Posts in category: BHG Stylebook

QUOTES (7.8.14 added content from SOTG archive)
• Every quote needs attribution. Just mentioning someone in the previous sentence doesn’t suffice.
incorrect: Sandra loves living so close to the water. “You just roll out of bed, and there’s the beach.”
correct: Sandra loves living so close to the water. “You just roll out of bed, and there’s the beach,” she says.

• When attribution comes before a quote, use a comma to introduce a single sentence and a colon to introduce multiple sentences.
correct: Chris says, “Breakfast is a treat with the sunlight streaming in.”
correct: Chris says: “Breakfast is a treat with the sunlight streaming in. Even on the coldest mornings, our breakfast nook is bright and cheery. No one wants to leave the table.”

• When your quote consists of more than one sentence, try to avoid waiting until the end for attribution.
acceptable: ”Breakfast is a treat with the sunlight streaming in. Even on the coldest mornings, our breakfast nook is bright and cheery. No one wants to leave the table,” Chris says.
preferred: ”Breakfast is a treat with the sunlight streaming in,” Chris says. “Even on the coldest mornings, our breakfast nook is bright and cheery. No one wants to leave the table.”

• Don’t combine full and partial quotes. Use attribution or some other transition to separate them, or paraphrase the partial quote.
incorrect: Sergei calls the new pool and deck area “a resort in our own backyard. We don’t even need to leave home to feel like we’re on vacation.”
correct: Sergei considers the new pool and deck area a backyard resort. “We don’t even need to leave home to feel like we’re on vacation,” he says.
correct: The new pool and deck area is “a resort in our own backyard,” Sergei says. “We don’t even need to leave home to feel like we’re on vacation.”

Using “says.”
• In general, attribute quotes with “says,” which should follow the person’s name unless a long identifier follows and makes this awkward.
“We love spending time in the sunroom,” Phil says.
“My mother cried when she walked into this house,” homeowner Lisa Burgess says.
“Garden clubs should consist of couples because they are gardening together,” says Clyde
Thompson, past president of the Men’s Garden Club in Minneapolis.

• No one laughs words. If you need to mention laughter, find another way.
incorrect: “I gave up and got carpet the same color as the dog’s fur,” she laughs.
correct: “I gave up and got carpet the same color as the dog’s fur,” she says, laughing.
correct: ”I gave up and got carpet the same color as the dog’s fur,” she says with a laugh.

BH&G occasionally uses attributions other than “says” for voice.  That is OK but try to limit the occurrences. (added 2/11/21)

Anonymous sources
Direct quotes from anonymous sources (including unidentified homeowners) should not be used. Paraphrase instead.

Thoughts
In direct quotes, put thoughts in an opposite typeface.
“The place was a mess,” Jane says. “I asked myself, How will we ever feel at home here?”

PULL QUOTES (7.8.14 added content from SOTG archive)
• All direct quotes used as pullouts must be attributed. If you cannot include attribution for design reasons, paraphrase the quote into third person.

• All attributions should be treated the same way throughout an issue.
If the attribution is grammatically separate from the quote, full identification (including professional title or homeowner status) must follow the first usage in a pull quote. On subsequent references, the same speaker may be identified by full name only.
correct first reference:
“The old beams give the new space a sense of history.”
—kitchen designer Susan Serra
correct second reference:
“We wanted to honor the home’s past.”
—Susan Serra

If attribution is grammatically part of the quote, the speaker must be identified fully in the first usage and may be identified by only a first or last name, as appropriate, on subsequent references.
correct first reference:
“Old beams give the new space a sense of history,” kitchen designer Susan Serra says.
correct second reference:
“Fine details create new interest with an old-world charm,” Serra says.

Also see the Credits: Names section of the BHGStylebook.
To set smart quotes (curly quotation marks) as your default, see the InDesign Tip in Style on the Go, Issue 111.

