Posts in category: Style on the Go archive

September 26, 2002: Issue 37

SIM STYLE: I recently saw the word “spokeswoman” used in copy. Isn’t that sexist?
Not necessarily. Like all inclusive writing, nonsexist writing means avoiding ASSUMPTIONS. If a subject’s gender is known, it’s not sexist to call a man a man and a woman a woman. SIM’s rules on nonsexist job titles are best applied in general terms, when specific people are not named or when gender isn’t known. In many cases, you may opt for a completely gender-neutral term regardless.

Here’s a tip: Avoid simply changing “-man” words to “-person” words (e.g., spokesman to spokesperson). Repeated use of “-person” words feels forced, and there’s usually a better word altogether.
Check out the following examples:
sexist: Committee chairmen were called into a closed-door meeting.
nonsexist: Committee leaders were called into a closed-door meeting.
acceptable: Committee chairwoman Susan Collins abstained from voting.
acceptable: Committee leader Susan Collins abstained from voting.
sexist: Industry spokesmen petitioned the administration.
nonsexist: Industry representatives petitioned the administration.
acceptable: Ford spokesman Jeff Smith and Chrysler spokeswoman Sally Jones led the drive.
acceptable: Representatives Jeff Smith of Ford and Sally Jones of Chrysler led the drive.

For more information on nonsexist writing, and for a list of alternatives to many gender-based words, seeNonsexist Writing section in the SIM Stylebook or Issue 10.

GRAMMAR: What’s the difference between evoke and invoke?
These similar-sounding words are often confused, but they have different meanings. “Invoke” implies a calling forth or a summons; “evoke” implies a produced reaction or response, or an awakening.
correct: With their dining room about to be painted neon orange, the homeowners invoked their veto power, evoking a tantrum from the color-happy designer.

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June 26, 2003: Issue 63

SIM STYLE: Proud to be American
Part of practicing inclusive writing is realizing that our readership extends beyond the borders of the United States. Phrases such as “across the nation” or “in this country” put subtle barriers between you and your Canadian readers.

If what you’re saying applies to readers in Toronto just as much as it does to readers in Toledo, find a way to say it without limiting your scope to the States.
exclusive: We Americans love our machines.
inclusive: Our society loves machines.
exclusive: Long popular in Europe, the trend has hit America in a big way.
inclusive: Long popular in Europe, the trend has hit North America in a big way.

Note: Be careful with statements of fact. When reporting figures from a study of American homeowners, for example, we can’t change “American” to “North American” if the study didn’t include Canada. Let the facts be what they are, but report them in a way that doesn’t exclude any reader.
exclusive: Kitchens and baths are the most common remodeling projects in this country.
nonexclusive: Kitchens and baths are the most common remodeling projects in the United States.

For more information, see Issue 11 and Issue 33.

GRAMMAR: Is it sugariest or most sugary?
You may have seen this question asked recently in good fun by an SIM editor. (Let’s call her D. Steilen to protect her anonymity. No, that’s too obvious; let’s try Debra S.)

It’s actually a great question about degrees of adjectives and adverbs (known as comparatives and superlatives), and the rule is incredibly easy to remember.
For one syllable words, form the comparative by adding “er” and the superlative
by adding “est.”
correct: clean, cleaner, cleanest; soft, softer, softest
For two syllable words, use your ear. You may add “er” or “est,” or you may precede a word with “more” or “most” (or “less” or “least”). Do what sounds best.
correct: happy, happier, happiest; complex, more complex, most complex
For words with three or more syllables, use “more” and “most” (or “less” and “least”).
correct:luxurious, more luxurious, most luxurious: sugary, more sugary, most sugary.

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February 21, 2002: Issue 11

SIM STYLE: On inclusive writing
Last time, we talked about nonsexist writing. This time, let’s deal with inclusiveness in general.
Some areas where we may inadvertently make assumptions about readers are obvious, such as religion, marital status, or race. Choosing neutral terminology, when appropriate, is generally easy. For instance, instead of “set the Christmas table,” try “set the holiday table.” Your readers may celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanza. (What’s appropriate, of course, depends on your audience. Christmas Ideas readers expect Christmas stories. Decorating readers may not.)

