ABRAMSSTYLEGUIDE:MEDIAITEEDITION

MuchofthisstyleguideisavariationonBuzzFeedspublicstyleguide.Thatdecisionwas
deliberate,asBuzzFeedsguideisoneofthefewtoacknowledgeandstandardizeterms
andphrases(andmemes)thatarebecomingincreasinglyfrequentontheWeb.

ThisguidehasbeencustomizedforMediaite.Itismeanttobeamasterdocforformatting,
spelling,headlines,andotherlanguageconventions.Ifyouhavesuggestionsforadditions
totheguide,pleasesuggestthemtoAndreworJon.Theywillreviewaccordingly.

HEADLINES

Headlinesshouldbenomorethan2lineslongonanarticlepage.(Thatworksouttoa
maxofabout85charactersonmostAbramssites.)

Therewillbeoccasionalexceptionstotheaboveagreatheadlinethatdemandsalittle
morespaceandbleedstothethirdline.Butitshouldbetheexception,nottherule.

Eachheadlineshouldhoneinononesingle,distilledthoughtaboutthepiece.Trytouse
oneactiveverb(nottwoorthree).Avoidpackingmultiplethoughtsintoasingleheadline.
Ifyoudousemorethanoneverbclause,thesecondshouldbeessentialtothestory:
NewsweekSoldtoIBT,WillRemain100%Digital(Boringexample,butyougetthe
idea.)

Relyonactionverbs.Avoidhackneyed,hyperbolicones.Useslams,blasts,ripsonly
whenmeritedbyapist.Theyshouldonlybeusedif,say,apunditorpolgoesoffona
genuinerantnotforcommonplacecolororhyperbole.Noteveryheadlineshould
scream.Wedontneedtooverselleverysegment.

Youcanincludeasentencequoteinaheadlinewithtwoqualifiers:Thequoteshould
beshortandpunchy(notlongsentences).Anditshouldbestrongenoughtojustify
inclusionintheheadline.Otherwise,paraphrasingworks.

Avoidpackingheadlineswithlotsofsinglequotedwords.One(ortwomax!)should
suffice.Ifyouuseafullsentencequote,youcanprobablydowithoutawordquote.Use
commonsensehere.(Forexample,thisisnotagoodheadline:ObamaSlamsSillyFox
forFightingHimatEveryCorner).

Itsfinetouselastnamesforshorthand(Weiner,Obama)andtheoccasionalfirstname
(Oprah).Lesserknownfiguresshouldhavefullnamewithaqualifier(CNNsErinBurnett
orCNNsBurnett).Ifyouremoveasubjectsnamefromaheadline,whenfillingoutthe

SEOdescription,usefullnamesforyourmainsubject.

Allotherthingsbeingequal,trytogetthesubjecttowardsthebeginningofaheadline
peoplereadfastontheInternet.

Don'tcapitalizearticles,"a,""an,"or"the,unlesstheyareatthebeginning.Dont
capitalizeandorbut.Dontcapitalizeprepositionslike"on,"in,by,orto,etc.

DocapitalizeprepositionsoffivecharactersormoreAround,About,Inside,etc.

Abbreviations:Officialtitlesgetaperiod(i.e.,Sen.,Rep.,Pres.)butanythingunofficial
doesnot(Dem,Fmr[former],Spox).

Noampersandsinheadlines.Useandunlessyourereferencinganinstitutionorshow
thatusesampersandinthename:Fox&Friends

Afterallthesethingsareconsidered,thenthinkaboutbeingfunnyorcleverbothare
great,butbeclearandconcisefirst,funnyafter.

REMINDER:Inheadlines/subheadingswithinitialcappedwords,alwayscapitalizeIs,
which,althoughapunyword,isindeedaverb!SamegoesforBeandAre.
Inlistheadlines,pleaseretaintheTheinsuperlativeheadlines(e.g.,The30Most
InspiringFilms,The25BestGIFsof2012).Ifthelistismorespecialized(e.g.,30
PoliticalPlayersUnder30)thenyoumaybeginwithdigits.
Withtheexceptionofquizzes,generallyavoidquestionsasheadlines,particularlynews
headlinesposedasonesthatcanbeansweredwithanexplicityesorno(e.g.,Will
HillaryClinton).Exception:Whenanarticleisgenuinely(notpassiveaggressively)
invokingaquestion,oransweringonewithanambiguousanswer.

PHOTOS

Thereareafewsaferesourcesforphotos:

NewsCred(100Reuters,100WENNpermonth).
Shutterstock.
WikiCommons(butcheckdescriptionforpermissions).
Imagessuppliedbypublicists.

ImagessuppliedbyTVnetworks(screengrabsincluded).

Ifyouwanttouseanimageoutsideoftheabovesourcessay,fromapersonalblogor
someonesiPhoneyoumustgetpermissionfromtheowner.Anemailexchangeis
fine,aslongasitsclear.Ifyoureachoutandtheydontanswerorsayno,wedontuse
it.

Everyphotomusthaveacreditattribution,whetheritsfromGettyoryoutookityourself.
Imagevia,Photocourtesyorsimilarlanguageshouldappearatthebottomofthe
postorundertheimage.Pleasebeconsistentaboutthis.

Wheneverpossible,captionyourimages.Evenifitsjustanameofthesubjectinthe
photo,floatingimageswithoutcaptionslookamateurish.

SPELLING

OurpreferreddictionaryisMerriamWebstersCollegiateDictionary,11thEdition.InWebsters,
thefirstspellingofawordshouldgenerallybeused(unlessitappearsinthewordlistbeloworis
preferredbyTheAssociatedPressStylebook).ThepreferredstylemanualistheAPStylebook.
PleaseconsultChicagoManualofStyleforissuesnotcoveredbyAPStylebookaswellasfor
moredetailedinformationanddiscussion,whereapplicable.Anystylepointmentionedinthis
guideoverrulesthosepublications.

ThisstyleguideprovidesareferencetocommonwordsandtermsusedonMediaiteand
itssistersites(see:WordList)andinformationonstyleissuesparticulartothesite.Itisnot
intendedtobeacomprehensivemanualofgrammarandstyle.

FORMATTINGGUIDELINES
PostLayout
Thetopofpagearticleshouldbealignleft,320x210insize.Ifimageisredundanttothe
videostilloranotherimageinthepost,thenyoudonotneedtoinclude.
Afterthevideoofthepost,articleshouldlooklikethis(inHTML):
[h/tWebsiteorPersonwithURL]
[<em>ImageviaPhotographerX</em>]


>>FollowMediaiteEditor(@MediaiteEditor)onTwitter
Anonymoussourcingpolicy(guidelines):
SomeoneuptheeditorialchainatMediaiteshouldbetoldwhoyouranonymoussource
is,exceptinthemostextremecasesofsensitivity.
Avoidusinganonymoussourcesfornegativequotes.
Thinkabouthowthereaderwillperceivetheuseofananonymoussourceifareader
weretoaskyou,Hey,whydidntyouusethatguysname?isyouranswersomethingthey
wouldunderstand?
Thenumberofanonymoussourcesisntasimportantastheknowledgethosesources
have.Fiverandosisntasusefulasonepersonwhoactuallyknowswhattheyretalking
about.
CORRECTIONS
SeetheendofthisdocumentforamoredetailedguidetoMediaitescorrectionpolicy,
butallcorrectionsshouldgoattheendofapost(abovetheTwitterbridge)inthefollowing
formatwhencalledfor:
CORRECTION:TheeditorofMediaiteisAndrewKirell.Anearlierversionofthis
itemmisstatedhisname.(3/15/14)
DONOTaddacorrectionwithoutfirstrunningtheproposedcorrectionbyyoureditor.The
editorinchiefandmanagingeditorscanruncorrectionsbymanagement.
INTERVIEWS:
Identifytheasker(Mediaite)andtheinterviewee(AnnCoulter,forexample)onfirstQand