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Use use when you need the object to complete a task. Use with when you are doing something along with the person/thing.
Correct: Use a pencil to trace …/Using a pencil, trace …
Incorrect: With a pencil trace …
Correct: I went to the library with the copy editors.

Note: This does not apply to BH&G. (added 2/11/21)

Spell out common units of measure in narrative copy.
Cut it into 23-inch squares.
The package contains 14 ounces.
The table stands 26 inches high. (the 26-inch-high table)
The room measures 160 square feet.

Spell out lengthy units of measure on first use, and follow them with their abbreviations in parentheses.
Use abbreviations in subsequent references.
The capacity of each size is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A 5×9-foot bath would need at least a 48-cfm fan.
They said their power company charges too much per kilowatt-hour (kwh). The charge is 7 cents per kwh.

BH&G uses symbols in product descriptions in sections for shopping, get the look, etc.  (added 2/11/21)

EXCEPTION:
Always use mph and rpm when preceded by figures.

Spell out measurements in materials lists.
2-millimeter bead
One 10-inch string
BH&G tends to use abbreviation for metric measures, especially in the Better section and when space is tight. (added 2/11/21)

Do not use a comma in phrases such as:
2 feet 6 inches

Hyphenate a measurement used as an adjective.
The 5-foot-7-inch sofa

In measurements, use linear foot not lineal foot.

Use Dimension X to connect numbers in a measurement. (Select entire measurement, then navigate to Window/Utilities/Scripts and select “Convert Characters.” If this script is not installed on your computer, see a staff copy editor.)
5×9-foot room
12×45-inch fabric strip
13x9x2-inch baking pan

There are two ways to make a fraction:
1. Place the cursor where you want to insert a fraction. Navigate to Type/Glyphs. If the required fraction character is available, double-click it to add it to the text box.
2. Highlight the entire measurement that contains the numbers to be changed into a fraction, then navigate to Window/Utilities/Scripts and select “Make Fractions.scpt.” (If this script is not installed on your computer, see a staff copy editor.)
If a designer needs to adjust spacing on the resulting fraction, make a note on the layout for the editor.

See also Numbers.
See also Dimensions, Measurements, and Sizes.

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Use italic type to set off titles, foreign words, unvoiced thoughts, and words used as words.
My favorite book is She Wanted to Read.
Schadenfruede means feeling enjoyment from the misfortune of others.
The word purple sounds funny.

Avoid using italics for emphasis because it is as likely to confuse the issue as to clarify it. (All-capital type isn’t a great option for emphasis either. It’s difficult to read and, in the age of e-mail, widely construed as yelling.)

When you want to stress certain words, look for ways to do it with punctuation or sentence structure. Emphasis naturally falls near the beginning and end of a sentence or after strong punctuation marks such as colons and dashes.
avoid:
Remember, you have to live with your decision.
Remember, YOU have to live with your decision.
options:
Remember who has to live with your decision—you do.
Remember: You have to live with your decision.
You have to live with your decision, remember.

BH&G allows italics for emphasis. Just try to curb their enthusiasm for the use. (added 2/11/21)

In regard to staff credits:

• Because we are on the masthead, we need to be judicious about crediting ourselves, even in the gutter.
• Everyone needs to play a role in not putting names where unneeded—weigh the necessity and benefit.
• We will not double credit staff on a page. For example, “Producer and Styling” becomes “Producer,” with the styling aspect included in the credit. If styling played a larger role in the work, by all means use styling instead. (“Writer and Producer” or “Recipes and food styling” for non-Meredith people is OK.)
• That also means avoid double credits for one job, e.g., By: Jane Doe and John Smith. When possible, credit one person for a role.
• If you have questions, see your deputy editor. As needed, the EE will make the final decision on individual cases.

One-page stories:

• Credits go in the gutter.
• If a photograph or illustration fills a significant portion of the page, that will be credited at bottom of the page.
• Freelancers can get a byline.

Section openers:

• Photographer and stylists get byline credit.
• Anyone else goes in the gutter.

