Style Guide
First Expanded Version
December 2007
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to the NERC Style Guide. To make the most of this document now and in the future,
we suggest you:
• Refer to a printed copy of the guide
• Refer to a printed copy of the Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards
• Review the guide and highlight the most relevant areas to the work that you produce
• Make notes on your copy about questions or suggestions
• Contribute suggestions (Because there are hundreds of different sources and reasons for
writing styles, if suggestions could be accompanied with explanations, they can support
the pace of review and inclusion)
• Recognize that footnotes are included for context and tracking of sources that impact
NERC house style, and as such should not replace the information noted in the guide
unless a footnote includes “for more information”
• Recognize that:
ƒ Each individual and program currently functions differently regarding certain writing
styles
ƒ Efforts to establish some foundation of basic style guides applicable to NERC for all
to use represent a starting point to build upon, not an end point
ƒ This document is a guide
This guide is a “living document” and NERC will update it as needed.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 3
Chapter 1 — Background ............................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 2 — Proper Usage ............................................................................................................. 5
Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms..................................................................... 20
Chapter 4 — Capitalization .......................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 5 — Punctuation.............................................................................................................. 27
Chapter 6 — Numbers .................................................................................................................. 30
Chapter 7 — Commonly Misused Words..................................................................................... 32
Chapter 8 — Words/Phrases to Avoid.......................................................................................... 36
Chapter 9 — Formatting ............................................................................................................... 38
Chapter 10 — E-mail Guidelines.................................................................................................. 44
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Chapter 1 — Background
Chapter 1 — Background
The electric reliability organization functions have compounded the amount and scope of NERC
written products, as well as the number of individuals involved in producing those products.
Similar to the fact that NERC did not have formal reliability standards before the 2003 blackout,
NERC has not had formal writing style standards to parallel the increased writing activities.
The former NERC style guide served mostly as a tool for the administrative staff to support
back-end production of NERC documents. However, the significant increase in the amount and
range of NERC document production requires a tool that functions to:
• Continue serving the back-end process, and
• Begin serving the front-end process, which includes making the tool useful for NERC
staff, industry volunteers, and contractors who plan, develop, write, edit, proofread, and
finalize NERC documents
Additionally, the two main sources NERC has used for clarification on the proper writing style
— Chicago Manual of Style and the style used by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers (IEEE) — do not always offer a clear choice on the many style issues to address the
wide range of NERC documents. Expanding the guide and establishing specific NERC styles,
called house style, intends to help resolve many issues.
While NERC supports writing individuality within reason, the guides are necessary to ensure
some cohesive writing style between the different experience and preferences of the programs
and individuals that develop NERC documents. The writing styles in this expanded guide will
advance document quality, consistency, and clarity for all print and electronic NERC documents.
NERC has tried to organize the material so the basic writing styles, technical guides, and
administrative guides are complementary. NERC also recognizes that different writing styles
exist for the various disciplines practiced in the electricity industry, and has incorporated style
direction by appropriate industry entities to help provide commonality. This practice will
continue to support future additions and refinements.
Goals
To help ensure consistency and high-quality documents, the guide should provide:
• Certainty about style that was formerly unclear
• Certainty about styles that were not formerly addressed
• Consistency with one set of reasonable styles amid different style experiences,
backgrounds, and preferences
• Efficiency by offering one main document that details NERC-specific style
• Functionality and effectiveness by using common and effective, information-seeking
techniques:
ƒ Alphabetized listings for proper use
ƒ Referral sections to support use
ƒ Cross-referencing to direct users to appropriate sections
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
a, an, the
See articles in this chapter (p. 5).
abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms
See the abbreviations, acronyms, initialisms chapter (p. 19).
ac
Alternating current. Lowercase this abbreviation. It is one of the few, two-letter abbreviations
that NERC style supports.1
and, ampersand (&)
The word and is always spelled out in text. When it is part of a series, a comma falls before the
and. (Electricity can be measured in volts, amps, and watts). Use the ampersand sign when it is
part of a company’s formal name.
and/or
Do not use this term. Use “either this or that, or both,” substituting the appropriate content for
the sample words this or that.
around-the-clock
The term means lasting 24 hours a day, being in effect, or continuous. In document text it can be
spelled out, or used as 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use 24X7 in a table or index.
articles (a, an)
Never capitalize articles, unless they start a sentence.