A,butthengowithboldandnonboldasidentifiers.Seeexamplebelow.
Whenformatting,boldthequestionMediaiteasks(withoutidentificationofMediaiteor
editorsnameasinterviewer)answersbyintervieweearenotbolded,buttheinterviewees
nameis.Useanextralinespacebetweenanswerandnextquestion.
Dontitalicizetheintroaddanextraspacebetweentheintroandthefirstquestionifthe
Q&Asectiondoesnotbegininaseparatetextbox.
Setoffindicationoflaughingandsuchreactionsasfollows:(laughs)
Q&Aexample:
Mediaite:Whyareyousocool?
AnnCoulter:BecauseIwearreallyfashionforwardpants.
Whatsyourfavoritethingtodo?
Befunandwearcoolpants,Iguess.(laughs)
Whatsnextforyou?
Findingevenmorefashionforwardpantstowear.

QUOTES
Ifyoureusinganemdashforattribution,onespacebeforethedash,nospaceafter.
Quote.GuyWhoSaidQuote
TimestampsandUpdates:

Therearegenerallytwotypesofstoriesthatrequireatimestamp:updates(typicallyjust
oneortwo)toabreakingnewspiecethatwaswrittenthroughasonearticleandlive
blogtypebreakingnewspieces,whichareexpectedtobecontinuallyupdatedasmore
infocomesin.Fortheformer,addupdatesatthebottomofthestory.Forliveblogpieces,
addupdatesfromthebottomup,asnewinfocomesin.
Theupdatesshouldbeindicatedwithatimestampinthisstyle:
UpdateFeb.14,11:30a.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
Withmultipleupdates,noneedtorepeatthedate,unlesstheupdateshappenovertwoor
moredays.Inthiscase,justmentionthenewdateonce.Example:
UpdateFeb.14,11:30a.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
Update2:45p.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
Update6:14p.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
Update10:53p.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
UpdateFeb.15,1:30a.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
Update3:25a.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.
Update7:30a.m.ET:Thisupdatehappenedtktktktk.

Grammar/Spelling/PunctuationGuidelines
Attribution:
Generally,allquotesshouldhaveattribution,evenifitisobviouswhoisspeaking.Acolon

afterthesentencethatdirectlyprecedesaquoteisfineotherwise,aimforattributionwithin
orafterthefirstsentenceofaquote.Saysandsaidarepreferredverbsforattribution
avoidshenotes,helaughs,theycontend,etc.Explainisalsofrequentlymisusedis
thepersonquotedreallyexplainingsomething?
Awards:
Awardsshownamesaresetinroman:AcademyAwards,MTVMovieAwards.
Initialcapthenamesofawardsgivenatofficialawardsshowsinallinstances(e.g.,Best
Documentary,BestGutWrenchingPerformance).
Capitalization:
Capitalizewordsthatareoftenorusuallycappedperdictionary.
Neverbeginasentencewithalowercaseletter,UNLESSitsaverywellknownbrand
(likeiPadoreBay),thoughwherepossible,avoidtheawkwardnessofstartingasentence
withalowercaseletter.
SlashesareOKinspecificcontexts(likeand/or),butusehyphensforbasiccompounds
likesingersongwriter(notsinger/songwriter)orwriterdirector.Adoubletitleor
occupationwouldtakeaslash(writer/editor).
Withdirections:theNortheast,butsoutheastBrooklyn.Lowercasenorth,south,east,
west,unlessusingthemtorefertoparticularregions(theSouth,theWesternHemisphere,
etc.).
Productandbrandnamesshouldbeinitialcapped,unlessthatnameismadeofinitials
(e.g.,Gap,Ikea,AT&Texception:MAC).
Productnamesinalllowercaselettersshouldbecapitalized(e.g.,iPodNano,notiPod
nano).

IntercapsthatdelineatenewwordsareOK:BlackBerry,eBay,iPod,NyQuil,etc.Intercaps
thatarejustgraphictreatmentsarenot:Prana,notprAna.
Combiningforms:
Closinguporhyphenatingcombiningformsgenerallydependsonreadabilityandwhether
closingupawordchangesitsmeaning.Followtheguidelinesbelow,andconsultMWin
mostcases:
ass(crazyassparty,butbadass)
bait(typicallyclosedup:clickbait,linkbait,tweetbait)
co(hyphenate:cofacilitate,coworker)
cyber(closedupunlessitaffectsreadability:cyberwarfare,cyberbullying,cybersecurity,
etc.butCyberMonday)
esque(closedup/hyphensdependonreadability:yoloesque,Kafkaesque)
fest(mostcombiningformsshouldbeclosedup:lovefest,puppyfest,etc.)
fuck(usuallyclosedup:clusterfuck,bumblefuck)
goer(hyphenateonlyifreadabilityisanissue:beachgoer,theatergoer,fairgoer,filmgoer)
head(closeup[metalhead,pothead]unlessitinterfereswithreadability[hiphophead,
Phishhead])
hyper(closeup,perMW)
ian(usuallyclosedupuseyourjudgmentre:readability)

ish(again,usuallyclosedup,butuseyourjudgment:NewYorkish)
less(hyphenateonlyifnotfoundinMW:childless,witless,audienceless,pantsless)
like(usuallyclosedupunlessdoingsomakesthewordunreadableuseMWandgood
judgment)
maker(lookup:decisionmaker,dealmaker,butpolicymaker,lawmaker)
mate(closeupcombiningform:tourmates,cellmates)
mega(hyphenate,perMW)
mid(closeupmost,checkMW:mid1950s,midAtlantic,butmidterm,midday)
mini(hyphenate:minicupcakes)
multi(followMW)
non(closeup,perMW)
plus(preferableto+,asinHewas20plusyearsold.)
re(closeupunlessdoingsomakesawordunreadableorchangesitsmeaning:recreate,
reimagine)
seeker(jobseeker,asylumseeker,thrillseeker)
shaming(hyphenate:slutshaming,fatshaming,bodyshaming)
size(notsized:plussize,oversize)
super(followMW)

thenphrases(hyphenate:herthenboyfriend,thenSenatorObama)
turnedphrases(donothyphenate,unlessitcomesbeforeapersonsname:theactor
turnedlawyerActorturnedlawyerJohnSmith)
ward(notwards,nos:afterward,backward,toward,forward)
worthycombiningform(onewordusehyphenonlyifreadabilityisanissue:newsworthy,
Oscarworthy,lustworthy,lawworthy)
Colons:
Afullsentenceshouldalwaysprecedeacolon.
Completesentencesfollowingacolonarecappedincompletesentencesfollowinga
colonarenotcapped.
Commas:
Abramsusestheserialcomma:e.g.,Wepickedupcyan,magenta,yellow,andblack
balloonsfortheparty.
Dontuseacommabeforetoo.Exception:Usecommaswithtooonlywhenyouwant
toemphasizeanabruptchangeofthought(e.g.,Hedidntknowatfirstwhathithim,but
then,too,hehadnteverwalkedinafieldstrewnwithgardenrakes).Inmostothercases,
commaswiththisshortadverbareunnecessary(anexceptionbeingsentencesthatbegin
withtoointhesenseofalsothoughavoidthiswhenpossible,asitcanlook
awkward).
NocommasnecessarybeforeJr.orSr.innames.
Ellipses:

