**Sandia National Laboratories Web Editorial Style Guide**

The goal of this style guide is to promote coherence and consistency on
the many pages of Sandia's external website. It was compiled by the
Public Relations & Communications Center --- the "owner" of the
upper-level pages of sandia.gov --- to address common issues of grammar,
punctuation, style, and usage for the many web developers and authors
building the pages of this website. It will not answer every question,
nor will everyone agree with all the guidelines put forth here, but it's
a starting point...(more background)

For questions, concerns, and suggestions, please contact [[Julie
Hall]{.underline}](https://www.prod.sandia.gov/cgi-bin/web_queries_local/empl-query.sh?detemailid=JCHALL).

This guide provides suggested solutions for style issues confronting
Sandia's web publishers and content developers. While not attempting to
be a comprehensive style guide, it is intended to address
capitalization, punctuation, usage, and other related issues that
commonly arise in publishing Sandia web pages.

Due to the decentralized nature of web publishing at Sandia, the
sandia.gov site has many authors and publishers, each with their own
interpretations of style and usage. While this is also the case for
print publications, it is more problematic on the web, as site visitors
can view numerous pages quickly and more easily notice --- perhaps
subconsciously --- style differences among the pages. These differences
are typically not major but still may contribute to undermining the
image Sandia is trying to present. Our website is our "face" to the
external world, and consistency and unity go a long way in conveying
that we are a professional, high-quality organization.

Another consideration is that Sandia's web site is more accessible to an
international audience than its publications are. Web authors may use
acronyms that they believe to be widely understood --- NNSA or WSMR, for
example --- but that may be inscrutable to someone living in the United
Kingdom.

**How the Guide was Developed**

*The foundation for this guide is the Sandia Lab News style pages, which
have been around in some form or another for more than 15 years. In
general, the Lab News follows the Associated Press Stylebook but also
uses the Chicago Manual of Style* and *Merriam-Webster's Collegiate
Dictionary*, 11 th edition*.* References to these guides are provided in
brackets after many entries, with either the chapter and section number
for *Chicago* (abbreviated as CMS) and the page number for *AP*.

In addition, a number of upper-level sandia.gov pages were reviewed for
style issues. Inconsistencies were noted and duly researched in the
references above.

Recognizing the inherent differences between print and web publishing,
every attempt was made to arrive at a style that appeared to be widely
accepted and used, made sense in view of our primary audiences, and took
into account the global nature of the web.

We ask for your support in implementing these guidelines and welcome any
feedback.

Questions and comments can be directed to [[Julie
Hall]{.underline}](https://www.prod.sandia.gov/cgi-bin/web_queries_local/empl-query.sh?detemailid=JCHALL).

**References**

*Lab News* style pages*Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary*, 11 th
ed.

*Associated Press Stylebook*, 35 th ed.\
*Chicago Manual of Style*, 15 th ed.\
*Wired Style* (1999)

**General Editorial Rules**

**General Rules:**

-   [[Abbreviations]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#abbreviations)

-   [[Academic degrees &
    titles]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#titles)

-   [[Academic departments &
    disciplines]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#departments)

-   [[Acronyms]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#acronyms)

-   [[Capitalization]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#capitalization)

-   [[Compound
    words]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#compoundwords)

-   [[Dates]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#dates)

-   [[Formatting]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#formatting)

-   [[Latin
    words]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#latin)

-   [[Measurement, units
    of]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#measurement)

-   [[Numbers]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#numbers)

-   [[Phone
    numbers]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#phone)

-   [[Plurals &
    possessives]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#plurals)

-   [[Prefixes]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#prefixes)

-   [[Pronouns]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#pronouns)

-   [[Punctuation]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#punctuation)

-   [[Sites]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#sites)

-   [[Units of
    measurement]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#units)

-   [[Troublesome
    words]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#thatwhich)