Other assumptions, such as geographic location, age, and nationality, may be more easily overlooked. Not all readers have cold, snowy winters. Not all have kids at home. And not all live in the United States. Keep in mind that American styles and trends often extend to our Canadian neighbors. When we use phrases such as “in this country” or “our national pride,” we are unduly excluding them.

For more information, contact Doug for a copy of “Sense and Sensitivity,” a good handout on inclusive writing, or see Issue 33 and Issue 62.

GRAMMAR: As if we knew 
“As if” and “as though” may traditionally have had subtle differences in
meaning, but modern usage accepts them interchangeably. Either is correct.

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March 16, 2006: Issue 131

When you progress closer to an idea or objective, you “home in” on it. You don’t “hone in.”

“Home” means to move toward:
• Researchers are homing in on new treatments for diabetes.
• Hide the liver snaps and watch your dog home in on them.

“Hone” means to sharpen:
• Hone your knives to make dicing quick and easy.
• She honed her design skills working for her mom’s business.

If you have trouble remembering this, think of a homing pigeon. It flies closer and closer to its roost before landing, the same way you zero in and eventually land at your goal.

Field editor credits

Always credit field editors in first-use material. In pickup, the editor can decide whether to credit the field editor. A general guideline is to credit field editors when you pick up a full location, but not when you pick up a partial location for a compilation story. Please note this is a change in our stylebook.

STYLEBOOK TIP:
Always have easy access to SIMStylebook.com by placing it on your bookmarks toolbar. Go to www.BHGStylebook.com, click on the address in the URL window, and drag it down to the bookmarks bar. A window will pop up where you can give the bookmark any name you’d like. (If your bookmarks bar isn’t visible, pull down the View menu and check Bookmarks Bar.)

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June 19, 2008: Issue 244

I feel so bad about your struggle to find size-2 jeans.

That statement might not be heartfelt, but it is grammatically correct. Why not say “I feel badly”? Because badin this sentence doesn’t modify the verb. It describes the condition of the subject, I.

It’s the same reason you say “I am happy,” not “I am happily.” Or “The room seems bright,” not “The room seems brightly.”

The key is the part of the sentence being modified.

Is it the verb?
The cat appeared slowly, smile first.
(Slowly modifies appeared.)

Or the subject?
The cat appeared slow—until it caught sight of the laser pointer beam.
(Slow modifies cat.)

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October 30, 2008: Issue 262 

To convince means to make someone accept an idea or position. The word convince is usually followed by of
or that:
They were convinced of his abilities as a designer.
Neighbors convinced her that the garden was worth saving.

To persuade means to make someone take action. The word persuade is usually followed by an infinitive:
The numbers on the scale persuaded him to make big changes.

Here’s a memorization trick: Convince involves a concept. Persuade makes a person perform.

Winner: Database guru Dan Johnson’s performance of “Interjections” convinced us that he deserved aSchoolhouse Rock magnet. Perhaps you can persuade him to do an encore. Be sure he includes the dance.

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May 22, 2008: Issue 240

Two-letter words sometimes get short shrift in upstyle headlines. Remember that length isn’t the only criteria for capitalization.

Always capitalize verbs and pronouns, such as is and it:
Going Green Is Easier than Ever
Get It Done Today

In general, lowercase prepositions and conjunctions of four letters or fewer, such as in and if:
Bold Color in 3 Easy Steps
Killer Abs—Even if You Hate Sit-Ups!

Find a complete list of capitalization rules for heds.

Winners: Last week we asked for examples of spell-check overstepping its authority. Bridget Sandquist has seen her name come up Birdcage Slenderest. Melissa Inman discovered that our online performance appraisal system doesn’t like Mark Mooberry’s last name. “The suggestions were Dogberry, Cowberry, and Orangeberry,” Melissa says. “Not sure why those are better.” And when the video team sent out an Entourage invitation, Heather Hardt found that spell-check changed “buymanship” to “gunmanship.” All three of you win prizes. Stop by the CE department to claim them.

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