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March 20, 2003: issue 53

SIM STYLE: When do I put a period at the end of a resources line?
It’s pretty simple: If a resources line is a complete sentence, it gets a
period; if not, it doesn’t get one.
correct: For resources, see page 112.
correct: Resources begin on page 112.
correct: Resources on page 112

Note: This is generally the rule for any text that appears in SIPs (liftouts, decks, captions, etc.).

GRAMMAR: Palate, palette, pallet, pallette: What’s the difference?
These words look similar, but their meanings couldn’t be more different, making choosing the right word especially important.
• Palate refers to taste.
• A palette is an artist’s board or a range of colors.
• A pallet is a portable storage platform. It can also refer to a temporary bed.
• A pallette is a plate in a suit of armor.

Sure, but can I use them all in a sentence, you ask? Ye of little faith …
correct: “A palette of buttery yellows and creamy whites this year,” the artist said as she stepped atop the wooden pallet to finish sculpting her bovine creation, only to be distracted a short while later by a medieval knight running by in full armor—breastplate, pallettes, and all—having assuaged his palate for too long at the corndog stand and now making haste to the governor’s celebrity joust.

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December 13, 2001: Issue 3

SIM STYLE: When do I capitalize plant names in nongardening publications?
For common plant names (rose, daffodil, tulip, etc.), lowercase and set in Roman type. For genus names (Campanula, Lavandula, and other Latin-looking names), capitalize and set in Roman type. Some plants share common/Latin names (hosta, iris, petunia, etc.). In general, treat them as common names in nongardening
publications. Genus and species names used together (such as Prunus pendula) are treated the same way in all publications: Capitalize the genus (the first word), lowercase the species (the second word), and italicize the whole phrase.

For more information, see Plant Names Style section of the Garden section in the SIM stylebook.

GRAMMAR: Discrete meanings
They’re both adjectives, and they sound alike, but “discreet” and “discrete” have distinctly different meanings. Discreet means “modest” or “prudent.” Discrete means “separate.”
correct: Surrounded by grand columns and an expansive deck, the pool area offers a discrete outdoor living space.
correct: Partially shaded from view by a rose-covered trellis, the single French door offers a discreet entry to the master suite.

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December 6, 2001: Issue 2

SIM STYLE: What’s our style on using brand names?
In general, we avoid using brand names. Instead, choose a more detailed but generic description. (Product stories are an obvious exception.)
incorrect: The IKEA sofa creates a lively focal point.
correct: A bright, contemporary sofa creates a lively focal point.

Be aware that some names that have made their way into the vernacular are actually trademarked brand names that should usually be avoided. Con-Tact paper, Crock Pot, Jacuzzi, Lycra, Plexiglas, Sheetrock, Spackle, Styrofoam, Thermos, and Velcro are just a few.
If you do use a trademarked name, be sure you’re using it correctly. It’s just as bad to call a generic product “Plexiglas” as it is to call the name brand “plexiglass.” Also, use trademark symbols (™ and ®) only with Meredith products.
For more information, including a list of trademarked names and suggested generic alternatives, see Trademarks.

GRAMMAR: The des(s)ert tray
If you skip dinner in favor of the double-chocolate cheesecake, you’re having “just dessert.” But if you eat a big dinner AND the cheesecake, and gain 5 pounds because of it, you’re getting what you deserve: your “just deserts” (pronounced, but not spelled, the same way).

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January 16, 2003: Issue 47

SIM STYLE: When Harry met Sally
Sure, it was a great movie title, but as a lead, it leaves something to be desired. What is a “when Harry met Sally” lead, you ask?
• When Lisa Sanchez decided to remodel her kitchen, she knew the window looking out to the alley had to go.
• When Dana and James Larson walked into their new home, they agreed the plain-vanilla walls didn’t suit their preference for color.
• When Mike Jones and Chris O’Connor bought their 1940s bungalow, the long-neglected and overgrown garden belied the home’s charm.

It’s not that the “when Harry met Sally” lead isn’t an effective way to start a story. It has simply become a victim of sheer overuse, especially in SIM. The fix is usually simple: Reword the sentence, or pull up a few details and expand a bit on the idea you’ve already got going. Check out these suggested rewrites.
• An alley is the last thing Lisa Sanchez wanted to see from her kitchen, so eliminating a window and its unappealing view was the first step in her remodeling plans.
• Plain vanilla is too ordinary for Dana and James Larson. They want a world filled with raspberry, chocolate, lime, and apricot—and they splash those flavors all over the walls.
• Long neglected and overgrown, the garden that Mike Jones and Chris O’Connor inherited when they bought their 1940s bungalow belied the home’s charm.