The article a is used before words that start with a consonant sound. (A one-time chance.
Sounds as if it begins with a w.)
The article an is used before words that start with a vowel sound. (as in: An electric charge. An
honorable mention.)
backup (noun and adjective)
back up (verb)
As a noun, backup should be written as one word. (as in: The user will perform a system
backup.)
As a verb, back up should be written as two words. (as in: Back up the system.)
1
IEEE, p. 61, text reference.
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
base case (noun)
base-case (adjective)
As a noun, base case should be written as two words. (as in: All assessments included both
thermal and voltage analyses for a base case.)
As an adjective, base-case should be hyphenated. (as in: The assessment cited the planning
power flow base-case models.)
bilateral
Write this term as one word, no hyphen.
biweekly
Write this term as one word, no hyphen.
blackout recommendations, NERC
When referring to a recommendation stemming from NERC’s August 2003 blackout
investigation, always include the official name of the NERC report on first reference, the
“August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the Impacts of Future
Cascading Blackouts,” dated February 10, 2004.
The frequently used term “NERC blackout recommendation” should never stand on its own on
the first reference. For example, “NERC blackout recommendation 8A” should not stand alone
on first reference. Rather, it should be “recommendation 8A of the NERC document August 14,
2003 Blackout: NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the Impacts of Future Cascading
Blackouts.”
blackout report, August 2003
The proper title is written and punctuated as follows: “U.S. – Canadian Power System Outage
Task Force, Final Report on the August 14, 2003 Blackout in the United States and Canada:
Causes and Recommendations.”
blackstart
Write this term as one word.
Board of Trustees
Capitalize Board and Trustees when using all words on the first reference. On the second
reference use only the word board and lowercase the first letter. For the correct spelling of the
trustees names, consult the NERC Roster.
BTU
British thermal unit. Do not spell this term out; use the abbreviation.
bulk electric system vs. bulk power system
Currently, NERC is using the term bulk power system with lowercase letters. This term should
not be hyphenated.
capitalization
See the capitalization chapter (p. 24).
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
compass points (north, south, east, & west)
North, south, east, and west are lowercased when used to indicate direction or location. 2 The
compass points are only capitalized when they start a sentence. When terms derived from the
compass points refer to a specific section of the country, they become proper nouns that are
capitalized.
Examples of proper form:
• The wind came from the south.
• The building faces the east.
• The Northwest uses a great deal of hydroelectricity.
• The Midwest; the Great Plains
compound terms
The electricity industry is plagued with compound terms. Compound words are created when
two or more words that are separate form one new word, new phrase, or a single concept.
Compounds may be one word, several words, or hyphenated. If you are not sure which terms
use a hyphen, check the dictionary.
Open compounds
• electricity sector
• interchange transaction modification
• high school
• Web site
• home page
• post office
Closed compounds:
• online
• Northeast (the)
• Cyberspace
• worldwide
• ongoing
currency
$300.00 in U.S. dollars should be US$300. USD is incorrect and should not be used. $300.00 in
Canadian dollars should be C$300.
colons
See the punctuation chapter (p. 26).
commas
See the punctuation chapter (p. 26).
2
Chicago p. 327
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
commission
Only capitalize this term when referenced to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in
federal filings. 3 Also in federal filings, capitalize Commission Staff. For all other documents —
press releases, bulletins, announcements, and minutes — do not capitalize the term commission
or staff, except when either term starts a sentence.
database
Write this term as one word.
dc
Direct current. Lowercase this abbreviation. It is one of the few two-letter abbreviation NERC
style supports.
de-energize
Always hyphenate.
e.g.,
The abbreviation represents the expression for example. A comma always follows the second
period, except at the end of a sentence. The term is not italicized. It is one of the few two-letter
abbreviation NERC style supports.
electricity sector
Not electric sector.
e-mail
Lowercase the e and always hyphenate.
e-tag
Lowercase all the letters and always hyphenate.
etc.
Abbreviation for et cetera, or “and other things.” Do not use the word and before using this term
because it is redundant.4 The term is preceded and followed by a comma when it is part of a list
or series.5
failover (noun, adjective)
fail over (verb)
As a noun or adjective, failover should be written as one word. (as in: Jim used the failover
circuit to avert disaster.)
