Quick reference for spelling

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

20th Century-Fox


3-D


aboriginal
adj., n.when referring to individual; in Australia: Aboriginal or Aborigine, Aboriginal Peoples

abscess


abysmal (not -ss-)


accessible (not -able)


accommodate (-mm-)


acknowledgment


acquit, acquitted


adaptability


addendum, addenda


adjuster (not –or)


administration, U.S. administration


Admiral John Smith (no abbvn.)

  • the admiral said …
  • admiralty
  • the admiralty reported …
  • first lord admissible (not –able), admissibility


    adverse (unfavorable), averse (reluctant)


    advertise (not -ize)


    adviser (not -or)


    aesthetic – Use esthetic


    affect (v. only – have effect on)


    affidavit


    affront (deliberate insult), effrontery (shameless insolence)


    Afghan


    aficionado (one f), aficionados


    Afrikaans (language)


    Afrikaner (person)


    agenda, agendas


    aging (not ageing)


    aide-de-camp, aides-de-camp


    air bag (two words)


    Air Marshal Lois Jones Air Vice-Marshal John Crumb (no abbvn.)


    airbase (one word)


    all right (two words; not alright)


    allot, allotted, allotting


    allusion (indirect reference, Illusion (false impression)


    Alps, but alpine skiing


    already (beforehand)


    aluminium (chemical element)


    aluminum (metal)


    amalgam, amalgamate


    ambience


    analogous


    analog, analog computer, data


    analysis, analyses


    analyze (not –se), analyzing


    anemia, anemic


    anesthesia, aneshetic, anesthetist


    aneurysm


    Animals
    Capitalize breed names derived from proper names except where usage has established the lowercase.
  • Holstein-Fr ante (prefix), antechamber, antedate, antenatal, anteroom


    antenna, antennae (pl. for feelers of insect, etc.), antennas (pl. for aerials)


    anti- (prefix), anti-aircraft, anti-Communist, antihistamine, anti-intellectual, anti-Semitic, antitrust, antiwar


    antivenene (not anti-venom)


    any more (as in “I don’t want any more candy”)


    any time (two words)


    anybody


    anyhow


    anymore (any logner)


    anyone


    anything


    anyway


    apparatus, apparatuses


    Argentine (not Argentinian)


    armed forces, the forces


    armful, armfuls


    armor


    arteriosclerosis


    arthroscopy


    article
  • a paragraph of Article 4
  • Art. 4, Sec. 1, reads:

    artifact


    ascend, ascendance, ascendant, ascension, ascent
    Ascension Day

    Ash Wednesday


    Ashrawi, Hanan (Palestinian)


    asinine


    aspirin (in Europe a trade name), Anacin


    Assad, Hafez (Syria)


    assassin, assassination


    assembly
  • National Assembly (national legislative body)
  • legislative assembly

    assistant (lowercase), assistant attorney general Karen Williams


    assizes, spring assizes


    Associated Press, The (for AP)
  • and The Associated Press said …
  • the Associated Press story said …

    Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)


    Associations – Capitalize names, but the association meeting


    asthma


    Astronomy
    Capitalize the proper names of planets, stars, constellations; capitalize only the proper-noun element of the name o atherosclerosis (a form of arteriosclerosis with fatty degeneration)


    Athlete of the Year


    athlete’s foot


    attorney general, attorneys general
  • Attorney General John Devon

    attorney, Crown
  • Crown attorney Ellen Tomcik
  • power of attorney (no hyphens)

    AT&T (no space), for American Telephone and Telegraph Co.


    Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)


    auditor general, auditors general


    auger (tool for boring holes)


    augur (bode)


    aurora borealis (northern lights); aurora australis (southern equivalent)
    Aurora (patrol aircraft)

    authority
    St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

    authorize


    auto pact (signed January 1965)


    autogyro


    automaker, autoworker


    automation, automatons


    auxiliary, auxiliaries


    Avenue
    Capitalize when used with names; abbreviate in numbered street addresses.
  • along Partage Avenue
  • the Portag averse (reluctant), adverse (unfavorable)


    avocado, avocados


    Awards
    Capitalize specific awards.
  • Nobel Peace Prize
  • Nobel Prize in chemistry
  • Pulitzer Prize
  • Puli axe (not ax), axing


    axis, axes
    Axis, the (Second World War alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan)

    Azerbaijan


    Aziz, Tariq (Iraqi politician)


    AZT (AIDS drug azidothymidine; now called zidovudine)


    A, An
    Use "a" before consonant sounds: a historic building, a university, a one-way ticket, a euphemism, a 1914 novel. Use "a a.m., p.m. (lowercase)
    2 p.m., 2:30 a.m. EST, EDT

    Baathist party (Iraq)


    baby boom, baby boom generation, baby boomer


    baccalaureate


    bachelor
  • bachelor of arts (BA, a bachelor’s degree)
  • bachelor of laws (LLB, but avoid)
  • bachelor of science bacillus, bacilli


    back burner


    backbench members, backbenchers


    backbone, backlog, backstop (n. and v.)


    backstage


    bacterium, bacteria


    Baghdad Pact


    Bahamas, the


    Bahamian (not Bahaman)


    Baha’I (n. and adj.)
  • two Baha’is
  • the Baha’I faith

    Bahrain


    bail out (of plane)


    bail (water or bond)


    balaclava


    bale (hay)


    balkanize


    balk


    balloon, ballooning, balloonist


    ballot, balloting


    ballpoint


    ballroom, Crystal Ballroom


    ball, ball club, ball game, ball park, ball player


    baloney (slang – nonsense; also informal – bologna sausage)


    band, the God’s River band


    banister (not -nn-)


    banjo, banjos


    Banks
    Short forms may be used on second reference when their use is widespread.
  • Swiss Bank
  • the bank’s lending p baptize (not –s-)


    bar mitzvah (for boy marking 13th birthday),


    barbecue (not –que), barbecuing


    barefoot (no hyphen)


    Barren Lands, the Barrens


    bar
    called to the bar

    Basel, Switzerland


    BASIC (for beginner’s all-purpose symbolic instruciton code)


    basis, bases


    bat mitzvah (for girl)


    battalion, 3rd Battalion


    Battles
    Capitalize specific ones
  • Battle of the Bulge
  • Battle of Britain

    bay
    Hudson Bay, Bay of Quinte

    bazaar


    BB (shot)


    BBS (computer bulletin board system; spell out in first reference)


    BC
    Acceptable in all references for before Christ. It follows the year or the century: 55 BC, the second century BC.

    beau, beaus


    bedeck (adorn), bedecked


    beef Stroganoff


    Beethoven, Ludwig van (not von) ( 1770 – 1827)


    behavior


    behoove (not behove)


    Beijing (formerly Peking)


    Belarus (formerly Byelorussia)


    Belize (formerly British Honduras)


    belligerent


    bellwether


    Belmont Stakes


    beluga (whale)


    Ben (son of)
    Capitalize in Arabic names.

    benediction


    benefit, benefited, benefiting


    Benin (dahomey until 1975)


    Benzedrine (trademark)


    Berkeley, Calif.


    Berlin Wall


    Bermudian (not Bermudan)


    Bern, Switzerland


    berserk


    besieged (not beseiged)


    best-seller, best-selling author


    bettor (one who wagers)


    Beverly Hills, Calif.


    bias, biased


    Bible, Bible Belt
    but the fisherman’s bible

    biblical


    Bic (trademark for pen)


    bicultural, bilingual (no hyphen)


    Biennial, bimonthly, biweekly
    These terms are ambiguous and can mean two different things, Prefer every two years, twice a mo big-time (adj.)


    Big Three, Big Ten


    billet, billeted, billeting


    bill
  • Bill 101
  • a proposed bill of rights

    biracial (no hyphen)


    birdie (one stroke under par)


    birth, birthday, birthmark, birthrate, birthright


    Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (formerly Frunze, Kirghizia)


    Bishop
    Capitalize before a name and when the full title is used.
  • Bishop Edward Tremaine
  • Bishop of London
  • Bismarck (not –rk)


    Black Muslim
    member of Black Muslims organization; official name: the Nation of Islam

    black out (v.) blackout (n. and adj.)


    Black Panther (member of Black Panthers organization)


    black (prefer to Negro)


    blackfly, blackflies


    bleached-kraft pulp


    blindsided


    bloc (of parties, countries; voted as a bloc)


    block (of shares, seats; also mental block)


    blond (n. and adj. for all uses; do not use blonde)


    body (not corpse)


    bodyguard (no hyphen)


    boldface (type)


    bona fide (adj. – genuine; adv. – genuinely),


    bona fides (n. – proof of status)


    bonus, bonuses


    Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnia


    bound (suffix), eastbound, northbound, stormbound


    Boutros-Ghali, Boutros (UN)


    Brasilia (capital of Brazil)


    breach (n. – breaking or neglect; v. – break through)


    break (v.)
    break away, break down, break even, break in, break off, break out, break up

    breathalyser


    brigadier-general (Brig.-Gen. Arthur Smith)


    brigadier (Brig. Arthur Smith)


    Britain
    The one island: England, Scotland, Wales. (But British also covers Northern Ireland.)

    Britannia


    Britannica, Encyclopedia


    British Airways (no abbvn.)


    British Commonwealth (prefer the Commonwealth)


    British thermal unit(s), BTU(s)


    Briton (not Britisher)


    broach (open; begin to talk about)


    Bros. for company names but Brothers with entertainment groups: the Good Brothers


    budget, budgetary, budgeted, budgeting


    buffalo, buffaloes


    build up (v.), buildup (n. adj.), built-up (adj.)


    Building
    Capitalize important buildings.
  • Parliament Buildings
  • Empire State Building
    < bulimia


    buoy, buoyant, buoyancy


    bureau, bureaus


    bus (vehicle), buses, busing


    businessman, businesswoman


    buttonhole (no hyphen)


    byelection (no hypen)


    bylaw (no hyphen)


    byline (no hyphen)


    bypass (no hyphen)


    byproduct (no hyphen)


    byte (unit of comptuer memory)


    cabinet, cabinet council


    cable TV (no hyphen)


    cacophony


    cadet
  • officer cadet (no abbvn.)
  • Officer Cadet Garth Atkins

    caesar salad


    caesarean birth (lowercase)


    Caesars Palace (Las Vegas – no apostrophe)


    caffeine


    caisse populaire (credit union), caisses populaires


    calibre
    a .45-calibre pistol

    California (Calif.)


    callisthenics


    callous (adj. – unfeeling), callus (n. – thickened skin)


    calorie


    camaraderie


    Cambodia (Kampuchea 1976-90)


    canal
  • Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Welland Canal
  • Panama Canal Zone, Love Canal (district)

    cancel, cancelled, cancelling


    candidacy


    candor


    canister


    cannon (sing. and pl. – warfare) canon (ecclesiastic and textual),


    canoeist


    cantaloupe


    canto, cantos


    canvass (v. – examine; seek votes, orders; n. – process of canvassing)


    canvas, canvases (cloth, painting)


    canyon
    Grand Canyon

    Cape Town (two words)


    Capitalize the proper-name element standing alone.
  • She went to Defence from Industry.
  • history department

    Capitol (building at Washington) but state capitols (which always refer to buildings and are lowercase)


    cappuccino


    captain
    Capt., but team captain Joan Verona

    carat (gems), karat (gold), caret (printing)


    carburetor


    cardinal (no abbvn.)
  • John Cardinal Smith
  • the cardinal (or Smith) said ….

    caregiver


    CARE
    for Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere Inc.

    cargo, cargoes


    Caribbean Community
    federation

    Caribbean Free Trade Area (Carifta, but avoid)


    caribou (deer), Caribou (Inuit, plane)


    carillon, carillonneur


    carmaker


    carper, carpet-bag, carpet-sweeper


    cartilage


    cassette


    CAT scan
    computerized axial tomography

    catalog


    catch-22
    a dilemma from which there is no escape; Catch-22 (Joseph Heller’s book

    category
    Category 2

    Caterpillar, a Cat (trademark for a tractor)


    Catholic (but Roman Catholic on first reference), Catholicism (religion)


    catholic
    universal

    Cattle
    Capitalize breed names derived from proper names except where usage has established the lowercase.
  • Holstein-Fri Caucasian


    cave in (v.), cave-in (n.)


