in other uses. Spell out other legislative titles in all uses. Capitalize formal titles such as assemblyman , assemblywoman , city councilor , delegate , etc., when they are used before a name. Lowercase in other uses. Add U.S. or state before a title only if necessary to avoid confusion: Former state attorney general Dan Sullivan, a Republican, defeated U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat from Alaska, during the 2014 general election. In stories with international datelines, include U.S. before legislative titles. SEE CHAPTER FOR MORE

aircraft names

Use a hyphen when changing from letters to figures; no hyphen when adding a letter after figures. Some examples of aircraft: B-1, C-5A, FH-227, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Falcon, MiG-29, Tu-154, Il-96, Boeing 737-800, 747, 747B. Airbus A380 (no hyphen) and A380F (no hyphen) are exceptions. This hyphenation principle is the one used most frequently by manufacturers and users. Apply it in all cases for consistency. For other elements of a name, use the form adopted by the manufacturer or user. If in doubt, consult HIS Jane's All the World's Aircraft. NO QUOTES: Do not use quotation marks for aircraft with names: Air Force One, the Spirit of St. Louis. AVOID PROMOTIONAL NAMES: Boeing 787, not Dreamliner PLURALS: 747s. But: 747B's. (As noted in plurals, the apostrophe is used in forming the plural of a single letter.) SEQUENCE: Use Arabic figures to establish the sequence of aircraft, spacecraft and missiles: Apollo 10. Do not use hyphens.

demolish, destroy

Use a period and numerals to indicate decimal amounts. Decimalization should not exceed two places in textual material unless there are special circumstances. For amounts less than 1, use the numeral zero before the decimal

ZIP code

Use all-caps ZIP for Zone Improvement Plan , but always lowercase the word code . Run the five digits together without a comma, and do not put a comma between the state name and the ZIP code: New York, NY 10020 .

alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae

Use alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a man who as attended a school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for similar reference to women. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women.

abortion

Use anti-abortion instead of pro-life and pro-abortion rights instead of pro-abortion or pro-choice. Avoid abortionist, which connotes a person who performs clandestine abortions.

No.

Use as the abbreviation for number in conjunction with a figure to indicate position or rank: No. 1 man , No. 3 choice . Do not use in street addresses, with this exception: No. 10 Downing St. , the residence of Britain's prime minister. Do not use in the names of schools: Public School 19 .

blond, blonde

Use blond as a noun for males and as an adjective for all applications: She has blond hair. Use blonde as a noun for females.

brunette

Use brunette as a noun for females. Use brown-haired for males.

aircraft terms

Use engine, not motor, for the units that propel aircraft: a twin-engine plane (not twin engined). Use jet plane or jetliner to describe only those aircraft driven solely by jet engines. Use turboprop to describe an aircraft on which the jet engine is geared to a propeller. Turboprops sometimes are called propjets.

ensure, insure, assure

Use ensure to mean guarantee : Steps were taken to ensure accuracy. Use insure for references to insurance: The policy insures his life. Use assure to mean to make sure or give confidence : She assured us the statement was accurate.

woman, women

Use female as an adjective, not woman . She is the first female governor of North Carolina. Treatment of the sexes should be evenhanded and free of assumptions and stereotypes. This does not mean that valid and acceptable words such as mankind or humanity cannot be used. They are proper.

court decisions

Use figures and a hyphen: The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 , a 5-4 decision . The word to is not needed, but use hyphens if it appears in quoted matter: The court ruled 5-to-4, the 5-to-4 decision.

betting odds

Use figures and a hyphen: The odds were 5-4, he won despite 3-2 odds against him.

ratios

Use figures and hyphens: the ratio was 2-to-1, a ratio of 2-to-1, a 2-1 ratio, 1 in 4 voters . As illustrated, the word to should be omitted when the numbers precede the word ratio . Always use the word ratio or a phrase such as a 2-1 majority to avoid confusion with actual figures.

parallels

Use figures and lowercase to identify the imaginary locater lines that ring the globe from east to west. They are measured in units of 0 to 90 degrees north or south of the equator. Examples: 4th parallel north , 89th parallel south , or, if location north or south of the equator is obvious: 19th parallel .

