Numbers: Numbers, text within photos

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August 18, 2005: Issue 101

Don’t use complete phone numbers on chalkboards, bulletin boards, or message boards in photographs. Blur, erase, or obstruct part of the number (we suggest at least two digits). Leaving off the area code isn’t enough; that number could be functional in multiple area codes.

Also, make sure words on those boards are spelled properly: No “banannas” on the grocery list, please. Your copy editors are always happy to spot-check any text that will appear in a photograph before the shoot, even if it’s just three words scrawled on a note card.

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Lists: Names of spouse, minor

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August 4, 2005: Issue 99

When a husband and wife share a last name, don’t repeat the last name for the second person you mention.

incorrect: “It was perfect,” homeowner Janet Burns says. She and her husband, Perry Burns, fell head over heels for the bungalow.
correct: “It was perfect,” homeowner Janet Burns says. She and her husband, Perry, fell head over heels for the bungalow.
correct: “It was perfect,” homeowner Janet Burns says. She and her husband, Perry Keller, fell head over heels for the bungalow.

Don’t use last names at all for children.

ON SIMSTYLEBOOK.COM: Find more information about handling names.

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Punctuation: Parentheses with italic type

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July 28, 2005: Issue 98

Italicize parentheses when the type inside them is entirely italic. If the type inside is roman or a mix of italic and roman, make the parentheses roman. (Opening and closing parentheses should always be the same type style.) This new style rule applies to all parentheses, including those around plant names.

italic: Pink phlox and purple obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) contrast with yellow and white snapdragons.
roman: The two found inexpensive accessories at their favorite secondhand shops (where they scored the oversize shoe chair).
roman: Don’t forget about dogwood (Cornus spp.), fragrant and staghorn sumac (Rhus aromatica and R. typhina), and fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii and F. major).

ON BHGSTYLEBOOK.COM: For more information on how to treat plant names in text, see Plant Names Style.

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Offensive terms: Oriental

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July 21, 2005: Issue 97

In general, the term Asian is preferred over Oriental, which Web 11 says is “sometimes offensive.” The exceptions are fixed expressions, such as Oriental rug or Oriental poppy. When possible, avoid the issue by being more specific about a country or region of origin or influence.

incorrect: an Oriental-style screen
acceptable: an Asian-style screen
preferred: a Japanese-style screen

ON BHGSTYLEBOOK.COM: The index on SIMStylebook.com is under construction. If you’re looking for a stylebook entry, please go to the Table of Contents by clicking on the “Word List & Stylebook” tab. And watch for updates on the index and the Google site search.

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Foreign Words: Provence

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July 7, 2005: Issue 96

The area of France is Provence (no cedilla—that’s the little mark under the c). Things that come from or pertain to that area are Provençal (now you use the cedilla). The difference has to do with French pronunciation rules.

And don’t confuse Provençal with provincial. The latter means simple or informal.

IN THE STYLEBOOK: For more information on handling foreign words—including how to make the cedilla and other diacritical marks—see the Foreign Words section.

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Commonly Misused Words: Using ‘oh so’

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June 9, 2005: Issue 93

When you use oh-so as part of a compound modifier before a noun, hyphenate the whole modifier. In other uses, set off the oh with a comma.

correct: these oh-so-easy projects
correct: an oh-so-comfortable couch
correct: Oh, so pretty!

In the stylebook

Wondering whether you have to include New York when you mention Albany? SIMStylebook.com has acomplete list of cities that can stand alone.

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Capitalization: Directions

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June 1, 2005: Issue 92

Capitalize directions when:

• They are part of a proper name (North Carolina).
• They designate a specific region or a region widely known among your audience (Eastern Seaboard, South of France).
• They refer to residents of a specific region (Southerners).

Lowercase directions when:

• They designate compass points (heading south).
• They describe a section of a state or city (central Iowa). This rule has exceptions, such as Southern California. See Directions and Regions for more information.

When in doubt, use lowercase.

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SIM/Procedure: SIMstylebook.com launched

Style on the Go archiveUncategorized

May 4, 2005: Issue 90

That’s right. Hard-copy stylebooks are the past. Go to www.SIMstylebook.com to see the future.

SIMStylebook.com includes the complete content of the old stylebook, plus current and back issues of Style on the Go, a resources and tools page, an SIM calendar, and a news database. It’s always up-to-date, so you’ll never have to wonder when or whether a style rule changed. The site might load a bit slowly the first time you use it, but that’s temporary. Please bookmark the page and begin using it as your primary SIM style and grammar reference. (Want help getting the bookmark into your toolbar? Ask a friendly CE.) The blue binders will no longer be updated or maintained.

Suggestions? Please e-mail them to Doug Kouma.

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