    **Abbreviations**

```{=html}
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```
-   Do not automatically follow an organization's name or other proper
    name with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses. Let context
    guide whether it seems necessary. If the acronym, abbreviation, or
    initialism will be clear on second reference---or if you only
    mention the name once --- it is OK not to put it in parentheses
    after the first reference. \[AP 4\]

-   Some organizations or agencies are widely recognized by their
    initials and do not need to be spelled out (FBI, CIA, NASA, for
    example). \[AP 4\]

-   However, DOE, NNSA --- while widely known in national lab circles
    --- and some other acronyms are not as widely known. Don't take for
    granted that people will know them --- spell out on first reference.
    When in doubt, spell it out.

-   This is the style for Sandia-specific abbreviations that came out of
    the Sandia president's office more than a decade ago:

    -   Sandia/California, not SNL/CA or Sandia/CA

    -   Sandia/New Mexico, not SNL/NM or Sandia/NM

        **Academic degrees and titles**

```{=html}
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```
-   Lowercase and use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree, a master's,
    etc. \[AP 5\]

-   Use abbreviations with periods (e.g., B.A., M.A., Ph.D.) after a
    full name or in bios. When used after a name, such abbreviations are
    set off by commas: Daniel Moynihan, Ph.D., spoke. \[CMS 15.21. Note:
    The use of periods in these abbreviations deviates from *Lab News*
    style.\]

-   Avoid the use of honorifics, such as Dr., Mr., etc.

    **Academic departments**

```{=html}
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```
-   *Departments*. User lowercase except for words that are proper nouns
    or adjectives or when *department* is part of the official and
    formal name: \[AP 5; CMS 8.73\]

    -   University of New Mexico Department of Biology, the biology
        department

-   *Disciplines*. Academic subjects are not capitalized unless they are
    part of a department name or official course name, or are themselves
    proper nouns (e.g., English, Latin). \[CMS 8.91\]

    -   He is majoring in computer science.

    -   She is enrolled in Computer Science 101

        **Acronyms**

```{=html}
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```
-   Spell out acronyms/initialisms on first reference unless they are
    widely known, such as FBI, CIA, NASA, DNA. While *DOE* is commonly
    used in Sandia documents and correspondence, our website's potential
    international audience may not be familiar with it.

-   DO NOT include an acronym in parentheses unless you refer to it a
    second time. It adds unnecessary clutter.

-   DO NOT include an acronym in parentheses unless you refer to it a
    second time. It adds unnecessary clutter.