dimensions

Use figures and spell out inches , feet , yards , etc., to indicate depth, height, length and width. Hyphenate adjectival forms before nouns. EXAMPLES : He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall , the 5-foot-6-inch man , the 5-foot man , the basketball team signed a 7-footer . The car is 17 feet long , 6 feet wide and 5 feet high . The rug is 9 feet by 12 feet , the 9-by-12 rug . The storm left 5 inches of snow. The building has 6,000 square feet of floor space. Use an apostrophe to indicate feet and quote marks to indicate inches ( 5'6" ) only in very technical contexts

times

Use figures except for noon and midnight . Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m. , 1 p.m. , 3:30 p.m., 9-11 a.m., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Avoid such redundancies as 10 a.m. this morning , 10 p.m. tonight or 10 p.m. Monday night . Use 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. Monday , etc., as required by the norms in time element. The construction 4 o'clock is acceptable, but time listings with a.m. or p.m. are preferred.

temperatures

Use figures for all except zero . Use a word, not a minus sign, to indicate temperatures below zero. Right: The day's low was minus 10. Right: The day's low was 10 below zero. Wrong: The day's low was 10. Right: The temperature rose to zero by noon. Right: The day's high was expected to be 9 or 10. Also: 5-degree temperatures , temperatures fell 5 degrees , temperatures in the 30s (no apostrophe). Temperatures get higher or lower , but they don't get warmer or cooler . Wrong: Temperatures are expected to warm up in the area Friday. Right: Temperatures are expected to rise in the area Friday.

millions, billions, trillions

Use figures with million , billion or trillion in all except casual uses: I'd like to make a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion. The government ran a deficit of more than $1 trillion. Do not go beyond two decimal places. 7.51 million people , $256 billion , 7,542,500 people , $2,565,750,000 . Decimals are preferred where practical: 1.5 million . Not: 1 1/2 million . Do not mix millions and billions in the same figure: 2.6 billion . Not: 2 billion 600 million . Do not drop the word million or billion in the first figure of a range: He is worth from $2 million to $4 million. Not: $2 to $4 million , unless you really mean $2. Note that a hyphen is not used to join the figures and the word million or billion , even in this type of phrase: The president submitted a $300 billion budget. In headlines, abbreviate only millions , billions : $5M lawsuit, $17.4B trade deficit

election returns

Use figures, with commas every three digits starting at the right and counting left. Use the word to (not a hyphen) in separating different totals listed together: Jimmy Carter outpolled Gerald Ford 40,827,292 to 39,146,157 in 1976 . Use the word votes if there is any possibility that the figures could be confused with a ratio: Nixon outpolled McGovern 16 votes to 3 votes in Dixville Notch.

telephone numbers

Use figures. The form: 212-621-1500 . For international numbers use 011 (from the United States), the country code, the city code and the telephone number: 011-44-20-7535-1515 . Use hyphens, not periods. The form for toll-free numbers: 800-111-1000 . If extension numbers are needed, use a comma to separate the main number from the extension: 212-621-1500, ext. 2 .

weights

Use figures: The baby weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. She had a 9-pound, 7-ounce boy.

X-ray

Use for both the photographic process and the radiation particles themselves.

include

Use include to introduce a series when the items that follow are only part of the total: The price includes breakfast. The zoo includes lions and tigers. Use comprise when the full list of individual elements is given: The zoo comprises 100 types of animals, including lions and tigers.

indict

Use indict only in connection with the legal process of bringing charges against an individual or corporation. To avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use phrases such as indicted for killing or indicted for bribery charge of killing or indicted on a bribery charge .

like, as

Use like as a preposition to compare nouns and pronouns. It requires an object: Jim blocks like a pro. The conjunction as is the correct word to introduce clauses: Jim blocks the linebacker as he should.

tomorrow

Use only in direct quotations and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: The world of tomorrow will need additional energy resources. Use the day of the week in other cases.

yesterday

Use only in direct quotations and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: Yesterday we were young. Use the day of the week in other cases.

U.N.