Forellipses,usethreedotsinarow,nospacesbetweenthedots(i.e.,[]not[...])
Ifellipsesareusedtoindicateatrailingoffinthoughtoralongpause,insertaspace
beforethenextsentence.(e.g.,IdontknowCertainly,Idontthinkitwillbegood.)
Ifellipsesareusedafterafullsentencetoindicateomissionofafullsentenceormore(as
inaquote),useaperiodfollowedbyaspacebeforeinsertingellipses.
Ifellipsesareusedtoindicateomissionofwordsratherthanafullsentenceorare
insertedmidsentence,useaspaceoneithersideoftheellipses.
Emdash:
Createtheemdashwithkeystrokeoption+shift+hyphen(onMacs).
Usespacesoneithersideoftheemdash.
Trytoavoiduseoftheemdashwhenparentheses,commas,orasemicolonwouldwork
justaswell.
Endash:
Createtheendashwithkeystrokeoption+hyphen(onMacs).
Usetheendash(nothyphen)insportsscores(e.g.,53),dateranges(e.g.,19992005),
andcompoundnounconstructionssuchastheNewYorkNewJerseyborder.
Donotusespacesoneithersideoftheendash.
Hyphens:
NEVERuseahyphenafteranadverbakamostlywords(e.g.,Itwasapoorly
writtenbook,NOTpoorlywritten).

Dousehyphensforclarityinthefollowingsituations(perChicagoManualofStyle):
Whencompoundmodifierssuchasopenmouthedorfulllengthprecedeanoun,
hyphenationusuallylendsclarity.Withtheexceptionofpropernouns(suchasUnited
States)andcompoundsformedbyanadverbendinginlyplusanadjective,itisnever
incorrecttohyphenateadjectivalcompoundsbeforeanoun(e.g.,AFirstRateMovie,
FiveAlarmChili).
Whensuchcompoundsfollowthenountheymodify,hyphenationisusuallyunnecessary,
evenforadjectivalcompoundsthatarehyphenatedinWebsters(suchaswellreador
illhumored).
WhentoItalicize
Useitalicsforthenamesofmovies,televisionshows,newspapers,magazines,
books,musicalalbums,artexhibitions/collections,webseries,podcasts,radio
programs,videogames.
Usequotationsfornamesofmovie/playscenes,televisionepisodes,articles,
chapters,individualpiecesofart,individualsongs.
Stillunsure?Heresahandycheatsheetforwhentoitalicizevs.usequotes.
Keepallpunctuation(includingapostrophe+s)thatfollowsitalicized,bolded,orcolored
(vialinks)wordsinroman.
Letters(ofthealphabet):
Individuallettersandcombinationsoflettersarenotusuallysetinquotes.Exception:
Instancesrelatingtospelling,e.g.,HernameisJoAnnewithacapitalA.
Lettersthatareusedtorepresentshapearecapitalizedandnotsetinquotes:an
Lshapedcouch.

Lettersusedtodenotegradesarecapitalizedandroman:IfPundacityStudieswerea
class,IdtotallygetanA./IhadstraightAsupuntilIstarteddoingkrokodil.
SimplyaddalowercasestopluralizeallabbreviationsDVDs,CDs,Ph.D.s
Names:
Innewsstories,usesurnamesonsecondreference(exceptforveryyoungpeople)if
thereisacompellingreasontorefertoasubjectonfirstnamebasis,thatmaybe
acceptable.Iftwoormorepeopleinthesamestoryhavethesamesurname,generally
refertoallbytheirfirstnameonsecondreference.
PerAP:Chinesenamesgenerallyplacesurnamesfirstandthengivennames:e.g.,Deng
Xiaoping.Secondreferenceshouldbethefamilyname,Denginthiscase.Formore,AP
hasanentrydedicatedtoChinesenamingconventions.
Periods:
Useonespacebetweenaperiodandthenextsentence.Nevertwo.
Photocredit:
Creditsshouldread:PhotographersName/Agency.
Possessive:
Usesforallsingularpossessivenouns.Exceptions:
Corporationorbrandnamesthatarepluralized(e.g.,GeneralMotors)
Singularpropernamesendinginsuseonlyanapostrophe.PerAP:Achillesheel,
Agnesbook,Ceresrites,Descartestheories,Dickensnovels,Euripidesdramas,
Herculeslabors,Jesuslife,Julesseat,Kansasschools,Moseslaw,Socrateslife,

TennesseeWilliamsplays,Xerxesarmies.(AnexceptionisSt.JamessPalace.)
Personalpronounsnevertakeapostrophes.
PerAP:Wordsendingwithanesssoundbeforesaketakeanapostrophebutnos:
ForgoodnesssakeforappearancesakebutforPetessake.
Whenapropernounisalreadyplural,theusualruleforpossessivesapplies:TheSmiths,
RollingStones.
Semicolons:
Useonlybetweentwocompletesentencesorinlistswithinternalcommas(e.g.,We
visitedBuffalo,NewYorkTampa,FloridaandLima,Ohio).
Thoughts:
Thoughtsaresetoffwithacomma,initialcapped,anditalicized.(Ithought,WhatifIwere
tomovetoSwitzerland?)
Televisionshows:
Styleseasons/episodesasfollows:InSeason1,Episode1ofHomeland
Websites:
Italicizenamesofprintpublications(NewYorkTimes).Donotitalicizenamesofnews
organizations,however,likeAssociatedPressandReuters,orblogs/websiteonly
organizationslikeHuffingtonPost.
WhenwritingoutURLs,dontadheretovanitycapping(e.g.,salvationarmyusa.org,NOT
SalvationArmyUSA.org).

Wordsaswords:
Useromantypeinquotes.Heusedthewordchillaxwaytoooften.
Forprofanity:thecword,thenword,etc.
Whenprofanityisabsolutelynecessaryinheadlines,profanewordsshoulduseasterisks
(Sh*t,C*nt,A**hole)
WORDLIST
?!(never!?)
@replies,@mentions(onTwitter)
24/7
3D
7Eleven
Alist,Blist(etc.,whenreferringtoanAlistceleb)
ABCs
AbdelFattahalSisi
AC(forairconditioning)
administration(lowercaseainpoliticalterms,e.g.,Ithasbeensomethingthe
administrationhasavoidedortheObamaadministration)
adviser
afterparty
AIDS
airlift
aka(UNLESSitstartsasentence,inwhichcaseAKAisacceptableAkajustlooks
weird)
alcohol:Drinknamesareusuallylowercase(exception:BloodyMary)
alQaeda
allnighter
a.m.,p.m.

