E                                                                                                                                                                                                     

early-morning rain, early-morning accident, etc. (but this is always changing!)

 

Northridge quake of Jan. 17,1994: we use 6.7 magnitude (see below)

The quake has been upgraded from a magnitude 6.6 to a magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo.

But seismologists at the California Institute of Technology and the local U.S. Geological Survey office in Pasadena said they officially were reporting the quake as a 6.7 on a different scale known as the "moment magnitude" scale.

The surface magnitude is a Richter scale measurement of seismic waves as they ripple across the earth's surface.

The moment magnitude scale provides a more complex measurement of energy released from every point on the rupturing fault plane, which then is converted into a number that resembles the traditional Richter scale. (AP 2/9/94 – confirmed with Lucile M. Jones, 2/22/94)

Earthquake, faults - these, like other major geologic bodies such as mountain ranges, oceans and rivers, should be capitalized. Examples: San Andreas Fault, Newport-Inglewood Fault, Palos Verdes Fault.

earthquake, proper names - Names of earthquakes are not capitalized; also it's often helpful to include the year they occurred: Northridge earthquake of 1994, Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

earthquake experts

Lucile M. Jones, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena

Kate Hutton, California Institute of Technology seismologist

John Hall, associate professor of civil engineering at the California Institute of Technology

Seismologists David Wald and Thomas H. Heaton of the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena

Earthquake research/information agencies - Southern California Earthquake Center (established by the National Science Foundation to improve the methodology for forecasting quake movement in Southern California)

East Wilmington Greenbelt (as per News-Pilot 2/96)

east side for L.A.; Eastside for Long Beach area

Easter Bunny

eBay (but EBay at the start of a sentence or headline

Ecstasy (drug)

EgyptAir Flight 990 pilots

Pilot: Ahmed Mahmoud el-Habashy; co-pilot: Adel Anwar; relief pilot: Gameel el-Batouty; relief

pilot: Raouf Noureddin. Crashed Oct. 31, 1999

El Camino Campus Theatre

e-mail

e-mail addresses - As in an address used by the post office, every character is essential. Try to keep them on one line; watch for breaks (system-generated hyphens, etc) that alter the address.

environmental impact report (but EIR)

English as a Second Language – class, teachers, etc. But, he speaks English as his second language, etc.

The Esplanade - street in southern half of Redondo Beach running north and south along the beach (pls use upper case “The”)

Ev' Ready - slain Venice skater

Explorer Scout program - Law enforcement: just add the proper nouns of choice: Torrance Police Department Explorer Scout program, South Bay Explorer Scout programs or area Explorer Scouts, etc. Sea Explorer Scouts, Hospital/Medical Explorer Scouts

extensions (telephone numbers)

540-5511, Ext. 352

Exxon Mobil, ExxonMobil - See the BUSINESS entries

F                                                                                       

face-lift

Farmers Market/farmers market - In generic sense, or if exact spelling of a particular market is unknown or unclear, use no apostrophes (Fairfax district market, for instance, has no apostrophe). Farmers' Market, Santa Monica -- uses s'. Torrance is Farmers’ as well.

Fax - short for facsimile machine; fax is acceptable in the noun and verb forms

Fed - acceptable – mostly in headlines - for Federal Reserve ONLY (for federal government, use U.S. or feds – note the S)

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency

feng-shui

fetus –

In news copy: refer to the fetus ONLY as a fetus (not "unborn child" not "her son")

In heads: do not add the fetus to a death toll. Example: 3 women, 1 fetus were killed (weird as it may sound), NOT 4 were killed (if D.A. charges someone with deaths of 4, we must make clear the D.A. is making that judgment not us: "D.A. charges driver with 4 murder counts"

file photo -- PT credits all local photos; For Breeze and PT wire photos, use some judgment but in general don't credit an AP photographer by name if the file photo is more than a year old, UNLESS it's running on a P-T local page, since the P-T credits everything. (Nothing in this world is consistent, eh?)Breeze photos more than a year old generally run with only a FILE PHOTO line, not crediting the photographer.

fireboat

fires, proper names for - Wildfires, even those of significance (ie those that cause great damage and/or loss of life), do not assume proper names where "fire" is capitalized. Local examples include the Old Topanga fire of Nov. 7, 1993, and the Laguna Beach fire and the Altadena fire, both also of 1993.

firm/company - In body copy, avoid substituting "firm" for "company" or "corporation." A firm is a business partnership (such as law firm) which is not incorporated; incorporated businesses should always be called companies (the switch is acceptable in headlines if space is an issue)