    **Capitalization**

```{=html}
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```
-   Lowercase titles when used after a person's name (e.g., Tom Hunter,
    president and Labs director). \[AP 246; CMS 8.21\]

-   Capitalize titles when preceding a name (e.g., President and Labs
    Director Tom Hunter). \[AP 246; CMS 8.21\]

-   It is OK to capitalize titles with a person's name in a photo
    caption.

-   Avoid unnecessary capitalization (e.g., Federal Agencies, National
    Laboratory). Unless something is a proper name, it probably
    shouldn't be capitalized.

-   Names of fellowships are capitalized, but generic terms are not:

    -   Truman Fellowship; Truman Fellow; the fellowship; a fellow \[CMS
        8.21, 8.33\]

-   Capitalize the full, proper name of academic departments; lowercase
    unofficial, informal, shortened, or generic names \[CMS 8.32\].

    -   the College of Engineering; the engineering school

-   Lowercase academic disciplines. \[CMS 8.32\]

    -   The intern is majoring in computer science.

    -   The new hire has a bachelor's degree in chemistry, a master's
        degree in chemical engineering, and a master of business
        administration

        **Compound words**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Compound modifiers usually require hyphens:

    -   DOE-funded consortium

    -   high-temperature reactor

    -   large-scale tests

    -   state-of-the-art technology

    -   black-and-white photo

-   The purpose of the hyphen is to eliminate ambiguity:

    -   small state senators (the senators are short) vs. small-state
        senators (senators from small states)

    -   fast sailing ship vs. fast-sailing ship

-   Do not hyphenate a compound adjective ending in *--ly*: \[AP 151;
    CMS 7.87, 7.90\]

    **Dates**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Abbreviate months in a full date (month, day, year) except for
    March, April, May, June, July. \[AP 164\]

-   Use commas to set off the parts of a date, before and after: *The
    attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will always be seared into our memories.*
    \[AP 164; CMS 6.46\]

-   Do not abbreviate or use commas when the month and year only appear
    together: *The launch is scheduled for March 2007.* \[AP 164; CMS
    6.46\]

-   Do not use *st*, *nd*, *rd*, or *th*, as in March 1 st, April 2 nd,
    etc. \[AP 68\]

    **Formatting**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Do not double space after periods, colons, question marks, or any
    punctuation that separates two sentences. While most of us were
    taught to double space between sentences in typing class, the extra
    space serves no purpose --- in print or on the web --- in today's
    world of proportionally spaced fonts. In the "typewriter age," the
    extra space was needed for the eye to more easily pick up the
    beginning of a sentence. In typography, double spaces can cause
    "rivers" of white space, distracting readers. Further, most web
    browsers will render only one space after the period no matter how
    many you type.

    **Fractions**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   one-half, three-quarters \[CMS 7.90\]

-   a half hour; half-hour meeting \[CMS 7.90\]

    **Hyphens**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   See *Punctuation*.

    **Italics**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Italicize and use initial caps on books, newspapers, magazines,
    television shows, radio shows, films, etc

    **Labs, Laboratories**

```{=html}
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```
-   Sandia Corporation became Sandia Laboratories in 1969 and Sandia
    National Laboratories in 1979. However, you still frequently find
    *Laboratory* used in news stories and occasionally by Sandians
    themselves. While most writers use Sandia for short, *the Labs* is
    also OK and is to be used with *is* not *are* (á la Bell Labs)

    **Latin words**

```{=html}
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```
-   Do not italicize commonly used foreign/scientific phrases: in situ,
    ab initio, ad hoc, in vitro, in vivo.

-   Do not hyphenate foreign phrases used as modifiers: \[ACS 78\]

    -   ab initio calculation

    -   in vivo reactions

        **Measure, units of**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Spell out inches, feet, yards, etc., when used with a number.

-   The abbreviations mm (millimeter) and cm (centimeter) are widely
    recognized and do not need to be spelled out; do not use periods.

-   Other words not requiring periods: mpg, mph, hp, rpm.

    **Months**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   See *Dates*.

    **Numbers**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   For general, nontechnical writing, spell out numbers below 10; use
    numerals for 10 and above. However, for consistency's sake, choose
    one style or the other if a sentence or paragraph contains several
    numbers. Always use numerals with units of measurement.

-   Spell out ordinals up to *ninth*; use numerals after that (10 th, 20
    th century).

-   Percentages: Percentages are always given in numerals. In humanistic
    copy the word *percent* is used; in scientific copy, or in
    humanistic copy that includes numerous percentage figures, the
    symbol % is more appropriate.

-   0.3, not .3

-   8,500, not 8500

-   11 a.m. or 3:45 p.m., not am, A.M., or 11:00

    **Organization names, numbers**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Generally, do not use organization numbers on external webpages.
    Organization names and numbers are quickly outdated.

    **Phone numbers**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Always use 10-digit phone numbers

-   Use parentheses around the area code: (505) 845-6789

    **Plurals and possessives**

```{=html}
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```
-   **Plural nouns ending in *s*:** Add only an apostrophe

    -   the churches' needs (singular = the church's needs)

    -   the girls' shoes (singular = the girl's shoes)

-   **Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning:** Add only an
    apostrophe

    -   General Motors' profits

    -   the United States' nuclear weapons

-   **Singular proper names ending in *s*:** Use only an apostrophe

    -   Los Alamos' facilities

    -   Taos' tourist attractions

    -   Paul Miles' engine laboratory

-   **Descriptive phrases:** Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending
    in *s* when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense:

    -   a writers guide

        **Prefixes**

Almost all words composed of a common prefix, such as *non*, *anti*,
*multi* and *pre*, are spelled without a hyphen. The exceptions are when
the second words is a capitalized word (non-American) or when compounds
must be distinguished from homonyms, such as *re-cover* and
*un-ionized*.