Amex(forAmericanExpress)
amendments:FirstAmendment,19thAmendment(capAwhenreferencingspecific
amendments)
theAppleStore
Aside(n.)Aside(adj.)
autocorrect
autofill
AutoTune
awardsseason/awardsshow(preferabletoaward)
babydaddy,babymama(twowords)
backstory
bandana
bandmates
BasharalAssad
batshit
beatboxer,beatboxing
beatdown(n.)
bestseller,bestselling(NewYorkTimesbestsellerlist)
Beyonc
bingewatch
bitchface
Bitcoinvs.bitcoin(cappedasaconcept,lowercaseascurrency)
BlackBerry,BlackBerrys
blond(adj.,n.)whenreferringtomenorwhenusedinagenderlesscontext
blonde(adj.,n.)whenreferringtowomen
BloodyMary,BloodyMarys
blowjob
bougie(adj.),bougiest(frombourgeoisie)
breadcrumbs
Britpop
brodown
broing

Bside(n.)Bside(adj.)
bulldyke(n.)bulldyke(adj.)avoid,unlessusedinadirectquote
buzzerbeater
BuzzFeed
BS,BSd,BSing
Cabinet(capitalizewhenreferringtothegovernmentaladvisers)
CapnCrunch
catfight
catfished(asaverb,lowercase)
CBGB(notCBGBs)
CeeLoGreen
cellphone(butsmartphone)
chatroom(oneword)
cheese:Whatscappedandwhatsnot?ConsultMW,butheresalistofsomecommonly
referencedcheeses:Brie,cheddar,Comt,Feta,Fontina,Gruyre,MontereyJack,
mozzarella,Parmesan,ParmigianoReggiano,Romano
childcare(n.)childcare(adj.)
chocolaty(notchocolatey)
circlejerk
civilrightsmovement
classactionlawsuit
clickthrough
CocaCola
come(v.)cum(n.)(yup)
comingout(n.,adj.),comeout(v.)
commenter
companynames:Refertoacompanyasit,notthey.Exception:Bandnamesusually
takeapluralconstruction(ThebandisontourbutArcadeFireareplayingtonight.).
OmitCo.,Corp.,Inc.,Ltd.,etc.
ConEdisonConEdisOKonsecondreference
congressionaldistrict(lowercasecandd)
courtcases:Italicizeandusev.insteadofvs.(Roev.Wade)

Craigslist
croptop
crowsfeet(n.)
crowdfund(allforms)
crowdsource(allforms)
dbag
daycare(twowords)
dealbreaker(twowords)
decadelong
DeepSouth
defriend(notunfriend)
DemocraticParty(capP)
diehard(adj.),diehard(n.)
diss(meaningtodisrespect)
DIY
DJ(n.,v.)DJed,DJing
dontask,donttell(lowercase,inquotes,withacommaforthemilitarypolicyin
subsequentreferences,noquotesorabbreviateasDADT)
dosanddonts
douchebag
doughnut(but:DunkinDonuts)
downlow
Downsyndrome
downtime
DREAMer(whenreferringtoadvocatesoftheDREAMAct)
drivethru(asnoun)
Dr.:DonotusethetermDr.torefertononmedicaldoctorswhoholdadoctorate
duckface
dumpster
Earth(cappedonlywhenreferringexplicitlytotheplanetThebiggestonEarthbuta
downtoearthguy)
eBay

[ed.:]forednotesinrunningtext,capEd.:ifitstartsasentenceorisitsownsentence
Ecstasy(capEforthedrug)
ElectionDay(butlowercaseelectionnight)
ElectoralCollege
ebook,ecommerce,ecigarette
email
emoji,emojis(lowercase)
evercloser(nohyphen)
eyeing
Fyou(asanoun)
Facebook(alwayscapped,inanyform)
facedown(adj.)
facetoface(adj.,adv.)
FaceTime(theAppleapp),butfacetime(n.)inallotheruses
faceup(adj.),faceup(v.)
fanbase
fanfiction,fanfic
fanboy/fangirl
farmersmarket
fauxhawk
fav,favd,faving(asin,Ifavdhistweet)
FBI
firstlady/firstfamily
firsttimer
FirstWorldproblem
fistbump(v.)fistbump(n.)
flatiron(hairtool,n.)flatiron(v.)FlatironDistrict
flatscreen(oneword,bothasn.andadj.)
foreignwordsandphrases:IfyoucanfinditinMW,noitalicsnecessaryifyoucant,putin
italics
FoxNews(notFOX)
friendzone(n.)friendzone(v.)

frontman/frontwoman
fundraiser,fundraising(contrarytoAPandMW)
FrootLoops(notFruitLoops)
froyo
fuckup(n.),fuckup(v.),fuckedup(adj.)
Gchat
G.E.D.
GehadelHaddad
GenerationX,GenXer
GholamHosseinMohsenEjeie
GIF/GIFd(asverb),GIFs,GIFable
GirlScoutCookie
glowstick
god:Caponlyifexplicitlyreferringtooralludingtoadeitylowercaseotherwise,especially
incommonphrases(ThankgodshewasOK,Ohgod,hethought,Andgodknowswe
neededallthehelpwecouldget)
godawful
goddamn(perWebsters),goddamnit,goddamned
goodbye
Google+(preferredoverGooglePlus)
google(v.)Google(n.)
Gov.(OKonfirstreferenceprecedinggovernorsname)
gray(notgrey)
grownup(forallforms)
Gspot
guncontrol,gunrights(donothyphenate,evenifitsmodifyinganounconsidernoun
phrases)
haha(interjection)haha(n.)
haircare(n.),haircare(adj.)
hairdryer(butblowdryer)
hairspray
hairstylist

handjob
Hanukkah
hardcore(alluses)
hashtag
hatewatching
HBIC
headcount
headscarf
headshot
healthcare(allforms)
heartrending,gutwrenching,nerveracking:ViaMW,heartrendingdenotessadness,
gutwrenchingismeanttodescribesomethingthatcausesgreatmentaloremotional
pain,andnerverackingdescribessomethingcausingsomeonetofeelnervous.
higherup(n.)
hiphop
hippieasinWoodstock,peaceandlove,andallthat
hippyasinbighipped
HIVpositive(nohyphen,unlessitsmodifyingaword:e.g.,AreyouHIVpositive?vs.The
HIVpositivepatients)
hmmm
homepage(also:homescreen,etc.)
homestretch
hoodie
hookup(n.),hookup(v.)
HosniMubarak
hotspot,WiFiconnectionplacehotspotforotheruses(i.e.,vacationhotspots)
H.P.Lovecraft
h/t(forhattips)
humblebrag
ID(foridentification)
Ikea(notIKEA)
IMDb

indiepop,indierock(buthyphenateasmodifiers)
Instagram,Instagramming(cappedinallforms)
internet(lowercasei)
iPadMini
IraqWar
IRL
Itgirl/Itcouple
JayZ(nohyphen)
J.C.Penney
jeez(notgeez)
jell(notgel,perAPwhenusedasaverb)
JellO
J.J.Abrams
JK(justkidding)
J.K.Rowling
J.Law
J.Lo
JPMorgan
Juggalo/Juggalette
keychain(twowords)
Kimye
Kobe(asinBryantOKtoreferencebyfirstname)
L.A.
LARPer,LARPing(forLiveActionRolePlaying)
LeBron(asinJamesOKtoreferencebyfirstname)
Lego
lessvs.fewer:Uselesswhenreferringtomassnouns,distance,ormoneyusefewerwhen
referringtothingsthatarequantifiable(e.g.,Therewasalessofariskwiththatoption,
TherewerefewerpeopleatJanespartythanatJulies.).
likable
like:
Usecommasoneithersideforaninterjection:Ifyouhave,like,areallybadday