    CD-ROM
    compact disc read-only memory; acceptable in all references

    cear cut (v.), clearcut (n.)


    cease fire (v.), ceasefire (n.)


    Ceausescu, Nicolae


    Celanese
    trademark for acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon

    cell block
    in jail

    cellophane, celluloid, cellulose


    cellphone
    cellular phone

    Celsius
    -30 C (dash, space before C, no period; specify Celsius only to avoid confusion)

    cement
    powder; used in concrete

    cemetery
    Ocean View Cemetery

    census, censuses


    center, centered, centering
  • center on (not around)
  • center field (baseball)
  • center-fielder
  • center-fi centimeter (cm – sing. and pl. metric symbol, no period)


    Central Committee


    centurion (Roman soldier), Centurion (tank)


    century
    20th century, second-century Rome

    CFCs
    chloro-fluorocarbons

    chamber, lower chamber
  • Chamber of Deputies
  • the chamber of commerce

    change-over (n.), change over (v.)


    channel
  • Channel 10 (television)
  • English Channel and the Channel

    chaperon (not -one)


    chapter (no abbvn.)
    Chapter 1

    charley horse


    check up (v.), checkup (n.)


    checker board, checkers, checkered flag (motor racing), checkered career


    checkpoint (one word)
    Checkpoint Charlie

    check
    restaurant bill

    chef-d’oeuvre, chefs-d’oeuvre


    cheque
    bank

    Chernomyrdin, Viktor (Russian politician)


    cherub, cherubs


    Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975)


    Chianti
    wine

    chickenpox


    chief master sergeant
    Chief Master Sgt. Phil McDonald

    chief petty officer (no abbvn.)


    chief
  • Chief Tom Whitefeather
  • police Chief Anna Myers
  • fire Chief Ron Espy

    childish (silly, puerile), childlike (innocent, trusting)


    Chile


    chili, chilies
  • chili con carne
  • chili sauce

    China, People’s Republic of (mainland, but prefer simply China)


    Chinese Names
    Use the official Chinese spelling, Pinyin, for most personal and place names: Hua Guofeng (formerly Hua Kuofeng Chinese (not Chinaman)


    chinook


    chisel, chiselled, chiseller


    chlorophyll


    choose, chose, chosen, choosing, choosy


    Chou, En-lai (1898-1976)


    Christmas Day, Eve


    chromosome


    Church
    Capitalize in names of religion and buildings.
  • Roman Catholic Church, Catholic Church (denomination)
  • St. chute
    sluice, slide, parachute

    chutzpah
    gall, audacity

    cipher (not cypher)

    circle (Circ.)

    Circle, Arctic
    but arctic winds, temperatures

    cirrhosis

    citizens band (CB, but avoid)
    citizens-band radio (hyphen)

    city
  • city council
  • city hall (administration
  • City Hall (building)
  • City of Lucerne

    civil war
  • Spanish Civil War
  • Civil War (U.S.)

    clamor

    clangor (but clangorous)


    class (military)
  • S-class submarine
  • tribal-class destroyer

    Class
    Lowercase school classes, except languages
  • class of ’61
  • mathematics class
  • French class

    clean up (v.), cleanup (n.)


    clientele


    climactic (of a climax), climatic (of climate)


    cloverleaf (on highways), cloverleafs


    Club
    Capitalize names
  • Rotary Club
  • a club officer

    co- (prefix)
    coadjutor, co-author (n. only), coaxial, co-chairman, coed, coexist, co-host (n. only), co-operate, co-ordinate, co-respondent (divorce), correspondent (writer)


    coast guard
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • the coast guard ship
  • but coastguardman

    coast
    East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast (regions), B.C. coast, Atlantic coast (shorelines)

    cobalt-60


    Cobol
    common business oriented language

    Coca-Cola, Coke
    trademarks for a cola drink

    coccus, cocci


    cockney


    coconut
    Cocoanut Grove (nightclub)

    code
  • city building code
  • Criminal Code, the code
  • Morse code

    cognoscente (sing.), cognoscenti (pl.)


    coho (salmon – sing. and pl.)


    Cold War


    College Degrees – See University Degrees


    College of Cardinals


    College
    Capitalize the names of universities and colleges.

    collegiate
    collegiate board, York collegiate

    Colombia (South America)


    colonel (Col. Eric Anderson)

    color

    Colosseum (Rome)

    combat, combated, combatant

    come back (v.), comeback (n.)


    command sergeant major
    Command Sgt. Maj. Claude Laporte

    commander-in-chief


    commander (Cmdr. Wayne Elder)
  • lieutenant-commander (lt.-Cmdr.)
  • wing commander (Wing Comdr.)

    commandment
  • the Ten Commandments
  • the Tenth Commandment

    commando, commandos


    commensurate


    commiserate


    Commission
    Capitalize the proper name of government and royal commissions.
  • Royal Commission on Newspapers but the news commitment


    committal


    committee
    Commons finance committee

    commodore (no abbvn.)


    Common Prayer, Book of


    common sense
    a common-sense approach

    Commons, House of
    the House the Commons

    commonwealth
  • the Commonwealth
  • Commonwealth of Australia
  • Commonwealth Development Bank
  • Commonwealth communion
    holy communion, Anglican communion

    communism
    philosophical attitude

    communist ideals
    philosophical

    Communist
    party, government or member
  • anti-communist, non-communist, pro-communist

    company quartermaster-sergeant (no abbvn.)


    company sergeant major (Company Sgt. Maj. John Jones)
    company sergeants major

    Company
  • Use Co. in business names.
  • American Broadcasting Cos. (ABC)
  • Brown Co.
  • B Company (military)compare to (liken to), compare with (check similarities and differences)


    compatible


    compel, compelled, compelling


    competent (not -ant)


    complementary (serving to complete), complimentary (expressing compliment; free)


    CompuServe


    Computer terms
    See separate entries also.
  • BBS (bulletin board system)
  • CD-ROM
  • electronic mail, e-mail
    concede


    concept, conception
    Immaculate Conception

    concerte, concertos


    Concorde
    aircraft

    condole, condolence (not -ance)


    confectionery (not -ary)


    Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, but avoid)


    conference


    confidant (man), confidante (woman)

    Congo-Brazzaville (formerly Republic of Congo)

    Congo (formerly Zaire)


    congregation
  • Congregation ot the Holy Office (Vatican), Congress (U.S.)
  • but congressman, congressional
  • Sen connoisseur (-nn-)


    conscientious


    consensus (not consensus of opinion)


    constable (Const.)
  • Const. Maria Huang
  • a city constable

    constitution


    consulate
    French Consulate, the consulate consul general, Consul General Guy Tremblay

    consumer price index (CPI, but avoid)


    consummate


    contact (v., ad.j, and n.)


    continental shelf


    Continent, the (Europe)


    contralto, contraltos


    convener (not -or)


    converter (not -or)


    cookbook


    cooperate, cooperation


    coordinate


    Copp Clark Longman Ltd., Copp Clark (publisher)


    copy editing, copy editor


    copyright
    Copyright, The Associated Press

    cornea (sing.), corneas (pl.)


    cornersotne, lay


    corporal (Cpl. Jane Smith)
    lance-corporal (Lance-Cpl.)

    Corporation
    Use Corp. in business names.
  • Argus Corp.
  • British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC)
  • Canadian Broadcast corral, corralled


    cosy (not cozy)


    councillor (Coun.)
  • Coun. Robert Jones
  • a city councillor

    council, city or county council
    Council of Economie Advisers

    counsellor


    counsel
    Crown counsel, Queen’s counsel (QC)

    counter-attack, counter-proposal


    countrywide


    court martial, courts martial (n.), court marital (v.)


    Court of St. James’s


    Court
    Capitalize superior courts but not lower courts.
  • Admirality Court
  • Appeal Court
  • appellate division courthouse, courtroom


    cover up (v.), coverup (n.)


    craftman (no abbvn.)
  • Craftman Elwwod Greene (military)
  • but craftsman (artisan)

    crape (n., black material for mourning), crapy (adj.) See crêpe


    creditor (one owed a debt; not –er)


    crescent (Cresc.)


    crêpe (pancake),crêpe de Chine; (crapy fabric), crêpe paper


    cricket
  • England-Australia Test match
  • the Test
  • the Ashes

    crisis, crises


    criterion, criteria


    criticism, criticize (not –ise)


    cross-checking


    cross-country


    cross-examine, cross-examination


    crown
  • the Crown (judge or prosecutor)
  • the Crown alleges …
  • Crown attorney, counsel
  • Crown attorney Li cruise (missile)


    Crusades


    crybaby (no hyphen), crybabies


    Cultural Revolution


    cupful, cupfuls


    cup
  • Stanley Cup (trophy)
  • America’s Cup (yachting)
  • World Cup

    Curia
    Vatican office

    curriculum, curricula


    currency: ABB style is $250 million
    $ implies American dollars
    C$250 for Canadian dollars, A$250 for Australian dollars, and
    S$250 for Singapore dollars, etc.

    Also see The ABB Style Guide> Currencies, numbers and figures

    curtain
    Iron Curtain

    curtsy, curtsies


    customs
  • US Customs
  • a customs officer
  • go through customs

    cyberspace


    cyclosporine


    cystic fibrosis


    czar
    Czar Nicholas

    Czechoslovakia
    former country now divided into Czech Republic and Slovakia

    D-Day (June 6, 1944)


    Dacron
    trademark for polyester fibre

    Dahomey
    Benin since 1975

    Dalai Lama, the


    dame
    Dame Joan Sutherland (Dame Joan or, preferably, Sutherland on second reference)

    Dances
    Lowercase names
  • break dancing, bump, charleston, foxtrot, go-go, hip-hop, minuet, pas de deux, polka, polonaise danish
    pastry

    Dar es Salaam
    DAR ES SALAAM (in placelines)

    Dark Ages


    data (plural)


    database


    dateline, placeline
    but international date line

    Dates
    Write December 1997 without commas; and Dec. 14, 1997 with commas.
    In dates abbreviate the months except March, April
    day care but day-care centre


    Day
    Capitalize religious holidays and feasts and all special times.
  • All Saints’ Day
  • Christmas Eve
    daylight savings (not daylight saving) time – ADT, EDT, etc.


    DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)


    de- (prefix)
    deactivate, debar, decompress, de-emphasize, de-escalate, defrost, de-ice, de-ink, deodorize, de-salt de-icing


    de rigueur (not riguer)


    dean of arts


    debacle


    debonair


    debut
    use as noun only

    deceit, deceitful


    deceive, deceivable (not -eable), deceiver


    decision-making


    decker, double-decker


    Decorations
    Capitalize specific names.
  • Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

    decrepit


    deductible (not -able)


    deepsea (adj., no hyphen)


    defence (not defense), but defensive


    defenceman (one word)


    defuse (remove fuse), diffuse (spread)


    Degrees
    Lowercase college and other degreess unless abbreviated – See University Degrees.

    Delaware (Del.)


    delicatessen


    delta
    Mekong River Delta

    demagogue, demagogy (not -goguery)


    demeanor


    Deng Xiaoping, Deng


    Departments
    Capitalize national and provincial government departments. Lowercase municipal, school and business departmentsdependant (n.), dependent (adj.), dependence (not -ance)


    deprecate (dispprove), depreciate (belittle, lose value)


    Depression (or Great Depression), the (1930s)


    deputy
  • Deputy Prime Minister Linda Graves (formal title)
  • deputy premier Saul Hillier (informal position)
  • de descendant (offspring), descendent (descending)


    designate
    prime minister-designate John Block, the chairman-designate

    desirable (not -eable)


    desperate, desperation


    despoliation (not despoilation)


    detective
  • Det. Fred Lisak (police)
  • private detective James Brown

    deterrent (not -ant)


    Deutschmark (displaced by euro)
    prefer German mark

    devotee


    de, der, di du, d’
    When lowercase in names, capitalize only at start of sentence.
  • deBues, Vera (YWCA)
  • de Cotre Dhaka, Bangladesh


    diameter


    diaphragm


    diarrhea


    Dickensian


    Dictaphone
    trademark for a dictation recorder

    diesel engine (lowercase)


    dietitian


    dike
    barrier; not dyke

    dilemma


    dilettante, dilettantes


    dining room


    diocese
    Hamilton diocese

    diphtheria


    diphthong


    disappoint


    disaster, disastrous


    discernible (not -able)


    discolor


    discreet (circumspect), discrete (separate, abstract)


    disc
    compact disc (CD, CD-ROM), slipped disc, disc brake, disc jockey but floppy disk, disketter (of computers only)

    disease
    legionnaires’ disease, Minamata disease

    dishonor


    disingenuous
    insincere

    disinterested (impartial), uninterested (not interested)


    dispatch (not despatch)
  • dispatch rider
  • mention in dispatches
  • a news dispatch

    dispel, dispelled


    dissension (not -tion)


    dissociate (not disassociate)


    distil, distiller


    dived (not dove)


    divisibility, divisible, divisive


    division
    6th Division

    DNA
    deoxyribonucleic acid

    doctor
    Dr., but avoid unless health care professional
  • doctor of laws (LLD)
  • doctor of medicine (MD)
  • doctor docudrama


    dogfight, doghouse, dog-tag


    dogma, dogmas


    dogs
    Capitalize breed names derived from proper names except where usage has established the lowercase.
  • Dalmatian
    dogma, dogmas


    dollar see currency
    Also check the ABB Style Guide > Currencies, numbers and figures


    Dominica
    small Caribbean island republic

    Dominican Republic
    neighbor of Haiti

    dominion


    donegal tweed but County Donegal


    Donnybrook (town), donnybrook (riot)


    dos and don’ts


    double-A-plus, double-A-minus (bonds)


    doublecross, doublecrosser


    doubletalk


    doughnut
    never donut except in corporate names

    Dow Jones (no hyphen)


    down payment (two words)


    Down Under
    antipodes

    downhill


    Down’s syndrome
    but Down Syndrome Association

    draconian


    draegerman
    mine-rescue worker

    draft
    air, money, plan, military, hauling, beer

    Dramamine
    trademark for travel-sickness medicine

    dreck


    drive in (v.), drive-in (n.)


    drive (Dr.)
  • 111 Suterhland Dr.
  • but 24 Sussex Drive (official residence)

    drop out (v.), dropout (n.)


    drugstore (one word)


    dry, drier, driest
    but hair, laundry dryer

    Dubai


    Duesseldorf, Germany


    duke
    Duke of Windsor

    dumbfound


    Dunkirk (not Dunkerque)


    dwarf, dwarfs


    dye, dyeing


    dynamo, dynamos


    dysentery


    dysfunction


    dyslexia


    Earth
    Capitalize when referred to as a planet.
  • The planets nearest the sun are Mercury, Venus and Earth.
    East Indian (use South Asian)


    East
    Capitalize regions but not their derivatives. Lowercase mere direction or position.
  • the East (region)
    Ebola virus


    echo, echoes


    eCommerce


    ecstasy (not ecstacy)


    ecumenical council


    educator (prefer teacher)


    effect (n. – result); (v. – bring about)


    effrontery (shameless insolence), affront (deliberate insult)


    Eiffel Tower (Paris)


    Eilat
    Israeli port

    El (“the”)
    In Arabic names, lowercase when full names used, capitalize when first name dropped.
  • Thami el Glaoui ellipsis, ellipses


    e-mail, electronic mail also permitted


    embargo, embargoes


    embassy
    the French Embassy, the embassy

    emeritus
    Jean Duval, professor emeritus of history

    emigrant, emigrate, emigration


    emphysema


    empire
  • British Commonwealth and Empire, the Empire
  • Holy Roman Empire
  • Empire State Building

    en route (always two words)


    enamor, enamored (of)


    encyclopedia
    Encyclopedia Britannica

    endeavor


    England
    Do not abbreviate and do not use as synonym for Britain.

    enormity (as of a crime), enormousness (size)


    enquiry
    Use inquiry

    enrol (not enroll), enrolled, enrolment


    ensign (rank, no abbvn.)


    ensign
    the Red Ensign

    ensure
    make sure of

    entomological, entomologist, entomology


    entrepreneur, entrepreneurial


    epigram (witty saying), epitaph (inscription on a tomb), epithet (descriptive word or phrase)


    equator


    esker
    post-glacial gravel

    Eskimo / Eskimos: use Inuk, Inuit


    esthetic


    Eternal City


    eucharist
    holy communion

    euphemism (pleasant word for an unpleasant subject), euphuism (flowery writing)


    European Court of Justice


    European Economic Community (1957-67, forerunner of European Community)


    European Parliament
    legislative body of EU

    European Union (EU)


    euro
    European Community currency

    euthanasia
    preferred to mercy killing

    even-steven


    everyday (adj., one word)


    exaggerate, exaggeration


    exhilarate


    exhort


    existence (not -ance)


    exonerate


    exorbitant (not exhorbitant)


    expedite, expediter (not -or)


    expel, expelled


    extemporaneous (not -eraneous)


    extra-bill (v.), extra billing (n.)


    extrapolate (not exterpolate)


    extraterritorial (no hyphen)


    extravagant (not –ent)


    exuberant


    eye
    eyeball, eyebrow, eyeful, eyeing, eyelash, eyelid, eyesight, eyesore, eyewitness (no hyphens)

    E. coli (bacteria)


    e.g. (exempli gratia; avoid, prefer 'for example')


    FA Cup
    Football Association Cup, the Cup competition

    face off (v.), faceoff (n.)


    faculty
    faculty of law

    Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Kind Fahd (Saudi Arabia)


    Fahrenheit
    –20 F (dash, space before F, no period)

    fall out (v.), fallout (n.)


    fall (season)


    fallacious, fallacy


    fallible, fallibility


    Fallopian tube


    fantasy


    Far East


    Far North


    fascism
    philosophical attitude

    Fascist trends


    Fascist
    party, member or government

    Father’s Day
    third Sunday in June

    faux pas


    favor, favorite, favorable


    fax (n.and v.)


    faze (disconcert), phase (stage)


    Federal Communications Commission (FCC, but avoid)


    Federal Court


    federal
  • federal election
  • federal government

    feedback (n., no hyphen


    feisty


    fellow, fellowship
  • a Southam Fellow
  • Nieman Fellowship

    ferris wheel (lowercase)


    fervor


    fettucine


    fever
    Lassa fever, spring fever

    Fiberglas
    trademark for fiberglass or glass fiber

    field marshal (no abbvn.)


    field
  • a polo field
  • Soldier Field

    fiery, fierier, fieriest


    Filipino, Filipina, Filipinos


    film, filmmaker


    fire
    fire department, firearm, firebrand, firecracker, firefighter, fireplace

    First Lady
    U.S. president’s wife only

    first lieutenant (1st Lieut.)


    First World War (not World War I)


    fivepins
    bowling

    fjord


    flack (press agent), flak (anti-aircraft fire)


    Flags
    Capitalize the names of flags and ensigns.
  • Fleur-de-lis, Maple Leaf, Red Ensign, Rising Sun, Stars and Stripes, flair (talent), flare (flame, widening)


    flak (anti-aircraft fire), flack (press agent)


    flamboyant (no u)


    flamingo, flamingos


    flammable
    prefer to Inflammable

    flare up (v.), flare-up (n.)


    flatcar


    flaunt (show off), flout (mock)


    flavor


    fleet
  • the U.S. fleet (whole navy)
  • U.S. Pacific Fleet (formation)
  • Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy)

    fleur-de-lis (not -lys), Fleur-de-lis (flag)


    flexibility, flexible


    flight lieutenant (Flight Lieut.)


    flight sergeant (Flight Sgt.)


    floe
    floating sheet of ice

    flotation (not Float-)


    flounder (thrash about), founder (sink)


    flout (mock), flaunt (show off)


    flu (no apostrophe)


    fluorite (mineral), fluorescence, fluoride, fluorocarbon, fluoroscope


    flutist


    Flying Dutchman
    sailboat

    flying officer (no abbvn.)


    fly
    flyer (not flier), fly-fishing, flyleaf, flypast, fly swatter (two words), flyweight, flywheel, frequent flyer

    FM
    frequency modulation

    focus, focused, focuses, focusing


    folksinger, folksong


    follow up (v.) followup •••


    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)


    foofaraw


    foot-and mouth disease (not hoof-)


    forbear (refrain from), forbearance; forebear (ancestor)


    force-feeding


    Forces, the; Armed Forces


    forego (precede), foregone; forgo (go without), forgone


    Foreign Legion


    forerunner


    foresaw, foresee, foreseeable, foreseen


    foreword
    in a book

    forfeit, forfeiture


    forgivable (not -eable), forgive


    forgo (go without), forgone; forego (precede), foregone


    format


    former
  • former Kind (of the UK)
  • former king (other nations)
  • former president George Bush
  • former prime Formica
    trademark for a laminated plastic

    Formula One
    motor racing

    formula, formulas


    forsake, forsaken


    Fortran
    for formula translation

    forty
    not fourty

    founder (sink), flounder (thrash about)


    Fourth Estate
    press

    Fourth of July, July Fourth
    US holiday

    foxtrot (one word)


    fracas


    freebie
    free trip or other benefit

    freelance (n., v. and adj.); freelancer (n.)