Fishermen's Fiesta (not Fisherman's) - the annual San Pedro festival that was once held in Sept-Oct

flashpoint (one word - contrary to Webster's Fourth)

"flesh-eating" bacteria - Technical name is necrotizing fasciitis - a rare but often fatal streptococcus infection that has been around a long time. Please note the "flesh-eating" tag is sensationalistic and inaccurate: Streptococcus is responsible for several human diseases, including strep throat, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever and some types of pneumonia. Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by a variety of streptococcus labeled group A. It is airborne and can enter the body through a cut or wound, releasing a toxin that cuts off oxygen to surrounding tissue. Just as with gangrene, the tissue dies. The bacteria does not consume flesh.

- from "A sudden interest: Disease nothing new, experts say" by Staff Writer Lisa Wilson 12/2/94

Flight – cap it when referring to a flight number, such as Flight 381.

flulike (this is ever controversial)

food - Apple names -- lowercase, unless it's the name of someone (as in "Granny Smith"). (Food Dept. has some reference works, fyi). Use 350 degrees instead of something like 350 F.

Foreign names - See the AP Stylebook for guidance under Foreign names (and Chinese names, etc.)

Foreign words - Foreign words that are not in common use or proper names take italics. For example, taco does not need to be italicized. But cuarto de bano, for example, should be.

fortysomething

fiftysomething

Forum - Do not use Great Western Forum or The Forum; it's the Forum

401(k) - it's all one word and "k" is lowercase

Fox (network)

freelance (v. and adj.)

If you're using both together for some reason, say the San Diego (405) Freeway.

Numbers can always be used in headlines in a squeeze. Some specifics are:

91 -- use number ONLY for this one as it has 3 different names

Century -- 105 (official name is Glenn Anderson Freeway, but we are referring to it as the Century Freeway, which is how it was known for many years before it was built)

Costa Mesa Freeway – 55

Harbor -- 110 (use I-110 only when relevant that it's interstate, don't use for directions)

Hollywood - 101 (runs from downtown L.A. to Studio City where it becomes Ventura Fwy 101)

Foothill - 210 Garden Grove - 22 Glenn Anderson Freeway -105. (Use Century Freeway instead) Freeway)

Golden State (Santa Ana south of downtown L.A.; Golden State north of L.A.) - 5 (use I-5 only when relevant; see Harbor)

Long Beach - 710 (use I-710 only when relevant; see Harbor)

Marina - 90

Orange – 57

Pacific Coast Highway (PCH acceptable on second reference and in headlines)

Highway 1 - use north of Malibu (it's PCH in L.A. metro area)

Pasadena - 110 (section north of downtown L.A. is not an interstate)

Pomona - 60 San Bernardino - 10 (Heading east out of L.A.) See also Santa Monica

San Diego - 405 (use I-405 only when relevant; see Harbor)

605 (San Gabriel River) - use number for this one as name is not well-known

Santa Ana (Santa Ana south of downtown L.A.; Golden State north of L.A.) - 5 (use I-5 only when relevant; see Harbor)

Santa Monica - 10 (use I-10 only when relevant; see Harbor). In the West L.A. area. See also San Bernardino

Ventura - 134 (runs from Pasadena to Encino where it becomes 101)

Frequent flier

frequently asked questions (but FAQs)

Frisbee - a registered trademark; please keep upper case F

front yard (AP says it’s still two words, although AP has switched to backyard as one word in all uses)

Fundraising, fundraiser (one word in all cases, per 2006 AP Stylebook)

G                                                                                       

G-8 (see Group of 8)

Gadhafi, Moammar (not Khadafy)

gang affiliation - As a general guideline, refer to people suspected or said by police to be members of gangs as "suspected gang member" or "alleged gang member." Be sure to get the police attribution

(although it can come later in the story) so it's clear we're not doing the suspecting. If there's no attribution, there's no affiliation (alleged or otherwise).