Two-plus page stories: 

• There can be no more than three credits at the bottom of the page. The rest go in the gutter. Who gets the on-page vs. gutter credit depends on the level of work contributed.
• In general, we want to credit non-Meredith contributors on the page.

• If the story involved a significant amount of writing (200+ words), we want to credit the writer on the page, especially if it is a freelancer.
• We want to credit the producer or stylist because their work is seen in the story.
• This is the order and wording:
  • By, Photos, Illustrations, Food/Prop Styling, Crafts/Recipes By, Produced By

Gutter format (updated 10/1/2020): 

• By: name; Photo/s: (item) name, (item) name, (item) name …;  (Food, Prop) Styling: name; (Crafts, Recipes) By: name; Produced by: Name
• When only a portrait is getting a gutter credit, you can use:  Portrait: Name name.
• On a roundup page with multiple bloggers, Instagrammers, etc with name and blog/Instragram name in text, we do NOT need to run a gutter credit unless the photo was shot by someone other than the person named in text.

Well stories:

• There can be four or five credits on the page. Although the layout might require fewer.
• Staff needs to balance when they get credit (rather than every issue).  For instance, save “Produced by” for stories you feel you made a large contribution to.
• Minimize use of gutter credits. Limit them to substylists, such as hair, makeup, …
• Order: By, Photos, Illustrations, Food/Prop Styling, Crafts/Recipes By, Produced By

For an item to be described as gold, it must be at least 14-karat gold. If not, it must be described as golden or gold tone.

BH&G will no longer use golden in lieu of gold/gold tone.
If we are painting something gold, it is gold the color.
If we an art frame, faucet, or something like that has a gold finish, the EE prefers warm metal or the like. (added 2/11/21)

Generic colors (red, yellow, green, blue, brown, black, orange, purple, white) generally should not be capitalized. (generic colors added 9.17.14)
Use acrylic paints in red, glossy black, and white.
Colors that are specific to a certain manufacturer should be capitalized.
Use Plaid acrylic paints: Green #443, Blue #12, and Yellow #16.
If one color in a listing is capitalized, all should be, even generic colors.
Finishes available include Sandy Beach, White, and Cream.

In Better Homes & Gardens magazine:
Cap every color name and put “in” in front of it:

Acme Weatherproof Stain in Brown
ChiChi Textured Weave in Dewy Doe Eye Brown

Colors and hyphens
Products and project instructions

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Common abbreviations use the same form for singular and plural.
in.—inch, inches
ft.—foot, feet
oz.—ounce, ounces
rpm—rotations per minute, not rpms
A few abbreviations, usually those preceding a number, require an s to form plurals.
lbs. <BH&G uses lb. for plural also>
pgs.
figs.
yds.
Nos.
CDs

Abbreviations
Capitalization
Company Names
Dates and Times
Degrees and Certifications
Periods
Plurals
Spaces

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Steve Bjorkman
Tom Casmer
Julian Clark
Kara Fellows
Eric Flynn
Liz Gordon (added 9/14/20)
Donna Grethen
Michael A. Hill (added 2/11/21)
Donna Ingemanson
Chris Neubauer
Carson Ode
Gary Palmer
Travis Rice
Tom Rosborough
Helen Smythe
Ann Weiss

Copy editors
Field editors
Food stylists
Guidelines
Illustrators
Names
Order
Photographers
Producers/Stylists
Style
Writers

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Previously Nonsexist Writing
updated 11/19/20

According to the Guidelines for Inclusive Language, published by the Linguistic Society of America, “inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities.” We could not have said it better. We urge all writers and editors of Meredith content to choose words that do not exclude readers, to assume that readership is varied and broad, and to be aware that what once was considered a common expression now could be offensive.

The careful, thinking content creator knows that inclusive writing does not mean catering to a target audience at the expense of others. Instead, it means evaluating your words to make sure they don’t unnecessarily assume all your readers are white/female/married/Christian/have 2.5 children. Even if 80 percent of readers fall into one category, the remaining 20 percent represent tens of thousands of readers—customers—who don’t.