-   antiballistic

-   antinuclear

-   coauthor

-   coworker

-   postdoctoral (not post-doctoral or post doctoral)

-   multicolored

-   multidisciplinary

-   ultifunctional

-   multilateral

-   multinational

-   multiyear

-   noncombat

-   nondestructive

-   nonelastic

-   ponionizing

-   nonnuclear

-   nonunion

-   nonprofessional

-   nonproliferation

-   nonsmoker

-   nontoxic

-   reengineering

-   reentry

-   reexamine

However, use a hyphen if a proper noun follows the prefix:

-   non-Newtonian

-   non-Euclidean

-   post--Cold War (here, ideally use an en dash for appending to such
    two-word proper nouns)

    **Pronouns**

```{=html}
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```
-   Make sure all your pronouns have clear antecedents:

    -   **Wrong:** An applicant must submit a resume before *they* can
        be considered for a job.

    -   **Right:** An applicant must submit a resume before *he* or
        *she* can be considered for a job.

        **Punctuation**

The purpose of punctuation is to eliminate ambiguity and make clear the
thought being expressed. If punctuation doesn't do that, it shouldn't be
there. The basic guideline is to use common sense.

**Ampersands**

-   Ampersands should be avoided unless they are part of a company or
    department name or a commonly used abbreviation (see *R&D*). \[AP
    325; CMS 15.10; NYT 20\]

**Apostrophes**

-   Use apostrophes in master's degree, bachelor's degree (and
    lowercase).

-   Use apostrophes to indicated omitted characters:

    -   Omitted letters: it's, don't, 'tis the season

    -   Omitted figures: the class of '62, the '80s

-   See also *Plurals and Possessives*.

**Colon**

-   Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun
    or the start of a complete sentence:

    -   The politician had a single message: Vote for me and all your
        problems will be solved.

    -   The committee had three considerations: employee overtime,
        employee burnout, and budget overruns.

**Commas**

-   Use the serial comma (comma before the conjunction in a series). It
    prevents ambiguity.

-   Use a comma to set off degrees or titles after a name: *Tom Hunter,
    president and Labs director, spoke at the forum.*

-   Use commas in numerals 1,000 and greater.

-   Use a comma to separate the elements of dates and addresses.

    -   On Friday, Jan. 2, 1998, we went on vacation.

    -   The weather in June 1997 was unusually warm.

        -   P.O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185

**em, en dashes**

-   Em dashes are used to denote an abrupt change in thought in a
    sentence, to set off a series within a phrase, or to emphasize a
    phrase. While *Chicago* uses em dashes without spaces, sandia.gov
    uses spaces, in accordance with *Lab News* and *AP Style*, and also
    because em dashes typically appear shorter on the web than in print
    and tend to look crowded without spaces.

**Hyphens**

-   DO NOT hyphenate a compound adjective ending in --ly: \[AP 151; CMS
    7.87, 7.90\]

    -   commercially available technologies

    -   an easily remembered rule

    -   illegally parked cars

-   Use hyphens in compound adjectives:

    -   state-of-the-art laboratories

    -   world-class scientists and engineers

-   No hyphen in weapon system names (B28); hyphen in aircraft names
    (F-117)

-   When the second part of a hyphenated phrase is omitted, the hyphen
    is retained, followed by a space, even if the word is a solid
    compound: \[CMS 7.89\]

    -   five- to ten-minute intervals

    -   under- and overworked employees

-   Do not use a hyphen between adverbs ending in --ly and adjectives
    they modify \[AP 151; CMS 7.87\]

    -   an easily remembered rule

    -   a badly damaged car

**Lists**

-   Punctuation (e.g., commas or semicolons) is not necessary at the end
    of items in bulleted lists on the web, contrary to the rules for
    more formal documents.

-   In most cases, bullets are preferred; numbered lists can be used to
    explain a sequence of events or steps.

**Periods**

-   Do not double space after a period. See Formatting.

-   Use periods in " U.S.," "Ph.D.," etc. (differs from Lab News)