Gang Alternatives Program (note the S in Alternatives)

gangbanger

gang names - 8-Tray Crips (as per their tattoos and graffiti)

gantlet/gauntlet - gantlet (can also spelled gauntlet but let's not): a flogging ordeal, literally or figuratively; run the gantlet: to proceed while under attack from both sides, as by criticism, gossip gauntlet: medieval glove worn by knights to protect the hand in combat; throw down the gauntlet: to issue a challenge, as to combat; to take up the gauntlet: to accept a challenge

garibaldi (state fish)

gas/gasoline

Gas is acceptable in headlines

In body copy, use gasoline on first reference but gas is acceptable on second references unless the story refers to both gasoline and a gaseous matter (such as natural gas), then gasoline should be used throughout. (changed 9/97)

gasoline prices - use 1-decimal figures: $1.019 per gallon

gay/homosexual - (policy revised 11/92 with input from Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Los Angeles)

Style resource: www.nlgja.org/resources/stylebook_english.html

1) Terms:

- individuals: let common sense dictate and, whenever possible, ask your subject what he

or she prefers to call himself or herself (a "gay," "lesbian," or "homosexual"); honor their request. Do not use a redundant "lesbian woman."

- "partner" or "lover" or "companion": these terms are very common within the gay and lesbian community although some feel "lover" emphasizes sex vs. the more rounded relationship "partner" or "companion" implies. Again, ask your subject's preference.

- as a group: "gay and lesbian" community/rights/etc. is preferred, although "gay" community/rights/etc. is acceptable. The less-preferred "homosexual" community/rights/etc. can be intermixed within a story to avoid excessive repetition. ("Gay" technically refers to men and women but "lesbian" is often added to emphasize the fact that women, who had often been ignored, are included.)

- "homosexuality": please use this instead of more awkward "gayness"; "lesbianism" is

acceptable when appropriate, obviously.

2) Relevance a must: most importantly, never identify someone as being gay, lesbian or

homosexual unless it is pertinent to the story. Think of it in the same vein as race or religious affiliation and when identifying either of those is germain.

3) Stereotypes ... avoid them

- "gay lifestyle" means exactly what? Ask 100 people and you'll get 50 answers. Gays and lesbians cross every demographic group just as, for example, women do and there's certainly no

"women's lifestyle."

- similarly, there's no one "gay opinion" or "gay philosophy" or any other broad-based

categorization.

- do NOT use "avowed" (sounds as if they're sworn to "the cause") or "admitted" (too

judgmental) gay/homosexual; use "openly gay/homosexual" or "openly acknowledged gay/homosexual" instead. Even "openly" should be used in only the rarest of occasions, usually when someone who calls himself or herself gay is the first widely known person to take on or accomplish a certain feat. Example: "Jones, the first openly homosexual priest at St. John's, established several gay organizations within the church."

4) Genetics vs choice

- this is among the most controversial issues and we need to be careful not to take

sides (2 very preliminary studies have found physical differences between homosexuals and

heterosexuals and most gays and lesbians say they were aware of their homosexuality at a very

early age but no one is saying any evidence is conclusive). Do not say homosexuality is a "sexual preference" or a "sexual persuasion," which clearly imply gays and lesbians have a choice. DO say homosexuality is a "sexual orientation," which is non-judgmental.

5) Outing - This is expressly forbidden in any form -- implied or direct -- without the absolute

consent of the editor or managing editor.

General Plan capitalize the G and P if the plan is for a specific, named city

Generation X

Generation Xers (capitalize)- also known as post-baby-boomers

George F Canyon (no period after F)

Geneva Conventions - The Geneva Conventions are not part of the United Nations' diplomatic machinery; they go back long before the 1945 organization of the United Nations. The Red Cross and the first Geneva Convention emerged from an international meeting in Geneva in 1864 to adopt guidelines for treatment of wounded soldiers. More articles and amendments were added to the conventions at meetings in 1906, 1929, 1949 and 1977. Switzerland is the repository of the Geneva Conventions. (AP 3/15/91)

Germanys (as per AP rule for plurals of proper nouns)

The Getty Center

-goer (as per Webster's Third)

beachgoer

churchgoer

concertgoer

Goodyear blimp

former Vice President Al Gore (drop the Jr.; if using first name it's Al not Albert)

grades (see numerals) - also, the plural of letter grades is A's and B's.

grade point average - GPA acceptable only on second reference

grand jury (see jury, grand)

greenbelt (Manhattan Beach)

greens fee; greens fees (pl.) - per Webster's New College: a fee paid to play golf on a golf course

grisly (see grizzly) - terrifying, horrible

grizzly (see grisly) - gray or streaked w/ gray, or a grizzly bear

Ground Zero (World Trade Center); other references are ground zero

Group of Eight or G-8 (formerly G-7) - The annual summit of leading industrialized nations which expanded in 1997 to include Russia; other participants include the U.S., Canada, Britain, Japan, France, Germany and Italy. In headlines: Group of 8 is acceptable (as opposed to Group of Eight in copy)

Guilty/not guilty – do not use “pleaded innocent.” See the innocent entry.

