For crime suspects, use the suspect’s block and street, but not the exact address. For example: Joe Smith, the 500 block of Douglas Road. [REVISED August 2015]

adopt –  Resolutions are adopted; bills are passed by legislative bodies.

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

advice, advise –  noun, verb.

Adviser

affect, effect –  Affect should be used only as a verb. It means to act upon or influence. Effect as a verb means to bring about or accomplish. Effect as a noun means the result of an action. Example: The effect of the ruling was limited; it did not affect the litigants.

afterward –  Without s in all uses.

African-American –  hyphenated

agreement of subject and verb
Confusion on this point occurs chiefly with
(1) compound or complex subjects and
(2) collective nouns.

A compound subject (separate items usually connected by and or by commas and and) takes a plural verb: The governor and his escort were taken to the auditorium.

When the subject is a noun modified by a prepositional phrase, it is a complex subject and takes a singular verb: The governor, with his escort, was taken to the auditorium.

Collective nouns always have been a problem. Usage generally is to treat words like committee, government, class as singular: The committee offers the resolution.

However, when speaking of a committee, class, etc., acting as individuals, substitute “committee members” or “members of the class” and use a plural verb.

Sums of money always are singular: $100 was offered, $32.20 was the daily-double payoff, etc

Other words always considered singular are anybody, everybody, either, neither, headquarters, whereabouts.

Certain words ending in s but denoting a singular idea are treated as singular: mathematics, physics, politics. Examples: Mathematics is being subjected to new teaching approaches. Physics is the science of the hour. Politics receives expanded coverage in presidential election years.

aid, aide –  verb, noun.

air brake

air-condition, air-conditioned  –  verb, adjective.  The nouns are air conditioner and air conditioning.

airdrop, air-drop –  noun, verb.

airstrike –  One word.

Air Force

Alford plea – In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but pleads guilty to a lesser charge to escape more severe penalties had the case gone to trial.

All-America, All-American – adjective, noun.

all right

all time, all-time –  An all-time high but the greatest runner of all time. Avoid the redundant phrase all-time or new record.

allude, refer –  We allude to something when we speak of it without direct mention; we refer to it when we mention it directly. Example: Although any direct reference to his deformity annoyed him, there were times when she felt it necessary to allude to it.

al-Qaeda – An international terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden. [revised 2002]

alumni, etc. –  Alumnus is the masculine singular, alumni the masculine plural, also used for a group including both sexes. Alumna is the feminine singular, alumnae the feminine plural.

A.D. – Anno Domini

another – It is wrong and unnecessary to use “another” in cases such as “council appropriated another $9 million for children” when the story does not say that $9 million has been appropriated for anything else. “Another” should be used only when it refers to something exactly like the first.

ante, anti –  As prefixes the first means before and never takes a hyphen. The second means against and usually takes a hyphen. A good rule is to use the hyphen when anti is joined with a word that could stand alone: anti-trust, anti-Semitic. See hyphenation.

anticipate, expect –  The words are not synonyms. It is one thing to expect an event, another to anticipate it by thought or deed. Examples: A record crowd was expected. The manager anticipated the record crowd by installing extra bleachers.

antiseptic, disinfectant – Antiseptics, such as hand sanitizers, are used to kill germs on living things. Disinfectants, such as bleach, are used on inanimate things, such as countertops and handrails. The adjective is disinfectant, not disinfecting. [Added April 2020]

apostrophes –  See punctuation

appraise, apprise –  Appraise means to set a value on. Apprise means to inform.

appropriate, expropriate, take –  To appropriate usually means to set aside for a special purpose. Do not use as a synonym for take or steal. To expropriate is to deprive of property, usually by government action.

Arena – Huntington Center is the name to be used for the Lucas County-owned arena in downtown Toledo. In second and subsequent references, it is acceptable to refer to it as the downtown Toledo arena or the arena in Toledo. The arena opened in October 2009, and in April 2010, Huntington National Bank announced it would pay $2.1 million for six years for the naming rights. [Updated June 2011]

Army

as if –  Should be used instead of like  as a conjunction: He ran as if a demon were pursuing him. See like.

attorney –  Technically, an attorney is someone (usually, but not necessarily, a lawyer) empowered to act for another. A lawyer is a person admitted to practice in a court system. Do not abbreviate.

attribution –  It is preferable to use he said rather than said he unless this usage results in awkward constructions. Be careful in using alternate words for said. A speaker ordinarily points out an accepted fact. To indicate means to intimate or to show indirectly and is not appropriate with a flat statement.

Avoid excessive attribution in stories with limited sources once the identity of the speaker is established.

audience –  See spectators.

auger, augur – An auger is an instrument for boring. Augur means to foretell; also a seer.

author –  Do not use as a verb. Mr. Smith is the author of “Time & Again.”

authoress, poetess, etc. – Drop the needless ess.

auto –  Automobile is preferred, but auto or car is permitted to avoid repetition.

automaker

automotive plants, local
The following is style for local automotive plants:
Formal name of Chrysler group is now FCA US LLC.

• Toledo Assembly Complex makes Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee. [revised Dec. 2014.]
• Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg Township (not just Perrysburg). [revised Oct. 25, 2007]
• Dundee Engine Plant. [added August 2013]
• General Motors Co.’s Toledo Transmission Plant; no longer Hydramatic or Toledo Powertrain.
• Also in the area: GM Defiance Powertrain Plant;  Ford’s Lima Engine Plant;  [revised August 2013]

avoid, avert –  To avoid is to shun, to avert is to prevent: The driver averted the collision by avoiding the truck.

awhile, a while –  She plans to remain here awhile. She will remain for a while.

AWOL – A term that normally refers to military personnel who are absent from the ranks without having been given permission. A truant is one who skips school without permission.

axis –  Plural is axes.

B

BP Husky Refining LLC – Refinery located in Oregon, Ohio, and owned by BP PLC. [added Nov. 17, 2008]

BP PLC – The company no longer uses British Petroleum. Its refinery in Oregon is called BP Husky Refining LLC. [revised Nov. 17, 2008]

Baby Boomer – Uppercase, no hyphen.

back door, back-door –  noun, adjective.

back room, back-room –  noun, adjective.

back up, back-up –  verb, noun/adjective.

backward –  Without s in all uses.

backyard, back-yard –  Noun, adjective.

bad, badly –  The first is an adjective; the second an adverb: He feels bad (he is ill); he feels badly (his fingers are numb).

baleful –  Do not confuse with mournful or soulful. It means ominous.

Band-Aid – trademark, capitalize

banks, local

The following is the style for local banks:

• Citizens Bank (absorbed Charter One Bank) is part of Citizens Financial Group Inc, which is based in Providence, R.I. [Revised Feb. 9, 2017]
• Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio) is based in Toledo and is part of Fifth Third Bancorp, based in Cincinnati). [Revised Feb. 9, 2017]
• GenoaBank, based in Genoa, Ohio, with several area branches. Bank name is one word, with capital “B.” [Added Feb. 9, 2017]
• Huntington National Bank – Northwest Ohio, is based in Toledo and is part of Huntington Bancshares Inc., based in Columbus. [Revised Feb. 9, 2017]
• KeyBank, based in Toledo, is part of KeyCorp, based in Cleveland. A branch can simply be called KeyBank (one word). [revised Feb. 9, 2017]
• PNC Bank, based in Pittsburgh, is part of PNC Financial Services Group Inc. [Added Feb. 9, 2017]
• Resolute Bank, based in Maumee. [Added Feb. 9, 2017]
• Signature Bank, based in Toledo. [Added Feb. 9, 2017]
• Union Bank, based in Columbus Grove, Ohio and owned by Union Banking Co. [Added Feb. 9, 2017]
• Waterford Bank, based in Sylvania. [Added Feb. 9, 2017]

BAX Global, Inc. – The proper name for what was Burlington Air Express.

B.C. – Before Christ.

beside, besides –  Beside means alongside. Besides means “in addition to.”

best seller

between –  Generally refers to two only. Use among for more than two.

Bible, bible – Capitalize when referring to the holy book of Christanity, including 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 bible as a nonreligious term: My dictionary is my bible.

bi, semi –  Bi means two; so biennial is every two years, bimonthly every two months, etc. Semi means half; so semiannual is every half year, or biannual is twice a year.

Big Three – Use Detroit Three when referring to General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler. Traditionally, GM, Ford,  and Chrysler were referred to as the Big Three in the auto industry. However, years ago, Toyota and Volkswagen took over two of those slots. So, the term to use should be Detroit Three automakers. Do NOT use Big Three for GM, Ford and Chrysler. [Added February 2017]

bird watcher

bird’s-eye

Blade carrier – Use independent contractor. Do not use Blade carrier. Do not use contract employee.

blizzard – Often misused to refer to any snowstorm. See weather terms.

bloc, block – Use bloc for a combination of parties or of countries. Block is correct for other uses.

Block Communications, Inc.  –  The parent company of The Blade. Block Communications, Inc. owns communications companies in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. The company is based in Toledo, and the corporate headquarters is located at 405 Madison Ave, Toledo, OH 43604.

In Toledo, companies include : The Blade, Buckeye Broadband (cable and Internet; changed June 2016; BCSN and BCAN appear on Buckeye Broadband) and Telesystem (formerly Buckeye Telesystem).  Telesystem is a national voice, data, and security systems provider.

Buckeye Cablevision is the legal name for the company that operates Buckeye Broadband. Only use Buckeye Cablevision when quoting from legal documents or court filings. Otherwise, use Buckeye Broadband.  [Revised August 2019]

Other companies owned by BCI include the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania,  Erie County Cablevision in Sandusky, Ohio; WLIO-TV in Lima, Ohio, and television stations in  Kentucky (Louisville), Indiana, and Illinois. BCI also owns MaxxSouth Broadband in parts of Mississippi and Alabama; Libercus, a content management system/publishing system; and Toledo Detroit Outdoor (billboard company). On July 6, 2000, the parent company changed its name to Block Communications, Inc. It was previously known as Blade Communications, Inc.  [Revised August 2019]

Block News Alliance – The proper designation for writers from other Block Communications, Inc., properties when their work appears in The Blade.

BLOCK, Allan – Chairman of Block Communications Inc., parent company of The Blade. Use Allan (two “l”s in first name) Block with no middle initial on first reference.

BLOCK, John Robinson – Publisher and editor-in-chief of The Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. On first reference, use John Robinson Block. Use the “Robinson” middle name. Do NOT use a middle initial.

BLOCK, Susan – Wife of Block Communications Inc. chairman Allan and board member of BCI.  Do NOT use Susan Allan Block. On succeeding references, she is Mrs. Block. [Updated October 2018]

BLOCK Jr., William – Retired president and general manager of the Post-Gazette and co-publisher of The Blade and Post-Gazette. William Block Jr. is the father of Diana Block and the cousin of Allan Block and John Robinson Block. [Added August 2019]

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.

blowup, blow up –  noun, verb.

B’nai B’rith

Bombay – Formerly the name for the financial center in India. Blade style now is Mumbai. No longer use Bombay in datelines or stories. See entry for Mumbai. [added November 27, 2008]

booby trap, booby-trap –  noun, adjective/verb.

border line, borderline –  noun, adjective.

boyfriend

breach, breech –  Breach means a break or opening and is used in phrases like “a breach of faith,” ” a breach in the dike,” or “stepping into the breach.” Breech means the rear or hind portion, hence the breech of a gun, a breech delivery.

break-in, break in – noun, verb.

breakout, break out –  noun, verb.

bric-a-brac

bridge names –
I-280 over Maumee River: Veterans’ Glass City SkywayState Rt. 65 over Maumee River (drawbridge formerly used by I-280): Craig Memorial BridgeCherry Street/Main Street over Maumee River: Martin Luther King, Jr. BridgeState Rts. 2/51 over Maumee River: Anthony Wayne Bridge (also known as High Level Bridge, but that term not to be used on first reference)I-75 over Maumee River: DiSalle Bridge (also known as South End Bridge, but that term not to be used on first reference)U.S. 20/State Rt. 25 over Maumee River: Fort Meigs Memorial Bridge (also known as Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge, but that term not to be used on first reference)
[revised November 2007]broach, brooch –  The first means to open or introduce; the second is an ornament.

broadcast – Past tense is broadcast.