**Quotation marks**

-   Always go outside periods and commas.

-   Use single quotation marks in headlines and subheads.

**Semicolon**

-   Semicolons separate two complete sentences that are closely related.
    As a general rule, if a period will not work, neither will a
    semicolon.

-   Semicolons are also used to separate the items in a series if the
    items contain internal commas: Sandia has offices in Albuquerque,
    N.M.,; Carlsbad, N.M.; Livermore, Calif.; and Tonopah, Nev., and
    Kauai, Hawaii.

-   Semicolon always goes outside the closing quotation mark: *He says,
    "I will mail them today"; however, that was a week ago, and they
    haven't arrived.*

**Slashes**

-   There is no space before or after a slash:

    -   pass/fail basis

        **Sites**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Sandia/California, not SNL/CA or Sandia/CA

-   Sandia/New Mexico, not SNL/NM or Sandia/NM

    **Units of measurement**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   See *measurement, units of*

    **Troublesome words (often misspelled or misused)**

**accommodate --** often misspelled with one "m."

**affect, effect**

-   Affect, as a verb, means to influence: *The wind will affect the
    spread of the smoke plume.*

-   Effect, as a verb, means to cause: *The new policy will effect many
    changes in procedures.*

-   Effect, as a noun, means result: *The effect of the recycling
    program...*

**all right --** never alright or allright.

**compose, comprise --** Comprise means *include* or *contain*: The
exhibition *comprised* several rare paintings. Avoid *comprised of.* To
*compose* is to make up, to form the substance of something: The parts
*compose* the whole (The whole *comprises* the parts.)

**continuous(ly), continual(ly) -** *Continuous(ly)* means without
interruption; *continual(ly)* means occurring again and again.

-   The sound of the lawnmower droned outside her office continuously
    for two hours, continually interrupting her train of thought. ** **

**ensure, insure --***Ensure* means to make sure something will (or
won't) happen. Reserve *insure* for matters relating to insurance. *To
ensure that we would have no problems resulting from lost baggage, we
took out extra travel insurance for our trip.*

**every day (adv.), everyday (adj.) --** You can wear your everyday
clothes every day.

**insure** -- See *ensure*.

**its, it's --** Its is the possessive form of it; it's is the
contraction for it is. Remember: *Possessive its never splits.*

**less, fewer --** Use *fewer* to mean a smaller number of individual
things. Use *less* to mean a smaller quantity of something. *The less
money he makes, the fewer dollars he spends.*

**myriad --** Means *numerous* or *a great number of*. Avoid *a myriad
of*.

**principle, principal**

-   principal -- most important; chief: The principal investigator is my
    pal.

-   principle -- fundamental law, assumption: A first principle is one
    that cannot be deduced from any other

**that, which**

-   Use *that* in dependent or restrictive clauses (where what follows
    is required for the meaning of the sentence).

-   Use *which*, preceded by a comma, in independent or nonrestrictive
    clauses (where what follows is optional for the meaning of the
    sentence).

**which, that**

-   See *that*, *which*.

    **Alphanumeric Listing of Term Usage**

[[A]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#A%23A)
\|
[[B]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#B%23B)
\|
[[C]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#C%23C)
\|
[[D]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#D%23D)
\|
[[E]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#E%23E)
\|
[[F]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#F%23F)
\|
[[G]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#G%23G)
\|
[[H]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#H%23H)
\|
[[I]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#I%23I)
\|
[[J]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#J%23J)
\|
[[K]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#K%23K)
\|
[[L]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#L%23L)