As a verb, fail over should be written as two words and should not be hyphenated. (as in: The
circuit will fail over in the event of an emergency.)
6
flowgate
Write this term as one word.
3
All non-legal documents lowercase the word commission. This is one example of where NERC style has not been practiced consistently. This
writing style follows basic grammar rules about capitalization and the use of general and proper nouns, and respects the specifications for legal
documents.
4
Chicago section 5.202
5
Chicago section 6.22
6
Flowgate is an example of an industry-specific term. Industry-specific terms often require specific house style guides. Flowgate as one word is
consistent with proper English usage. One credible source includes Harvard University flowgate experts, which use the term as one word.
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
follow-up (noun, adjective)
follow up (verb)
As an adjective follow-up should be hyphenated. (as in: The follow-up e-mail confirmed receipt.)
Preferred alternatives to using follow up as a verb include pursue, develop, supplement. When it
is used in this capacity, follow up should be written as two words. (as in: The team will follow up
on the investigation with a formal report.)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, (FERC)
Spell out this name on first reference. Do not use the before this acronym. The signifies a
specific noun (as in: The cat on the couch, as opposed to other cats.) FERC is a specific noun
and does not require additional distinction from “other FERCs.” Do use the with FERC if there
is a specific FERC noun described (as in: The FERC policy impacts all, owners, operators, and
users.)
Fortran
Fortran is one of the older computer languages still in use. Capitalize only the first letter.
glossary of terms
This is a general term and should not be capitalized. The Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability
Standards (standards’ glossary) is capitalized because it is a title of a document. See the
capitalization chapter (p. 24) for direction about when to capitalize a term in the standards’
glossary.
hard copy
Write this term as two words.
hot line
Write this term as two words.
headlines
See the formatting chapter (p. 36).
HVdc
The abbreviation stands for high voltage direct current. This abbreviation is never spelled out on
first reference.
Hz
This abbreviation stands for hertz, which is a unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second. 7
This abbreviation is never spelled out on first reference.
i.e.,
The abbreviation represents the expression that is. A comma always follows the second period,
except at the end of a sentence. The term is not italicized. This is one of the few two-letter
abbreviation NERC style supports.
7
The word hertz is lowercase, but the abbreviation is Hz. IEEE pp. 512, 527, and 648.
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
interconnection
This is a general term and should not be capitalized. Capitalize the term if the word is part of a
proper name.
interconnect
The term is a verb and should not be used in place of interconnection; it should be lowercase.
Internet
The term is a proper noun and is always capitalized.
k
Kilo. Lowercase this abbreviation.
kV
This abbreviation stands for kilovolt, which is 1,000 volts. Use the abbreviation any time it is
used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used (as in: 15 kV).
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective (as in: A meter can measure kilovolts).
kVA
This abbreviation stands for kilovoltampere, which is 1,000 volt-amperes. Use the abbreviation
any time it is used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used. (as in: The inverter module
has an output of 5 kVA.)
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: Shunt capacitors are used on
distribution circuits to reduce the kilovoltampere load on a low power factor circuit.)
kW
This abbreviation stands for kilowatt, which is 1,000 watts. Use the abbreviation any time it is
used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used. (as in: The plant will use solid waste as a
fuel to produce 1000 kW of electric power.)
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: The student needs a kilowatt
conversion chart. Kilowatt is a measure of power.)
kWh
This abbreviation stands for kilowatt-hour, which is a measure of electrical energy equal to the
consumption of 1,000 watts per one hour. Use the abbreviation any time it is used as a
measurement, e.g., when a number is used. (as in: The power generator provided the loadserving entity with 55 kWh.)
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: The investigation will determine the
total number of kilowatt-hours of electricity used.)
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
log in, log on
These terms are synonymous verbs meaning “to establish communication and initiate
interaction” with a computer (Webster’s). Use sign in when referring to paper sheets that record
arrivals and departures.
m
This lowercase abbreviation stands for milli. Use the abbreviation any time it is used as a
measurement, e.g., when a number is used.
MW
This abbreviation stands for megawatt, which is one million watts. Use the abbreviation any
time it is used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used (as in: 50 MW).
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: The nameplate megawatt capacity of
a power facility is the total power production capacity estimated in the original facility design.)
