Follow these guidelines:
STANDING ALONE: Spell out the names of the 50 U.S. states when they stand alone in textual material. Any state name may be condensed, however, to fit typographical requirements for tabular material.
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.
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 text. See examples in Punctuation section below. See datelines for guidelines on when a city name may stand alone in the body of a story.
--In short-form listings of party affiliation: D-Ala., R-Mont. See party affiliation entry for details.
Following are the state abbreviations, which also appear in the entries for each state (ZIP code abbreviations in parentheses): Ala. (AL) Ariz. (AZ) Ark. (AR) Calif. (CA) Colo. (CO) Conn. (CT) Del. (DE) Fla. (FL) Ga. (GA) Ill. (IL) Ind. (IN) Kan. (KS) Ky. (KY) La. (LA) Md. (MD) Mass. (MA) Mich. (MI) Minn. (MN) Miss. (MS) Mo. (MO) Mont. (MT) Neb. (NE) Nev. (NV) N.H. (NH) N.J. (NJ) N.M. (NM) N.Y. (NY) N.C. (NC) N.D. (ND) Okla. (OK) Ore. (OR) Pa. (PA) R.I. (RI) S.C. (SC) S.D. (SD) Tenn. (TN) Vt. (VT) Va. (VA) Wash. (WA) W.Va. (WV) Wis. (WI) Wyo (WY)
(These are the ZIP code abbreviations for the eight states that are not abbreviated in datelines or text: AK (Alaska), HI (Hawaii), ID (Idaho), IA (Iowa), ME (Maine), OH (Ohio), TX (Texas), UT (Utah). Also: District of Columbia (DC).
Use the two-letter Postal Service abbreviations only with full addresses, including ZIP code.
PUNCTUATION: Plase one comma between the city and the state name, and another comma after the state name, unless ending a sentence or indicating a dateline: He was traveling from Nashville, Tenn., to Austin, Texas, en route to his home in Albuquerque, N.M. She said Cook County, Ill., was Mayor Daley's stronghold.
MISCELLANEOUS: Use New York state when necessary to distinguish the state from New York City.
Use state of Washington or Washington state when necessary to distinguish the state from the District of Columbia. (Washington State is the name of a university in the state of Washington.)
Showing posts with label abbreviations and acronyms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abbreviations and acronyms. Show all posts
6/04/2009
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 1972 was a cold month, Jan. 2 was the coldest day of the month. Hos birthday is May 8. Feb. 14, 1987 was the target date. She testified that it was Friday, Dec. 3, when the accident occurred.
In tabular material, use these three-letter forms without a period: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
See dates and years.
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 1972 was a cold month, Jan. 2 was the coldest day of the month. Hos birthday is May 8. Feb. 14, 1987 was the target date. She testified that it was Friday, Dec. 3, when the accident occurred.
In tabular material, use these three-letter forms without a period: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
See dates and years.
5/25/2009
company names
Consult the company or Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations if in doubt about a formal name. Do not, however, use a comma before Inc. or Ltd.
Generally, follow the spelling and capitalization preferred by the company: eBay. But capitalize the first letter if it begins a sentence.
Do not use all capital letter names unless the letters are individually pronounced: BMW. Others should be uppercase and lowercase.
Do not use symbols such as exclamation points, plus signs or asterisks that form contrived spellings that might distract or confuse a reader. 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.
See the organizations and institutions entry.
Generally, follow the spelling and capitalization preferred by the company: eBay. But capitalize the first letter if it begins a sentence.
Do not use all capital letter names unless the letters are individually pronounced: BMW. Others should be uppercase and lowercase.
Do not use symbols such as exclamation points, plus signs or asterisks that form contrived spellings that might distract or confuse a reader. 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.
See the organizations and institutions entry.
5/23/2009
courtesy titles
Refer to both men and women by first and last name: Susan Smith or Robert Smith. Use the courtesy titles Mr., Miss, Ms. or Mrs. only in direct quotations or in other special situations:
--When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, as in married couples or brothers and sisters, use the first and last name.
--When a woman specifically requests it; for example, where a woman prefers to be known as Mrs. Susan Smith or Ms. Susan Smith.