    Freemason (one word)


    freestyle swimming


    French Revolution


    french
    french bread, french door, french fries, french-fried potatoes

    frequency modulation (FM)


    fresco, frescoes


    Freudian


    Frigidaire
    trademark for appliances

    Frisbee
    trade name

    front-runner


    Fuehrer, the
    leader; used by Adolf Hitler

    fuel
    fuelled, fuelling, fuel cell, fuel injection

    fulfill, fulfilled, fulfilment


    full time, a full-time job, working full time


    fulsome
    perjorative term, meaning excessive

    ful
    boxful, careful, cheerful, cupful(s), handful(s), harmful, spoonful(s), thoughtful, useful

    fund-raiser, fund-raising


    fungus, fungi


    furore (not furor)


    fusilier (no abbvn.)
    Fusilier Georges Coté

    futile, futilely, futility


    Gadhafi, Moammar El- (AP)(many spellings: Muammar al-Qaddafi, Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi, Moammar Khadafy)

    Gallup poll


    Gandhi (not Ghandi)


    garnishee (v. – preferable to garnish)


    gauge


    gauntlet (not gantlet)


    gefilte fish


    geiger counter


    genealogist


    General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
    GATT

    General Assembly (of UN)
    but general assembly of the United Church

    general (Gen.)
  • chief of the general staff
  • Gen. Charles de Gaulle

    General
    In compounds, hyphenate general when it is the key word: major-general.
    Otherwise: attorney general genius, geniuses


    genus, genera


    Geographical Terms
    Capitalize regions but not mere direction or position.
    German measles


    germane


    Germany, Germanys


    get together (v.), get-together (n.)


    Ghanaian


    ghetto, ghettos


    ghoul, ghoulish


    gigahertz
    GHz; avoid, or include explanation: one billion cycles a second

    Giuseppe
    Italian for Joseph

    gizmo, gizmos


    glamor (but glamorous)


    glasnost


    GNP
    gross national product

    gobbledegook


    god (idol)


    godchild, godfather, godmother


    godsend


    God
    Capitalize sacred names and the proper names and nicknames of the devil: God, Allah, Yahweh, the Almighty, the Father gofer


    goitre


    Golf
    birdie (one under par), bogey (one over par; bogeys, bogeyed), double bogey, tripe-bogey 7, eagle (two under par), par 4 Good Friday


    Good Samaritan


    goodbye (no hyphen)


    goodwill (n. and adj.)


    gorilla (the animal) but guerrilla (fighter)


    gospel
  • the Four Gospels
  • the Gospels
  • the Gospel of St. Luke
  • the gospel truth
  • a gospel singergot (not gotten)


    Gothenburg


    Gothic
    architectural style, but a gothic novel

    Government
    Capitalize national legislative bodies, including some short forms.
  • House of Commons, Commons
    Grade 7
    Use numerals; but seventh grade

    graffiti (pl.), graffito (sing.)


    Granada (Spanish city), Grenada (island in the Caribbean)


    Grand Canyon


    grand jury


    Grand Prix racing


    granddaughter, great-granddaughter


    grandmaster
    bridge and chess

    grassroots (one word)


    great-grandfather, great-grandmother


    green movement (environmentalists)
    Green party

    green paper
    a tentative report of government proposals

    Greenpeace Foundation, Greenpeace V (vessel)


    Greenwich Village


    Grenada (island in the Caribbean), Granada (Spanish city)


    grey
    color

    grisly (gruesome), grizzly (bear)


    gross domestic product (GDP)


    gross national product (GNP)


    ground swell (two words)


    groundcrew (aviation – one word)


    group captain (Group Capt. Ed Moir)


    grown-up (n. and adj.)


    gruesome


    guacamole


    guide
    a girl guide

    Gulf of Aqaba


    Gulf Stream


    gung-ho


    gunner (no abbvn.)


    Guns
    Rifles, pistols and other small arms are usually described in caliber, expressed in decimal fractions of an inch or in me gunwale


    gun
    Bren gun, Sten gun

    Gurkha (not Ghurka)


    gurney


    guttural (not -eral)


    gynecologist, gynecology


    Gypsy, Gypsies
    race of nomadic peoples; but gypsy moth, gypsy cab

    H-bomb


    habeas corpus
    writ

    Habsburg (not Hapsburg) Empire


    Hague, The


    hair’s-breadth


    hajj
    Muslim pilgrimage

    half-
    halfback, half-baked, half-hour, half-mast, halftime, halftone (engraving), halves (pl.), halfway, halfwit, halfwitted < half
  • one-half
  • half a dozen
  • a half-dozen

    Halley’s comet


    Halloween (no apostrophe)


    hall
    city hall, firehall

    handful, handfuls


    handmade (one word), but home-made


    handshake (no hyphen)


    hangar (aircraft), hanger (clothes, etc.)


    Hanukkah


    hara-kiri


    hard line, hardline policy, hardliner


    Hare Krishna, Hare Krishnas


    harebrained


    hat trick


    Headlines
    Capitalize first word only.

    headquarters
    usually takes a plural verb

    Heads
    Capitalize principal words in headings of tables, lists and other tabular matter. health care (n.) health-care (adj.)


    hearsay


    heat wave (two words)


    heaven


    heavy water


    Hegira, the (Mohammed’s)


    Heimlich manoeuvre


    helix, helixes


    Hells Angels (no apostrophe)


    hell


    helter-skelter


    hemisphere
    Western Hemisphere

    hemophilia


    hemorrhage


    Her Majesty – See His


    herculean (lowercase)


    hero, heroes (pl.)


    heyday (no hyphen)


    Hezbollah
    Party of God

    hiccup, hiccuped


    hide-and-seek, hideaway, hideout


    hieroglyph, hieroglyphs (n.); hieroglyphic (adj.), hieroglyphics (n., pl.)


    high-tech


    High Arctic


    high commissioner
    High Commissioner Lauren Chow

    high jinks


    high mass


    highbrow (no hyphen)


    highlight (no hyphen)


    highrise


    highway
  • the highway to Paris
  • Highway 27

    hindrance


    Hindu, Hinduism


    hippie, hippies


    hippopotamus, hippopotamuses


    His
    Capitalize His in reference to the Deity, His (or Her) Majesty, His (or Her) Royal Highness, Holiness, Grace, Worship Hispanic


    historic (important or outstanding in history)
  • historical (about history)
  • a (not an) historical site

    Historical Eras
    Capitalize historical periods and events, including recognized popular names: Pliocene Epoch, Dark Ages hitchhike, hitchhiking (no hyphen)


    Hitler, Adolf (not Adolph) (1889-1945)


    HIV (for human immunodeficiency virus), HIV-positive


    Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam), Ho Chi Minh Trail


    hodgepodge (no hyphen)


    hold up (v.), holdup (n.)


    hole
    buttonhole, pigeonhole

    Holidays
    Capitalize religious holidays and feasts and all special times: Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, Father’s Day holocaust
    mass destruction esp. by fire (but Holocaust, the murder by Nazis of six million Jews)

    Holy Week


    homey (not homy)


    home
    homebrew, home-made (hyphen), homeowner, home page (two words), homesick, home town (two words), home-town boy Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China (formal name, Hong Kong OK in all references)


    honky-tonk (hyphen)


    honor
    honorable but honorary

    honorifics
    see Mr., Mrs., Ms.

    hoof, hoofs


    Hook of Holland


    hoopla


    horseback (one word)


    hospital, hospital commission
    Shaughnessy Hospital

    hotel
  • Hotel International
  • a Barcelona hotel

    hot
    hotbox, hotcake, hotdog, hotfoot, hothead, hothouse, hotline (show, prefer open-line), hotplate, hotrod, (all one word); b hovercraft
  • SRN-6 hovercraft
  • British Hovercraft Corp.

    HTML
    Hyper Text Markup Language

    hubbub


    hullabaloo


    humdinger


    humdrum (no hyphen)


    humongous


    humor but humorous, humorist


    hurricane Hazel


    Hussein, Saddam


    hydroelectric (no hyphen)


    hypocrisy, hypocrite


    hypothesis, hypotheses


    H
    Only four words and their derivatives begin with a silent "h" – heir, honest, honor and hour – requiring "an" I-beam


    icebreaker (no hyphen)


    idiosyncrasy


    illusion (false impression), allusion (indirect reference)


    ill
    ill feeling, ill will; but ill-fated, ill-mannered, ill-starred

    Imax
    big-screen movies

    imitator (not -er)


    immanent (pervading, inherent), imminent (impending)


    immovable (not -eable)


    imperial
    imperial measure

    impetus, impetuses


    implement (n. and v.), implementation


    impostor (not -er)


    impresario (not -ss-)


    Impressionism
    school of art; but impressionistic style

    in depth, in-depth (adj.)


    inaccessible (not -able)


    inadmissible (not -able)


    inadvertent (not -ant)


    income tax
    income tax deduction

    incompatibility, incompatible


    Incorporated
    Use Inc. in business names.

    incorruptible (not -able)


    Independence Day (U.S.)


    independent, Independent (MP), Ind (abbvn., no period)


    index, indexes


    indict, indictable


    indigenous


    indispensable (not -ible)


    Industrial Revolution


    Indy-car race


    infallible


    infinitesimal


    inflammable
    use flammable

    inflammation, inflammatory


    information highway (lowercase)


    infrared


    ingenious (clever), ingenuous (frank, innocent)


    inherent


    innocuous


    innovate, innovation, innovator


    innuando, innuendoes


    Innu
    Labrador Indians

    inoculate, inoculation


    inquire, inquiry, inquiries


    Inquisition, Spanish


    inscribe (not enscribe), inscription


    insignia (sing. and pl.)


    insistence (not -ance), insistent (not -ant)


    inspector
    Insp. John Smith

    install, installation


    instalment


    instil, instilled


    institute
    Women’s Institute

    insure
    cover loss

    intefadeh
    Palestinian uprising

    intelligence quotient (IQ)


    intercollegiate (no hyphen)


    intercontinental (no hyphen)


    interdependence (no hyphen)


    interfere, interference


    interferon (lowercase)


    International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)


    International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)


    international date line


    International Development Association (IDA, but avoid)


    International Joint Commission (IJC, but avoid)


    International Labor Organization (ILO)


    International Monetary Fund (IMF)


    International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (Intelsat)


    International Telephone and Telegraph Corp. (now ITT Corp.)