Use periods in U.N. , for consistency with U.S. within texts. In headlines, it's UN (no periods).

people, persons

Use person when speaking of an individual: One person waited for the bus. The word people is preferred to persons in all plural uses. For example: Thousands of people attended the fair. What will people say? There were 17 people in the room. Persons should be used only when it is in a direct quote or part of a title as in Bureau of Missing Persons . People also is a collective noun that takes a plural verb when used to refer to a single race or nation: The American people are united.

percent

Use the % sign when paired with a numeral, with no space, in most cases (a change in 2019): Average hourly pay rose 3.1% from a year ago; her mortgage rate is 4.75%; about 60% of Americans agreed; he won 56.2% of the vote . Use figures: 1%, 4 percentage points . For amounts less than 1%, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6%. In casual uses, use words rather than figures and numbers: She said he has a zero percent chance of winning. Constructions with the % sign take a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an of construction: The teacher said 60% was a failing grade. He said 50% of the membership was there. It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an of construction: He said 50% of the members were there. Use decimals, not fractions, in percentages: Her mortgage rate is 4.5%. For a range, 12% to 15% , 12%-15% and between 12% and 15% are all acceptable. Use percentage , rather than percent , when not paired with a number: The percentage of people agreeing is small. Be careful not to confuse percent with percentage point . A change from 10% to 13% is a rise of 3 percentage points. This is not equal to a 3% change; rather, it's a 30% increase. Usage: Republicans passed a 0.25 percentage point tax cut. Not: Republicans passed a 0.25 percentage points tax cut or Republicans passed a tax cut of 0.25 of a percentage point .

addresses

Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues. All similar words (alley, drive, road, terrace, etc.) always are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number; lowercase when used alone or with two or more names. Always use figures for an address number: 9 Morningside Circle. Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures for 10th and above: 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St. Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 562 W. 43rd St., 600 K St. NW. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: East 42nd Street, K Street Northwest. No periods in quadrant abbreviations - NW, SE - unless customary locally. See highway designations. Use periods in the abbreviation P.O. for P.O. Box numbers.

ampersand (&)

Use the ampersand when it is part of a company's formal name or composition title: House & Garden, Procter & Gamble, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway. The ampersand should not otherwise be used in place of and, except for some accepted abbreviations: B&B, R&B.

a, an

Use the article a before consonant sounds: a historic event, a one-year term (sounds as if it begins with a w), a united stand (sounds like you). Use the article an before vowel sounds: an energy crisis, an honorable man (the h is silent), an homage (the h is silent), an NBA record (sounds like it begins with the letter e), an 1890s celebration.

today, tonight

Use the day of the week, not today or tonight , in news stories. In news stories, use today or tonight only in direct quotations, and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: Customs today are different from those of a century ago . In other types of writing, today , this morning , this afternoon and tonight are acceptable if using the day of the week would be awkward. For example, in an internal note Wednesday to company staff: Xin Chen took over as vice president for human resources today . In an external announcement: Xin Chen took over as vice president for human resources Wednesday .

time element

Use the days of the week, not today or tonight , in news stories . Use Monday , Tuesday , etc., for days of the week within seven days before or after the current date. Use the month and a figure where appropriate. See months for forms and punctuation. Avoid such redundancies as last Tuesday or next Tuesday . The past, present or future tense used for the verb usually provides adequate indication of which Tuesday is meant: He said he finished the job Tuesday. She will return Tuesday. Avoid awkward placements of the time element, particularly those that suggest the day of the week is the object of a transitive verb: The police jailed Tuesday. Potential remedies include the use of the word on (see the on entry), rephrasing the sentence, or placing the time element in a different sentence. See today, tonight for further discussion, including usage other than in news stories.

highway designations

Use these forms, as appropriate in the context, for highways identified by number: U.S. Highway 1, U.S. Route 1, U.S. 1, state Route 34, Route 34, Interstate Highway 495, Interstate 495 . On second reference only for Interstate : I-495 . When a letter is appended to a number, capitalize it but do not use a hyphen: Route 1A .