Buckeye Broadband, formerly Buckeye CableSystem, is the cable and Internet company owned by Block Communications Inc., which is the parent company of The Blade. [Revised June 2016]

Buckeye Cablevision is the legal name for the company that operates Buckeye Broadband. Note the “v” in Cablevision is lowercase and Cablevision is one word. Only use Buckeye Cablevision when quoting from legal documents or court filings. Otherwise, use Buckeye Broadband. [Revised June 2016]

Buckeye Telesystem — NAME CHANGE — The correct name is Telesystem. It is the commercial telephone company owned by Block Communications Inc., which is the parent company of The Blade. Note, the “s” in Telesystem is lowercase and Telesystem is one word. [Updated June 2016]

buckshot, bird shot –  Buckshot is large-size shot. Bird shot is small-size shot and is much more common. A person would never be “peppered” with buckshot.

bull, steer –  A bull is a male bovine. A steer is a castrated bull, usually fattened for market.

bull’s-eye

bullet –  The bullet is the projectile portion of a rifle or revolver cartridge, which includes a casing containing an explosive charge.

burglary –  See larceny.

business name style   [revised January 30, 2002]

• for Company,  use Co.
• for Companies, use Cos.
• for Corporation,  use Corp.
• for Incorporated, use Inc.
• for Limited, use Ltd.
• for Limited Liability Corporation, use LLC (no periods)
• for Limited Partnership  (like Cedar Fair), use LP (no periods)
• for Public Liability Company (like BP or Pilkington), use PLC (no periods)
• for Spanish, French or Italian companies using S.A., use SA (no periods)
• for Dutch companies using N.V., use NV (no periods)

business name style (con’t)

In most cases, don’t capitalize a whole name of a company  (use Trinova instead of TRINOVA), and, with few local exceptions (such as The Andersons), we don’t capitalize The in a company name (it’s Rouse Co., despite its official The Rouse Co.).

by (as prefix) –  No hyphen in most combinations, such as bylaw, bypass. Some exceptions are by-play and by-product.

by as suffix –  Usually takes a hyphen, as in passer-by.

bylines – See credit lines.

C

cabby

caliber – See weapons

call-up, call up – noun, verb

Canada goose

cancel, canceled, canceling, cancellation

cannon, canon – A cannon is a mounted gun; a canon refers to an ecclesiastical law or a church official.

canvas, canvass – Canvas is a fabric; canvass means to solicit.

capital, capitol  –  Capital applies to all uses except capitol, which is a building used as a seat of government.

capitalization

Some basic principles:

In addition to proper nouns, capitalize common nouns such as river, party, street, and west when they are part of proper names: Monroe Street, Maumee River, Democratic Party.

Lowercase common nouns when they stand alone in subsequent references: the party, the river.

Lowercase the common noun elements of names in all plural uses: the Democratic and Republican parties, Main and State streets, lakes Erie and Ontario.

Breeds of animals – Follow the spelling and capitalization in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. For breeds not listed there, capitalize words derived from proper nouns and use lowercase elsewhere: thoroughbred, Arabian mare, basset hound, Boston terrier.

Constitution, laws

Capitalize references to the U.S. Constitution, with or without the U.S. modifier.

When referring to the constitutions of other nations or of states, capitalize only with the name of a nation or of a state: the French Constitution, the Massachusetts Constitution, the nation’s constitution, the state constitution.

The city charter of Toledo and all other cities is lowercase.

The formal names of acts of Congress and the Ohio General Assembly are uppercase. When in doubt, lowercase. Bills before passage are lowercase: Taft-Hartley Act (or Law), but the labor act or the labor law; the Sherman Anti-Trust Act (or Law), but the Hawaii statehood bill.

Capitalize amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the First Amendment, the 14th Amendment. Also capitalize the Bill of Rights referring to the first 10 amendments.

Courts – Formal names of courts are capitalized: the Supreme Court of the United States (also the Supreme Court), Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court or District Court, Ohio Supreme Court, Lucas County Common Pleas Court, Toledo Municipal Court, Municipal Court. Also capitalize the formal names of a foreign nation’s courts.

Derivatives
Capitalize words that are derived from proper nouns and still depend on them for their meaning: American, Christian, English, Marxism.

Lowercase words that are derived from proper nouns but no longer depend on them for their meaning: scotch whiskey, french fries, brussels sprouts, china, india rubber, spartan, geiger counter, utopia.

Geographic terms
Capitalize nouns referring to recognized sections of the United States: the East, the South, the Midwest, East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast: The pioneers opened the West.
Capitalize Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula.

Capitalize East and West when referring to the eastern and western worlds; South Pacific, North Pacific, South Atlantic, North Atlantic; Far North, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, the Arctic, North Pole, South Pole, Eastern Hemisphere, Western Hemisphere.

Capitalize sections of the city of Toledo and well-known sections of other cities: West Toledo, South Toledo, New York’s West Side, Chicago’s South Side.

Lowercase points of the compass when used as directions; state and province in expressions like New York state, the province of Manitoba.

Capitalize Earth when referring to the planet, otherwise use lowercase. Lowercase sun, moon.

Government

General principles for federal, state, and local governmental units:

Always lowercase, never abbreviate: the federal government, the state government, the U.S. government. Lowercase administration and cabinet but capitalize a specific: The Bush Cabinet.

Capitalize the official names of all federal and state government departments, agencies, and offices: the State Department, the Treasury Department, the Treasury, the Defense Department, the Department of State, Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Secret Service.

Social Security – Capitalize Social Security (Administration and Act) when referring to the U.S. system. Capitalize Medicare and Medicaid.

Capitalize all departments, divisions, agencies, and offices below the state level: Toledo Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Board of Zoning Appeals, Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commission.

Capitalize Electoral College referring to the body that elects the president.

Capitalize the formal names of legislative bodies and their respective chambers with and without the state name.

Prominent individuals – The first name of the president may be omitted on first reference. The first names of all other officials including the vice president and the governors of Ohio and Michigan should be included on first reference. The same applies to all living former U.S. presidents. Use the first names of all deceased presidents except for such historic figures as Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson.

Our style is to use congressman and councilman in all references as in Congressman Janet Smith, Congressman Henry Smith; Councilman Bob Davis, Councilman Mary Davis. We do not use congresswoman or councilwoman. [revised October 23, 2002]

Here are the official designations of state legislative bodies:

• General Assembly: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia.

• Legislature:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. [NOT Ohio]

• Legislative Assembly: Montana, North Dakota, Oregon.

• General Court – Massachusetts, New Hampshire.

Examples: Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives; Ohio General Assembly, the General Assembly, the state Senate. Michigan Legislature.

Capitalize the names of full committees of Congress whether or not preceded by the name of the main legislative body: House Ways and Means Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Be certain of the full committee names. Ethics committee is a shortened, uncapped name. Subcommittees are not capitalized: a Senate military construction subcommittee.

The rule above applies to committees of state legislatures.

Capitalize all legislative bodies at the state and city level: Toledo City Council, Lucas County Commissioners, Spencer Township Trustees.

Capitalize the formal name of a foreign nation’s legislative body and its chambers both with and without the name of the country.

Holidays and observances – Capitalize names of holidays and observances, including day and eve in all uses: Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Labor Day.

Independent administrative agencies
Capitalize the formal names: Lucas County Mental Health Board, Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation, Children Services Board, Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, Regional Emergency Medical Services of Northwest Ohio, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Toledo Area Sanitary District, Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority, Metroparks Toledo.

Military
Capitalize Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines, in all cases when we are referring to those branches of the United States military. Capitalize Joint Chiefs of Staff, lowercase the partial title joint chiefs.

Services of other countries are down: the Portuguese navy, the French air force.

Capitalize the names of all military decorations.

Organizations and institutions
Capitalize formal names: Trinity Episcopal Church, Rotary Club.

Capitalize Security Council, General Assembly, Food and Agriculture Organization, and other U.N. agencies when preceded by U.N.

Many specialized agencies, such as the U.N. Educational Scientific, and Cultural Organization, are referred to by initials: UNESCO, UNIFEM.

Capitalize union only if it is part of an official name: United Auto Workers union, American Postal Workers Union.

Personal titles
Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before names: Justice Andy Douglas, Chairman Lee Iacocca.

Lowercase formal titles when used alone or in constructions set off from names by commas.

Lowercase terms that are job descriptions rather than formal titles: Blade staff writer John Jones, plumber Jack Adams.

Capitalize the title for the U.S. President, Pope and Dalai Lama.

Capitalize Chief Executive when referring to the President. His wife is the First Lady.

Political parties
Capitalize the names of recognized political parties and their members: the Republican Party, Republicans; the Democratic Party, Democrats; the Socialist Party, Socialists, the Communist Party, Communists.

Lowercase terms referring to political philosophies and their followers: democracy, communism, socialist.

Write the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic National Convention.

Public buildings
Capitalize formal names of buildings and their rooms: Spitzer Building, Government Center, Ohio’s Statehouse, the Oval Office, the Versailles Room at the Toledo Club, the Summit Room of the Holiday Inn.

Lowercase words such as courthouse, jail, and embassy in most instances: Lucas County courthouse and Wood County jail, but U.S. Embassy.

Publications – Do not capitalize magazine unless it is part of the name: Time magazine, Toledo Magazine. Similarly, do not cap the in the name of a newspaper or wire service unless it is part of the formal name. The New York Times, The Plain Dealer, Detroit News, The Associated Press.

Races
Capitalize nouns and adjectives referring to races, nationalities, and regional groups: Oriental, Semitic, Buckeye, Yankee, Englishman.  Lowercase oriental in other uses: oriental rug, oriental cooking.

Capitalize African-American and Caucasian when used, as in direct quotes, but lowercase the preferred black and white.

Religious
Capitalize all nouns and pronouns referring to the Deity.

Capitalize sacred books such as Holy Bible, the Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, the Qur’an.

Capitalize Lent, Lenten, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Ramadan, Sukkoth, Tet, etc.; Holy Communion, Eucharist. Mass, parts of the Mass such as the Credo, Gloria, Sanctus.

Capitalize Hades, Satan; lowercase heaven, hell, devil.

Capitalize church as part of the official name of a religious body or congregation.

Lowercase baptism, christening, biblical; day in Latter-day Saints and Seventh-day Adventists.
See titles for capitalization of religious titles.

Royalty, nobility
Do not capitalize titles when standing alone but do capitalize them when used with the name of the person: Queen Elizabeth, queen of England, the queen.

Honorary titles and titles of nobility are capitalized when they serve as alternate names: Lady Jane Wellesley, only daughter of the duke of Wellington, has been linked romantically with Charles, the prince of Wales. The duke is rumored to dislike the prince. See royalty.

Schools and colleges
Capitalize the proper name of a school district: Toledo Public Schools, Washington Local Schools, Penta County Joint Vocational School District, Whiteford Agricultural School District.

Capitalize the formal names of schools: Scott High School, Byrnedale Junior High School, Gateway Middle School, Harvard School, Coy Elementary School.

Capitalize formal names of colleges or universities: University of Toledo, Indiana University, University of Michigan. Lowercase subordinate colleges and divisions of universities: Harvard law school, Ohio State University history department.

Capitalize academic degrees only when abbreviated: BA (bachelor of arts), PhD (doctor of philosophy).

Ships, boats
Do not capitalize the word designating the classification of a ship or boat: battleship Missouri, aircraft carrier Saratoga, cruiser Toledo, etc. The same applies to words like schooner, yacht, ketch, etc.

In yacht racing, however, the racing class is capitalized: Comet, Vixen, Star, Thistle; the Star class yacht Arcturus, the Comet class sailboat Halley.

Time periods
Capitalize names of geologic and archaeological times: Cambrian, Paleozoic. Lowercase the generic word: Neolithic age.

Lowercase words such as baroque, classical, romantic except when referring to specific periods in art, literary, or music history.

Lowercase century: a 19th century poet; the Magna Carta was signed in the 13th century.

Lowercase daylight-saving time.

Titles of compositions – Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio and television programs, works of art.

Treaties – Capitalize the official name. When in doubt, lowercase.

Wars – Capitalize Civil War, Revolutionary War (U.S. only), Korean War, Vietnam War, World War I, World War II, Persian Gulf War, WWI, WWII, etc. Do not capitalize variations, such as gulf war.

capture  – It is better and shorter to write the fugitive was captured than that he was apprehended. Seize is a permissible headline synonym for capture but avoid nab.

Carat, karat  – Carat is gem weight; karat is the fineness of gold.

carbon monoxide –  This poisonous gas is odorless, colorless, and flavorless. Do not refer to it as a fume. Write his death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or just carbon monoxide.

Casino – The casino that opened in May 2012 is called Hollywood Casino Toledo. Be sure to include Toledo, because is is part of the official name. The casino is owned and operated by Penn National Gaming Inc. of Wyomissing, PA.
cave-in, cave in – noun/adjective, verb.
cease-fire – noun and adjective.

cement, concrete – Cement is an ingredient in concrete, Sidewalks, roads, etc. are made with concrete, not cement.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Located in Atlanta, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On first reference, use Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Precede with national, federal or U.S. if needed for clarity. CDC is acceptable on second reference and it takes a singular verb.  [Added April 2020]

celebrant, celebrator – A celebrant is a person who officiates at a religious ceremony. A celebrator is someone having a good time.
center field, center fielder – nouns.
center-field – adjective.