    Internet, the
    the Net acceptable in second reference

    interpreter (not -or)


    interracial (no hyphen)


    intervene, intervener (not -or)


    inundate, inundation


    Inuvialuit, western Arctic natives


    involvement


    in
    inbound, indoor, in-depth, infighting, in-group, in-house, in-law; break-in, cave-in, stand-in, walk-in, write-in

    IRA
    Irish Republican Army

    iridescent


    Irish Republican Army (IRA)


    Iron Curtain
    outmoded term

    ironic, ironically
    use advisedly; often misused

    irrelevant


    irreparable


    irresistible (not -able)


    irreverent (not -ant)


    it’s
  • it is, it has; similar to he’s, she’s
  • its (possessive; similar to his, hers)

    Ivy League


    i.e.
    but prefer 'that is'

    jack pine


    jackhammer


    Jacuzzi
    trademark for whirlpool tub

    jail
    county jail, jailbird, jailbreak

    jeep (for the military vehicle), Jeep (for the trademark all-terrain vehicle)


    jerry-built


    Jew (for a man and woman, not Jewess)
  • Reform Jew
  • Orthodox Jew

    jeweller, jewelry


    Jidda, Saudi Arabia


    jockey, jockeyed, jockeys


    jodhpurs


    john (lavatory; prostitute’s customer)


    judge
    Judge Catherine Tracy

    judgment (not judgement)


    jumbo jet
    wide-bodied jet plane, including the Boeing 747, Lockheed L-1011 and DC-10

    junior
    John Jones Jr. (no comma)

    jury
    grand jury

    justice ot the peace
    justice of the peace Jean Dufy

    justice
    Chief Justice Albert Weisman, Justice Jean Dupont, Justice Sadie Kells (not Madam Justice) kaffeeklatsch


    kaiser
    Kaiser Wilhelm

    Kamikaze


    Kampuchea
    (now Cambodia)

    Kaposi’s sarcoma (AIDS-related cancer)


    karat (gold), carat (gems)


    Kathmandu


    Kazakhstan


    keynote (no hyphen)


    Keystone Kops


    KGB
    acceptable in all references for the Russian words meaning Committee of State Security Khadafy – See Gadhafi
    khaki


    Khmer Rouge


    kibitz, kibitzer


    kick back (v.), kickback (n.), kick off (v.), kickoff (n.)


    kidnap, kidnapped, kidnapper


    kilo (not an abbreviation for kilogram or kilometer)


    kilometer (km – sing. and pl. metric symbol, no period), km/h


    kimono, kimonos


    kindergarten


    kitsch


    Kleenex
    trademark for paper tissue

    klutz (a bungler)


    km/h (kilometers per hour)


    knick-knack (hyphen)


    know-how (hyphen)


    knowledgeable


    Kool-Aid


    Koran


    kowtow


    Krakow, Poland


    krona, kronor
    Swedish currency

    krona, kronur
    Icelandic currency

    krone, kroner
    Danish and Norwegian currency

    kudos (always singular)


    kung fu


    Kyrgyzstan
    formerly Kirghizia

    label, labeled


    labor but laborious


    Labor sympathizer (party)
    Labor party

    labor sympathizer (union)


    Labrador retriever


    Laetrile
    trademark for a derivative of amygdalin

    Lake
    Capitalize as part of a proper name: Lake Zurich, Lowerase in pural use: lakes Zurich and Geneva

    lama (monk), llama (animal)


    lambaste, lambaster, lambasting


    Lamborghini


    landmine (one word)


    largemouth (bass)


    largesse


    larva, larvae


    laser
    for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

    Lassa fever


    lasso, lassos


    Latin America (no hyphen)


    laudable


    lawsuit


    law
    Law of the Sea conference

    lay off (v.), layoff (n.)


    Lay
    This is an action word; it takes a direct object: The gunman lays the rifle down, is laying it down, has laid it down La, Le
    When lowercase in names, capitalize only at the start of the sentence. lead (v.), led, leading


    Leader
    Capitalize as a semi-official title when used with the name of a political party and directly preceding a name.
  • league
  • League of Nations
  • National Hockey League (NHL)
  • American League (baseball)
    leap, leapfrog (n. and v.) – no hyphen), leap year


    Learjet (trademark)


    leery (not leary)


    leeway


    Left Bank (Paris)


    left
    left field, left-fielder, left wing, left-winger, left-field wall, left-handed pitcher, left-wing politician (adj., hyph legation


    legion
    Foreign Legion

    legionnaires’ disease


    legionnaire


    Legislature
    Capitalize national legislatures; lowercase others.
    Parliament, House of Commons, Commons, House leitmotif


    lend, lent (v.), loan (n.)


    lenience


    Lent (season)


    Leopard 1 (tank)


    lesbian (lowercase)


    leukemia


    Levi’s
    trademark for a brand of jeans

    Lhasa, Tibet


    Li Peng, Li (second reference)


    liaison


    libel, libeled, libelous


    Liberal (party or member)
    the Liberal party

    liberal (philosophical attitude)
    a liberal education

    liberty
  • liberty boat, but Liberty ship
  • Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell

    Libya, Libyan


    license (n.), license (v.)


    licensed, licensee, licensing


    lie (n.), lie-detector


    Liechtenstein


    lieutenant-commander (Lt.-Cmdr. Stan Lyubic)


    lieutenant-general (Lt.-Gen. Lee Ward)
    lieutenant-generals

    lieutenant (Lieut. but Lt.- as prefix in compounds: Lt.-Col.)
  • second lieutenant (2nd Lieut. Anne Finlay)
    Lie
    This verb, meaning to recline or be situated, does not take a direct object: Andropov lies in state, is lying in state, l life (prefix)
    lifebelt, lifeboat, lifebuoy, life cycle, lifeguard, life-jacket, lifeless, lifelike, lifeline, lifelong, light-year


    lighthouse, lightkeeper


    likable (not -eable)


    lime, lime-kiln (hyphen), limelight (no hyphen)


    Limited
    Use Ltd. and Itée (lowercase, no period) in business names.

    linage (advertising, number of lines), lineage (ancestry)


    linchpin (not lynchpin)


    line up (v.), linup (n.)


    line
    line 2

    Lions, Gulf of


    liquefied natural gas (LNG)


    liquefy, liquefier, liquefaction


    liqueur


    lira, lire (pl.)


    liter (not litre) L – sing. and pl. metric symbol, no period


    livable (not -eable)


    living room


    LLD (doctor of laws, but avoid)


    Lloyd’s (insurance market, shipping information), Lloyds Bank (no apostrophe)


    loan (n.), lend, lent (v.)


    loath (unwilling), loathe (despise)


    Local 14 (union)


    locations, places, sites
  • Capitalize the names of important buildings, residences, historical and battle sites lock out (v.), lockout (n.)


    lock up (v.), lockup (n.)


    locker-room


    long-range
    a long-range forecast

    long-standing
    a long-standing rule

    long-term (adj.)


    long distance
    a long-distance phone call

    long house


    long johns


    longliner (fishing vessel)


    longtime (no hyphen, compound modifier)


    loony (insane), Looney Tunes (cartoons)


    loophole (no hyphen)


    Lords, the (institution), lords (members), Lord’s (cricket ground)


    lovable (not -eable)


    lowbrow (no hyphen)


    lower house


    lowercase (n., v.) (no hyphen)


    lowercase department in plural uses
    the Defence and Industry departments

    LSD
    acceptable in all references for lysergic acid diethylamide

    Lutz
    figure-skating jump

    Luxembourg


    luxury, luxurious


    Lycra
    trademark for spandex fibre

    Lyme disease


    MA (master of arts)
    a master’s degree

    machiavellian


    machine-gun, submachine-gun


    Macintosh (computer), but McIntosh (apple)


    mackintosh (coat)


    madame (French title of respect)
    madam
    polite form of address; brothel-keeper

    mademoiselle (no abbvn.)


    maelstrom


    magazine
    Capitalize when part of the actual title.
  • New York Times Magazine
  • Time magazine
    Magnum
    trademark for a cartridge, a. 357-caliber Magnum revolver, a Colt Python .357 Magnum

    mail-order catalogue (hyphen)


    Maine (me.)


    mainframe


    major-general (Maj.-Gen. Keith Adams), major-generals


    make up (v.), makeup (n.)


    malemute (dog)


    Mallorca


    mammogram, mammography
    breast X-ray

    man-of-war (warship)
    Man o’War (racehorse)

    mandarin (civil servant); Mandarin (Chinese dialect)


    manhattan (cocktail)


    manhunt


    manila paper


    Manila, Philippines


    mankind (prefer humanity)


    manmade
    prefer synthetic, manufactured

    manoeuvre


    mantel (fireplace)


    mantle (cloak)


    Mao Tse-tung, Mao (second reference)


    march past (n. and v.)


    March (no abbvn.)


    Mardi Gras


    marijuana


    marine, marine corps
  • U.S. Marine Corps
  • Royal Marines
  • the Marines (service)
  • a marine
    maritime
    Maritime provinces, the Maritimes

    Mark III, Mark 4 (follow maker’s style)


    marketplace


    marquess but Marquis of Queensberry rules


    Marseille
    but Marseillaise (national anthem of the French Republic)

    marshal (n. and v.)
    marshalled, fire marshal, parade marshal

    Marshall Plan


    martini


    marxian, Marxist


    Mason jar


    Mason
    member of Masonic order

    Masonite
    trademark for a brand of hardboard

    mason
    person who builds with stone

    mass
    low mass, high mass, requiem mass

    mastectomy


    master corporal (Master Cpl. Pierre Charest)


    master of arts (MA)
    a master’s degree

    master seaman (no abbvn.)


    master sergeant (Master Sgt.)


    master warrant officer (no abbvn.)


    MasterCard


    masterful (befitting one who is a master, commanding), mastery (skilful)


    matrix, matrixes


    matzo, matzos


    mavin (an expert)


    maximum, maximums


    mayday
    distress signal

    mayonnaise


    mayoralty (n.), mayoral (adj.)


    mayor
    Mayor Grace McDonald
  • Former mayor Ken Elman
  • acting mayor Ken Elman
  • the acting mayor
  • mayor-e mazel tov (good luck)


    McDonald’s Restaurants


    meat packer (two words)


    Mecca (place)
    but a music mecca

    Medals
    Capitalize specific names.
  • Medal of Bravery
    medal, medallist


    medicare
    government medical insurance plan in general, Medicare (U.S. health program)

    medieval


    Mediterranean


    medium, media (pl. – except mediums in spiritualism)


    meerschaum (pipe)


    memento, mementoes


    memorandum, memorandums


    memo, memos


    meningits, meningococcal disease


    menswear, womenswear


    Mercator projection


    Mercedes-Benz


    merchant marine


    Messiah, a messiah


    Messrs.
    Use Messieurs

    meter (gauge)
    meter (m – sing. and pl. metric symbol, no period); but diameter

    methadone


    metrication (not metrification)


    Mexico City


    MI-5, MI-6
    British intelligence

    Michigan (Mich.)


    mickey
    half sized bottle of liquor

    micro (prefix)
    microcomputer, microsurgery, microwave, micro-organism

    midday


    Middle Ages


    Middle West, Midwest (U.S.)