Celsius

Use this term rather than centigrade for the temperature scale that is part of the metric system. The Celsius scale is named for Anders Celsius, a Sweedish astronomer who designed it. In it, zero represents the freezing point of water, and 100 degrees is the boiling point at sea level. To convert to Fahrenheit, multiply a Celsius temperature by 9, divide by 5 and add 32 (25 x 9 equals 225, divided by 5 equals 45, plus 32 equals 77 degrees Fahrenheit). To convert a temperature difference from Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9 and divided by 5. A difference of 5 degrees C is a 9-degree F difference. When giving a Celsius temperature, use these forms: 40 degrees Celsius or 40 C (note the space and no period after the capital C) if degrees and Celsius are clear from the context.

ages

Use when deemed relevant to the situation. If someone is quoted as saying, I'm too old to get another job, the age is relevant. Generally, use ages for profiles, obituaries, significant career milestones and achievements unusual for the age. Use ages for people commenting or providing information only if their age is relevant to their comments (e.g., a teenager's comment on video games aimed at that group). Appropriate background, such as a parent of two young children or a World War II veteran, may suffice instead of the actual age. Always use figures. The girl is 15 years old; the law is 8 years old; the 101-year-old house. When the context does not require years or years old, the figure is presumed to be years. Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun. Examples: A 5-year-old boy, but the boy is 5 years old. The boy, 7, has a sister, 10. The woman, 26, has a daughter 2 months old. The race is for 3-year-olds. The woman is in her 30s (no apostrophe).

brand names

When they are used, capitalize them. Brand names normally should be used only if they are essential to a story: he fished a Camel from his shirt pocket may be preferable to the less specific cigarette. When a company sponsors a sports or other event identified only by the company's name, use the name on first reference: Buick Open. However, when an event is clearly identifiable without the company's name, drop the name on first reference and include the sponsor name elsewhere in the story or at the bottom as an Editor's Note: FedEx Orange Bowl would be identified in the story only as Orange Bowl. Also use a separate paragraph to provide the name of a sponsor when the brand name is not part of the formal title.

Rev.

When this description is used before an individual's name, precede it with the word the because, unlike the case with Mr. and Mrs. , the abbreviation Rev. does not stand for a noun. If an individual also has a secular title such as Rep. , use whichever is appropriate to the context.

second reference

When used in this book, the term applies to all subsequent references to an organization or individual within a story. Acceptable abbreviations and acronyms for organizations frequently in the news are listed under the organization's full name. A few prominent acronyms acceptable on first reference also are listed alphabetically according to the letters of the acronym.

who, whom

Who is the pronoun used for references to human beings and to animals with a name. Write the person who is in charge , not the person that is in charge . Who is grammatically the subject (never the object) of a sentence, clause or phrase: The woman who rented the room left the window open. Who is there? Whom is used when someone is the object of a verb or preposition: The woman to whom the room was rented left the window open. Whom do you wish to see? See essential clauses, nonessential clauses for guidelines on how to punctuate clauses introduced by who, whom, that and which .

their, there, they're

you better know this

who's, whose

you should know this

judicial branch

always lowercase. The federal court system that exists today as the outgrowth of Article 3 of the Constitution is composed of the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Customs Court. There are also four district judges for U.S. territories. U.S. bankruptcy and magistrate judges are fixed-term judges serving in U.S. District Courts. Magistrate judges are generalist judges who preside in cases referred from U.S. district judges. Bankruptcy judges are specialized judges whose authority is restricted to bankruptcy issues. The U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals for the Armed Forces are not part of the judicial branch as such.

weather terms (through winter storm watch)

check def

possessives

check def. in book

toward

not towards

doctor

reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of dental surgery, doctor of medicine, doctor of optometry, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of podiatric medicine, or doctor of veterinary medicine: Dr. Jonas Salk . The form Dr. , or Drs. , in a plural construction, applies to all first-reference uses before a name, including direct quotations. Do not continue the use of Dr. in subsequent references. Do not use Dr. before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. Instead, when necessary or appropriate for a specific audience: Cassandra Karoub, who has a doctorate in mathematics, was lead researcher MSF is acceptable in quotations and second references, noting that it is the abbreviation for the French name of the group, Medecins Sans Frontieres . Do not use MSF in headlines.

lectern, podium, pulpit, rostrum

speaker stands behind a lectern , on a podium or rostrum , or in the pulpit .