MWh
This abbreviation stands for megawatt-hour, which is a measure of electrical energy equal to the
consumption of one million watts in one hour. Use the abbreviation any time it is used as a
measurement, e.g., when a number is used (95 MWh).
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: The power generation technology
intends to reduce the amount of air pollution per megawatt-hour.)
MVA
This abbreviation stands for megavoltampere, which is one million voltamperes (VA). Use the
abbreviation any time it is used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used.8
Mvar
This abbreviation is used for megavar, a way of expressing reactive power (use abbreviation
only, not full text).9
mapboard
Write this term as one word, all lowercase.
multi
This prefix does not require a hyphen to connect it to a word.
Examples:
• Multidimensional
• Multinational
• Multilayered
8
The word megavoltampere is all lower case letters but the abbreviation is “MVA” in all upper case letters. The IEEE dictionary does not
specifically address this term but entries for other abbreviations use upper case “VA” such as “kVA” on p. 603.
The“M” should be uppercase; it is the abbreviation for “mega,” p. 649 of IEEE dictionary. Lowercase “var,” following the entry p. 1,247 of
IEEE dictionary.
9
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
n-1 (n-2, n-3)
The letter n is lowercase.10
names of organizations or associations
The official name of an entity should always be capitalized. The proper names of a company or
organization’s internal departments, divisions, and committees on first reference should be
capitalized. On second reference, when not using the full name, words like, committee,
department, division, or association should be lower case.
Examples:
• Member Representatives Committee; the committee
• Board of Trustees; the board
• The Violation Risk Factors Standard Drafting Team, the drafting team
Legislative bodies are typically an exception.
Examples:
• House of Representatives; the House
• New York Assembly; the Assembly
• Florida Legislature; the Legislature (be sure to check the names of state legislatures
and their “house/senate/assembly,” not all follow the same pattern)
For the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, see “commission” and “NERC legal
documents” in this chapter.
Use primary resources to confirm the correct name spellings for people, companies, and
organizations. For example, NIST stands for U.S. National Institute of Standards and
Technology. Many times, it is incorrectly written as U.S. National Institute of Science and
Technology. A primary resource includes an entity’s Web site or original materials. Resources
from other entities, including NERC materials, are secondary resources.
NERC legal documents
FERC and other regulatory filings require a specific style that is common to legal documents.
For example, it is acceptable in legal documents to capitalize the word Commission when
referring to FERC. In all other NERC written materials, however, the word commission should
not be capitalized unless it is part of the full proper name.
Legal style uses a lot of capitalization that is not appropriate in other contexts. The style of
NERC regulatory filings and other legal filings is under the discretion of NERC’s general
counsel. For more information, please see the FERC policy on filing format for all federal filing
documents.
10
NERC consulted with IEEE staff specifically about the proper form of n-1, n-2, etc., and determined that the letter n should be lower case.
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
NERC committees and programs
Be sure to verify and consistently use the proper names of NERC programs and committees.
Because of the extensive list of committees, please consult the NERC Roster as a primary source
for the correct spelling of NERC committees, and the names and titles of associated individuals.
The correct names of the NERC programs based on the FERC-approved ERO Rules of
Procedure are listed below, along with the section that covers that program:
For example, the name of the Readiness Audit Program has been officially changed to the
Reliability Readiness Evaluation and Improvement Program. NERC programs names include:
• Reliability Standards Development Program (Section 300)
• Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (Section 400)
• Organization Registration and Certification Program (Section 500)
• System Operator Certification Program (Section 600)
• Reliability Readiness Evaluation and Improvement Program (Section 700)
• Reliability Assessment and Performance Analysis Program (Section 800)
• Training and Education Program (Section 900)
• Situational Awareness and Infrastructure Security Program (Section 1000)
Singular pronouns for entities
A committee, panel, company, board, or other entity is it not they.
NERC Reliability Standard
Capitalize this proper term.
noncompliance
Write this term as one word and without a hyphen.
numbers (use in text)
See the numbers chapter (p.29).
off-site
Always hyphenate this term.
on-line
This term describes the connection of electrical equipment to the grid and requires a hyphen.
online
This term describes the connection of a computer to a server or the Internet and does not use a
hyphen.
percent
Use Arabic numerals and spell out the word percent in humanistic copy (newsletter, bulletin, and
announcement). Use the symbol (%) in tables or highly technical papers that frequently use
percentages.
postcontingency
Write this term as one word. It is not hyphenated.