    Middle (not Near) East


    Mideast


    midshipman (no abbvn.)


    midsummer (no hyphen)


    midway (no hyphen)


    MiG
    for Russian aircraft designers Mikoyan and Gurevich

    mileage (not milage; for metric, use “consumption” or “fuel consumption”)


    Military Rank
    Plurals add “s” to the significant rank category, not to the qualifying word.
  • major-generals
  • li millennium (-nn-)


    millimeter (mm – sing. and pl. metric symbol, no period)


    Milosevic, Slobodan
    Serbian leader

    Minamata, Japan
    Minamata disease

    minimize


    minimum, minimums


    minister
    Energy Minister Sylvia Carney; Sylvia Carney, energy minister

    Ministry
    Capitalize national and provincial gov't ministries even when the full name is not used.
  • Ministry of Trade mini
    Hyphenate unless the non-hyphenated form is established: mini-series

    minuscule (not miniscule)


    minus, minuses


    minutia, minutiae


    MIRV
    for multiple independent-oriented re-entry vehicle; always needs explanation

    misinterpret, misinterpreter, misinterpretation


    mislead, misled, misleading


    Mister seeMr., Mrs., Ms


    moccasin


    Modova
    formerly Modavia

    Mogadishu


    Mohammed, not used by AP Style Guide, instead see Muhammad


    mollusk


    Molotov cocktail


    money, moneys


    monitor


    monkey, monkeys


    monsieur (no abbvn.), messieurs


    monsignor, Msgr. Ronald Thom
    Thom (or the monsignor) said…

    months
    In dates, abbreviate except March, April, May, June, July: Jan. 13, 1936; April 2, 1981, was a Thursday

    moral (n. – lesson, inner meaning; adj. – right, just)
    moralist, morality

    morale (n. – mental state)


    Mormons
    acceptable in first reference for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    morocco leather


    Morse code


    Moslem – See Muslim


    mosquito, mosquitoes


    Mother’s Day
    second Sunday in May

    motocross


    motorcycle


    motto, mottoes


    mould (not mold)


    Mount Vesuvius


    Capitalize mount when it precedes or follows specific term.
    mouse, mouses (computer)


    movable (not moveable)


    MP (member of Parliament), MPs (pl.), MP’s and MPs’ (poss.)


    Mr., Mrs., Ms., take periods (AP). Miss does not. (NOTE ABB does not use courtesy titles in text, only when unavoidable in a quote.)


    MRI
    magnetic resonance imaging

    mucous (adj. – covered with mucus), mucus (n. – sticky secretion)


    Muhammad (founder of Islam, the Muslim religion)


    mujahedeen
    holy warrior

    mukluk
    deerskin boot

    multi-
    multicultural, multilateral, multinational, multimillionaire, multimillion-dollar

    mumps (takes singular verb)


    Muscovite (of Moscow)


    muskellunge, muskie


    Muslim (not Moslem)


    mustache


    Muzak
    trademark for recorded background music

    MV
    motor vessel

    Myanmar
    formerly Burma, n. and adj.

    NAACP
    National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

    naïve, naiveté


    Namibia
    formerly South-West Africa

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)


    national anthem


    nationwide (no hyphen, but prefer countrywide)


    NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)


    nautical mile (1.853 km)


    Navy
  • Royal Canadian Navy
    For other forces, lowercase navy when preceded by the name of the country.
    NBC (National Broadcasting Co.)
    NBC is acceptable in all references.

    Negro, Negroes (use black)


    neighbor, neighborhood


    nerve-racking


    Netanyahu, Benjamin


    Netherlands, the
    UTRECHT, Netherlands (placeline)

    New China news agency (Xinhua)


    New England


    New Testament


    New World


    New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day but the new year (lowercase)


    New York (N.Y.)
  • New York City


    newfangled (one word)


    newlyweds


    news
    newsdesk, newsman, newspaperman, newspaperwoman, newsprint, newsroom, newsstand

    nickel
    coin or metal

    niece


    night
    guest night, ladies night, nightcap, nightclub, nightdress, nightgown, nighthawk, night letter, nightlight, nightmare, n Nike (missile)


    Nikon (camera)


    Nineteen Eighty-Four
    George Orwell novel but 1984 for Michael Radford movie

    nitroglycerine


    no man’s land


    no one (two words)


    Nobel Prize
  • Nobel Peace Prize
  • Nobel Prize in chemistry, physics, etc.
    nom de plume, noms de plume


    non-existent (not –ant)


    noncommittal


    nondescript


    nonplus (v.), nonplussed


    North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad)


    North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)


    North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)


    North Pole, the Pole


    North Sea


    North Vietnam


    North
    Capitalize regions but not their derivatives. Lowercase mere direction or position.
  • the North (region)
    northeast, northwest (one word)


    Northern Hemisphere


    northern lights


    northern states (of U.S.)


    nose, nosy, nosier


    nostalgia, nostalgic


    no, noes
    but: She voted No in the referendum.

    nucleus, nuclei


    number
    number 2, No. 2

    numskull (not numbskull)


    nylon


    oasis, oases


    objet d’art, objets d’art


    occasion


    Occidental (race; but avoid)


    occur, occurred, occurrence, occurring


    Ocean
    Capitalize with specific name.
  • Pacific Ocean
  • the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
  • an ocean wave

    octopus, octopuses


    odor, odorless but odorous


    OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development)


    Oedipus


    offence, offensive


    officer cadet (no abbvn.)
    Officer Cadet John Sampson

    officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)


    office
    county clerk’s office
  • Home Office (U.K.)
  • Foreign Office (U.K.)

    off
    offbeat, off-centre, off-duty, off-line, off-season, offshore, offside, offstage, off-white; blastoff (n.), blast off (v. oilfield, oilpatch, oilsands (one word)


    Oktoberfest (beer-drinking festival)


    OK
    okay, OK’d, OK’ing

    old-fashioned


    old-time, old-timer


    old age pension


    Old Boys network


    Old Testament


    Olympic Games, the Games
    the Winter Olympics, the Olympics

    ombudsman, ombudsmen
    ombudsman Jill Leonard

    omelette


    on to
    but: He drove onto the beach.

    onetime, one-time
  • onetime (adj., one word; former: a onetime actor)
  • one-time event

    online (all uses)


    onstage, off stage


    OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)


    openness


    ophthalmologist, ophthalmology


    Opposition
    Capitalize when referring to the official Opposition
  • the Opposition leader

    oppress, oppression, oppressive


    opus, opuses


    orbit (n. and v.), orbital, orbiting


    order-in-council, orders-in-council


    ordinary seaman (no abbvn.)


    Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)


    Organization of African Unity (OAU)


    Organization of American States (OAS)


    Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)


    organize


    Orient
  • Oriental (race; but prefer Asia, Asian)
  • an oriental flavor
  • Orient Express (train)

    Orlon
    trademark for acrylic fabric

    orneriness, ornery


    ornithology


    orthopedic


    Otello (Verdi and Rossini operas), Othello (Shakespeare play)


    out
    outboard, outbox, outfield, outpatient, outtalk but out-take (film); fadeout (n.), fade out (v.).
    Oval Office


    overall (all-embracing)


    overall, overalls (garment)


    oxford (cloth, shoe)


    ozone


    P and O
    Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.

    pact
    Baghdad Pact, Warsaw Pact

    page 2, pages 1-3; p.2, pp. 1-3 (abbvn. for tabulation)


    Pahloavi, Mohammad Reza (shah, 1919-1980)


    pajamas, also pyjamas


    paleontologist, paleontology


    Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)


    pallbearer (one word)


    panacea


    Panama Canal


    panama hat


    Panama, Isthmus of


    panda (not panda bear)


    panel, panellist, panelling


    panorama


    pantsuit


    pantyhose


    paparazzo, paparazzi


    paperwork


    paper
    paperback, paperbacked, paperbound, paper-boy, paper-clip, paper-girl, paperhanger, paperweight,

    Papua New Guinea (no hyphen)


    paraffin (wax; in Britain, kerosene)


    paragraph 2


    parallel, paralleled, 49th parallel


    paralyze, paralysis


    paranoia, paranoiac, paranoid


    paraphernalia (p.)


    parenthesis, parentheses


    parimutuel (no hyphen)


    Parkinson’s disease, Parkinsonism


    park


    parliament
    Parliament (national legislature)
  • parliament (provincial or regional)
  • parliamentary
  • Parliament, member of (MP, MPs)


    parlor


    Parmesan cheese


    parole, paroled, parolee


    paraplegic


    part time
    a part-time job, a part-timer

    partisan


    party
    Communist party, Green party, Labor party, Liberal party

    Passchendaele


    passer-by, passers-by


    pasteurize, pasteurizing (lowercase)


    pastime


    patchwork (one word)


    pavilion (not pavillion)


    pay day (two words)


    pay off (v.), payoff (n.)


    pay TV, pay TV network (no hyphen)


    paycheck


    payola


    payroll (no hypen)


    PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), PCBs


    PC
    Personal Computer

    Peace Corps (U.S.)


    peacekeeping


    peacemaker


    peacetime


    peak (mountain, apex); peek (peer)


    pea
    pea-meal (hyphen), pea soup, pea-soup fog, pea-souper (fog)

    peccadillo, peccadillos


    pedagogy


    pedal (bicycle), pedaller, pedalling


    peddle (to sell), pedlar (seller), peddling, softpedal (not -peddle)


    pediatrician


    pedophile


    peek (v. – peer); peak (mountain, apex)


    peewee


    pekinese (dog)


    pemmican (dried meat)


    penicillin


    pension


    pep talk (two words)


    perceive, perceived, perceiving


    percent, percentage, six percent increase (no hyphens)


    perennial


    perestroika


    perfunctory


    periphery


    permafrost (no hyphen)


    permissible (not -able)


    perogy, perogies


    perquisite (perk), prerequisite (requirement)


    Perrier
    trademark for a mineral water

    perseverance, persevere, persevering


    Pershing
    Pershing 2 missile

    persistence (not -ance), persistency, persistent (not -ant)


    persona non grata


    persuade, persuadable, persuasible, persuasion, persuasive


    petrochemical (no hyphen)


    petty officer (no abbvn.)
  • chief petty officer (first class) (no abbvn.)
  • petty officer (first class) (no abbvn.)< Phalange party (Lebanon)


    pharaoh


    phase
    Phase 1 (not phase one)

    PhD
    doctor of philosophy

    phenomenon, phenomena


    Philip (usual spelling of first name)
    Prince Philip

    Philippe


    Philippines, the
  • QUEZON CITY, Philippines (placeline)
  • Filipinos (the people)

    Philistine (one 1)


    Phnom Penh, Cambodia


    Phoebe


    phone (no apostrophe)


    phoney (not phony), phoneys


    phosphorus (not -ous)


    photo-engraver, photo-engraving


    photocopy (n. and v.), photocopier (n.)


