Thursday, June 2, 2011

Squirrels -- Write With (AP) Style

*** In first reference, you use a full name, like Oliver Brookes. But what is it on second reference? Under "names":

In general, use last names only on second reference.
So, on second reference it's just Brookes. Not Oliver Brookes, and not Oliver.
Please review AP Style under names.
*** Many of you referred to Lansing Community College -- spelled out in its entirety -- in first reference. And in most first cases, it's best to spell out the full title of an entity.

But how do you handle subsequent references?

You have a few options. One is to refer to the college in the generic, like I just did: as the college, lower-cased.

A second option would be to consider using an acronym, if there is a common acronym for the group. An acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words, such as MSU (which is the acronym for Michigan State University). Or, in this case, LCC.

If an acronym is well-known -- like NASA or FBI or USA -- then generally it is acceptable in a second reference, or even in a first reference.

This is where I'm going to refer you back to AP Style. Please carefully read and review the listing for abbreviations and acronyms.
*** In AP style, under titles:

In general, confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual's name.

That means, if you are referring to the a professor in the generic, then it's lower-case:

Regarding squirrels, the professor said they suck.

If you are adding the title before the name, then you do capitalize:

Regarding squirrels, Professor Oliver Brookes said they suck.

But if you do not directly connect the name and title, then the title remains lower-case.

Regarding squirrels, Oliver Brookes -- who is a professor -- said they suck.

Please review AP Style under titles.

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