Centerior Energy Corp. – see FirstEnergy Corp.

chairman,  – Do not use chair, chairwoman or chairperson. Capitalize the title before the name: Chairman Janet Smith, Chairman Bob Davis  (revised October 31, 2002)

chaise lounge

Charter Behavioral Health System – No longer Charter Hospital of Toledo.

checkup, check up – noun, verb.

chock-full

Chrysler Group LLC is now called FCA US LLC- Use it on first reference when referring to the new company. The parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobile N.V. Also, see automotive plants, local.
[Revised Dec. 17, 2014]

Toledo Assembly Complex (formerly Toledo Jeep Assembly complex)- Owned by FCA US  LLC. The complex is made up of two sets of plants, one that makes the Jeep Wrangler and the other makes the Jeep Cherokeee.  [revised Dec. 17. 2014].

See automotive plants, local.

claim – Do not use as a synonym for assert, declare, or insist. A good rule of thumb is to use claim as a verb only with a direct object: He claimed the prize.

clampdown, clamp down – noun, verb.

clarifications – See corrections.

Clarion Hotel – No longer the Sheraton Westgate.

Clazel Theater – New name of the historic theater in Bowling Green. Do not use Cla Ze or Cla-Zel. It’s one word: Clazel. It used to be hyphenated after the original owners Clark and Hazel, but that is no longer what it is called. [Revised October 2009]

clean-cut

cleanup, clean up – noun/adjective, verb.

clear-cut

cliches – Avoid old, inaccurate cliches: hammered out a contract; a sweeping bill; a massive tax cut; braved the rain, etc.

climactic, climatic – The first pertains to a climax: a climactic scene of a play. The second pertains to the climate: Some scientists predict severe climatic changes.

climax, culminate – Use climax as a transitive verb, culminate as an intransitive verb (with in): A banquet climaxed the day’s events. The day’s events culminated in a banquet.

close-up – noun and adjective.

closure – Most cases.

cloture – In legislative bodies.

co – Use the hyphen in compounds like co-defendant, co-sponsor, co-worker, and co-star. Other words, like copilot and correspondent, are not hyphenated.

coined verbs – In some cases coinages of verbs from nouns have become accepted: the couple vacationed; the family picnicked; the home was burglarized. However, some verb forms such as to impact and to prioritize are still not considered good usage. If in doubt, consult the dictionary.

coliseum, Colosseum – A coliseum is an enclosed arena. The Colosseum is the famed ruins in Rome.

Colombia – The South American country.

color-blind

come – Announcements, statements, wars, peace, cannot come.

commander in chief

commas – See punctuation.

Common Space – The arts organization called The Common Space, run by Martin Nagy, has two locations: Common Space in the former Glann School on Reynolds Road just north of Dorr Street, and Common Space Two, the former Martin School at Hill Avenue and Holland-Sylvania Road.

community-based corrections – This is the catch phrase for diverting inmates from costly medium and high-security facilities, such as the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, to community alternatives, such as minimum security facilities, halfway houses, and house arrest with electronic bracelets, for example.

community-oriented policing – This is a return to the days when officers walked neighborhood beats. It is a style of policing that takes officers out of squad cars and mixes law enforcement with social work.

Companies
LOCAL     [revised Oct. 25, 2007]

• The Andersons Inc., based in Maumee (The should be capitalized).
• Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (use ampersand), based in Findlay.
• Dana Inc. (formerly Dana Holding Corp.), based in Maumee [revised January 2017]
• First Defiance Financial Corp., based in Defiance.
• La-Z-Boy Inc. ( no Chair in the name), based in Monroe.
• Libbey Inc. (no longer Libbey Glass), based in Toledo.
• HCR ManorCare Inc., renamed/rebranded ProMedica Senior Care [October 2020]
• N-Viro International Corp., based in Toledo.
• Ohio Art Co., based in Bryan
• Owens Corning  (no hyphen, no Co., or Corp., and no Fiberglas), based in Toledo.  Second reference: OC.
• Owens-Illinois Inc., (use hyphen), based in Perrysburg. Second reference: O-I .
• ProMedica (one word, M is capitalized), based in Toledo. [Added March 2019]
• ProMedica Senior Care (previously HCR ManorCare Inc. [Added October 2020]
• Rurban Financial Corp., based in Defiance.
• Tecumseh Products Co., based in Ann Arbor [revised February 2011]
• Welltower (previously Health Care REIT Inc.), based in Toledo [Revised March 2019]

Companies with big local presence [revised May 2015]

• Chrysler Group LLC [revised 7/16/2009]
• FirstEnergy Corp. (owns Toledo Edison)
• Ford Motor Co.
• General Motors Co. [Revised July 16, 2009]
• Marathon Petroleum Corp. is based in Findlay. It was formerly affiliated with Marathon Oil. Its subsidiaries include MPLX LP and Speedway LLC. [revised May 20, 2015]
• Pilkington North America, a subsidiary of Nippon (formerly was Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.)
• Spartan Stores Inc. (owns Pharm stores)
  See also: automotive plants, banks, malls

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

complexion – Use as a noun: She was of light complexion. Avoid complexioned and complected.

compose, comprise – The easiest rule of thumb is that comprise is the equivalent of is composed of: The book comprises 12 sections. The book is composed of 12 sections. Do not use is comprised of.

computer virus – A destructive, repetitive program “hidden” in a shared computer program that eats away at a system’s programs and stored information.

conditional clauses – Use the past perfect in the if clause, the past conditional in the main clause.Right: If the dog had kept running, he would have caught the rabbit.

Wrong: If the dog would have kept running, he would have caught the rabbit.

congressman –  Do not use congresswoman  or congressperson. Capitalize the title before the name: Congressman Janet Smith, Congressman Bob Davis (revised October 31, 2002)

conscious, aware – We are conscious of what we feel but aware of what we know: Police were aware (not conscious) of the bank robbers’ plans.

Consumer Price Index – Based on a variety of goods and services, this is the chief measurement of inflation in the United States. Many government and private organizations use the index as a yardstick for revising salaries, wages, welfare benefits, and other payments to keep pace with inflation. As a result the index affects the income of about half the people in the United States.

continuous, continual – What is done continuously is done without interruption, but a man can work hard continually and still take time out to sleep.

controller, comptroller – Controller is the preferred word except when the official designNation is comptroller, as the comptroller of the United States.

co-op

cop-out

cops – Avoid the usage for policemen except in quotes, light features, and entertainment stories.

coronavirus – Use coronavirus. Do Not use COVID-19 unless it is part of a quote in a story. COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms of the virus can include fever, cough, and breathing trouble. Most develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.

corrections – This is the format: An article on a specific topic on a specific day made an error. The correct information is ——- ———– ——-. Except in very rare circumstances do not repeat the error.

Example of a correction:
An article yesterday Thurs. 9/7 on Continental Express Airlines’ use of larger planes on Toledo-to-Cleveland flights misidentified the Toledo station manager for Continental Express.  The manager is Gus Lahanis.

Example of an invented sports correction:
An article in yesterday’s sports section incorrectly reported the winners of the Grand Goose shuffleboard tournament. George Smith placed first and Emma Jones was second.

COSI – The Center of Science & Industry goes by COSI. When referring to the center, use COSI exclusively. On subsequent references, it may be called a hands-on science and education center.

council, counsel – Council is a deliberative or advisory body, as city council, a legislative council, ecclesiastical council. Counsel is legal or other advice or the person who gives it. The word counselor also is used for one who gives advice.

councilman –  Do not use councilwoman or councilperson. Capitalize the title before the name: Councilman Janet Smith, Councilman Bob Davis  [Revised October 31, 2002]

counter – Forms one-word compounds except when the second part of the combination begins with an r.

Countian – DO NOT use it or Lucas Countian. Countian is a made up word. Use Lucas county residents or count residents.  [Added January 2013]

counties – On first reference and in headlines county standing alone always means Lucas County. Do not use the name of a county by itself in a headline: Say a Lenawee County man; not a Lenawee man.

couple, pair

When used in the sense of two people, the word takes plural verbs and pronouns: The couple were married Saturday and left Sunday on their honeymoon.

In the sense of a single unit use a singular verb: Each couple was asked to give $10.

The above also applies to pair.

Do not write: Jones got a couple hits. Make it a couple of hits.

court cases – Italicize the names of lawsuits: Roe vs. Wade.

courtesy titles – see titles.

court-martial, courts-martial

cover-up, cover up – noun, verb.

coverage – We will cover with Blade staff all non-spot news events that occur within 150 miles of Toledo and which are sufficiently important to be likely to attract national coverage, These may include, but are not limited to, institutional openings, funerals, graduation speeches, parades, performances, appearances by luminaries. Excluded are sports events and trials.

COVID-19 – Use coronavirus. See coronavirus entry.

crash-land – verb.

crash-landing – noun.

credible, credulous – Credible means believable. Credulous means ready or disposed to believe.

Credit lines
All caps. Use the full name of the news service with photos one column and larger. Half-column wire photos run without credit.

Bylined articles written by Blade staff members carry the credit:
By JOE McGINTY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
unless the writer has a title such as business writer, music critic, arts writer, etc.

Bylined articles from writers based at other newspapers owned by Block Communications, Inc., carry the credit:
BLOCK NEWS ALLIANCE

Bylined articles by non-staff writers carry the credit:
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE

Articles written in The Blade newsroom from regional material provided by paid stringers are credited:
BLADE CORRESPONDENT

Staff-produced dateline and non-bylined articles are credited:
BLADE STAFF

Articles produced in The Blade newsroom from both staff-generated and news-service material are credited:
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES
[revised March 2010]

News-service stories that require bylines follow the same credit format.
Examples:
By TAD BARTIMUS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Datelined non byline news-service articles are credited as follows:

Datelined news-service articles should be credited as specifically as possible. Use the name of the newspaper, such as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times or Washington Post. Do not use abbreviations, such as AP, NYT, or CP. Spell out names of the wire services.

Use BLADE NEWS SERVICES when dispatches are blended. [revised March 2010] Credit lines run above the dateline, and some examples are:

• ASSOCIATED PRESS
• REUTERS
• NEW YORK TIMES
• WASHINGTON POST
• BLADE NEWS SERVICES

Credit lines for photos

For staff photos:
THE BLADE/PHOTOGRAPHER NAME

For freelance photos and pictures taken by Blade reporters:
PHOTOGRAPHER NAME FOR THE BLADE

For AP, New York Times, Reuters: ASSOCIATED PRESS, NEW YORK TIMES, REUTERS. If you can determine that the picture was taken by a newspaper, use the name of the paper, such as CHICAGO TRIBUNE, or LOS ANGELES TIMES.

For pool photo:
POOL PHOTO/PHOTOGRAPHER NAME

criteria, criterion – plural, singular.

critical – A person near death in a hospital is in critical condition. A person is critical when he criticizes someone or something.

cross as prefix – Usually hyphenated in combinations, but there are exceptions like crossover and crosswise.

cross-country

cross-examine

cross fire – noun

cuff links

Cutlines
The Blade uses two kinds of cutlines, so-called cutboxes and tie-in lines.

Cutboxes, used with photos without an accompanying story, have a headline briefly summarizing the photo, plus a block of text.    Cutlines should be written in the present tense except where common sense or historical times make it impractical. They should help tell the story with pertinent information; they should describe whatever is necessary to make the picture meaningful, but they should not state the obvious that is insulting to the reader: The politician kisses a baby or Molly Jones puts on her new shirt.

Tie-in cutlines are used with photos that
accompany articles. These cutlines identify people and/or things and the action in the picture. The day is not necessary because it is in the story. Use single quotes in all cutlines.

Cutlines with half-column and one-column mugshots include a brief description of the pictured person’s role to the article with which the cut appears. Limit half-column cuts to a two-line maximum, dropping first name if needed. Use verbs and articles where possible.
Examples:
half-column of Liz Taylor
Taylor: set
to wed again
one-column of the police chief
Chief Felker: He is
injured in a crash:

Cutline reefers now read STORY ON PAGE x.

Weather cutlines should indicate the forecast and refer.

cutoff, cut off – noun/adjective, verb.

cut-rate

D

Dana Inc. (formerly Dana Holding Corp.), based in Maumee. [revised January 2017]

Datelines (also see state names)
All articles originating outside Lucas County with the exception of Rossford, Northwood, and Perrysburg carry a dateline.

All place names included on road maps published by the states of Ohio and Michigan will be used in datelines. Datelines from other states should be based on the Rand McNally atlas. Do not use townships as datelines. Stories developing in rural areas should carry a dateline of the nearest community on the map. In all cases it is essential high in the story to locate the community by appropriate indicators such as county and distance from a more well-known location.

All 4-star communities outside Lucas County as well as well-known and area cities stand alone in datelines and in body copy. Others should be followed by the state or Canadian province (see abbreviations) or by the name of the country. Names of countries are not abbreviated.