Noquotationmarkswhenusedasaselfreferentialpseudoquote:Iwaslike,Icould
neverdothat.AndthenIdid.
likes(asin,Facebook)lowercase,notsetinquotes
Asasuffix:seeCombiningFormssectionbelow
lipsync(n.)lipsynch(v.)
listicle:avoid,uselistinstead
livestream(n.)livestream(v.)
livetweet
login(v.)login(n.)
logline(briefsummaryofaTVprogramorfilm)logline(usedonships)
LOLing
longform
lower/upperManhattan(lowercaseL/U)
lunchbox
MAC(thecosmeticsbrand)
macncheese
makedo(notmakedue)
mama
manilaenvelope
mansplain,mansplaining
mashup
Masonjar
matzoh
M.D./M.D.s(plural)
mecca(lowercase)
MIA
middleaged(notage)
MidtownManhattan/Midtown(capped)
millennials(generallyavoidusingthistermwhenpossibleusetwentysomethings,twenty
andthirtysomethings,oryoungadults,dependingonwhatsmostappropriate/accurate)
mindset
mixtape

mmmhmm
M.O.
MuammaralQaddafi
MohamedMorsi
mohawk(lowercaseasthehairstyle)
molly(andotherdrugs,lowercase)
morevs.over:Usemorewithquantitiesandoverwithspatialrelationships.(e.g.,There
weremorethan20peoplepackedintotheapartment,TheplaneflewovertheAtlantic
Ocean.)
mothereffing
MuayThai
Muggle(capped,asinanonmagicalperson)
mugshot
mustache
naptime
NASCAR
Nasdaq
NationalAirportorWashingtonNationalAirport:preferredoverReaganNationalAirport
NativeAmerican(notAmericanIndian)
Necco(notNECCO)
nevermind
NewsFeed(whenreferringtoFacebooksNewsFeednewsfeed,oneword,inother
references)
newsgathering
NewWave(forfilmgenre)newwave(formusicgenre)
NeYo
No.1butnumberonewhenitappearsinaquote
now:Whenreferringtotime,donotuseacomma(Iusedtobecompletelyterrifiedof
heights.NowImgenerallyOKwithheights).Whenusedcolloquially,useacomma(Now,
Idneversaythatallcatsareawesome,butIvenevermetonewhowasnt).
NSYNC
thenword(stylethusly)inlyrics,etc.,writeoutasn***a

NYC
Obamaadministration
Obamacare
OBGYN
offseason
OG(noperiods)
ohman/ohmygod/ohnoallOKwithoutcommaafterOh
OK(notokayorO.K.)
OkCupid
omega3
omelet
onesie
Oprah(OKtousejustOprahonfirstreference)
Other,Otherness:Capitalizetoindicateuseofthetermasacategory,especiallywhen
discussingrace(e.g.,inthispost,Ithinkpeoplemakeacleardistinctionthat[Lupita
Nyongo]isthisexotic,fetishizedOtherandthereforenotblackliketherestofus.).
PA(forpersonalamplifier)
pageview
Paleodiet
peekaboo
PeytonManning
Ph.D./Ph.D.s(plural)
phonecalling(asaverb,nohyphen)
photobomb,videobomb
photoop
Photoshop(n.),photoshopped(adj.),photoshop(v.)
thePill:capitalizewhenreferringtobirthcontrol,butonlywhenusedasanounandafter
the(e.g.,ShewasonthePilltoregulateherperiod./Theresanewpillonthemarket
withalowerdoseofestrogen.)
pinecone
pins,pinners(onPinterest)arealwayslowercase
playoff

plussize
PJs
Popartmovement
popstar,rockstar
primetime(oneword,allforms)
protester
protip(donthyphenate)
pseudowords:donthyphenate(e.g.,HerosefromObamastandintoapseudo
strategist)
Psy
publicly(notpublically)
punchline(twowords)
Q&A
quoteunquote(inspeech)
Quran
thereasonorthereasonthatpreferredtothereasonwhyinrunningtext
Reddit(capinrunningtext),redditor(lowercase,forsomeonewhousesReddit)
refriend/retweet/repin
RepublicanNationalConventionbutRepublicanconventionifnotspellingoutentirename
RepublicanParty(capP)
rideshare/ridesharing
rightclick(hyphenateasbothn.andv.)
RIP(nopoints)
rocknroll
rockpaperscissors
RockandRollHallofFame
romcom
royalbaby
theroyalfamily(lowercase)
RTd,RTs,RT(onTwitter)
RunD.M.C.
Satan,satanic,satanism

screensaver(twowords)
screencap
screengrab
screenshot
semiautomatic
servicemember
setlist
alShabaab
Shiite,Shiites(notShia,forthebranchofIslam,butShiaisacceptableinquotes)
shipnames:cappedanditalicized(USSAwesome)
shippers(whenreferringtoviewerswhocelebrateafictionalTVcouplesromanticarc)
shitlist
shithole
shitshow
shitstorm
shittalk(n.),shittalk(v.)
shoegazer
shooin
showrunner
shyest
sideboob
sidebutt
sideeye
smartphone(butcellphone)
snowblowed(forpasttenseofsnowblow)
S.O.(forsignificantother)
softcore
Solocup
soulmate
soundcheck
soymilk
spandex

spellcheck(n.andv.)
SpongeBobSquarePants
spraypaint(n.),spraypaint(v.)
Sriracha
staterepresentative(lowercasesandr,unlessitprecedespoliticiansname)
startup
theStates(whenreferringtotheUnitedStates)
Statehouse(alwayscapped)
stepgrandmother/stepgrandfather(closeupallsteprelationshipsunlessnextwordstarts
withvowel)
stockintrade
stopandfrisk(hyphenateinalluses)
storyline
streetwear
strugglebus
studentathlete(also,studentperformer,andthelike)
subreddit
superPAC
supervillain
surfbort
Sweet16
synthpop
takeout(n.),takeout(v.),takeaway(n.)
teaparty
teargas(n.)teargas(v.)
teepee
teleprompter
thinkpiece
ThirdWorld:avoidusedevelopingworld/countryinstead
ticktock
till(asabbreviationforuntil)
timelapse(adj.),timelapse(n.)

timeline(oneword,alluses)
Time(notTIME)magazine
theTodayshow(notTodayShow)
touchscreen
ToysRUs
tractortrailer
trans/transgender(nottransgendered)
trendspotting
tristate(oneword,lowercase)
tryto(nottryand,asin,Imgoingtotrytocallherlater.)
Twitter/tweeting/tweets
Twitterstorm
typeA,typeB(asinpersonality)
U.N.
U.S.,U.S.A.U.K.(butNYC)
username
Vineing(postaVine/useVineispreferredcapinalluses)
vinyasayoga
Vitaminwater
VDayisOKforValentinesDay,butusesparingly
Vneck
Vshaped
VogueParis,VogueItalia(notFrenchVogue,ItalianVogue)
voicemail
vs.(withaperiod,lowercaseinlistyposts),versus(spelledoutinnewsarticles,longform
stories)butv.forcourtcases
wack(n.),notcool,effedupwhack(n.,v.),ahardorresoundingblow,tohitwithahardor
resoundingblowalsogangster(asinGodfather)slang,tokill
WallStreet(spellout,ratherthanWallSt.,inrunningtext,unlesstalkingaboutaspecific
address)
WalMartStores(whenreferringtothecorporation)butIwenttoWalmart(whenreferring
totheretailstore)

Washington,D.C./theD.C.areabut,indatelines,justWASHINGTON
website/web/webpage
whistleblower(useinsteadofleaker,whichtendstohaveanegativeconnotation)
windbreaker
whoa
wideawake(hyphenated)
WikiLeaks
wineglass
WiFi
workflow(oneword)
WorldWideWeb
www:NeveruseinaURLunlessityoucantaccessthesitewithoutit(oriftheURL
requirestheoddwww1.orwww2.)allveryrareinstances!
Xacto
YA(foryoungadult)
yaaass
Yahoo(no!)
yeah
YouTube,YouTuber
zeitgeist(lowercase,eventhoughMWoftencaps)
zipcode(notZIPcode)
Ziploc
zs(akasleep)