In cases where a person's gender is not clear from the first name or from the story's context, indicate the gender by using he or she in subsequent reference.
--When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, as in married couples or brothers and sisters, use the first and last name.
--When a woman specifically requests it; for example, where a woman prefers to be known as Mrs. Susan Smith or Ms. Susan Smith.
In cases where a person's gender is not clear from the first name or from the story's context, indicate the gender by using he or she in subsequent reference.
5/21/2009
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 ising the 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 J. Pershing arrived today. An aide said the general would review the troops.
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 rations suck 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.
ABBREVIATIONS: The abbreviations, with the highest ranks listed first:
MILITARY TITLES
(Rank followed by 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.
second lieutenant - 2nd lt.
Warrant Officers
chief warrant officer - Chief Warrant Officer
warrant officer - Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
sergeant major of the Army - Sgt. maj. of the Army
command sergeant major - Command Sgt. Maj.
sergeant major - Sgt. Maj.
first sergeant - 1st Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
sergeant first class - Sgt. 1st Class
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
sergeant - Sgt.
corporal - Cpl.
specialist - Spc.
private first class - Pfc.
private - Pvt.
NAVY, COAST GUARD
Commissioned Officers
admiral - Adm.
vice admiral - Vice Adm.
rear admiral upper half - Rear Adm.
rear admiral lower half - Rear Adm.
captain - Capt.
commander - Cmrd.
lieutenant commander - Lt. Cmdr.
lieutenant - Lt.
lieutenant junior grade - Lt. j.g.
ensign - Ensign
Warrant Officers
chief warrant officer - Chief Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
master chief petty officer of the Navy - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
master chief petty officer - Master Chief Petty Officer
senior chief petty officer - Senior Chief Petty Officer
chief petty officer - Chief Petty Officer
petty officer first class - Petty Officer 1st Class
petty officer second class - Petty Officer 2nd Class
petty officer third class - Petty Officer 3rd Class
seaman - Seaman
seaman apprentice - Seaman Apprentice
seaman recruit - Seaman Recruit
MARINE CORPS
Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army. Warrant officer ratings follow the same system used in the Navy. There are no specialist ratings.
Others
sergeant major of the Marine Corps - Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps
sergeant major - Sg. Maj.
master gunnery sergeant - Master Gunnery Sgt.
first sergeant - 1st Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
gunnery sergeant - Gunnery Sgt.
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
sergeant - Sgt.
corporal - Cpl.
lance corporal - Lance Cpl.
private first class - Pfc.
private - Pvt.
AIR FORCE
Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army.
Enlisted Designations
chief master sergeant of the Air Force - Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force
chief master sergeant - Chief Master Sgt.
senior master sergeant - Senior Master Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
technical sergeant - Tech Sgt.
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
senior airman - Senior Airman
airman first class - Airman 1st Class
airman - Airman
airman basic - Airman
PLURALS: Add s to the principle element in the title: majs. John Jones and Robert Smith; Maj. Gens. John Jones and Robert Smith; Spcs. John Jones and Robert Smith.
RETIRED OFFICERS: A military rank may be used in first reference before the name of an officer who has retired if it is relevant to a story. Do not, however, use the military abbreviation Ret.
Instead, use retired just as former would be used before the title of a civilian: They invited retired Army Gen. John Smith.
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS: Use the abbreviations listed here when a military-style title is used before the name of a firefighter or police officer outside a direct quotation. Add police or fire before the title if needed for clarity: police Sgt. William Smith, fire Capt. David Jones.
Spell out titles such as detective that are not used in the armed forces.
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 ising the 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 J. Pershing arrived today. An aide said the general would review the troops.
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 rations suck 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.
ABBREVIATIONS: The abbreviations, with the highest ranks listed first:
MILITARY TITLES
(Rank followed by 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.
second lieutenant - 2nd lt.
Warrant Officers
chief warrant officer - Chief Warrant Officer
warrant officer - Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
sergeant major of the Army - Sgt. maj. of the Army
command sergeant major - Command Sgt. Maj.
sergeant major - Sgt. Maj.
first sergeant - 1st Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
sergeant first class - Sgt. 1st Class
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
sergeant - Sgt.
corporal - Cpl.
specialist - Spc.
private first class - Pfc.
private - Pvt.