Anytime a story starts with the word “when,” let it send up a red flag. “When Harry met Sally” leads aren’t bad, but use them sparingly—no more than one per issue.

GRAMMAR: What’s the difference between “anyone” and “any one”?
Last week, we looked at the adverbs “anytime,” “anymore,” and “anyway.” This week, let’s look at the pronouns “anyone” and “everyone.” How do you decide whether the pronoun (one word) or an adjective-noun construction (two words) is correct? Here’s a foolproof method, courtesy of author Patricia O’Conner:
If you can substitute the words “anybody” or “everybody,” then the single words “anyone” and “everyone” are correct. If not, use two words.
correct: The project is so easy anyone could do it.
correct: Any one of the designers is qualified.
correct: Everyone agreed the project turned out better than expected.
correct: Every one of his designs drew praise.

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April 25, 2002: Issue 20

SIM STYLE: Why do I have such a hard time spelling Greg Scheidemann’s name?
I don’t know, but you’re certainly not alone. It’s wrong so often, it warrants its own style point this week. Please note the proper spelling below.
CORRECT: Greg Scheidemann

For more photographer credits see Issues 12, 26, 63, or Credits section of the SIM Stylebook.

GRAMMAR: What’s the difference between “affect” and “effect”?
Context is important. MOST of the time, “affect” is the verb and “effect” is the noun.
correct: How will the changes affect the building industry?
correct: The long-term effects are uncertain.

But here’s the wrench. Though seldom used, “affect” is also a noun
that describes feelings (“affected” is a common adjective for the hoity- toity crowd). “Effect” is also a verb that means “to bring about.”
correct: She walks around with a gloomy affect.
correct: Her coworkers plan an intervention to effect a change in her demeanor.

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August 6, 2009: Issue 300

This is our 300th issue of Style on the Go. Lets take a look at how much the world has shifted since we began.

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August 11, 2005: Issue 100

To celebrate the 100th issue of Style on the Go, the copy editors sponsored a quiz about SIM style. Freelance copy editor Nancy McClimen took home the grand prize, a $50 gift certificate to Merle Hay Mall.

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October 1, 2009: Issue 308

William Safire, 1929–2009

William Safire died Sunday at age 79. You didn’t have to agree with the speeches he wrote for President Richard Nixon or with the ultraconservative columns he wrote for The New York Times to appreciate the man’s knowledge—and love—of words.

His “On Language” column was a fixture in the New York Times Magazine for 20 years. He tracked modern word uses, traced archaic meanings, and sometimes showed us that a “new” term or definition was already centuries old.

Safire’s classic “Rules for Writers,” which he compiled in 1979, still reach new readers every day thanks to e-mail forwards and social media. Among them: “Remember to never split an infinitive.” “Don’t use no double negatives.” “Avoid commas, that are not necessary.”

RIP, Mr. Safire. (He would certainly have pointed out that RIP stands for the Latin requiescat in pace, meaning “rest in peace.”)

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June 16, 2005: Issue 94

When you refer to Special Interest Publications or one of its groups, capitalize only the full proper names. Otherwise, use lowercase.
correct: Better Homes and Gardens® Special Interest Publications Family Food Collection
correct: Better Homes and Gardens® special interest garden magazines
correct: Better Homes and Gardens® design publications

NOTE: Special Interest Publications gets a ® only on cover overlines.

In the stylebook

Can’t remember how to make that pesky thin space? Or that dimension X? See the Computer Commands section of BHGStylebook.com.

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July 5, 2007: Issue 195

NOTE: SIM style on Web site names changed in October 2007. See the new rules.

Site seeing, part I

Website names are proper nouns. When we name a website in body text, the first letter or a logical internal letter must be capped. (We don’t use quotation marks or italics.) Other internal letters may be capped as well. Because we don’t break up a site name with spaces, these capitalized letters help a reader process the name. That’s crucial if we expect her to enter the name in a Web browser.

Here are standard capitalizations for SIM websites:
AllPeopleQuilt.com
bhgScrapbooksEtc.com
DiabeticLivingOnline.com
DIYideas.com
HeartHealthyOnline.com
KitchenBathIdeas.com
RemodelingCenter.com

Sentence capitalization rules still apply: The first letter is always up, whether it’s the t in the, the m in Meredith, or the e in eBay.

In display type, key letters can be emphasized with a type treatment other than caps—weight or size, for instance:
allpeoplequilt.com
diyideas.com

Please note that we’re talking about site names, not URLs. When you list a complete Web address, include the www or http:// and don’t capitalize anything:
www.allpeoplequilt.com
www.diyideas.com

Next week: Redirects.

On SIMStylebook.com: Find more about handling website names.

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