ACRONYMS

Inmostcases,spelloutonfirstreferenceandfollowwiththeacronyminparentheses(if
therearesubsequentreferences):e.g.,bodymassindex(BMI).Lowercaseacronyms
withsixlettersormore(Nasdaq)exceptionisNASCAR.Possessiveacronymsendingin
SlikeCBSorPBSshouldtakeans,notjustanapostrophe(CBSssitcoms,
PBSsprograms,etc.).Wellknownacronymsandabbreviationsdonotneedtobespelled
out,evenonfirstreference.Useyourjudgment,butherearesomethatdontneedtobe

spelledout:

AIDS
ASPCA
CBS
CD
CEO
CIA
CNN
CPR
CT(scan)
DNA
DUI
ER
ESPN
FBI
FDA
HBO
HIV
HMO
HR
IQ
IRS
MIT
MRI
MTV
NAACP
NASA
NASCAR
Nasdaq
NBA
NBC

NFL
NHL
PBS
PC
PGA
PMS
SPF
SUV
UCLA
USDA
VCR
VH1
VHS
WNBA
WWF
YMCA

Cities/States/Regions
UseAPdatelineabbreviationsforstatesnamesincopywhenacityprecedesit:e.g.,
ThishappenedinBocaRaton,Fla.(Youllfindstateabbreviationsafterdatelines.)
L.A.isacceptableforLosAngelesonfirstreference,butothercityabbreviations(NYC,
S.F.,D.C.)shouldnotbeusedonfirstreferenceinbodycopy.
DescriptionsofaLongIslandbackgroundshouldincludeaspecifictown,e.g.,Hesfrom
Manhasset,N.Y.(notHesfromLongIsland,N.Y.).Asanadjective,LongIslandcan
standalonewithoutN.Y.e.g.,TheLongIslandsingerrecordedherfirstalbumatthe
ageof18.
Pleaseusedatelinesinalloriginalreportednewsstories.Ourstyleisasfollows:

NEWYORK,NewYorkRunningcopyloremipsumetcetcetc
SeebelowforU.S.citynamesthatarewellknownenoughtostandalonewithoutastate,
bothindatelinesandrunningtext(supplementingthelistinAP).(Note:Justuse
WashingtonforD.C.datelines.)
Atlanta
AtlanticCity
Austin
Baltimore
Berkeley
Boston
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Honolulu
Houston

Indianapolis
LasVegas
LosAngeles
Memphis
Miami(andMiamiBeach)
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
Nashville
NewOrleans
NewYork
Oakland
OklahomaCity
Orlando
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Pittsburgh
Sacramento

St.Louis
SaltLakeCity
SanAntonio
SanDiego
SanFrancisco
Seattle
Washington,D.C.
OtherprominentsmallerU.S.regionsmaynotrequireastatetoIDthem,butthecontext
mustbeconsidered.Theseinclude:
Albany
Aspen
BelAir
BeverlyHills
BigSur
Buffalo
CapeCod
Compton
DesMoines

FortLauderdale
TheHamptons
Harlem
Hollywood
Malibu
MarthasVineyard
Nantucket
NewYorksfiveboroughs(Brooklyn,Bronx,Manhattan,Queens,StatenIsland)
SantaFe
SantaMonica
SiliconValley
Soho(NYCandLondon)
SouthBeach
TimesSquare
States:SpelloutAlaska,Hawaii,Idaho,Iowa,Maine,Ohio,Texas,andUtah.Abbreviate
othersaslistedbelow(e.g.,BLOOMINGTON,Ind.):
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)
Foreigncitiesandregionsthatcanstandalone(forCanadianprovinces,addingthe
provincenameafteracityissufficientMontreal,Quebec,notMontreal,Quebec,
Canada):
Acapulco
Amsterdam
Athens
Baghdad
Bangkok
Barcelona
Beijing
Belfast
Berlin

Budapest
BuenosAires
Brussels
Cairo
Copenhagen
Dublin
Florence
Frankfurt
Geneva
Glasgow
Havana
HongKong
Istanbul
Jerusalem
Lisbon
Liverpool
London

Madrid
Manila
MexicoCity
Milan
MonteCarlo
Montreal
Moscow
Mumbai
Munich
Oslo
Ottawa
PanamaCity
Paris
Prague
Quebec
RiodeJaneiro
Rome

Saigon
Sarajevo
Shanghai
Singapore
St.Petersburg
Stockholm
Sydney
Tehran
TelAviv
Tokyo
Toronto
Tuscany
Vancouver
VaticanCity
Venice
Vienna
Warsaw

Zurich
DATES
September1961,spring1955arepreferredoverSeptemberof1961,springof1955
Formatfulldatesas:Oct.3,1983(notOctober3rd,1983)
Capitalizethenamesofmonthsinalluses.Whenamonthisusedwithaspecificdate,
abbreviateonlyJan.,Feb.,Aug.,Sept.,Oct.,Nov.,andDec.Spelloutthemonthwhen
usingalone,orwithayearalone.
Whenaphraselistsonlyamonthandayear,donotseparatetheyearwithcommas.
Whenaphrasereferstoamonth,day,andyear,setofftheyearwithcommas.
Examples(theseapplytoheadlinesanddeksaswell):
March1983wasagoodmonthbecausethatswhenIcameintotheworld.
Feb.4wasthecoldestdayofthemonth.
HisbirthdayisApril17.
Feb.14,2009,wastheworstValentinesDayever.
Episode3airsSaturday,Feb.1,at10:30p.m.
LGBT
Community:
Whenreferringtothebroadercommunity,queer(asinqueerpeopleorLGBTasin
LGBTpeople)isappropriate.Gayisnot.LGBTisonlyappropriatewhenreferringto
thebroadercommunityorgroupsofpeople,notwhenreferringtoindividuals.

Identification:
Unlessyoualreadyknowbasedonresearch,itshouldbestandardtoaskhowpeople
identifythemselves:gay,bi,genderqueer,queer,trans,etc.
ApersoncanbetransWITHOUTalsobeinggayorlesbian.Dontassume.
Pronouns:
Alwaysdefertothepronounsapersonchoosestouseforhimself/herself/themselves.
(Itsnotrudetoask.Infactitsencouragedtoask,Whatpronounsdoyouprefertouse?)
Ifitisnotpossibletoaskatransgenderpersonwhichpronounheorsheprefers,usethe
pronounthatisconsistentwiththepersonsappearanceandgenderexpression.
Transgenderterms:AdaptedfromtheGLAADTransgenderGlossaryofTerms.See
fulldocumenthere.
Transgender:Anumbrellaterm(adj.)forpeoplewhosegenderidentityand/orgender
expressiondiffersfromthesextheywereassignedatbirth.Thetermmayincludebutisnot
limitedto:transsexuals,crossdressersandothergendervariantpeople.Transgender
peoplemayidentifyasfemaletomale(FTM)ormaletofemale(MTF).Usethedescriptive
term(transgender,transsexual,crossdresser,FTMorMTF)preferredbytheindividual.
Transgenderpeoplemayormaynotdecidetoaltertheirbodieshormonallyand/or
surgically.
Transsexual:Anolderterm(NOTanumbrellaterm),whichoriginatedinthemedicaland
psychologicalcommunities.Whilesometranssexualpeoplestillprefertousethetermto
describethemselves,manytransgenderpeoplepreferthetermtransgendertotranssexual.
Askwhichtermanindi
vidualprefers.
Crossdressing:Tooccasionallywearclothestraditionallyassociatedwithpeopleofthe