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
power flow (noun)
power-flow (adjective preceding a noun)
As a noun, power flow should be written as two words. (as in: The power flow was reduced.)
As an adjective preceding a noun, power-flow should be hyphenated. (as in: The report detailed
power-flow studies.)
pre
This prefix does not require a hyphen with most words, e.g., precontingency, preregister,
prequalify. Verify usage with a dictionary if unsure of proper usage. If a word is not listed in the
dictionary, use a hyphen.
professional titles
Titles are NOT capitalized unless they appear directly before the name of the person the title
identifies, or unless they are part of a formal list of titles in a business document. There are
exceptions to this rule; for example, a list of company officers or management titles, as in an
annual report or at the end of an audit report, can be capitalized.
Examples:
• President George W. Bush; the president
• President Rick Sergel; president and CEO
• Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher; the chairman
• Senator Pete Domenici; the senator
• manager of operations
• system operator
• chief engineer
• chief financial officer
proper and common nouns
Capitalization calls attention to specific words, such as the first word of a sentence and proper
nouns, as opposed to common nouns. Common nouns name any, some, or a member of a group.
Only capitalize common nouns when they start a sentence. Proper nouns name a specific
member of a group and begin with a capital letter.
Examples:
• Person (the boy, Harry Smith)
• Place (continent, North America)
• Thing (car, Cadillac)
re(-)
This prefix does not require a hyphen with most words, e.g., reestablish, refocus. A hyphen is
required only when the word would otherwise be confused with another word of different
meaning (as in re-create and recreate), or the word already begins with re (as in re-recover).
Some words that start with a vowel (as in re-enact) are hyphenated. Check the dictionary for
appropriate spelling.
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real time (noun)
real-time (adjective)
As a noun, real time should be written as two words. (as in: The transmission operator is
monitoring the grid in real time.)
As an adjective, real-time should be hyphenated. (as in: The real-time market is busy today. The
company is evaluating its real-time reserves.)
Region, NERC Region, Regional Entity11
This general term should be capitalized.
reliability standards
This general term should be lowercase. The specific titles of reliability standards are capitalized
(this includes the number and full name of the standard). If the words reliability standard follow
the title, do not capitalize the words reliability standard. Capitalize the term NERC Reliability
Standard.
right-of-way, rights-of-way, right-of-ways
All three terms are correct, and must always be hyphenated.
seasons
Spring, summer, winter, and fall are never capitalized, unless they start a sentence.12 In the
Northern Hemisphere, autumn occurs between the summer and winter months — September,
October, and November.13
semiannual
Write this term as one word. It describes an occurrence that happens every six months or twice a
year. The synonym is biannual, not to be confused with biennial, which means every two years.
sentences
While the first word of every sentence is capitalized, the first word of a complete sentence that
appears in brackets, dashes, or parenthesis when used as part of the sentence is not capitalized.
short circuit (noun)
short-circuit (verb, adjective)
As a noun, short circuit should not be hyphenated. (as in: Electrical short circuits can impact
reliability.)
As an adjective or verb, short-circuit should be hyphenated. (as in: Some regions maintain a
short-circuit database.)
shutdown (noun)
shut down (verb)
As a noun, shutdown should be written as one word. (as in: The shutdown took two days.)
As a verb, shut down should be written as two words. (as in: The manager shut down the plant.)
11
NERC legal established this as house style May 2007
Chicago, p. 346, section 8.94
13
Merriam-Webster
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
sign in
As a verb, this term means “to record arrival of (a person) or receipt of (an article) by signing”
(Webster’s). We often use it as an adjective with a hyphen (sign-in sheet).
spaces
Use a single space following colons and double spaces following the end of a sentence. No extra
space should exist following the final punctuation at the end of paragraphs.
sub
This prefix does not require the use of a hyphen in most cases, e.g., subregion, subtransmission.
Verify usage with a dictionary if unsure of proper usage. If a word is not listed in the dictionary,
use a hyphen.
time zones
The United States has nine time zones. NERC references the eastern time zone for its purposes.