A dateline is required when the action we are reporting happened outside Toledo, even though we may be covering the event from here.

We would not use a dateline when we are simply interviewing an out-of-town source for a story we are developing or for a story we are following, as long as the news event is not happening in that town.

In certain cases, to avoid confusion, it may be necessary to let the reader know that we are conducting a telephone interview. An example would be interviewing an out-of-town person in advance of his or her Toledo appearance, such as an entertainer, author, scientist, etc. It is desirable to let the reader know by the third paragraph that we were conducting a telephone interview. If that’s not possible, it should be high up in the story – and before the runover.

THE FOLLOWING CITIES STAND ALONE:
Akron, Ann Arbor, Bowling Green, Bryan, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus,  Dayton, Defiance, Erie, Findlay, Fostoria, Fremont, Kelleys Island, Lambertville,  Luckey, Napoleon, Port Clinton, Sandusky, Temperance, Tiffin, Wauseon, Youngstown [Revised March 2019]

THESE CITIES REQUIRE THE STATE:
Toledo Area (Ohio):
Ada, Alvordton, Archbold, Bellevue, Bluffton, Bradner,  Carey, Clyde, Curtice, Custar, Cygnet, Delta, Deshler, Elliston, Fayette,  Gibsonburg, Graytown, Haskins,  Hicksville, Holgate,  Lakeside, Leipsic, Liberty Center, Little Sister Island,  Lyons, Marblehead, McClure, Metamora, Middle Bass Island, Montpelier,  North Baltimore, North Bass Island, Norwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio City, Paulding, Pettisville, Pioneer, Portage, Put-in-Bay, Rattlesnake Island, Risingsun,  South Bass Island,  Stryker,  Upper Sandusky, Van Wert, Wapakoneta,  West Sister Island, Woodville, Wyandot. [revised July 19, 2012]

THE FOLLOWING MICHIGAN CITIES STAND ALONE:
Adrian, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Lambertville, Lansing, Luna Pier, Monroe, Ottawa Lake, Temperance. All others would take the Mich. including Erie (to avoid possible confusion with Erie, Pa.)  [Added August 2019]

THESE CITIES REQUIRE THE STATE:
Toledo Area (Michigan):
Blissfield, Deerfield, Dundee, Ida, Maybee, Morenci, Ottawa Lake, Petersburg, Riga, Samaria, Tecumseh.  [revised March 2019]

THESE CITIES STAND ALONE:
United States:
Anchorage, Annapolis, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Boise, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cheyenne, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, El Paso, Fort Worth, Greensboro, Hartford, Hollywood, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Jersey City, Juneau, Kansas City, Lansing, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, New York,  Norfolk, Oakland,  Oklahoma City, Omaha, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, Spokane, St. Louis, St. Paul, Tacoma, Tallahassee, Tampa, Topeka,  Tucson,  United Nations, Virginia Beach, Washington

The Americas :
Buenos Aires, Calgary, Caracas, Edmonton, Guatemala, Havana, Managua, Mexico City, Montreal, Panama, Quebec, Rio de Janeiro, San Salvador, Sao Paulo, Saskatoon, Toronto,  Vancouver, Whitehorse, Winnipeg,

THESE CITIES STAND ALONE:

Other Continents:
Algiers, Amsterdam, Athens, Baghdad, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Beirut, Belfast, Belgrade, Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Budapest, Cairo, Calcutta, Cape Town, Casablanca, Copenhagen, Damascus,  Dublin, Edinburgh, Gdansk, Geneva, Glasgow, Hamburg, Hanoi, Helsinki, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, Leningrad, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Manila, Marseille, Melbourne, Monte Carlo, Moscow, Munich, Naples, New Delhi, Oslo, Paris, Phnom Penh, Prague, Pretoria, Rome, Seoul, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Turin, Vatican City, Venice, Vienna,  Warsaw, Yangon, Zurich.

data – The word typically takes singular verbs and pronouns when writing for general audiences and in data journalism contexts: The data is sound. In scientific and academic writing, plural verbs and pronouns are preferred. Use databank and database, but data processing (n. and adj.) and data center.

Davis-Besse nuclear power plant. The name is hyphenated, but the “n” in nuclear, “p” in power, and “p” in plant are all lowercase. [Added November 2011]

daylight-saving –  adjective.

day – Use days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) in stories for days within seven days before or after the current day. Do NOT use today, tomorrow, yesterday, or last night.  Do not use this morning or tonight, but explain in the story the specific time of the action when possible. We will follow this style both in the printed newspaper and on toledoblade.com. [Added November 2011, Updated April 2012, Updated July 2017]

dead end, dead-end –  noun, adjective/verb.

Democrat, Democratic  – Democrat is the proper noun referring to a member of the political party. Democratic is its adjective. See capitalization.

desert, dessert –  Two nouns are spelled desert. One, pronounced DESert, refers to a desolate or dry area. The other, pronounced deSERT, same as the verb, means something deserved or earned: “He got his just deserts.” Dessert is a course served at the end of a meal.

Detroit Three – Use when referring to General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler. Do NOT use Big Three. See Big Three entry. [Added February 2017]

dialect –  Dialect should be avoided, even in quoted matter, unless it is clearly pertinent to a story.

differ, different –  Both words should be followed by from, not by than. However, differ in the sense of disagree is followed by with.

Examples: The gray squirrel differs from the red in size as well as color. The viola is different from the violin in size and pitch. The witness differed with the senator on the question of privileged information.

different – Do not use it unnecessarily, as in: he had 17 different jobs. She took 17 different pills.

Dingell – The late U.S. Rep. John (D., Dearborn). Not Trenton

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.

diseases – Do not capitalize diseases such as cancer, emphysema, leukemia, hepatitis, etc., but do capitalize the shorthand COVID-19, MERS, SARS. When a disease is known by the name of a person or geographical area identified with it, capitalize only the proper noun element: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Ebola virus, etc.

Avoid such expressions as: He is battling COVID-19. She is a stroke victim. Use neutral, precise descriptions: He has stomach cancer. She had a stroke. [Added April 2020]

DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid is a genetic code contained in the nuclei of human cells. Except for identical twins, no two people have identical DNA patterns.

dominate – verb.

double check, double-check –   noun, verb.

double play, double-play  – noun, adjective.

double-talk –  noun.

double time, double-time – noun, adjective/verb

douse, dowse –  The first means to plunge into water; the second, to use a divining rod to find water.

drier, dryer –  adjective, appliance

dropout, drop out –  noun, verb.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education – First reference should be Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Following references use DARE [revised October 23, 2002]

drugstore

drunk – He was drunk (when the adjective follows the noun). But a drunken driver; drunken driving.

due to – Not accepted as a substitute for “caused by” or “because of.”

dumpster – (Dumpster, a former trademark)  is a large metal trash bin, often of a kind that is emptied, or transported to a dump, by a specially equipped truck. Because there is no longer a trademark for the brand, the ‘d” in dumpster does not need to capitalized. [Updated October 2020]

E

easy, easily  –  Easy as an adverb survives only as a vulgarism and in a few phrases, mostly colloquial: stand easy, take it easy, easy come easy go, easier said than done.

Electricity – How much electricity a power plant produces can be stated in megawatts. How much it costs to generate that power or what consumers pay for that power should be stated in megawatt-hour or kilowatt-hour. For example: BigPower Plant generates 800 megawatts of electricity but it costs it $100 per megawatt-hour.
[Added March 2017]

Electric Auto-Lite – The name of the Toledo company when it was the site for the 1934 strike where the National Guard charged the protesters, killing 2 and wounding hundreds. The strike was one of the formative job actions in the founding of the UAW and CIO. In 1961, Electric Auto-Lite became Electric Autolite, at which time Autolite became a brand name.
[Revised October 30, 2002]

elude  –  To avoid adroitly, evade. See allude.

emigrant, immigrant –  A person emigrates from a country and immigrates into another. Thus an emigrant from Germany becomes an immigrant to the United States.

illegal immigrant – Blade style for immigrant who is illegally in the United States. Do not use the euphemism undocumented.

eminent, imminent –  Eminent means noted; imminent means near in time.

email –  Changed in June 2011 to follow the style of Associated Press. No longer use with a hyphen, and addresses should be in boldface. [Revised June 2011]

enact – Laws are enacted; bills are passed.

enclose – Preferred over inclose for all uses.

endorse – Now preferred over indorse in all uses.

en route – Two words.

envelop, envelope –  verb, noun.

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. Follow declarations of public health officials. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Do not write global pandemic, which is redundant. [Added April 2020]

erstwhile – Means former.

esports – Acceptable in all references to competitive multiplayer video gaming. Use alternate forms like eSports or e-sports only if part of a formal name, like an organization or arena. Capitalize at the start of sentences. Like other collective nouns that are plural in form, esports takes singular form when the group or quantity is regarded as a unit.

estate – An estate is used to refer to a large landed property owned by an individual of great wealth; said property would contain a large residence and other structures of great value, all of which would require a staff to maintain. An estate would not contain rental property and slum conditions on the property as was the case with Vice President Al Gore’s home and property that, in addition to his home, contained substandard housing being rented to a poor family. We and other media, in reporting that story, referred to the Gore property as an “estate.” Do not use “estate” to mean only an expensive home on landed property as defined in Webster’s Dictionary.

ethics committee – Not the official name of the congressional panel.

ever as prefix – Usually not hyphenated: everbearing and everlasting. Use a hyphen when the dictionary does not give a one-word form.

ex – Takes the hyphen when used in the sense of the former: ex-king, ex-president, ex-senator. Be sure the prefix is used with the right word. For instance, John J. Gilligan is an Ohio ex-governor because he is still an Ohioan; he is not an ex-Ohio governor. However, write ex-public official rather than public ex-official. In this case the ex refers to the whole phrase.

expect – See anticipate.

extradite – The governmental unit that gives up the prisoner does the extraditing: California extradited the suspect to Ohio. The suspect was extradited by California to Ohio. Ohio sought the extradition of the suspect by California.

eye opener

F

fact finder

fact-finding – noun/adjective

Shops at Fallen Timbers – Name of faux-village style mall in Maumee, located off U.S. 24, just west of U.S.23/I-475. The mall is owned by General Growth Properties Inc. of Chicago.

faker, fakir – The meaning of the first is obvious. The second is a Moslem or Hindu holy man or ascetic.

Far East – The easternmost portions of the continent of Asia: China, Japan, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the eastern portions of the Soviet Union. See Southeast Asia.

farmhand

farmhouse

farm worker

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.

fat cat

female – Do not use as a synonym for woman. See lady.

fewer, less – Use fewer for people/individuals or things that can be counted. Fewer than 100 applicants applied. Use less with a number that describes quantity or bulk. Police recovered less than $1,500; It happened less than 36 hours ago; The recipe calls for less than two cups of sugar.

FFA – The official name of what formerly was Future Farmers of America.

fiance, fiancee – Fiance refers to a man; fiancee to a woman.

Fiberglas – Trademark of Owens Corning.

fiber glass, fiber-glass – noun, adjective.

Fifth Third Field – On first reference the new stadium should be called by its formal name. In second and subsequent references, it is acceptable to refer to it as the new Mud Hens stadium, or the stadium, etc. [revised January 30, 2002]

figure – The verb means calculate or estimate using figures. It is correct to say “He figured his income tax,” questionable to say “John Jones figured in the inquiry.”

firefighter

fire tower

first-rate – noun/adjective

FirstEnergy Corp. – owns Toledo Edison Co. and is based in Akron. FirstEnergy (one word) was created from merger of Centerior Energy Corp. and Ohio Edison Co. [ revised January 30, 2002]

flair, flare – Flair is a knack or talent, flare as a noun is a torch.

flare up, flare-up – verb, noun.

flaunt, flout – To flaunt is to display ostentatiously; to flout is to scoff at: The peacock flaunted its plumage. The composition flouted the rules.

flier, flyer – A flier is an aviator; a flyer is a handbill or a venture.

flimflam

flip-flop

floe  – Do not use ice with floe.

flounder, founder  – A flounder is a fish; to move in a clumsy manner is to flounder. To founder is to get bogged down, become disabled or to sink.

fold as suffix – Do not hyphenate: twofold, threefold, tenfold.

follow-up

foot, feet  – It is correct to say a man is a six-footer but not to say he is six foot tall or six foot. Also it is correct to say a 6-foot, 2-inch guard, or his height is 6 feet, 2 inches.

forgo, forego  –  Forgo means to abstain from or renounce. Forego means to go before.

former, old – Former means erstwhile; old refers to age: The old mansion on Cherry Street is the former home of Mrs. Harvey.

Fort – Do not abbreviate for cities or for military installations.

It should be Fort Wayne or Fort Lauderdale. Do not use Fort Wayne or Fort Lauderdale. Use Fort Bragg, not Fort Bragg. [Added November 2016]

Fostoria St. Wendelin Church and Parish Life Center

foul up, foul-up – verb, noun.