    Photostat
    trademark for photocopier

    piastre (not -er)


    piccolo, piccolos


    pick up (v.), pickup (n. or adj.)


    picket (not picketer), picketed, picketing


    picnic, picnicker


    piecemeal


    pigeonhole (no hyphen)


    pill
    lowercase for birth control pill; use a descriptive phrase if necessary

    pilot officer (no abbvn.)


    pin up (v.), pin-up (n.)


    pinch-hitter


    Pinot Noir


    pipeline


    pizzazz


    Places – See Locations


    plagiarism, plagiarize


    plainclothes police
    police in plain clothes

    plan
    Colombo Plan, Marshal Plan but the Hungarian five-year plan

    plaster of paris


    plateau, plateaus


    platoon sergeant (Platoon Sgt.)


    platypus, platypuses


    play off (v.), playoff (n.)


    playwright, but playwriting


    PLC (public limited company)


    Plexiglas
    trademark for an acrylic plastic

    PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)


    plow (not plough)


    plummet, plummeted


    plus, pluses


    pogey
    slang for unemployment insurance

    poinsettia


    Pole, the
    North Pole, South Pole

    police chief
    police Chief Arnold Goldberg

    police commission


    police court, station


    police
    city police

    policy-maker


    polio (short for poliomyelitis)


    Politburo


    Politics
    Capitalize political parties, as Liberal, Labor, Socialist, but lowercase the words when referring to philosophical a polka-dot (hyphen)


    Pollyanna


    pontiff (for Pope)


    pope
    Pope John Paul, the Pope, former pope, popes of history

    pore (v. – study earnestly)
    pored, poring over a book

    Porsche


    porterhouse steak


    portland cement


    Portuguese


    post-game


    post-mortem (hyphen)


    post-season (hyphen)


    post-secondary


    postdate (v.)
    postdated cheque

    postelection


    postgraduate


    postmaster general, postmasters general


    postwar


    potato, potatoes, tomato, tomatoes


    potlatch
    Indian gift, ceremony

    potshot


    PoW (prisoner of war), PoWs


    power of attorney (no hyphens)


    powwow (n. and v.)


    practicable (can be done), practical (useful, functional)


    practice (n. or adj.), practise (v.)


    prairie


    prefer
    preferable, preferably, preference (not -ance), preferential, preferred

    première (n. and v.)
    but a premier attraction

    prerequisite (requirement), perquisite (perk)


    prerogative (not perog-)


    president
  • President Bill Clinton
  • the president said …
  • former president Jimmy Carter
  • president-elect press gallery
  • Parliamentary Press Gallery Association
  • press gallery dinner
    pretence


    prevalence, prevalent


    prevent, preventable, preventer (not -or), preventive (not preventative)


    pre
    prearrange, Precambrian shield, pre-Christian, precondition, predate, pre-election, pre-empt, preheat, premarital, preoccupy pricey


    Primakov, Yevgeny (Russia)


    Prime minister
    Use for national government leaders except when premier or other titles – German chancellor – are convention prime time
    prime-time program

    princess
  • Princess Anne, Anne, the princess
  • but the Princess of Wales prince
    Prince Charles, Charles, the prince; Charles, Prince of Wales

    principal (main, most important)
    school principal

    principle (fundamental belief)


    prisoner of war (PoW, PoWs)


    prison
    Oakalla prison farm

    private (Pte. Bob Lively)
    private first class (Pte. 1st Class)

    privatize, privatization


    privilege


    Privy Council (uppercase)
    Privy Council Office (no abbvn.)

    processor
    word processor

    prodigy, prodigies, prodigious


    professor
    Prof. Normand Saint-Onge

    program (not -mme), programmer, programming
    national energy program

    Prohibition
    alcohol outlawed

    Promised Land


    promulgate, promulgation, promulgator (not -er)


    proofread


    propaganda


    propellant (n.), propellent (adj.)


    propeller (not -or)


    prophecy (n.), prophesy (v.)


    prospectus, prospectuses


    prostate (male gland); prostraste (lying face down; overcome)


    Protestant, Protestantism (religion)


    protester (not -or)


    provincewide


    province, provincial
  • province of Ontario (geog.)
  • Province of Ontario bonds (corp.)

    proviso, provisos


    psychedelic


    psychic


    psychopath, psychopathic


    psychosis, psychoses


    psychosomatic


    psyciatric, psychiatrist, psychiatry


    publicly (never publically)


    public
  • public library
  • public school board
  • public utilities commission

    Pulitzer Prize
    a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer

    pulley, pulleys


    pulp mill (two words)


    pupil (through Grade 8), pupil or student (Grade 9 to college), student (college and beyond)


    push over (v.), pushover (n.)


    push up (v.), pushup (n.)


    Pushkin, Alexander


    p.m., a.m.


    Qaddafi, Muammar al- -see Gadhafi

    Qantas Airways


    Qatar


    quadriplegic


    Quai d’Orsay
    French Foreign Ministry

    quandary


    quarter-final but semifinal


    quarter-horse


    quartet


    quarto, quartos


    Queen Elizebeth 2 (liner), QE2


    question period (lowercase)


    questionnaire


    quiche Lorraine


    quixotic
    extravagantly chivalrous; from Don Quixote

    R and B
    rhythm and blues

    R and R
    rest and recreation

    rabbi
    Rabbi Stuart E. Rosenberg

    raccoon, raccoons


    race
    race card, racecourse, race horse, racetrack, raceway

    racked (their brains)


    racket
    bat used in tennis, badminton, etc.

    racquetball (game)


    Radio Moscow
    ut Moscow radio

    radioactive


    Radio, Television Stations
    Use this style: RADIO Z, CFCF Montreal, CHUM-FM Toronto, CBC-TV

    radius, radii


    railway
    preferred to railroad, but Long Island Rail Road

    railworker


    rain
    raindrop, rainfall, rainforest, rainstorm

    RAM
    random access memory

    Ramadan


    rancor but rancorous


    Ranger 4
    satellite

    rapt
    absorbed, intent

    rarefy, rarefied


    rational
    sensible

    rationale
    statement of reasons

    raucous (not –cus)


    rayon


    razzmatazz (no hyphens)


    re-sign (sign again), resign (quit)


    re-
    readmit, reassess, recur, recurrence, re-examine, re-enter, reinstate, reissue, reopen, reorganize, re-cover (cover again) Reader’s Digest (not Readers’)


    ready-made (hyphen)


    reality, realization, realize (not -ise)


    rearguard


    rebut, refute (prove wrong; use with care)


    recoilless


    recommend


    Red Cross
  • Red Cross Society, Red Crescent
  • a Red Cross campaign

    redneck
    rustic, poor white

    Red
    Communist, but avoid

    referdum, referendums


    refer, referred


    Reformation
    event

    reformatory


    refuel, refuelled


    refute, rebut (prove wrong; use with care)


    reggae


    regimental sergeant major (Regimental Sgt. Maj.)
    regimental sergeants major (no abbvn.)

    regiment
    24th Regiment

    registered retirement savings plan (RRSP)


    reign (rule), rein (leather strap, symbol of power)


    Religion
    Capitalize names of religions and denominations.
  • Baha’i faith
  • Buddhism, Buddhist
  • church of Je relinquish


    reminiscent


    removable (not -eable)


    Renaissance (historic period)
    a renaissance of painting (general sense)

    renowned


    remuneration (not renum-)


    repechage
    rowing

    repel, repellent


    repent, repentance, repentant


    repertoire, repertory


    repetition, repetitious


    representative
  • Representative Chris Flynn (D, Mass.)
  • Representative Robert Brown (R, Calif.)

    reprieve


    Republican (party or member)
  • Senator John Smith (R, Calif.)
  • Representative Mary Brown (R, Ohio)
    republican
    philosophical attitude

    republic
  • Fifth Republic
  • Republic of Ireland
  • the Irish republic

    research and development, R&D (no periods)


    reserve (preferred to reservation for Indian lands)
    the Chippewa reserve

    resistance, resistibility, resistible (not -able)


    respectability, respectable


    restaurateur (not restauranteur)


    resuscitate


    retired
    retired brigadier Pat Turner

    retro-rocket (hyphen)


    Reuters (all uses)
    Reuters news agency, (Reuters)

    reverend
    Rev. Alan Cross – (Protestant and RC; Cross on second reference)

    reverse, reversible


    revolution
    American revolution, revolutions per minute (r.p.m.)

    Reye’s syndrome


    Rh (for Rhesus) factor
    Rh positive, Rh negative

    rhinoceros (sing. and pl.)


    Rhodes Scholar, Scholarship


    rhododendron


    Richter scale


    ricochet, ricocheted


    rifleman (no abbvn.)
    Rifleman Andrew Coates

    right
    right field, right-fielder, right wing, right-winger; right-field wall, right-handed pitcher, right-wing politician (adj) rigor mortis


    rigor but rigorous


    Rio de Janeiro


    rip off (v.), ripoff (n.)


    river
    St. Lawrence River

    Riyadh


    road
    Capitalize when used with names, abbreviate in numbered street addresses.
  • along Kingston Road
  • 10 Scott Rd roadblock (one word)


    Rockefeller Center


    rock’n’roll


    rococo


    Rodrigue (given name – not -que)


    rollcall (one word)


    roller-coaster, roller derby, roller-skate (v.), roller skates


    Rollerblades (trademark for in-line skates), Rollerblading (but use in-line skating)


    Rolls-Royce Ltd., a Rolls-Royce


    roly-poly (hyphen)


    ROM
    read only memory

    Roman Catholic
    Roman may be dropped only if reference is obvious

    Roman numerals
    Use Roman numerals to indicate heritage and in proper names where specified.


    roof, roofs


    room
  • Room 4
  • Oak Room
  • in the assembly room

    Rorschach test


    Rosh Hashanah


    Rothschild


    roundup (n.), round up (v.)


    Royal Air Force


    royal assent


    royal commission – See commission


    Royal Family (British), royal family (other nations)


    royal tour, visit


    royalty


    ruble


    rumor


    run-off


    runner-up, runners-up


    rural route


    rush hour
    rush-hour traffic

    Russia


    RV
    for recreational vehicle

    Rwanda


    R&D
    research and development

    r.p.m.
    revolutions per minute

    S-curve


    saccharin (n.), saccharine (adj.)


    sacrilegious (but, religious)


    sailboats
    Capitalize names of classes of racing and pleasure craft
  • Tornado, International Europe

    salability, salable (not -eable)


    Salchow
    triple Salchow (figure-skating jump)

    salmonella


    SALT
    for strategic arms limitation talks

    Salvadoran


    Salvation Army, the Army, a Salvationist


    salvo, salvos (pl.)