Gulf War or Persian Gulf War (style changed to upper case 3/93)

gunbattle (one word)

gun-control advocate/protester/opponent etc. (hyphenate compound modifier)

Guinness World Records ;(not Guinness Book of World Records)

- GRAMMAR -

after/following - Following is fine as a noun, verb or adjective, but not as a preposition. That's where after comes in. "He has a large following among retired professionals. He spoke to the crowd after the AARP president introduced him."

fewer/less - Use less when describing an amount, and fewer when describing a number of tangible things.

When describing a number of intangible things (miles, pounds, etc.) which are generally thought of as an amount, also use less.

Examples:

"He was less agreeable to the plan than she was." (an amount)

"Fewer than 12 students attended the seminar." (a number of tangible things)

"The test took less than four hours." "He ran less than five miles." "The child weighed less than 80 pounds." (a number of intangible things)

hopefully/it is hoped – This is pretty much going by the wayside, but for technical info: Hopefully is an adverb which means "in a hopeful manner" ("She hopefully requests we get kumquats in our holiday fruit boxes.")

If you’re not doing something in a hopeful manner, then use “it is hoped” (“It is hoped we

will get kumquats in our holiday fruit boxes.”)

lay/lie - Lay is the action word and so takes a direct object ("Lay the nice, dry newspaper on the porch."; "The paperperson should be laying the newspaper on the porch."; The paperperson should have laid the newspaper on the porch.") Lying means to be reclining or to be situated ("The newspaper lies, wet and rotting, under a bus."; "The newspaper is lying under a bus."; "The newspaper lay under a bus for 40 years.")

may/might - May in many cases conveys a certain sense of permission: "Wilson may run for president." Might is better to convey a sense of probability. "The voters might elect him if he can articulate a platform that sets him apart from other GOP candidates."

most/more - When two items are being compared, use more ("She is the more beautiful of the two.") When three or more are being compared, use most ("He is the most disgusting of all the mud wrestlers.")

persuaded/convinced - You may be convinced that or convinced of something, but you must be persuaded to do something.

Plural nouns - Pronoun/verb agreement - when a plural subject is thought of as one unit: make the verb singular. "Two inches of rain (one unit) has fallen." and "Five months was too long a time to wait." and "Shipping and handling (one unit) is included."

majority - when used alone it takes singular verb and pronoun: "A council majority says it believes..."; when "of" is introduced, make verb and pronoun agree with the plural noun and not with the singular word "majority": "A majority of council members say they believe..." (not "A majority of council members say it believes...")

since/because/due to - Because is, well, because. "He lost his mind because he was trying to figure out the revised tax code." Since is a time reference (although AP style allows it as a substitute for because). "He

hasn't been sane since 1987." Due should be reserved for things like deadlines. "Tax returns were due to the IRS by April 17."

split infinitives - It's OK to split them

suffered/sustained - Just seems like we assume a little when we say someone "suffered" injuries.

that/which - There are (for these purposes) two types of clauses: essential clauses and non-essential

clauses. An essential clause cannot be deleted without changing the meaning of the sentence; thus the essential bit. A non-essential clause is icing on the sentence cake, it adds more detail or style but it isn't crucial to the sentence; thus 'tis non-essential.

Here's the deal: That is required for an essential clause: ("This is the house that Jack built using only toothpicks and gravy from Joes.") The clause "that Jack built" is essential because it singles one house out of a group of houses. Which is required for a non-essential clause: ("She is the author of the turquoise Act of 1924, which officially distinguished that color from teal.") There is only one act bearing the name "Turquoise Act" so it can't be mistaken for any other. The "...which officially distinguished" clause doesn't affect the point of the sentence.

EASY TEST: in most cases if you could use commas to set off the phrase, you need a which;

if you don't, it's that

who/whom - If the pronoun is the object of a verb or a preposition, it should be whom, and if it's the

subject, it should be who. There's an easy way to keep matters straight: Mentally substitute who for he/she/they and whom for him/her/them.

Another trick: If the construction requires him or them -- both of which end in m -- it also requires whom, which ends the same way. So, who will be helping whom in this matter?

will/would - In contrary-to-fact situations, use will when denoting likely future action ("If the bill passes, we will all be required to eat marshmallow cream."). Use would if the action is unlikely ("If she ever did get over the rainbow, she would learn Glinda had bad breath.")