Four SeaGate  [revised February 28, 2002]

Franciscan Center – In Sylvania, not Franciscan Life Center.

Frankenstein – In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein was the scientist who created the monster, not the monster itself.

Franklin Park Mall – Official name of Toledo’s premier indoor mail. No longer owned by Westfield.

freelance

Frisbee – A trade name; always capitalize.

front line, front-line – noun, adjective.

front-runner

front yard, front-yard – noun, adjective.

full time, full-time – noun/adverb, adjective.

fund-raiser, fund-raising

funeral vs. memorial service – Under Blade style, whenever the body is present, it is a funeral service and NOT a memorial service. If your uncle Joe died six months ago and was buried then, and you decide to have a service today without the body, it would be a memorial service. [Added February 2015]

G

Gadhafi, Moammar – Correct Blade style for the Libyan leader. Do NOT use Muammar Kaddafi, previous Blade style.
[Added March 2011].

gage, gauge – Gage is a pledge; gauge is a measurement.

General Growth Property Inc., a Chicago-based development company that owns the Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee.

General Motors Co. – Use on first reference. Do not use General Motors Corp. any longer. The name was changed during the 2009 bankruptcy. The “old GM,” with the assets to be disposed, is now referred to as Motors Liquidation Co. GM still can be used in second reference. [Revised July 16, 2009]

gibe – Means jeer or taunt, either as a noun or verb. See jibe.

girlfriend

Gladieux Enterprises – See V/Gladieux Enterprises, Inc. (revised October 30, 2002)

good, well – Write “he feels good” if you mean he is in good spirits; “he feels well” if he feels healthy. (In this case well is an adjective.) But he hears well, he sees well, meaning that his perception is good. (Well is an adverb in this case.)

good-bye

good Samaritan

graduate – Graduate is correctly used in the active voice; “She graduated from the university.” It is correct but unnecessary to use the passive voice: “He was graduated from the university.”

Do not drop the from: “John Adams graduated from Harvard,” not “John Adams graduated Harvard.”

graphics – Follow style, including the use of articles in all cases.

gray – The preferred American spelling.

great as prefix – Great-grandchild, great-grandmother, great-grandson.

grisly, grizzly – Grisly means horrible; grizzly means grayish.

grown-up

H

had  –  Avoid such constructions as “he had his leg broken” and “he had his car stolen.” Both signify intent.

The Hague – Netherlands

half as prefix  –  Half as an adjective does not take the hyphen in such combinations as half brother, half dozen, half inch, half mile.

Combinations used as adjectives take the hyphen: half-inch opening, half-mile run. Combinations always hyphenated include half-breed, half-and-half, half-dollar. One-word combinations include halfback, halfway. Consult dictionary when in doubt.

haled, hailed –  Haled is an older form of hauled. A suspect is haled into court. Hailed means greeted or acclaimed.

half mast, half staff –  The flag on a ship is lowered to half mast. On land the flag is lowered to half staff.

hand-washing

hangar, hanger  –  A hangar houses planes; a hanger holds clothes.

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

Hanukkah   –  The Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day commemoration of rededication of the Temple by the Macabees after their victory over the Syrians. Usually occurs in December, but sometime falls in November. DO NOT use Chanukah or any other variation.

hara-kiri

hard hat

hard-liner

Hardship stories – Include a website address or phone number with any “hardship-themed” story we publish. A good example would be an Associated Press story out of Los Angeles about the basset hound rescue center that has fallen on hard times. Do this with hardship stories involving people as well as dogs and other animals. [Added November 2009]

Hayes – New name for the museum and library in Fremont is Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. DO NOT call it the Hayes Presidential Library & Museum [Added February 2017]

HCR ManorCare Inc. , Renamed ProMedica Senior Care in October 2020. Headquarters is on Summit Street, downtown Toledo. [revised October 2020]

headlines

The cardinal rule is that the headline must be accurate and give the reader a true impression of the story. The headline should not steal the lead, especially in feature material.

Some additional guidelines:
Avoid verb heads.
Do not end a line of a head with a preposition except on the middle line of a three-line head or deck. But if a word that is normally a preposition is part of a verb, it must be on the line with the verb.Do not break a proper name, title and name, two-word phrase, or verb and auxiliary between lines of a headline.
As closely as possible headlines should follow the same style as text on abbreviations, etc., except as noted elsewhere.
If a name or title is spelled out in body copy, spell it out in the headline.But if a name or title is abbreviated in copy, do not spell it out in a headline. Use only numbers in heads, except in rare instances, such as “one of a kind.”
Avoid repeating a word in a headline except when any synonym would sound stilted and artificial. Short prepositions such as of, to, and in may be repeated.Do not use such words as rap, slap, hit, blast, as synonyms for criticize.Use quotation marks only when the words are verbatim. Do not put quotation marks around a word just because it is used in an unusual sense or to call attention to a pun.Avoid making a headline pun on a person’s name without supervisory approval.Do not use:
·       Lash for criticize.
·       Peak for record.
·       Snarl for traffic jam.
·       Do not base headlines on weather forecasts.
·       Do not split adjectives from nouns on different lines. This is a common problem.

Instead of:
Notes set for copy
editors on the desk

Rewrite the head to keep the adjective and noun on the same line, which makes it easier for readers to understand:

Desk copy editors
to get suggestions

head-on, head on  –  adjective, adverb.

heavy-handed

Heidelberg College   [revised January 30, 2002]

held  –  Avoid using as a synonym for believed or contended.

helter-skelter

high-handed

hippie, hippy –  noun, adjective.

hit-and-run

hit-skip

high-speed, etc. – It is not necessary to describe a chase, in autos or otherwise, as “high-speed.” A “low-speed” chase would be unusual.

It is unnecessary to write “the victim was rushed to the hospital.” It is assumed that a trip to the hospital is made as rapidly as possible. Write “was taken to the hospital.”

historic, historical – A historic event is an important occurrence, one that stands out in history. Any occurrence in the past is a, not an, historic event. Words beginning with h are preceded by a, not an, unless the h is silent. [added March 2010]

hoard, horde – Hoard means an accumulation and is also a verb; horde is a crowd.

hocus-pocus

Hodgkin’s disease

Hollywood Casino Toledo – The official name of the casino that opened in May 2012. Be sure to include Toledo. The casino is owned and operated by Penn National Gaming Inc. of Wyomissing, PA.

home, hone –  Do not confuse these two verbs. To home in is to seek, as in a target. To hone means to sharpen.

home room

home rule

home run

horse race

hot line

hot rod, hot-rod – noun, adjective/verb.

Huntington Center – On first reference, this is the name to be used for the Lucas County-owned arena in downtown Toledo. In second and subsequent references, it is acceptable to refer to it as the downtown Toledo arena or the arena in Toledo. In April 2010, Huntington National Bank announced it would pay $2.1 million for six years for the naming rights to the arena. [revised April 16, 2010]

hyphenation – An adjective modifying a noun takes no hyphen, but when the adjective and noun in combination modify another noun, the hyphen is required: sound money, a sound-money policy.

A noun used to modify another noun becomes an adjective for grammatical purposes and no hyphen is needed. Race winner, not race-winner; bird watcher, not bird-watcher. Exceptions are combinations shown as hyphenated in the dictionary.

Two hyphens are needed in phrases like 10-foot-deep hole, 50-foot-tall tree, three-mile-wide strip.

Compound adjectives made up of a noun and a verb must be hyphenated: a man-eating shark is different from a man eating shark.

However, the hyphen may be omitted in two-word phrases used together so generally that their connection is obvious: high school boy, income tax returns, civil rights struggle.

Do NOT use the hyphen between an adverb ending in ly and the verb, participle, or adjective it modifies: a recently remodeled house.

In general well or ill take the hyphen when the adverb is before the noun: a well-fed cat; the cat was well fed.

Do not use suspended hyphens, as in three-, five-, and eight-mile runs. Write either three-mile, five-mile, and eight-mile runs or three, five, and eight-mile runs.

I

ice pack

illegal immigrant – Blade style for immigrant who is illegally in the United States. Do not use the euphemism undocumented.

ill health –  Avoid this term. A person is either ill or healthy.

imminent –  See eminent.

inaugurate –  Implies some degree of formality or ceremony; limit its use to such occasions.

include –  Use to introduce a series only when the items that follow are part of a total: The zoo includes lions and tigers.

incumbent – Avoid the redundancy of incumbent senator, etc.

infer, imply –  Infer means to draw a conclusion, imply to hint or suggest: The speaker implied that all was not well in his country. His audience inferred that a revolution was brewing.

insect –  Spiders and centipedes are not insects. If in doubt about a specific creature, consult references.

inside of, outside of –   Drop the of.

inter as prefix –  Takes no hyphen except when second part of the word begins with a capital letter, as in inter-American.

inter, intra –  Inter means between, intra within: Interplanetary travel, intramural (within the walls) athletics.

ISOH/IMPACT – A nonprofit disaster relief organization. It is based at 25182 River Road, Perrysburg, but its distribution center is at 905 Farnsworth Rd., Waterville. Note: all letters are uppercase.   [Added May 2013]

its, it’s  –  possessive pronoun, contraction of it is.

J

JayCee

jailed –  When incorrectly used for sentenced, jailed gives a different meaning. “The driver was jailed for 90 days” means that he has completed a sentence of 90 days. (Do not “give a sentence.”)

jelly bean

jibe –  Means agree. See gibe.

Johnson’s Island – is correct for the Lake Erie island north of Sandusky and south of Marblehead in Ottawa County. It was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate officers captured during the American Civil War. [revised 2002, April 2014]

judges –  Blade coverage of court sentencings involving major crimes (including, but not limited to, murder, rape, major felonies, major white-collar crimes) always will give a direct quotation of the judge’s pronouncement of sentence.

We are interested in the judges’s feelings about the act and anything personal. Any judge speaks for a community as well as the criminal justice system. We must share that insight.

judgment – Not judgement.

justices, judges  –  Not always interchangeable. Municipal Court, Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Court, and U.S. district and circuit courts have judges. Members of the U.S. and Ohio Supreme courts are justices. The head of the U.S. Supreme Court is the chief justice of the United States. For a state other than Ohio try to follow approved usage in that state. A justice of the peace on second reference is never a judge. The term jurist may be applied to either justices or judges but never as a title.

K

Kaddafi, Muammar – Do NOT use this spelling for the Libyan leader. The correct Blade style is Moammar Gadhafi. [Revised March 2011]

karat – See carat.

kids – Do not use for children except in light features in which it is appropriate.

knot – One nautical mile (6,076.10 feet) per hour. It is redundant to say knots per hour. To convert to approximate miles per hour, multiply knots by 1.15.

know-how

KO, KOs – nouns.

KO’s, KO’d – verbs.

Koran – Preferred spelling is Qur’an.

Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport – This is the municipal airport serving the Toledo area. The airport is not in Swanton. Swanton is far west of the airport and most of it is in Fulton County. The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and Toledo City Council both voted in 2019 to add Mr. Kranz’s name to the airport in honor of his celebrated career at NASA. A native of Toledo and 1951 graduate of Central Catholic High School, Mr. Kranz was best known as a flight director for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 missions. [Added September 2020]

L

lady – Do not use as a synonym for woman. Lady may be used as a courtesy title or in a specific reference to fine manners without patronizing overtones. See female.

lake bed

larceny –  Larceny is unlawful taking or carrying away of personal property. Burglary is breaking into a building illegally with intent to steal. Robbery is larceny from a person or in the immediate presence of another by violence or threat of violence.

last, past –  Use last rather than past to refer to the time immediately preceding the time of writing.  It is not the style of The Blade to use the word last as in “last October” or “last Wednesday” unless it is October or unless the paper is going to be published on Wednesday. It is better to say that something occurred in October or will occur in October; that it happened Wednesday or it will happen Wednesday.

launch – Use it almost exclusively for military matters, rockets, attacks, missiles. It is not good usage to “launch”  political campaigns, programs, projects, drives, etc. Simply starting or beginning them is sufficient.

lawn mower

lawyer – See attorney.

Lead: Use “lead” when referring to the opening paragraph of a story. Do not use “lede” in stories because “lede” is journalistic jargon. [Added June 2019]

led – Past tense of lead.

Lede: Use “lead” when referring to the opening paragraph of a story. Do not use “lede” in stories because “lede” is journalistic jargon. [Added June 2019]

left field, left-field – noun, adjective.

left fielder

left-handed

left-hander

left wing, left-wing – noun, adjective.

left-winger, left winger –  The first is a political term; the second is a hockey position.

lend, loan –  Lend is the preferred verb form and should be used in all instances except when quoting someone. Loan is properly used as a noun.

less –  See fewer.