\|
[[M]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#M%23M)
\|
[[N]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#N%23N)
\|
[[O]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#O%23O)
\|
[[P]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#P%23P)
\|
[[Q]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#Q%23Q)
\|
[[R]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#R%23R)
\|
[[S]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#S%23S)
\|
[[T]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#T%23T)
\|
[[U]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#U%23U)
\|
[[V]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#V%23V)
\|
[[W]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#W%23W)
\|
[[X]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#X%23X)
\|
[[Y]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#Y%23Y)
\|
[[Z]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/listing.html#Z%23Z)

**3-D** --- not 3D.

**A**

**ab initio** --- not italicized. See [[Latin
words]{.underline}](http://webguide.sandia.gov/styleguide/rules.html#latin).

**African American ---** no hyphen. \[CMS 7.90\]

**afterward** --- not afterwards

**ampersand** --- Ampersands should be avoided unless they are part of a
company or department name or a commonly used abbreviation (see R&D).
\[AP 325; CMS 15.10; NYT 20\]

**B**

**C**

**congress** --- capitalize U.S. Congress and Congress when referring to
the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. However, lowercase
congressional, congresswoman, etc., unless paired with a proper name,
e.g., Congresswoman Heather Wilson; Heather Wilson, congresswoman from
New Mexico \[AP 56; CMS 8.25, 8.66\]

**coworker** --- not co-worker.

**D**

**Department of Defense** --- spell out on first reference. Usually
abbreviated with a small *o* (DoD).

**decision maker, decision making** \[CMS 7.85, 7.90\]

**Department of Energy** --- spell out on first reference. It's not
necessary to include DOE in parentheses after first reference as it will
be understood. Same applies to Department of Defense and Department of
Homeland Security.

**DoD** --- not DOD. See Department of Defense.

**DOE** --- see Department of Energy.

**Dr.** --- use Dr. in front of a name only if the person is a medical
doctor.

**E**

**e.g. ---** abbreviation for exempli gratia ("for example"). Always use
a comma after it. See also *i.e.*

**et al.** --- Abbreviated form of et alii, meaning "and others." Since
al. is an abbreviation, the period is required. No need to italicize.

**email** --- no hyphen, lowercase. As words become more common they
tend to lose their hyphen and close up to become one word. \[WS 13, 78\]

**F**

**farther, further** --- Use *farther* for a physical distance and
*further* for a figurative distance.

**G**

**H**

**I**

**i.e.** --- abbreviation for id est ("that is"). Use a comma after it.
See also e.g.

**in situ** --- not italicized. See *Latin Words*.

**in vitro ---** not italicized. See *Latin Words*.

**in vivo ---** not italicized. See *Latin Words*.

**Internet** --- when referring to the name of a specific collection of
networks, while *internet* is a generic term for two or more connected
networks.

**J**

**K**

**L**

***Lab News* ---** *Sandia Lab News* is full formal name of the paper
and should be used in italics on the external website.

**long term, long-term** --- hyphenate when used as a compound modifier:

-   Funding will remain stable in the long term.

-   He has a long-term assignment.

    **M**

**microChemLab, µChemLab** --- both are used, but the former is often
used online and in documents for broad public dissemination to eliminate
the Greek letter μ, which is not familiar to everyone.

**N**

**nonnuclear** --- not non-nuclear.

**O**

**online** --- one word. \[CMS 7.84, 7.90, section 2\]

**P**

**president** --- capitalize when paired with a proper name (President
Bush). In most cases, the first name of a current or former U.S.
president is not necessary on first reference. Lowercase *the
president*, *the first president of the United States*, *presidential*.
Also applies to *vice president* and other civil titles. \[AP 202; CMS
318\]

