Category Archives: Writing tips

It’s easy but not always accurate
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A screenshot of a message from Stylebot on Slack that reads: Do not use periods in “AAPI,” for “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.” Use “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” on first reference and “AAPI” on second reference and beyond. Follow the same rules for other acronyms, such as API (Asians and Pacific Islanders), APIA (Asian and Pacific Islander American) and AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander). Pay attention to the specifics of a term before using it to refer to a group. For example, “AAPI” and “API” are not always interchangeable. Also keep in mind that some people might prefer that a different term is applied to them, so be sure to ask about preferences instead of making assumptions.
You can use the terms "climate change" and "global warming" interchangeably, though "climate change" includes a wider array of the effects of human actions on the environment. Some opt for the term "climate crisis" to better convey the gravity of the situation. While some people continue to deny the effects of climate change, they are not up for debate in the reputable scientific community. In other words, climate change is not a "two sides" story, so put comments from politicians and other prominent figures in the proper context. Always make sure your audience knows the scientific consensus, instead of just various opinions on the issue.

🌍 A changing climate
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The phrase is "deep-seated," not "deep-seeded": "She had a deep-seated fear of the ocean."

Take a seat
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Don't capitalize "moon," even when referring to the Earth's moon: "The moon was visible behind the clouds." Lunar events such as blue moons are also not capitalized: "Tonight is the last chance to see a super blood moon until 2033." "Supermoon" is one word: "She stayed up to see the supermoon." Don't capitalize "sun," even when referring to the Earth's sun: "After three straight days of rain, they were excited to see the sun come out." Use one word for "sunray," "sunrise" and "sunset": "They stayed outside until sunset."

Monday’s total eclipse
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Although "bad rap" and "bad rep" are often used interchangeably, "bad rap" is the original phrase, and "bad rep" can be interpreted as a misspelling. So stick with "bad rap" to avoid getting a bad rap :wink:: "Ice cream gets a bad rap, but research indicates it might not be as unhealthy as most people think." Do not use "bad wrap."

Bad rap(utation)
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Capitalize "Ides of March" when referencing the bad omen: "He warned her to 'beware the Ides of March.'" "Ides" is a term ancient Romans used to refer to the middle of the month. The Ides of March is March 15, the day of Julius Caesar's assassination. The phrase "beware the Ides of March" comes from Shakespeare’s play "Julius Caesar."

Beware the middle
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Use "OK" instead of "okay": "She said it was OK with her if they went out that night." Use an apostrophe in "OK'd" and "OK'ing" but not in "OKs."

Are you OK?
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"Phase" is both a noun and a verb that's used in reference to a process, cycle or development or the act of carrying out a plan: "He decided to phase in the changes so they wouldn't be overwhelming." Do not use the verb "phase" when you mean "faze," which means to disconcert or daunt: "Despite the withering criticism, she was unfazed and decided to continue with the project."

Fazed and confused
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Do not capitalize "leap day" or "leap year": "Even when it doesn't fall on a weekend, leap day is still a popular wedding date."

Intercalary day is coming up
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Use an apostrophe in "Presidents' Day," a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February: "The store advertised a Presidents' Day sale." The holiday's official name is Washington’s Birthday. Don't capitalize "weekend" in "Presidents' Day weekend": "They were away for Presidents' Day weekend."

Your “weekend” guide
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