Levis Commons – Outdoor shops on State Rt. 25 in Perrysburg. Mall was built was built was developer Larry Dillin.

LG Philips Displays – formerly Philips Display Components [revised October 23, 2002]

liable, likely –  One is liable to a suit for damages. He is exposed or vulnerable to such a suit. He is likely to sue for damages.  He probably will sue.

lie, lay –  Lie is intransitive and does not take an object: lie, lay, lain. Lay is transitive and takes an object: lay, laid, laid.

Examples: He lies down but cannot sleep. He lay down in the grass. Lenin’s body has lain in Red Square since his death. The bricklayer lays bricks. He laid his rifle down. A new golf course was laid out.

life buoy

Mercy Health Life Flight – This is the name of the medical helicopter company operated by Corporate Jets, Inc., of Pittsburgh. It operates out of Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center. [revised April 26, 2016]

life jacket

life raft

lift-off

liftouts –  Used to break up blocks of type and to summarize a significant point of an article that is not part of the headline.

light-heavyweight

like –  Should not be used as a conjunction. Correct: It looked like a victory for the Conservatives. See as if.

like as suffix –  Usually not hyphenated: businesslike, lifelike. No hyphen is necessary after words ending in l: raillike. Use the hyphen after words ending in ll : bell-like.

like-minded

likely, probably –  Likely is normally an adjective, as in a likely story; probably is an adverb.

linage, lineage – The first is the number of lines; the second is one’s family tree.

living room

loath, loathe –  The first is an adjective meaning unwilling; the second a verb meaning to detest.

locate –  Verb meaning to place or to find. Do not write “The building is located at Sixth and Main streets.”  Write “The building is at Sixth and Main streets.”

locker room

L-O-F   – Acceptable on second reference for the former Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. in historical stories. [revised January 30, 2002]

long shot, long-shot  –  noun, adjective.

long-standing

long time, longtime –  noun, adjective.

long titles – Place long titles after the name. Instead of Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge James Bates, use Judge James Bates, of Lucas County Common Pleas Court, said . . .

Lourdes University – Officially became a university on Aug. 19, 2011. Founded in 1958 as Lourdes College, the private university is situated on 113 wooded acres in Sylvania. [Added August 2011]

Lower Peninsula

Lucas County Arena – Name of the arena opened in downtown Toledo in October 2009. Do not use Lucas County Multipurpose Arena. [Added October 2009]

Lucas County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services – On first reference, don’t call the agency the Mental Health Board. The board is the result of a 2006 merger.

Lucas County educational service center board – No longer Lucas County board of education.

M

Mach number

machine gun, machine-gun – noun, adjective/verb.

Magna Carta – (NOT Magna Charta)

Mafia – The secret society of criminals and its members. Do not use as a synonym for organized crime or the underworld.

majority, plurality – Majority means more than half an amount. Plurality means more than the next highest number. If there are more than two candidates in a race, the one with the greatest number of votes has a plurality, but he lacks a majority unless he has more than half the total vote.

makeup, make up –  noun/adjective, verb.

malls, local –  The following is a list of the major local malls:
North Towne Square; Southwyck Shopping Center; Franklin Park Mall (Franklin Park on second reference; Woodville Mall, Shops at Fallen Timbers (in Maumee) and Levis Commons (in Perrysburg)

man-made

man-of-war

mantel, mantle –  The first is a shelf; the second is a cloak.

Mardi Gras

Marathon Petroleum Company LLC is based in Findlay. It was formerly affiliated with Marathon Oil. Its subsidiaries include MPLX LP and Speedway LLC. [revised May 20, 2015]

margin, ratio – Margin is the amount or degree of difference: The measure passed by a 15-vote margin. Ratio is a proportional relationship between two or more things: Losers outnumbered gainers on the New York Stock Exchange by a 5-3 ratio.

Marines

market basket

Masonic, fraternal organizations – Use the following guidelines:

• Trident Lodge, F&AM. Do not use lodge numbers or the term Blue Lodge. In some states and for black lodges it is AF&AM.
• Solomon Chapter, RAM. Do not spell out Royal Arch Masons or use a chapter number.
• Eastern Council, R&SM. The correct form for Royal and Select Masons.
• Toledo Commandery, Knights Templar.  Chapter, Council, and Commandery constitute the York Rite of Masonry. Use the names of the groups, not York Rite.
• Scottish Rite, Toledo. Omit “Valley of.” It is redundant to refer to a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. However, the 33rd Degree is a signal honor and should be mentioned when appropriate.
• Constituent bodies of the Scottish Rite may be mentioned if someone has been an officer. They are: Commander, Toledo Consistory; Sovereign Prince, Northern Light Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Most Wise Master, Fort Industry Chapter, Rose Croix; Thrice Potent Master, Mi-A-Mi Lodge of Perfection.
• Shrine and Grotto are short for much longer official titles of the parent organizations. The local Shrine body is Zenobia Temple. The black Shriners belong to Mecca Temple. It’s O-Ton-Ta-La Grotto.
• Black Masonic groups sometimes are referred to as Prince Hall affiliates.

Write Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Eagles, Moose, and Elks. Do not use the abbreviations K of P, IOOF, FOE, LOOM, and BPOE.

mayor, coverage of – Make the accounts as objective as possible. Save interpretation and analysis for columns or other types of articles whose purpose is clearly labeled.

medal, metal – Medal is a small piece of metal with a design or inscription made to commemorate some event or to honor some individual. Metal is any of a class of chemical elements, such as iron, gold, or aluminum.

media –  Plural form of medium and always takes a plural verb: News media plan to cover the story. Do NOT use as a synonym for employees of the media.

University of Toledo  Health Science Campus is the former Medical College of Ohio that merged with UT. We should always mention that it is the former MCO.

University of Toledo Medical Center should refer only to the hospital, NOT to the College of Medicine or any other health-related colleges on the South Toledo campus. Always include that it is the former Medical College of Ohio hospital.

Never refer to UTMC in any regard except for the university’s hospital. [revised May 12, 2015]

Megawatt – How much electricity a power plant produces can be stated in megawatts. How much it costs to generate that power or what consumers pay for that power should be stated in megawatt-hour or kilowatt-hour. For example: BigPower Plant generates 800 megawatts of electricity but it costs it $100 per megawatt-hour.
[Added March 2017]

Mercy Health –  In April 2016, the health group changed its name to Mercy Health. It is no longer Mercy Health Partners. Its seven hospitals in northwest Ohio also have slightly different names: Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, Mercy Health St. Anne Hospital, Mercy Health St. Charles Hospital, Mercy Health Children’s Hospital, Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital, Mercy Health Willard Hospital, and Mercy Health Hospital of Defiance.
[Revised April 26, 2016]

Mercy College of Ohio – A Toledo-based Catholic institution with a focus on healthcare. In 2011, the school changed its name from Mercy College of Northwest Ohio to Mercy College of Ohio. The school also has a Youngstown campus.
[Added January 2013]

memorial vs. funeral service – Under Blade style, whenever the body is present, it is a funeral service and NOT a memorial service. If your uncle Joe died six months ago and was buried then, and you decide to have a service today without the body, it would be a memorial service.
[Added February 2015]

merry-go-round

Metroparks Toledo  – It is the name for the government agency that operates 15 Metroparks totaling more than 12,000 acres in Lucas County. Metroparks is one word. The  “M” is  capitalized, there is no hyphen, and there is no capital p. Use Metroparks Toledo on first reference. On second reference, you can use Metropark or Metroparks.  [revised September 2017]

Mexican-American – hyphenated

mezzo-soprano

mid as prefix –  Not hyphenated unless the second part of the word begins with a capital letter.

Mid-American Conference  – Comprises University of Akron, Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, University of Buffalo, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Kent State University, Miami University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio University, Temple University, University of Toledo, and Western Michigan University. [Revised November 2011]

middle age, middle-aged –  noun, adjective.

mill – All bond issue or levy stories must identify what a mill is and what any proposed levy changes would mean to the owner of a typical home.

millennium  [revised January 30, 2002]

minelayer, mine-laying –  noun, adjective.

minesweeper, mine-sweeping  – noun, adjective.

mini as prefix – Do not hyphenate.

mixed-up, mix-up, mix up  –  adjective, noun, verb.

Middle East – Comprises Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Mideast is acceptable, but Middle East is preferred.

model, replica –  A model may be a different size from the original and/or of different material; a replica is an exact duplicate.

money maker

moneys – Restrict use to currencies, as in the moneys of the world.

mop-up, mop up –  noun, verb.

more than  –  Write “more than 500 attended,” not “over 500.” Over is permissible in headlines.

mother-in-law

mph

mucus, mucous –  noun, adjective.

multi as prefix –  Hyphenate only when the second part of the combination begins with the letter i.

Mumbai is now Blade style for the financial capital of  India. Formerly known as Bombay, there are 15 million people who live in Mumbai, which is the capital of Maharashtra on the western coast of India. Most U.S. news organizations refer to the city as Mumbai, NOT Bombay, since the Indian government made that change in the mid 1990s. The Blade also will use Mumbai when reporting news from this India city. Because Mumbai is not as well known as its predecessor, Bombay, Mumbai needs India in the dateline. [added November 27, 2008]

N

NAFTA – NAFTA is correct. In first reference use North American Free Trade Agreement. [revised October 23, 2002]

names  –  Getting a person’s name right is one of the first essentials of reporting. When interviewing people, ask for correct spelling, preference in the use of the first name and/or initials, and any peculiarities.

For names in wire stories the “World Almanac,”  “Who’s Who,” and other reference books are available.

Junior is permissible if it is part of the person’s formal name. Senior is not used unless father and son are living and both are well enough known that omission would create confusion. Generational designations generally are not needed for nationally known people.

Nicknames are permissible.  If John P. Jones is known to all his friends as Doc, his name would appear as John P. “Doc” Jones.

Use the nickname instead of the first name on first reference for a person best known by that name.

Do not use tasteless nicknames or the common nicknames for given names.

A married woman’s maiden name or name from a previous marriage will be used if desired. The names should appear in their proper order: Mrs. Mary Jones, nee Smith, would appear as Mrs. Mary Smith Jones. If the widow Jones is remarried to a man named Brown, her name should appear as Mrs. Mary Jones Brown.

Prominent individuals – The first names of the president may be omitted on first reference. The first names of all other officials including the vice president and governors of Ohio and Michigan should be included on first reference. The same applies to all living former U.S. presidents. Use the first names of all deceased presidents except for such historic figures as Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson.

Foreign names – In some foreign names the last name is not the family surname. In such cases on second reference the title should be used with the correct part of the name.

NATO – Acceptable on first reference.

nauseate, nauseous – The first is a verb meaning to make or become ill; the second is an adjective meaning causing illness or disgust.

Navy

near as prefix –  Near is an adjective as well as an adverb and can be used as such in phrases as near accident, near thing.

nearby

neo as prefix – Do not hyphenate except in combination with a proper noun.

nerve-racking – Preferred to nerve-wracking.

new – Avoid using the phrase “constructing new building.” It is difficult for someone to build an old building. This is in line with editing expertise aimed at taking unnecessary words out of stories so there is more room for necessary ones. It is in the same realm as “a new record,” a completely unnecessary modifier.

next – Do not use with the day of the week or month.

nick – Not knick.

nobility – References to members of the nobility present special problems because nobles frequently are known by their titles rather than their given or family names. These guidelines relate to Britain’s nobility and may be adapted when appropriate to other nations.

Orders of rank begin with the royal family. The term royalty is reserved for relatives of living and deceased sovereigns.

Next in descending order are dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons. Many hold inherited titles; others have been raised to the nobility by the sovereign.

Sovereigns also confer honorary titles, which do NOT make an individual a member of the nobility.  The principal designations in descending order are baronet and knight.

Refer to The Associated Press stylebook for a complete discussion of titles of nobility.

no-man’s-land

non –  Not hyphenated except in combination with proper nouns.

none – Usually means no single one, and in this sense takes singular verbs and pronouns: None of the seats was in its right place. Use a plural verb only if the sense is no two or no amount: None of the consultants agree on the same approach. None of the taxes have been paid.

North – The northern United States.

North Toledo

North Towne Square – Mall is not part of the name.