**Q**

**R**

**R&D** --- Eliminate spaces on either of the ampersand. \[CMS 15.10\].

**real time** --- hyphenated as an adjective: *real-time processing*.

**reengineering ---** not re-engineering.

**reentry** --- not re-entry.

**reexamine** --- not re-examine

**S**

**Sandia National Laboratories or Sandia**, not SNL or Sandia Labs.
Note: Many organizations outside Sandia, and some within Sandia, do not
seem to recognize that the last word is plural.

**Sandia/California**, not Sandia/CA or SNL/CA.

**Sandia/New Mexico**, not Sandia/NM or SNL/NM.

**spinoff** --- (noun or adjective) one word \]WS 13\]

**startup** --- (noun or adjective) one word \[WS 13\]

**T**

**toward** --- not towards

**U**

**United States/U.S.** --- Spell out as a noun; abbreviate with no space
between the letters as an adjective.

-   U.S. nuclear arsenal

-   U.S. military

**URL** --- Stands for Uniform Resource Locator. All caps, no periods.
\[CMS 15.55\]

**V**

**W**

**weapons systems ---** not weapon systems. Likewise, it's the nuclear
weapons complex, not nuclear weapon complex.

**web** --- as in "the web," internal web, or external web.

**webmaster** --- one word. \[WS 13\]

**website**

**World Wide Web** -- a proper noun. However, the *web*.

**X**

**X-ray** -- (n., v., and adj.) Use for both the photographic process
and the radiation particles themselves. \[AP 279\]

**Y**

**years** -- In most cases, use all four digits. Remember that an
external, global audience does not know when our fiscal year begins and
ends so references like FY05-06 should be avoided.

**Z**

**Z machine --** Lowercase m.

**Miscellaneous Dos and Don\'ts**

-   **Single space after a period or a colon.** While most of us were
    taught to double space between sentences in typing class, the extra
    space serves no purpose --- in print or on the web --- in today's
    world of proportionally spaced fonts. In the "typewriter age," the
    extra space was needed for the eye to more easily pick up the
    beginning of a sentence. In typography, double spaces can cause
    "rivers" of white space, distracting readers. Further, most web
    browsers will render only one space after the period no matter how
    many you type.

-   **Use active rather than passive voice.** Writing in active voice if
    more powerful and usually requires fewer words than passive voice.
    Make the performer of the action the subject of the sentence.

    -   Active: Chris conducted the meeting.

    -   Passive: The meeting was conducted by Chris.

-   **No middle initials,** except for those who go by initials only.

-   **No organization numbers.** These are irrelevant to those outside
    Sandia and become outdated too quickly to be placed on an external
    page.

-   **Use last names on second reference.** As an employee publication,
    the*Lab News* uses first names, but this is a bit casual for an
    external publication.

-   **Do not use hit counters, blinkers, spinners, scrolling marquees,
    or "under construction" pages.** These are not only passé and a sign
    of an amateurish site, they are distracting and annoying to viewers.
    To obtain site visit data, contact WebCo regarding WebTrends. If a
    page is not ready, don't publish it.

-   **Use subheadings**, especially in long pieces of text, to break up
    the text and increase readability.

-   **Avoid endorsements of specific browsers**, as in \"This site is
    designed for such-and-such a browser, such-and-such a screen
    resolution, etc.\" You should test your site, and it should look
    acceptable in, all major browsers.

-   **Proofread your site**, and have at least one other set of eyes
    check it. It is not the responsibility of Review & Approval to find
    your typos. Your copy is a reflection of your and Sandia's
    professionalism, your attention to detail, and commitment to
    excellence. Typographical errors and broken links hurt a site\'s
    credibility more than most people imagine, according to [[research
    at Stanford
    University]{.underline}](http://www.webcredibility.org/guidelines/).

-   **Stay away from 25-cent words when a 5-cent word will do:**

    -   Utilize = use

    -   facilitate = lead or guide