othersex.CrossdressershouldNOTbeusedtodescribesomeonewhohastransitioned
tolivefulltimeastheothersexorwhointendstodosointhefuture.
Alwaysuseatransgenderpersonschosenname.Itisneverappropriatetoputquotation
marksaroundeitheratransgenderpersonschosennameorthepronounthatreflectsthat
personsgenderidentity.
Pleaseusethecorrecttermortermstodescribegenderidentity.Forexample,aperson
whoisbornmaleandtransitionstobecomefemaleisatransgenderwoman,whereasa
personwhoisbornfemaleandtransitionstobecomemaleisatransgenderman.
Avoidpronounconfusionwhenexaminingthestoriesandbackgroundsoftransgender
peoplepriortotheirtransition.Itisusuallybesttoreportontransgenderpeoplesstories
fromthepresentdayinsteadofnarratingthemfromsomepointormultiplepointsinthe
past.
Transgendertermstoavoid:
Avoid:transgenders,atransgender
Use:transgenderpeople,atransgenderperson
Transgendershouldbeusedasanadjective,notasanoun.NO:Tonyisatransgender.
YES:Tonyisatransgenderman.
Avoid:transgendered(adj.)
Use:transgender(adj.)
Avoid:shemale,heshe,it,trannie,tranny,shim,genderbender
Avoid:sexchangeoperation

Use:SexReassignmentSurgery(SRS)
Avoid:transvestite
Use:crossdresser
Avoid:sexchange,preoperative,postoperative
Use:transition
Avoid:GenderIdentityDisorder(GID)
Offensivebecauseitlabelspeopleasdisordered.
Avoid:bathroombill
Use:nondiscriminationlaw/ordinanceinstead.
MISCELLANEOUSSTYLEGUIDELINES
Abortion:
Insteadofprochoiceorprolife,pleasetrytouseproabortionrights/abortionrights
advocateorantiabortionwhenwritingaboutabortion,unlessyouarewritinganopinion
piecewithaspecificmessageattached.

Academicdegrees:
Bachelorsandmastersdegreesarepossessive(whenusedwithorwithouttheword
degree)associatedegreeisnot.Capitalizeinthefollowinginstances:BachelorofArts,
MasterofScience,etc.

Immigration:
ContrarytotheAP,undocumentedimmigrantisacceptableterminology,butavoid
illegalimmigrantunlesswerereferencingquotedmaterial.
YoungundocumentedimmigrantsbroughttotheU.S.aschildrenarereferredtoas
DREAMers(retainingcapitalizationoftheDREAMAct).
RapeandSexualAssault:
Avoidusingthewordaccuser(exceptinadirectquote)sinceitimpliesablameplaced
onthevictimallegedvictim(thoughnotperfect)isabetterchoice.
Bewaryoftakingwordsverbatimfrompressreleasesand/orpolicereports.Keep
languageasneutralaspossible.TheDartCenterforJournalism&TraumaatColumbia
JSchoolhasahelpfulguideforreportingonandwritingaboutsexualviolence.
NUMBERS
Spelloutonethroughnine,usenumeralsfor10andabove(exception:OKtouse
numeralsfornumbersunder10inlistsofheadlines,likeinCelebGossipRoundupstories.
AlsoOKtousenumeralsinnewsyheadlineslikethis10PeopleShot,3KilledAtDetroit
BarberShop).
Beconsistentwhenwritingoutnumbersinsuccession(e.g.,9,10,and11NOTnine,
10,and11).
NeverstartasentencewithanumeralUNLESSayearstartsasentence(2013wasa
totallybodaciousyear),buttrytoavoidthis.
Use1in4voters(figures)ifitsalargesampling.Butspellsixoutofninesenators
becausethesearefinitenumbersunder10.

Morethan1in4childrenareobese(notis).
Ages:
Usenumeralsforspecificages(The5yearoldhadaparty,Shewasturning30).
Spelloutdecades(inyourthirties)andvariations(Thetwentysomethings).
Decades:
90s/1990s(Not:90s,1990s,90s,nineties,eighties,oranyothercombination!)
Demographics(e.g.,inEntertainmentstories):
In18to49,therewas
18to49yearolds
Inthe1849demographic
Dimensions:
Generally,usefiguresandspelloutinches,feet,yards,etc.,toindicatedepth,height,
length,andwidthinlongformandnews/journalisticstories.However,inthecontextofalist,
forinstance,itisalsoacceptabletousefootandinchmarks(56)toindicateapersons
heightifspellingout5feet6inchesincontextappearsstilted/looksawkward.Useyour
judgment.
Examples:
Sheis5feet6inchestallthe5foot11inchmanthe6footmanthebasketballteam
signeda7footertheorcawhaleis26feetlong.

Theshipis200feetlong,100feetwide,and50feethigh.
Theroomis20feetby15feetthe20by15footroom.
Forecastersarepredicting8inchesofsnowtonight.
The750squarefootapartment.
Fractions:
Whenspellingoutfractionsinrunningcopy,hyphenate:Youllneedonethirdofacupof
sugarforthatrecipe,Morethanonehalfofthestudentbodyvotedforremovingsoda
machinesfromcampus.
HeresalinktoHTMLcodesforfractions.
Whenspelledout(i.e.,atthestartofasentence),hyphenateallcompoundnumbersfrom
twentyonethroughninetynine.
Grades(asinschool):
Hewasinthefirstgradeshewasafirstgradertheywerebothfirstgradeteachers.Use
figuresforgrades1012.
Inheadlines:
Forlists,alwaysuseanumeral.9AdorablePhotosofRachelMaddow,54Amazing
GIFsofNakedCableNewsHosts
Millionsandbillions:
Alwaysusenumerals(6millionpeople).Inheadlines,however,6Misacceptable.

Percentages:
Usefigure+percentsignunlessapercentagestartsasentence,inwhichcasespell
outthenumberandusethewordpercent.(Thesurveyshowedthat88%ofpeoplewould
ratherhangoutwithLilBubthanAnneHathaway,Eightfivepercentofthestaffvotedfora
pizzaparty.)
Exception:OWStermsthe1percentandthe99percent.
Prices:
99cents,$25,$2billiondeficit
Inlistsofitems,generallyrounduppricestonearestfulldollaror50centamount.(e.g.,
$17.15wouldbe$17$17.49wouldbe$17.50,$17.99wouldbe$18).
Spelloutforeigncurrencyratherthanusingsymbols(euros,yen,etc.).
Phonenumbers:
9170000000800ABRAMSME
Sports:
Scores:53(withanendash)not5to3.(Also,nocommanecessaryafterwonina
sentencesuchasTheKnickswon11098.)
Usedigitsforscores,statistics,andyardlines.Spellouteverythingelseunder10(e.g.,
ninthinning,firstquarter,thirdbase).
Temperature:
Expressedasnumeral+degrees.Noneedtorepeattheworddegreesifitsimplied.