Northwest Psychiatric Hospital – No longer Toledo Mental Health Center

notable, noted, notorious  –  Notable means worthy of notice; noted means celebrated or famous; notorious means publicly or widely known, usually in an unfavorable light. Notoriety is not a synonym for fame.

numbers –  Whenever possible spell out all numbers and ordinals below 10 with the following exceptions:

• Ages -Use numerals without exception when referring to the age of people or animals in years, months, weeks, or days. This also applies to approximate ages: He was in his 40s.
• Betting odds – He was a 2-1 favorite.
• City council districts – The correct form is District 5. Do not spell out number.
• Court identification – It’s the 6th U.S. Circuit Court, not Sixth U.S. Circuit.
• Decimals – Always use numerals. For figures less than one use a 0 before the decimal point: 2.5, 0.2.
• Fractional compounds – 3 1/2 inches, size 6 hat. For less common fractions the phrase must be spelled out: five and nine-sixteenths inches, 13 and three-sevenths gallons.
• Measurements – Exact measurements in feet and inches: 6 feet, 2 inches tall. Otherwise six feet or seven inches unless used with abbreviations in tabular matter. Also, it’s 3 inches of snow fell, not 3″ of snow fell.
• Money – With the $ sign: $5. Foreign currencies should be stated in U.S. dollars and cents. (The cents symbol is used in special cases such as graphics and charts and always takes numerals.) For sums of money one million and above: $1 million, $20 billion. This format applies only to money.
• Percentages – 5 percent. For percentages below 1 percent use a 0 before the decimal: 0.2 percent.
• Special uses – Spelling out extremely large figures is sometimes more appropriate: They planned to enlist a million workers. He was expected to draw a half-million votes. Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence.
• When numbers are used in a series or in close association and some are above nine, use numerals for all: The man was sentenced to from 1 to 25 years. It took 2 weeks and 10 days to complete the work.
• Spell out one when it is used in a general rather than a numerical sense, even when other numbers appear in the same sentence: He was one of 13 seniors honored.
• Spell out twofold through tenfold. Above tenfold make it 11-fold, 12-fold, 20-fold, etc.
• Sports results – Detroit defeated Cleveland 2-1. He ran the 100-yard dash in 9.4 seconds (or 0:9:4). McEnroe defeated Connors 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
• In football stories use numerals when referring to yard lines but spell out through nine when referring to number of yards gained: Brown plunged four yards to the 3.
• Time of day – 2 o’clock, 3 p.m., 4:45 a.m. Zeros are unnecessary for the hour on the hour.
• Vote results – City council voted 6-3.
• Weapons – A 9mm pistol; a 22-caliber rifle, a .22 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun. See also Weapons.
• Weights – Exact weights in pounds and ounces: 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Otherwise seven pounds or six ounces. (Use numerals with abbreviations in special cases such as charts and graphics.)

O

Obamacare – Nickname for President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Obamacare is one word and should not be offset with quotation marks. [Added November 2016]

obscenity, profanity, vulgarity

May not be used in stories unless in direct quotations when there is a compelling reason and with the approval of the managing editor, or in his absence, an assistant managing editor.

Avoid using any form of abbreviation to substitute for a vulgarity (as in f—). We do not change quotes as in “damn you” to “darn you,” or “hell” to “heck,” etc.

This section shall be interpreted to mean we will permit the use of such words only in very rare instances.

off as prefix – Some commonly used combinations with a hyphen: off-color, off-peak, off-season, off-white, off-key.  Some combinations without the hyphen: offhand, offset, offshore, offside, offstage.

If in doubt hyphenate if it is not listed in the dictionary.

off as suffix –  Some commonly used combinations with a hyphen: send-off, stop-off. Some combinations without the hyphen: playoff, standoff, takeoff, cutoff, liftoff.

If in doubt hyphenate if it is not listed in the dictionary.

offhand –  adjective/adverb.

of mine, of his, etc. –  The common expressions “a friend of mine,”  “a friend of John’s”  should be avoided. Instead, write “my friend,”  “John’s friend.”

oil field

Ohio Newspaper Organization – A consortium of Ohio’s eight major newspapers to share non-competitive news content on-cycle. The participating papers are The Blade, the Plain Dealer of Cleveland, The Columbus Dispatch, the Akron Beacon Journal, The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Dayton Daily News, The (Canton) Repository and The (Youngstown) Vindicator. Use Ohio Newspaper Organization on first reference, but the acronym OHNO is fine on subsequent references.

Under the consortium’s guidelines, the byline of the reporter and name of the newspaper should be used when posting OHNO stories on participating papers’ websites, print and e-editions.

ONMA – Use Ohio News Media Association. Formerly the Ohio Newspaper Association. ONMA is the trade association for more than 250 Ohio daily and weekly newspapers and media outlets.

OK, OKs, OK’d

old-timer, old-time – noun, adjective

One SeaGate is called Fifth Third Center at One SeaGate. On second reference, One SeaGate is fine. [revised July 22, 2008]

one-sided

onetime, one-time –  The first means the former; the second means occurring only once

only –  Used in the sense of solely or exclusively, only should go as close as possible to the word it modifies. Note the different meanings: “Only he hoped to find her.” “He hoped only to find her.” “He hoped to find only her.”

Take care to use appropriately to convey a judgment or degree. Proper: Only two people attended the meeting. Improper: Only two people died in the crash.

open-minded

oral, verbal – All communication by words, whether written or spoken, is verbal. Hence, do not use “a verbal order” to mean an unwritten order; a spoken order is “an oral order.” But use verbal to signify by word rather than deed as “a verbal conflict” to distinguish from a physical conflict.

Ohio State Highway Patrol – Do not use Ohio Highway Patrol. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio State Department of Public Safety and is the official highway patrol agency in Ohio. [Added March 2019]

out of doors, out-of-doors –  noun, adjective.

over as prefix –  Not hyphenated.

P

panic-stricken

papier-mache

part time, part-time – noun/adverb, adjective.

party – Do not use party as a synonym for person. However, parties to a contract or a lawsuit is correct usage.

pass – Bills are passed, laws are enacted.

passer-by, passers-by

past master

patron, customer – Properly, a patron is a benefactor, a supporter, a protector, an advocate, or the like. Use of the word as a synonym for customer or client is colloquial.

pawn ticket

pay – All stories on new contracts must have some kind of indication of what the workers got in terms of pay increases. Either the range of pay or what the average employee got. For example, a city street worker would be paid $250 more or $13,250 a year with the increase. Any story about the appointment of a public official or promotion, etc., must state the salary for that position and indicate that the individual will be paid the salary. Do not use “Joe Smith earns $40,000.”

PBF Toledo Refining Co. – The full name of the refinery on the Toledo-Oregon border. The refinery is owned by PBF, a private equity firm that bought the facility from Sunoco, Inc. in late 2010 for $400 million. [Added March 1, 2011]

peak, peek, pique
• Peak is the topmost point, such as a mountain peak, or to reach that point.
• Peek is to peer or glance (The boy took a peek around the corner).
• Pique is to upset, arouse or excite. (If you are piquing someone’s interest, you are exciting their interest, not taking a quick look.

percent – one word. Use it or % in heads.

Philips Displays – SEE: LG Philips Displays

phenomena (plural noun), phenomenon (single noun) for “extremely unusual, extraordinary”. [added May 5, 2008]

photos – Local feature photos with a weather theme must contain weather information as far as the day’s readings and what’s in store.

pickles – In northwestern Ohio small cucumbers grown for pickling are referred to colloquially as pickles. They are not pickles until treated with vinegar and brine. Use the correct term, cucumbers.

Pilkington North America – a subsidiary of Pilkington PLC (formerly was Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.)

Ping-Pong – Trade name for table tennis.

“Pit bull” – This is a generic descriptive term for a dog trained to fight and may refer to multiple breeds, including the American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, and other mix breeds determined to be “pit bulls” by Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon. “Pit bulls” should have quotation marks and the style is two words, not one. [Revised November 2009]

planes – It is our policy on airplane crashes to include in stories and cutlines the type of aircraft involved in the crash.

playoff

plead – Past tense is pleaded.

plow – Correct in all uses.

plurality – See majority.

plurals – In compound forms add the s to the noun part of the compound to form the plural: attorneys general, notaries public. When both parts of the compound are normally nouns, add the s to the more important word: major generals, lieutenant colonels. (However, it is sergeants major, for a sergeant major is a sergeant, not a major.)
The plural of proper names ending in x or z is formed by adding es. The addition of s is sufficient for names ending in ce or se: Keeping up with the Joneses. Lopez, Lopezes.
For the plural of abbreviations add ‘s: The brief was full of etc.’s.
For plurals of figures add s: Boeing 727s. The same for years: 1970s, but ’50s, ’60s.
For plurals of single letters add ‘s: Oakland A’s, two B’s on his report card, 3 R’s.
For plurals of multiple letters add s: She knows her ABCs.
For plurals of all-caps initials without periods add s: YMCAs, GIs, POWs.

Pokemon Go – Two words, with the “o” at the end lower case. Italics in body type, single quotes in headlines. [Added August 2016]

post as prefix – Usually not hyphenated except in combination with a proper noun.

pore – A verb that means to gaze or study intensely: She pored over her books.

pour – A verb that means to flow in a continuous stream: It poured rain. He poured the coffee.pre as prefix – Not hyphenated unless in combination with a proper noun.

premier, premiere – The head of government in many countries is the premier (not necessarily synonymous with prime minister). As an adjective premier can mean first in rank or supreme: Pablo Casals was his era’s premier performer on the cello.
Premiere refers to a first performance, either as noun or adjective. Do not use premiere as a verb.

press conference – Do not use. News conference is preferred.

preventive – Preferred over preventative as noun and adjective.

principal, principle – Principal as a noun means the head of a school, the chief person in a transaction, or a sum of money from which interest derives. As an adjective it means first or highest in rank.
Principle means a fundamental doctrine or tenet or a rule of conduct. It is not an adjective.

Private Industry Collaborative [revised February 28, 2002]

profanity – See obscenity.

professor – Never abbreviate. For example, Professor Jim Smith.

ProMedica – Official name of the region’s largest health-care system. Only use ProMedica. Do Not refer to it as ProMedica Health System in stories and/or headlines. The “P” and “M” are uppercase. All ProMedica hospitals have the parent name in front of the hospital name. The ProMedica hospitals are:
• ProMedica Bay Park Hospital
• ProMedica Bixby Hospital
• ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital
• ProMedica Flower Hospital
• ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital
• ProMedica Herrick Hospital
• ProMedica Memorial Hospital
• ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital
• ProMedica Toledo Hospital
• ProMedica Wildwood Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital
[Revised November 2016].

ProMedica Senior Care (formerly HCR ManorCare). ProMedica Senior Care operates about 500 assisted living, skilled nursing, outpatient rehabilitation, memory care, and home-health and Hospice Care centers. [added October 2020]

pronouns for animals – Use personal pronouns (he or she) if you know the gender of the pet. [Revised January 2015]

Personal pronouns are acceptable when writing about an animal and its offspring.

protester, not protestor

proved, proven – Use proven only as an adjective: A proven remedy.

provided – Make it “provided that” something occurs, not “providing that.”

pseudo as prefix – Do not hyphenate unless in combination with a proper noun.
Punctuation
Some general rules:

• Apostrophes – Normally the singular possessive of a word is formed by adding ‘s: the bear’s den. The plural possessive is formed by adding the apostrophe to the plural form: the bears’ den. In the case of common and singular proper nouns ending in s, use only an apostrophe after the s. Michael Woods’ desk, Gov. Rhodes’ grave, the moss’ coloration. But the plural possessive should be the Joneses’ house; the Lopezes’ golf clubs.
• Omit in all possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs.
• In organization names follow the organization: Elks Club. When in doubt omit the apostrophe.
• To indicate joint possession write Smith and Brown’s properties. If ownership is separate: Frank’s and Vicki’s faces.
• Form singular and plural possessives of all-caps initials without periods by adding ‘s: YMCA’s, YMCAs’; GI’s, GIs’; POW’s, POWs’.
• Use the apostrophe (not a single opening quote) to indicate omitted letters: rock ‘n’ roll, he is a ne’er-do-well, ‘Tis the season to be jolly. Omit the apostrophe on words that have come into common use: copter, possum.
• Brackets – Use brackets to insert explanatory information inside quotes. Use parentheses outside of quotes.
• Colons – Use the colon to introduce a list or a quotation. Capitalize the first word after a colon if it is a proper noun, the start of a complete sentence, or a new paragraph. Follow these rules in headlines.
• Commas – Overuse and underuse are the most common problems with commas.
• Underuse – Failure to use both commas when two are needed to set off a phrase or clause, the year in a date, and ages, unless the elements begin or end a sentence: John Jones, a South Side grocer, was the next speaker. The tragic events of Nov. 22, 1963, will long be remembered. November, 1963, will go down in history.
• Overuse – Insertion between subject and verb: According to the printout, the house next door, has a large yard.
• Improper use with conjunctions – As a general rule use a comma if the subject of each clause is expressly stated: We are visiting Washington, and we plan a side trip to Williamsburg. We visited Washington, but our senator would not see us. Do not use a comma when the subject of the two clauses is the same: We are visiting Washington and plan to see the White House.
• Unnecessary use to set off short introductory clauses and phrases: During the night he heard many noises. (Use a comma if needed to avoid ambiguity: On the street below, the curious gathered. A comma is necessary after most when and if clauses: When he had tired of the mad pace of New York, he moved to Toledo.)
• Unnecessary use to set off adverbs such as too, therefore, and also: He too is tired.

