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Last Seven DaysQuestion from Lakeland, Florida, on Aug. 17, 2022
Hi Paula,
I have another head-scratcher (at least for me). Is it "And that’s just one of the things that make our company great" or "And that’s just one of the things that makes our company great." I can't rewrite.
Thank you!
I have another head-scratcher (at least for me). Is it "And that’s just one of the things that make our company great" or "And that’s just one of the things that makes our company great." I can't rewrite.
Thank you!
Answer
... one of the things that make ...
Question from Erskine, Minnesota, on Aug. 17, 2022
Hello! Would you hyphenate air-bag system or use air bag system? Thanks!
Answer
Air bag system. I think air bag is recognizable as a single term, so no hyphen is needed.
Answer
I've deleted the answer with the hyphen. Clean energy future is fine. Of course, if you prefer to use the hyphen, that's fine too.
Question from Jefferson City, Missouri, on Aug. 15, 2022
Is a comma needed between the department name and the office name for example: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Rural Health and Primary Care?
Answer
I'd rephrase. How about possessive: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Office of Rural Health and Primary Care?
Answer
I'd say that falls within the "simple series" guidelines: The comma before D.C. doesn't really complicate anything. I'd go without the Oxford comma. But of course, many would argue for it. Just because. In short, you're fine either way.
Question from Mc Lean, Virginia, on Aug. 15, 2022
hi! do I use "the" before things like Super Bowl, etc? For instance:
... at the first college football game, Rose Bowl, ...
or
... at the first college football game, the Rose Bowl, ...
... at the first college football game, Rose Bowl, ...
or
... at the first college football game, the Rose Bowl, ...
Answer
Yes: the Rose Bowl, the Super Bowl, etc.
Question from on Aug. 15, 2022
Is it teachers unions or teacher unions?
Answer
teachers unions.
Answer
Either is fine. Using where may be more informal. And informal can be better, depending on your audience.
Question from Atlanta, Georgia, on Aug. 12, 2022
Hello, if you're describing the photo format, is it RAW or raw? I see it both ways on the internet. Thanks
Answer
We'd use RAW.
Question from Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Aug. 12, 2022
What is the style for inserting new material, such as a missing word or capitalizing the beginning of a sentence fragment? Should we use parentheses or brackets? e.g. -- a historical interfaith precedent that can help us “(cling) to our best virtues rather than our worst instincts ..." or, "(T)he best thing about baseball is the waiting."
Answer
We never use brackets. So parentheses it is.
Answer
It doesn't matter if it's a double-s; we use the same rules there that we do for those that end in a single s. So: the witness's answer; the virus's spread. But Bass' job; Dickens' novels.
Why is it? I don't know; it's been that way for years. And if I tried to change it now, fury would be unleashed upon the land.
Note: We're unlikely to use the term hostess. Instead, the gender-neutral host. Which helps with the punctuation problem, too ...
SINGULAR COMMON NOUNS ENDING IN S: Add ’s: the virus’s reach, the virus’s spread; the witness’s answer, the witness’s story. (A change from previous guidance calling for just an apostrophe if the next word begins with s.)
Why is it? I don't know; it's been that way for years. And if I tried to change it now, fury would be unleashed upon the land.
Note: We're unlikely to use the term hostess. Instead, the gender-neutral host. Which helps with the punctuation problem, too ...
SINGULAR COMMON NOUNS ENDING IN S: Add ’s: the virus’s reach, the virus’s spread; the witness’s answer, the witness’s story. (A change from previous guidance calling for just an apostrophe if the next word begins with s.)
SINGULAR PROPER NAMES ENDING IN S: Use only an apostrophe: Achilles' heel, Agnes' book, Ceres' rites, Descartes' theories, Dickens' novels, Euripides' dramas, Hercules' labors, Jesus' life, Jules' seat, Kansas' schools, Moses' law, Socrates' life, Tennessee Williams' plays, Xerxes' armies.
Question from Austin, Texas, on Aug. 11, 2022
How do you treat lists like the following:
Sparkling water is wonderful for three reasons: 1) it tastes great, 2) it's bubbly and fun, and 3) it comes in lots of flavors.
That's a silly example that I just came up with, but hopefully the point gets across.
Thanks!
Sparkling water is wonderful for three reasons: 1) it tastes great, 2) it's bubbly and fun, and 3) it comes in lots of flavors.
That's a silly example that I just came up with, but hopefully the point gets across.
Thanks!
Answer
We don't have a formal rule (or an informal one, for that matter). But I'd do it the way you suggest. In fact, I've been known to do it that way.
Question from on Aug. 11, 2022
Hi Paula,
The entry for Great Resignation has two contradictory responses. Can we get some more robust guidance? Thank you.
Answer
Thanks for asking. The AP's business news team had a spirited discussion. The result: We do not think this will be a term that stands the test of time. First, a lot of people simply switched jobs. And now those who left are going back as the economy is challenged. We don’t think it rises to the degree of “Great Recession” (capitalized).
Thus, we will go with the "great resignation," with a brief explanation.
Thus, we will go with the "great resignation," with a brief explanation.
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