(e.g.,Itwas5degreesout,butitfeltlike10.)
Usenumeralstoexpressrangesoftemperature(Itsgoinguptothe30stoday).No
needtoincludeFahrenheitifitsclearfromthecontext.
Time:
4:00,4a.m.,8p.m.EST,noon,midnight
Miscellaneous:
8mmfilm,8tracktape,Hot97,55mph,$150K
RACEANDETHNICITY
Usegoodjudgmentwhendeterminingwhetheritisappropriatetomentionapersons
race/ethnicityinastory.PerAP,appropriatesituationsinclude:
Inbiographicalandannouncementstoriesthatinvolvesignificant,groundbreakingor
historicevents,suchasbeingelectedU.S.president,beingnamedtotheU.S.Supreme
Courtorothernotableoccurrences.(e.g.,BarackObamaisthefirstblackU.S.president.
JeremyLinisthefirstAmericanbornNBAplayerofChineseorTaiwanesedescent.)
Whenreportingademonstrationordisturbanceinvolvingraceorsuchissuesascivil
rightsorslavery.
Whendescribingsuspectssoughtbythepoliceormissingpersoncases,raceshouldbe
mentionedonlyifthereisadetaileddescriptiontoworkwiththatincludesattireand/or
otheridentifyingmarks.Donotrefertotheraceofthepersonwhenapprehendedorfound.
PerAP:Capitalizethepropernamesofnationalities,peoples,races,tribes,etc.
UseblackratherthanAfricanAmerican,unlessitisrelevantinthecontextofastory
(e.g.,aconflictbetweenAfricanimmigrantsandAfricanAmericans)orifsomeoneprefers

tobeidentifiedasAfricanAmerican.
Avoidtheuseofblackasanoun.
WhendescribingtheethnicityofpeoplewithoriginsinCaribbeancountries,useHaitian,
HaitianAmerican,JamaicanAmerican,etc.,ratherthanAfricanAmerican.Instorieswhere
raceisafactor,whenpossible,askpeoplehowtheychoosetoselfidentify.Donotuse
AfricanAmericantodescribeAfricanpeoplewholiveinAmerica.
Avoidclumsyeuphemismslikeurbantargetedorracethemedtodescribefilmsor
televisionprogramswithmajorityblackcasts.
LatinoreferstothosehavingLatinAmericanoriginHispanictechnicallyrefersto
descendantsfromSpain.Usemorespecificidentificationwhenpossible(e.g.,Cuban,
PuertoRican,MexicanAmerican),butgenerallyuseLatinoratherthanHispanicwhena
broadertermisnecessary.(Latin@aconstructioncommononTumblrandTwitter
isalsoanacceptablevariation,makingroomformultiplegendersdespitetherestrictions
oflanguage.)
ThereismostlyoverlapbetweenthosewhoidentifyasLatinoandHispanic,butnotall:
OneexampleofLatinoswhoarenotHispanicareBrazilians.(Ahelpfulresourcecanbe
foundhere.)ReserveSpanishonlytodescribethepeoplewhoarefromSpain.
CORRECTIONS
Correctionsareimportantfortworeasons:First,becauseweneedtoberight.Andwhile
everyerrorisaweakness,someerrorsareinevitable,andfullyandopenlycorrectingthem
isastrength.
Thisnewpolicyhastwogoals.Oneistohaveabetterhandleonanymistakeswemake.
Buttheotheristoavoidtheonethingworsethanmakinganerrorwhichisresisting
correctingit.Weallmakemistakessometimesthefullnessandspeedofcorrectionsis
oneofthedelightsofdigitaljournalism,andweshouldembraceitinfull.

Acorrectionshouldincludetheaccurateinformation.Itshouldexplaintheerror,butshould
notrestateitexceptintwocases:Todebunkaclaimthatmightbespreadingorwhenit
wouldntbeclearwhattheerrorwaswithoutdoingso.(Seesamplecorrectionsattheend
ofthisdoc.)
Correctionsshouldbemadeforerrorsoffactnotmisspellingsortyposorbrokenlinks.
(Theonlytimeacorrectionwouldbemadeforamisspellingortypowouldbeif,for
instance,therearetwopeoplewithasimilarnameandatypomadeitappearasthough
weweretalkingaboutonepersoninsteadoftheother.)
Thecorrectionstoneshouldechothetoneoftheitem,inkeepingwithitsgravity.Fora
factualerrorin,say,afunnylist,thelanguagecanbefairlycolloquialandevenhumorousas
longasitcontainsthebasicbuildingblockswegotsomethingwrong,andhereisthe
correctinformationwhereasforanewserror,thelanguageshouldbemoresoberand
direct.AdumbmistakeonalistofweirdfactsaboutLoveActuallycanbegin:GAH.An
erroroffactinanewsstoryshouldusuallybelabeledCORRECTION.
CorrectionsshouldbeinplainEnglish,notinthesomewhatformalcorrectionsstyle
traditionalamongnewsorganizations.
Ifnotingthedate/timeofthecorrectionisrelevant,pleaseaddtotheendofthecorrection
inparentheses:(12/12/2013,4:25p.m.)
Beverythoroughandcareful.Theabsoluteworstthingistohavetocorrectyour
correction.Ifthecorrectionisaboutaperson,itsoftenagoodmovetoreadthecorrection
onthephonetoitssubjectbeforeprintingit.
Trytomentionthecorrectiononallchannelsthestorywentoutonifyoutweetedit,
tweetthecorrection,etc.
HatTippingaCorrection:
BegeneroustothepersononTwitterwhopointedouttheerrorwhetheryouarefeeling

generousornot,andnomatterhowobnoxiousthetweet.Thatpersondidyouafavorby
improvingyourpiece.Ifpossible,endthecorrectionwith(h/t:@twitterlunatic)andalinkto
thetweetinquestion.
Correctionsvs.Updates:
Updatesshouldbeusedtoreflectimportantnewinformationorclarificationscorrections
areformistakes.
Process:
Writersshoulddraftcorrections,butrunthembytheireditor,teamleader,orthe
afterhourslistforapproval/editingbeforeputtingthemin.
Theeditorwhoapprovesitshouldcc:corrections@mediaite.comontheapproval.
SampleCorrections:
Newsy,simplecorrection:
CORRECTION:TwitterincreasedthevalueofitsIPOsharestobetween$23and$25.
Anearlierversionofthispostmisstatedthevaluerange.
Newsy,restatingtheerror:
CORRECTION:TwittersCEOcouldnotbereachedforcomment.Anearlierversionof
thispostsaidTwittersCFOcouldnotbereachedforcomment.
(^Thisisalsoanexampleofwhenwhatwasmaybejustatypowarrantsacorrectionrather
thanjustaquickfix.)
Humorous,simplecorrection:
GAH:MileywasfirstdocumentedtwerkinginpubliconJan.20,2013.Anearlierversion

ofthisposthadthewrongdate.
Humorous,restatingtheerror:
OOPS:KimKardashiansfavoriteselfieposeisthesmize.Anearlierversionofthispost
saidherfavoriteselfieposeisduckface.
Ifnotingthedate/timeofthecorrectionisrelevant,pleaseaddtotheendofthecorrection
inparentheses:(12/12/2013,4:25p.m.)
Otherexampleswhererestatingtheerrorisnecessary:
CORRECTION:CronkitecoveredtheDDaylandingfromawarplane.Anearlierversion
ofthispostsaidhehadstormedthebeaches.
CORRECTION:OnKanyesnewalbum,acreditwasntlistedfortheproduceronthefirst
track.Anearlierversionofthispostsaidthatacreditwasntlistedforthewriter.
CORRECTION:Siberiantigersarethemostendangeredbigcatspecies.Anearlier
versionofthispostsaidpumaswerethemostendangeredbigcatspecies.