Some areas where we inadvertently may make assumptions about readers, such as religion, marital status, race, sex, age, disability, and sexual orientation, are obvious. Other assumptions, such as geographic location and nationality, may be more easily overlooked.

For example:
• The trend is sweeping the States. (Excludes Canadian readers.)
• Your kids will thank you. (Excludes readers without children but who have nieces and nephews.)
• Call a builder and let him handle the job. (Sexism.)
• A petite brunette, Marilyn has a reputation as an eagle-eye bargain finder. (Appearance doesn’t matter to skill set.)
• If you’re planning on having your tribe over for Thanksgiving, you need these recipes. (Cultural appropriation.)
• You could call this upholsterer a material girl. (Calling an adult a boy/girl is demeaning, even if it is meant as a play on Madonna. And this example was in regard to a Black woman so was even more disparaging.)
• Lenny Kravitz’s dreadlocks are a political statement. (Dreadlocks has negative connotations; locs/locks is the preferred term.)

Avoid writing that fosters gender discrimination, promotes demeaning stereotypes, or suggests a superiority of or preference for one gender over another. Evaluate your copy with a careful eye. Do you need to rewrite to eliminate or find substitutes for gendered words or to avoid condescending descriptions?

For example:
Wrong: Call your builder and let him handle the job.
Right: Let your builder handle the job.

Wrong: If the rash persists, ask your doctor for his advice.
Right: If the rash persists, consult your doctor.

Wrong: Whether you are celebrating your husband’s promotion …
Right: Whether you are celebrating your spouse’s promotion …

Acceptable: Every dog-lover has his or her favorite breed.
Better: Every dog-lover has a favorite breed.

Wrong: A petite brunette of 30 who could still pass for a coed, Marilyn has a reputation as the best trial lawyer in the state. (Looks and physical stature are not relevant to this accomplishment.)
Right: At the age of 30, Marilyn has a reputation as the best trial lawyer in the state. (Age is relevant.)
Or this: Marilyn has a reputation as the best trial lawyer in the state. (If she is 45, her age is insignificant in relation to her accomplishment.)

Possible nongendered substitutions for gendered words.
businessman/woman (executive, manager, entrepreneur)
cameraman (camera operator, technician, photographer)
chairman/woman (presiding officer, leader, moderator)
craftsmanship (artisanship, artistry, handiwork, expertise, skill)
delivery boy (courier, messenger)
firemen/women (firefighters)
foreman (supervisor, manager)
founding fathers (pioneers, colonists, patriots, forebears, founding fathers in certain contexts)
manhole (maintenance hole)
mankind (people, humanity, human beings, human race)
man-made (synthetic, artificial, constructed, manufactured)
manpower (human resources, workers, work force)
man-size (husky, sizable, large, requiring exceptional ability)
repairman/handyman (maintenance person, plumber, carpenter, electrician)
salesman (salesperson, sales clerk, sales representative)
workman (laborer, employee, staff member)

Resources for diversity and inclusivity in writing can be found in References. Many go deeper into the subject than Meredith brands might need; however, they can open our eyes to unconscious biases and guide us toward more inclusive language.

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In text, refer to homeowners by their first names after first reference. For architects, designers, and other professionals, after first reference use last name only—unless they are also the homeowners!

BH&G: Homeowner and subject, use first names on second reference. Professionals use last name on second reference.  (Changed 7/5/2017)

The first mention in text, captions, and sidebars should identify homeowners and professionals with their first and last names.

In general, don’t use last names for minors; last names may be implied, however, if children are part of a family featured in a story. If using a minor’s last name is important to a story (a 14-year-old recipe-contest winner, for example), verify that the minor’s guardians have signed the proper release form(s).

See also the Quotes and Quotation Marks section of the BHGStylebook.

Copy editors
Field editors
Food stylists
Guidelines
Illustrators
Names
Order
Photographers
Producers/Stylists
Style
Writers

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