Style Guidelines

While proper grammar and adherence to an editorial style may seem to be anomalies in today’s free-form internet world, these are still relevant for several reasons. A consistent editorial style helps readers by making our content easy to read, and holding the attention of our audience is critical to gaining their acceptance of our message. A reputation for quality is earned, not granted, and nothing threatens our credibility faster than butchering the English language.

WORDS

email (one word, no hyphens)
website (one word, not capitalized)
internet (not capitalized)

PUNCTUATION AND TYPOGRAPHY

Do not insert a comma after the last “and.”
Punctuation belongs inside quotation marks. Example: He is “ill.” NOT “He is ill”.
One exclamation point is plenty. And use them sparingly.
Watch the apostrophes. “It’s” is a contraction meaning “It is.”
If possible, do not use curly quotes or curly apostrophes.
Spell out numbers under 10 (one, two, three, four, etc.)
Eschew bold in favor of emphasis.

CAPITALIZATION

• In general, avoid unnecessary capitals; capitalize proper nouns but not words derived from or associated with them. Avoid using ALLCAPS.
• Use first initial caps only in proper names. This applies to headlines as well as body copy.
• Do not capitalize ‘the’ in running text, even when it is part of the official name. Exception: Capitalize ‘the’ at the beginning of a name only if the official corporate name is required.
  • the Salida Citizen
  • ©1993 by The University of Chicago Press
  • the Mountain Mail

PERSONAL NAMES AND TITLES

• Capitalize official academic, professional, military, civil, and religious titles and titles of nobility when they immediately precede a name, as part of the name.
  • Mayor Chuck Rose
  • Councilman Damman
• Do not capitalize titles when used alone (in place of a name) or in constructions that set them off from a name by commas.
  • the mayor, Chuck Rose
  • the commissioner gave his blessing
• Do not capitalize titles that follow a name.
  • Chuck Rose, mayor of Salida

ORGANIZATIONS

• Capitalize full names of governmental bodies and offices; do not capitalize adjectives derived from them (or incomplete names for them). Retain capitalization if the reference is to a specific instance but the context does not require additional information.
  • the Salida City Council
  • SALIDA (AP) – The City Council
  • the State Legislature (if the context is obvious)
  • the Boston and New York city councils, a city council
• Capitalize names of political and economic organizations and of political parties; do not capitalize names of political groups other than parties
  • Republican Party
  • Green Party
  • independent

DATES

Abbreviate January, February, September, October, November and December when used with a date.
Correct: Jan. 1, 2008
Correct: January 2008
Correct: 1/1/08
Incorrect: Jan. 1st

PERIODS AND SPACES

Insert only one space after a period (unlearn what you learned in your high school typing class).

AMPERSANDS

Ampersands are used in company names (such as AT&T). They are not substitutes for the word “and.”

THE “THREE DOTS”

These are often employed to extend the reader’s thought process or imply there is more to the story. Use the keyboard command for this symbol (option+;), and be certain to insert a space between it the previous word. Example: “alluded …” NOT “alluded…”

COMMONLY MISUSED  WORDS AND PHRASES

Under way, not underway.
Worldwide, not world wide.
Okay, not OK.

ENSURE, INSURE

One insures a home. One strives to ensure that a home is safe from fire.

THERE, THEIR, and THEY’RE

There – at or towards that place, point, or matter
Their – belonging to two or more people, places, or things
They’re – they are

AFFECT, EFFECT and EFFECT

Affect – to influence
Effect – (noun) result or outcome
Effect – (verb) to cause to happen, bring about, or produce results

THAT, WHICH, and WHO

That – referring to an understood place or thing; indicating something/some place less immediate (used in an essential clause)
Which – refers to a specific thing or place out of an understood collection; being the thing or place previously mentioned
Who – referring to an understood person

CAPITAL and CAPITOL

Capital – city at the center of a political or industrial entity; wealth in business or trade
Capitol – a statehouse

WHETHER and WEATHER

Weather – a climactic condition
Whether – a conjunction expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives

You may also wish to check out our Editorial Guidelines.