    Samaritan, Good


    SAM
    for surface-to-air missile

    Sanaa, Yemen


    Sanatorium, sanatoriums


    sanctimonious


    Sarajevo


    satellite – See Space


    savior
    Savior (Christ)

    savory
    herb

    savor, savory (flavor)


    saxophone


    Scandinavia
    Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland (but not Finland)

    scare, scary, scarier


    scarf, scarves


    scarlet fever


    Scene 2, the second scene


    sceptic
    Use skeptic

    schizophrenia, schizophrenic


    scholar
    Rhodes Scholar, Scholarship

    school
    elementary and high
  • day school, private school
  • Leaside high school
  • Sunday school
    school board, schoolbook, schoolboy, schoolgirl, school guard, schoolmarm, schoolteacher, school trustee, schoolyard


    Scotch Tape
    trademark for sticky tape

    Scotch whisky, scotch, whiskey, when alone


    Scots or Scottish (not Scotch)


    Scotsman (not Scotchman)


    scout


    Scrabble
    trademark for a word game

    Scripture
    Bible

    scuttlebutt (no hyphen)


    sea
    Capitalize when preceding or following the specific term.
  • Sea of Galilee
  • Black Sea

    Seafarers’ International Union (SIU)


    seaman
  • able seaman (no abbvn.)
  • leading seaman (no abbvn.)
  • ordinary seaman (no abbvn.)

    seasons
    Lowercase for spring, summer, fall or autumn, winter

    season’s greetings


    seat-belt (hyphen)


    SEATO
    for Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

    second lieutenant
    2nd Lieut. Marie Demers

    Second World War
    not World War II

    secretary general (no hyphen)


    Section 23, Sec. 5


    Security Council (UN)


    Seeing Eye
    trademark for guide dog

    seigneur, seigniory


    Semite, Semitism, anti-Semitism


    semi
    semi-annual, semicircle, semicolon, semifinal (but quarter-final), semifinalist, semi-invalid, semi-official, semitranspa Senate (national legislature)
    the university senate

    senator (no abbvn.)
  • Senator Barbara Jensen (PC, Manitoba)
  • Senator John McLean (D, Mass.)
  • former senator Robe senior chief petty officer (no abbvn.)


    sensual (gratifying to the body, especially sexually), sensuous (appealing to the senses, especially through beauty)


    separate school, school board


    sergeant-at-arms


    sergeant first class (Sgt. 1st Class)


    sergeant major (Sgt. Maj. Fed Tylee)
  • regimental sergeant major (Regimental Sgt. Maj.)
  • sergeants major (pl.)
    sergeant (Sgt. Margaret Bonotto)
    staff sergeant (Staff Sgt. Margaret Bonotto)

    series (generally lowercase)
  • but World Series, the Series, Little League World Series

    set up (v.), setup (n.)


    severe (not critical or serious) injury


    sewage (waste), sewerage (drainage)


    sextet


    shakable (not -eable)


    shake down (v.), shakedown (n. and adj.)


    shake up (v.), shakeup (n.)


    Shakespeare, Shakespearean


    shaky, shakier, shakiness


    shalom aleichem (greeting)


    shaman, shamans (pl.), Shamanism


    shanghai (v.), shanghaied, shanghaiing


    Shangri-La


    shanty, shanties


    sheik (not shiek)


    shellac, shellacking


    shemozzle
    commotion

    sheriff
    Sheriff Anton Gerber

    Shiite Muslim


    shipwreck (no hypen)


    shish kebab


    shivaree
    friendly invasion of newlyweds’ home

    shlemiel
    foolish,unlucky person

    shlep
    to drag

    shlock
    shoddy

    shmaltz
    sentimentality

    shmo
    a fool, a clumsy person

    shmooz
    chat

    shnook
    a patsy

    shnorrer
    a moocher, panhandler

    shoot out (v.), shootout (n.)


    shortwave
    broadcasting

    shot put (two words)


    shotgun (one word)


    show
    flower show, horse showshtick (a gimmick, clowning)

    shut out (v.), shutout (n.)


    siamese twins
    prefer joined twins or description: babies born attached at the hips

    side-effect


    siege (not -ei-)


    sight, sightseeing, sightseer


    signalman (no abbvn.)
    Signalman William O’Callaghan

    signal, signaled, signaler


    Sikh
    the Sikh religion

    silhouette


    Silicon Valley


    silo, silos


    Sinn Fein


    sinus, sinuses


    siphon (not syphon)


    sirocco
    Italian name for Sahara wind

    sir
    Sir John Jones; Sir John or preferably Jones in second reference

    sitcom
    TV situation comedy

    Sites – See Locations


    sizable (not -eable)


    skating
    figure skating, ice skating, speed skating (hyphen when used adjectivally)

    skeptic, skeptical, skepticism (no sc-)


    Ski-Doo
    snowmobile trademark

    skid row
    not road

    skilful


    ski
    skier, skis, skiing

    skulduggery


    slaughterhouse


    slew
    large number – but avoid

    smart-alec


    Smithsonian Institution (not Institute)


    smoky
    not smokey

    smolder


    smorgasbord


    sneaked
    not snuck

    snob, snobbery, snobbish, snobbishness


    snowmobile (one word)


    snowshoe, snowshoer


    snow
    snowfall, snowflake, snowflurries, snowstorm

    Social Credit partySocial Crediter (not -or)


    socialism, socialist
    philosophical attitude

    Socialist
    party or member

    society
    Audubon Society

    soft-spoken (hyphen)


    soft drink: 7Up


    softpedal (not -peddle)


    software


    softy, softies


    solicitor general, solicitors general


    solo, solos


    soluble


    Solzhenitsyn, Alexander


    somber (not -re)


    somersault


    some
    someday, someplace, somebody, somebodies, somehow, someone, something, at some time (two words), sometime (adv.; also adj soprano, sopranos


    SOS
    no periods

    Sotheby’s Inc.
    Sotheby’s for short

    South Carolina (S.C.)


    South Dakota (S.D.)


    South Pole, the Pole


    South
    Capitalize regions but not their derivatives. Lowercase mere direction or position.
  • the South (region)
  • a southeast (one word)
    Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

    southern France


    Southern Hemisphere


    southern states (U.S.)


    sou’wester
    waterproof hat

    sovereigntist (not sovereignist)


    sovereignty-association


    Soviet Union
    former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. U.S.S.R.

    soybean, soy sauce


    Space
    Use arabic numerals for spacecraft and launch vehicles:
  • Sputnik 1, Cosmos 125, Gemini 5, Alouette 2. But Anik A Spartan


    Speaker
    Capitalize in all references to avoid ambiguity.
  • Speaker Martha Lim, the Speaker
  • deputy Speaker Glenn specter (not -re)


    speech form the throne


    speed skater
    speed skating spellbinder (no hyphen)

    sphinx
    winged monster

    Sphinx
    representation near pyramids

    spin off (v.), spinoff (n. and adj.)


    spina bifida


    splendor


    spoonful, spoonfuls


    sport utility vehicle (not sports)


    spring (season)


    squadron leader (no abbvn.)


    Srebrenica (Bosnia)


    Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan
    Sri Lanka Freedom party

    SS
    Schutzstaffel, Nazi elite guard

    SS
    steamship

    St-, Ste-, St.
    Use abbreviations in federal and State names of political ridings.

    stadium, stadiums


    staff inspector
    Staff Insp. Albert Dupont

    staff sergeant (Staff Sgt.)


    staff, staffs (poles), staves (music)


    Stalin, Josef (1879-1953)


    stampede


    stand by (v.), standby (n.), standbys


    stand in (v.), stand-in (n.)


    stand off (v.), standoff (n.)


    stand out (v., standout (n.)


    Standard and Poor’s Corp.


    standard time
  • eastern, central, mountain standard time
  • Atlantic, Pacific daylight time
  • MST, EDT (not EDST)< standardbred, thoroughbred


    Stars and Stripes


    stationary
    not moving

    stationery
    writing materials

    station
    Capitalize as important building but not when known by name of railway or town.
  • Union Station
    steelworker


    stepdaughter, stepson, stepmother, stepfather but step-parten


    stepping-stone (hyphen)


    still life, still lifes


    stimulus, stimuli


    stock exchange
    Frankfurt Stock Exchange

    stock market


    stockpile (one word)


    Stone Age


    stony (not stoney)


    storey (building), storeys


    storm
    hailstorm, rainstorm, snowstorm

    strafe, strafing


    straighforward (no hyphen)


    straitjacket


    straitlaced


    Strait
    Capitalize when used with names.
  • Strait of Juan de Fuca
  • Georgia Streit

    stratagem, stratagems


    stratum, strata


    streamline (one word)


    Street
    Capitalize when used with names; abbreviate in numbered street addresses.
  • Bay Street, Wall Street
    streetcar (one word)


    streptococcus, streptcocci
    but strep throat

    strikebound (no hyphen)


    strikebreaker
    generally editorial; use advisedly

    strongman


    Styrofoam
    trademark for a plastic foam

    St. Bernard
    dog

    St. Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), but a valentine (card)


    suave, suavely, suavenes


    sub-lieutenant (Sub-Lieut.)


    subcommittee (no hyphen)


    subcompact


    submachine-gun


    subpoena (n. and v.), subpoenas, subpoenaed, subpoenaing


    subtle, subtlety, subtleties


    succinct, succinctly


    sulfa drugs


    sulfide, sulfite, sulfur


    summit, summit conference
    heads of government

    summonsed
    to appear in court

    summons, summonses


    sun


    supercilious (not -silious)


    superintendent
    Supt. Herman Frank

    supermarket (one word)


    supersede


    suppress, suppression, suppressor


    supremacist (not supremist)


    surname


    swap (not swop)


    SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team


    sweatshirt


    sweepstake
  • Irish hospitals sweepstakes
  • the sweep

    sweeten, sweetener, sweetening


    syllabus, syllabuses


    symbol, symbolize


    symmetrical, symmetry


    symphony
    Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony

    symposium, symposiums


    synagogue
    Holy Blossom Synagogue

    syndrome, Reye’s, Down’s


    synod
  • Anglican synod
  • Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (denom.)
  • Orthodox Holy synod (Istanbul)

    syphilis


    syrup (not sirup)


    T-ball


    T-shirt


    Tabasco
    trademark for a hot sauce

    tableau, tableaux


    Taipei


    Tajikistan, Tajik


    take off (v.), takeoff (n.)


    take out (v.), takeout (n.)


    take over (v.), takeover (n.)


    taken (not rushed) to hospital


    tangelo, tangelos


    tank, M-60, PT-76, Leopard 1


    targeted


    tariff
    Tariff Act
  • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

    task force
    military term; avoid overuse

    tassel, tasselled


    tattoo, tattooed


    teammate (no hyphen)


    tear gas (two words)


    technical sergeant (Tech. Sgt.)


    Technicolour
    trademark for a process of making colour movies

    teenage (adj.), teenager, teens


    teeny-bopper


    teepee


    teetotal, teetotaler, teetotalism


    Teflon
    trademark for a non-stick coating

    Tehran


    telecommunication


    TelePrompTer
    trademark

    Teletype
    trademark for telepringer

    Telex
    trade name

    telltale (no hyphen)


    Telstar
    satellite

    ten-gallon hat


    Ten Commandments
  • Second Commandment

    tendency (not -ancy), tendencies


    tendon
    Achilles tendon, but tendinitis

    tenpins
    bowling

    tenterhooks (not tender-)


    Teresa, Mother


    terminus, terminuses


    Test match (cricket, rugby)
  • England-Australia Test match
  • the Test

    testament
    Old Testament

    Texas (Tex.)


    textbook


    thalidomide


    The Associated Press (AP)
  • The Associated Press says …
  • but the Associated Press reporter

    The Hague


    the West Indies


    the (lowercase) Netherlands


    Theater
    Capitalize as important buildings.
  • Lyric Theatre
  • O’Keefe Centre

    therapeutic


    thesis, theses


    think-tank


    Third World


    thoroughbred, standardbred


    Three Wise Men


    threshold


    throne speech, speech from the throne


    Tiananmen Square


    tick-tack-toe (game)


    tidbit


    tie up (v.), tie-up (n.)


    tiebreaker (game)


    tie, tying


    till, until, not ‘til


    time-slot


    Time magazine


    Times (of London), the


    time, daylight, standard
  • eastern daylight time (EDT)
  • Pacific standard time (PST)

    titles
    Capitalize formal titles when preceding names, not when following or when set off by commas: Judge John Jones; Jones, a judge... titles (cont'd) see
    Mr., Mrs