NAVY, COAST GUARD
Commissioned Officers
admiral - Adm.
vice admiral - Vice Adm.
rear admiral upper half - Rear Adm.
rear admiral lower half - Rear Adm.
captain - Capt.
commander - Cmrd.
lieutenant commander - Lt. Cmdr.
lieutenant - Lt.
lieutenant junior grade - Lt. j.g.
ensign - Ensign
Warrant Officers
chief warrant officer - Chief Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
master chief petty officer of the Navy - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
master chief petty officer - Master Chief Petty Officer
senior chief petty officer - Senior Chief Petty Officer
chief petty officer - Chief Petty Officer
petty officer first class - Petty Officer 1st Class
petty officer second class - Petty Officer 2nd Class
petty officer third class - Petty Officer 3rd Class
seaman - Seaman
seaman apprentice - Seaman Apprentice
seaman recruit - Seaman Recruit
MARINE CORPS
Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army. Warrant officer ratings follow the same system used in the Navy. There are no specialist ratings.
Others
sergeant major of the Marine Corps - Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps
sergeant major - Sg. Maj.
master gunnery sergeant - Master Gunnery Sgt.
first sergeant - 1st Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
gunnery sergeant - Gunnery Sgt.
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
sergeant - Sgt.
corporal - Cpl.
lance corporal - Lance Cpl.
private first class - Pfc.
private - Pvt.
AIR FORCE
Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army.
Enlisted Designations
chief master sergeant of the Air Force - Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force
chief master sergeant - Chief Master Sgt.
senior master sergeant - Senior Master Sgt.
master sergeant - Master Sgt.
technical sergeant - Tech Sgt.
staff sergeant - Staff Sgt.
senior airman - Senior Airman
airman first class - Airman 1st Class
airman - Airman
airman basic - Airman
PLURALS: Add s to the principle element in the title: majs. John Jones and Robert Smith; Maj. Gens. John Jones and Robert Smith; Spcs. John Jones and Robert Smith.
RETIRED OFFICERS: A military rank may be used in first reference before the name of an officer who has retired if it is relevant to a story. Do not, however, use the military abbreviation Ret.
Instead, use retired just as former would be used before the title of a civilian: They invited retired Army Gen. John Smith.
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS: Use the abbreviations listed here when a military-style title is used before the name of a firefighter or police officer outside a direct quotation. Add police or fire before the title if needed for clarity: police Sgt. William Smith, fire Capt. David Jones.
Spell out titles such as detective that are not used in the armed forces.
abbreviations and acronyms
The notation abbrev. is used in this book to identify the abbreviated form that may be used for a word in some contexts.
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.
Guidance on how to use a particular abbreviation or acronym is provided in entries alphabetized according to the sequence of letters in the word or phrase.
An acronym is a word forned from the first letter or letters of a series of words: laser (light amplification s by stimulated emission of radiation). An abbreviation is not an acronym.
Some general principles: 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 off 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 bot 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 two-letter abbreviations: U.S., U.N., U.K., B.A., B.C., (AP, a trademark, is an exception. Also, no periods in GI and EU.)
Use all caps, but no periods, in longer abbreviations and acronyms when the individual letters are pronounced: ABC, CIA, FBI.
Use only an initial cap and then lowercase for acronyms of more than six letters, unless listed otherwise in this Stylebook or Webster's New World College Dictionary.
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.
Guidance on how to use a particular abbreviation or acronym is provided in entries alphabetized according to the sequence of letters in the word or phrase.
An acronym is a word forned from the first letter or letters of a series of words: laser (light amplification s by stimulated emission of radiation). An abbreviation is not an acronym.
Some general principles: 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 off 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 bot 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 two-letter abbreviations: U.S., U.N., U.K., B.A., B.C., (AP, a trademark, is an exception. Also, no periods in GI and EU.)
Use all caps, but no periods, in longer abbreviations and acronyms when the individual letters are pronounced: ABC, CIA, FBI.
Use only an initial cap and then lowercase for acronyms of more than six letters, unless listed otherwise in this Stylebook or Webster's New World College Dictionary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)