Some additional guidelines:

• Use the comma to separate items in a series: The colors of the flag are red, white, and blue. If the items in a series include commas, use semicolons to separate the items except before the last item, where a comma is used.
• Street addresses and hometowns after a name should not have commas. Instead use the preposition of: Mary Roberts of 442 Adams St. called Florence Smith, Boston. Smith Co. of New York mailed the records to Brown Co. of South Avenue, Toledo.
• Use commas before and after the abbreviation Jr. following names. However II and III, for second and third, follow the name without punctuation. When a senator or congressman uses Jr., the correct punctuation is Sen. John Jones, Jr. (R., Mass.).
• Do not use commas to set off sports scores or legislative or judicial votes: The Tigers defeated the Indians 3-2 on the steady pitching of Justin Thompson. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 today . . . The Ohio Senate voted 17-16 . . .
• Use commas to separate a series of adjectives equal in rank. Adjectives are equal if the comma could be replaced by the word and without changing the sense: a thoughtful, precise manner; a dark, dangerous night.
• Do not use a comma when the last adjective before a noun outranks its predecessors because it is an integral element of a noun phrase: a cheap fur coat; the old oaken bucket; a new, blue spring bonnet.
• Do not use commas to set off essential clauses and phrases that cannot be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence: Reporters who do not read the stylebook should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that one class of reporters, those who do not read the stylebook, should not criticize their editors.)
• Reporters, who do not read the stylebook, should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that all reporters do not read the stylebook.)
• Commas are used to set off nonessential clauses and phrases that can be eliminated without altering the basic meaning of the sentence.

We saw the 1995 winner of the Academy Award competition for best movie, “Braveheart.” (Only one movie won the award in 1995. The name is informative, but even without it no other movie could be meant.)

We saw the award-winning movie “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” (No comma because many movies have won awards and without the name of the movie the reader would not know which movie was meant.)

They ate dinner with their daughter Julie. (Because this couple has more than one daughter, the inclusion of her name is critical.) They ate dinner with their daughter Julie and her husband, David. (Julie has only one husband, so his name is only informative.)

Do not confuse nonessential clauses and phrases with descriptive adjectives: Julie and husband David went shopping. Julie and her husband, David, went shopping.

Dashes – Use long dashes but only when necessary to set off inserted matter where the break in thought is abrupt.

Hyphens – Use to avoid ambiguity or to form a single idea from two or more words: The president will speak to small-business men. (Businessmen normally is one word, but small businessmen is ambiguous.) He re-covered the leaky roof. He recovered his health. He viewed the re-creation of the event. He went to the recreation center.

When a compound modifier two or more words that express a single concept precedes a noun, use hyphens to link all the words in the compound except the adverb very and all adverbs that end in ly: a first-quarter touchdown, a bluish-green dress, a full-time job, a well-known man, a better-qualified woman, a know-it-all attitude, a very good time, an easily remembered date.

Many combinations that are hyphenated before a noun are not hyphenated when they occur after a noun: The team scored in the first quarter. The dress, a bluish green, was attractive. She works full time. His attitude suggested that he knew it all.

Use a hyphen to designate dual heritage: African-American, Italian-American, Mexican-American. Do not hyphenate French Canadian or Latin American.

Use a hyphen to separate letters and figures when used in combination: A-1 rating, C-47 plane.

However, in plane designations involving letter-number combinations omit the hyphen after the number: XB-70A.

Parentheses and brackets – Use parentheses to insert explanatory matter except in quotations, where brackets are used. The insertion of bracketed material should be kept to a minimum.

If parenthetical material runs more than one paragraph, use a parenthesis at the beginning of each paragraph but at the end of the last paragraph only.

Parentheses are used around party and state or hometown designations of members of Congress and Ohio or Michigan state legislators: Bill Smith (R., Monroe).

Quotes – The chief fault is failure to close the quotation. General rules:

• Use single quotes for quoted matter inside quotes. Return to double quotes inside single quotes.
• In headlines, quote boxes, and all cutlines use single quotes.
• For continuous quoted matter running more than one paragraph use quotes at the beginning of each paragraph but at the end of the last paragraph only.
• The above applies only to continuous quoted matter. Each reintroduction, such as he said, he added, he continued, makes it a new quotation, and the previous paragraph should end with quotation marks.
• Use italic type , not quotation marks, for the titles of plays, movies, books, operas, paintings, video games, TV shows and series and their episodes. Use quotation marks with slogans, songs, poems, chapters, and articles. However, in headlines use single quotes for all titles.
  [Revised August 2016]

Do not use quotation marks with names of dogs, race horses, magazines, newspapers, orchestras, dances, boats, ships, aircraft, estates, rail lines, nicknames of cities or states, or nicknames of athletic teams.

Do not use quotes for symphonies, concertos, overtures, etc. For such works descriptive terms are in quotes within parentheses:
Beethoven’ s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”). Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”).

An opus number goes in parentheses.

Capital letters used alone to convey a definite meaning usually can stand without quotes: a grade of A, the Y campaign, vitamin B.

Use partial quotations only when the words are especially emphatic or pertinent: He said the Chinese attacked with a “savage butchery unknown in modern times.”

Avoid using quotes on single words as well as new words or phrases and on those used in an unorthodox or figurative sense.

Commas and periods go inside quotation marks; colons and semicolons go outside.

Question marks and exclamation points go inside the quotation marks if they belong with the quoted matter, outside if they belong to the main sentence: He asked: “Is it time to go?” Did he say, “It is time to go”?

Do not use quote marks to mean inches. Spell out inches when writing 3 inches of snow fell.

Semicolons – The semicolon is used to separate items in a series when commas are included in the items. When a series of semicolons is used, end the series with a semicolon, not a comma: Jane Doe of 1616 Elm St.; Dick Jones of 1414 Hall St.; Becky Smith of 1313 Duke St. Use it to separate parts of a sentence when a more definitive break than the comma is called for; do not use a conjunction after the semicolon.

In headlines that contain more than one verb separate the verbs by commas if they have the same subject, by semicolons if they have different subjects.

Troops move through Sudan, put dissidents under arrest
Storms kill 303; floods maroon 200

puns – Avoid making a pun on a person’s name. See headlines.

pupil, student – Avoid pupil. Student is preferred for all grades.

Q

quarter mile, quarter-mile, quarter-miler –  noun, adjective, runner. See half.

queen –  Identify the current queen of England as Queen Elizabeth II. Do not identify her as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II or Queen Elizabeth II of Britain because she is the monarch of several nations. For example, she is Queen Elizabeth I of Canada, so it is our style to identify her only as Queen Elizabeth II in all cases. The world’s other monarchs should be identified through their countries, such as King Hussein of Jordan or King Juan Carlos of Spain. See titles – royalty and nobility.

quoteboxes –  Used to break up blocks of type and to highlight a remark from an article. One caution: Check the material after it is typeset to ensure that a quotation mark does not occupy a line by itself.

quotes –  See also punctuation.

Full quotes are preferable to partial quotes. But do not use full quotes if they have to be explained. Especially, don’t try to overdo an explanation when the context of the story has told the reader enough to know what is involved.

This example came from the AP, but our reporters and other wire services use similar useless extra words:

Ms. Brookner said Mrs. Hanssen asked her to issue a statement because she felt she could speak out after the plea agreement. “She feels terrible. I don’t think she can feel any worse, any more devastated,” said Ms. Brookner, describing Mrs. Hanssen’s emotions.

Doesn’t the quote convey her feelings enough to avoid the redundancy? The same thing happens when a writer ends a quote and proceeds with, “referring to” or “said of.” To avoid this type of construction, the quote may have to be slightly altered and the speaker or subject matter introduced before the quote. Example:

“Julie was at the crossroads in her life and needed to find a solution to set her free,” Dr. Jones said of Julie Newman, referring to her problem of deciding on a divorce.

The reader doesn’t know what is happening until the explanation. More clear and easier to read would be: Julie Newman was having a problem deciding on a divorce, Dr. Jones said, but she knew she “was at the crossroads in her life and needed to find a solution to set her free.”

Do not delete the words spoken in quotes and substitute more specific words in brackets. In quotes in which the meaning of a word is not clear, put the word in brackets, but leave the words that the person said:

Correct: “We were going to do it [operate] right away, but we ran out of knives,” Dr. Jones said.

Incorrect: “We were going to [operate] right away, but we ran out of knives,” Dr. Jones said.

Qur’an – Sacred book for those of Muslim faith.

R

racial, national designations  –  Avoid designating a person’s race or nationality unless it is pertinent to the story. A naturalized citizen of the United States is an American regardless of birthplace. The hyphenated form, such as African-American or Mexican-American, may be used if pertinent.

rack, wrack – The noun rack is a framework; the verb means to arrange on a rack, to torture, trouble, or torment: She racked her brain.

The noun wrack means ruin and generally is confined to the phrase wrack and ruin. The verb wrack is the alternate spelling of the preferred rack.

raise, rear – One raises livestock but rears children.

rake-off

ratio – See margin.

rat race

RBI, RBIs – Abbreviation for run batted in in baseball.

re as prefix – Do not hyphenate except when the second part of the word begins with e or is a proper noun. Use a hyphen to indicate a meaning different from the common one-word form: recreation, re-creation; reform, re-form.

Realtor – Use real estate agent unless there is a reason to indicate that the individual is a member of the National Association of Realtors.

rebut, refute – Rebut means to argue to the contrary: He rebutted his opponent’s statement. Refute means to prove to be false or erroneous: Scientists refuted the contention that the world is square.

recollect, remember –  To recollect is to recall to memory; to remember is to retain in memory.

recur

redundancy –  Avoid using the same words and phrases: craft a bill, create a committee, faces charges. Also, avoid repeating a word or phrase in several graphs or throughout the story.

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

religious terms –  Some guidelines:

• Mass is celebrated, said, or read. High Mass is sung.
• Rosaries are recited or said, never read.
• Celebrant refers to a person conducting a religious rite.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with headquarters in Utah, permits the term Mormon in referring to its members.
• The Reorganized Church of Latter-day Saints, with headquarters in Independence, Mo., does not use the term Mormon. If in doubt as to which church is meant, do not use Mormon.
• It is the United Methodist Church. The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) is a separate body.
• It is incorrect to apply the term church to any Baptist unit other than a local congregation. The organization of Southern Baptists is the Southern Baptist Convention.
• Organizational units of other denominations include diocese, archdiocese, area, synod, presbytery, etc. Check an official source for the accurate designation.
  replica – See model.

revue, review –  A revue is a light musical stage show. Otherwise use review.

Rh factor – Merriam Webster defines Rh factor as any of one or more genetically determined antigens present in the red blood cells of most persons and of higher animals and capable of inducing intense immunogenic reactions. Rh factor also is known as “Rhesus factor” because it was first discovered in the blood of Rhesus monkeys (small monkeys from India often used for experimentation).

right field, right-field, right fielder – noun, adjective, ballplayer.

right hand, right hander  –  nouns.

right-hand, right-handed  –  adjectives.

right of way, right-of-way  –  noun, adjective. Noun plural is rights of way.

right wing, right-wing –  noun, adjective.

right winger, right-winger   –  hockey player, political term.

ripoff, rip off –  noun/ adjective, verb.

rob, steal –  A person or place is robbed; the articles taken are stolen: Gunman robs bank. Gunman steals $10,000.

robbery  See larceny.

rodent  –  A gnawing animal, including rats and mice as well as beavers, muskrats, groundhogs, squirrels, and rabbits. Such animals as skunks and weasels are not rodents.

roll call, roll-call – noun, adjective.

round robin, round-robin  –  noun, adjective.

roundup, round up –  noun/adjective, verb.

rout, route – Rout as a noun means precipitous flight, a disastrous defeat, or a state of confusion. As a verb it means to put to flight or to defeat utterly. Route as a noun means course of travel or itinerary. The verb means to direct or to assign a course of travel.

royalty  See nobility.

rubber stamp, rubber-stamp  – noun, verb.

Rumor(s) – Don’t use in stories or in headlines. We report facts or attribute news. The exception would be if the word is used in a quote. [Added April 2011]

• Joe Napoli is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Toledo Walleye and the Toledo Mud Hens.
• Erik Ibsen is the executive vice president and general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens. [Added June 2015]

• Joe Napoli is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Toledo Walleye and the Toledo Mud Hens.
• Neil Neukam is the executive vice president and general manager of the Toledo Walleye. [Updated June 2015]

tropical depression – A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 38 mph (33 knots) or less.

tropical storm – A warm-core tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface winds range from 39 to 73 mph (34 to 63 knots) inclusive. Capitalize tropical storm when it is part of the name that weather forecasters assign to a storm: Tropical Storm Allison. Do not abbreviate to TS.