When writing out the words eastern, central, and mountain times, do not capitalize the first
letter.14 When writing out Pacific and Atlantic times, do capitalized the first letter. Because the
goal with time references is all about the element of planning and time reference, NERC does not
require this abbreviation to be spelled out on first reference.
The Department of Transportation oversees the boundaries U.S. time zones. Below are the nine
U.S. time zones as defined by the U.S. Code, Title 15, Chapter 6:
• Zone 1, Atlantic standard time (Nova Scotia)
• Zone 2, eastern standard time (most of Ontario, Quebec)
• Zone 3, central standard time (Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan)
• Zone 4, mountain standard time (Alberta, Northwest Territories, western Saskatchewan)
• Zone 5, Pacific standard time (most of British Columbia, Yukon)
• Zone 6, Alaska standard time
• Zone 7, Hawaii-Aleutian standard time
• Zone 8, Samoa standard time
• Zone 9, Chamorro standard time
Most of Mexico uses central standard time, but Mexico has three time zones. The Mexican
states of Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur use mountain standard
time, while Baja California Norte uses pacific standard time.
Daylight saving time (DST)
The term is singular (saving) not plural (savings). As of 2007, DST begins at 2 a.m. on the
second Sunday in March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. This schedule may
be changed again in the future if the results do not meet the policy that led to the change. If the
documents you prepare include significant references to time, you may want to mark these dates
in your calendar.
14
Chicago pp. 347, 571
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TW
This abbreviation stands for terawatt, which is one million megawatts. This abbreviation is
never spelled out on first reference. Use the abbreviation any time it is used as a measurement,
e.g., when a number is used (as in: 100 TW).
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: In this report, the amount of energy
produced is noted in terawatt-hours.)
TWh
This abbreviation stands for terawatt-hour, which is a measure of electrical energy equal to the
consumption of one million megawatts for one hour. This abbreviation is never spelled out on
first reference. Use the abbreviation any time it is used as a measurement, e.g., when a number
is used (95 TWh).
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (The amount of energy consumption per
year for the United States is noted in terawatt-hours).
tabletop
Write this term as one word. The term is used to describe drills performed with paper, as
opposed to live simulation.
time frame
Write this term as two words.
time line, timeline
Both forms are correct.
under way
Write this term as two words.
United States (noun)
(as a noun: Of the eight regional reliability councils in North America, three span both the
United States and Canada.)
U.S. (adjective)
As an adjective, U.S. should be written as noted. (as in: The U.S. transmission map hangs in the
office.)
Place periods after each letter when the term is abbreviated.
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
V
This abbreviation stands for volt(s).15 This abbreviation is never spelled out on first reference.
Use the abbreviation any time it is used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used. (as in:
Many modern electronics use the 1.5 V, AA batteries.)
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: Volts, one unit used for electrical
measurement, were named after the Italian physicist Alessandra Volta.)
var
This abbreviation stands for voltampere reactive.16 This abbreviation is never spelled out on first
reference.
Version 0 standard
Version 0 standards reflect the NERC standards that resulted from translating the previous set of
NERC operating policies and planning standards that existed for many years in a voluntary era of
compliance. Version 0 standards were necessary to prepare NERC and the industry for the new
era of mandatory and enforceable reliability standards.
vice chairman, vice president
Do not hyphenate these terms.17
voltampere
Write this term as one word.18
W
This abbreviation stands for watt. 19 A watt is the unit of electrical power equal to one ampere
under a pressure of one volt. This abbreviation is never spelled out on first reference. Use the
abbreviation any time it is used as a measurement, e.g., when a number is used. (as in: Certain
13 W compact fluorescent light bulbs are more energy efficient than certain 60 W incandescent
bulbs.)
Only spell the word out when it is not used as a measurement, e.g., when the term is used
without a number and is used as a noun or adjective. (as in: Lamp or light bulb power is
measured in watts.)
Web site, Web page, Webcast, WebEx, Webinar
Always capitalize these terms.20
15
The word volt when spelled out should be all lowercase letters, p. 1,260 of the IEEE dictionary. The abbreviation is uppercase V. The IEEE
definition of volt does not address this, but entries for other abbreviations and other definitions in the IEEE dictionary uppercase the V, as in kV,
for kilovolt p. 603, IEEE dictionary.
16
A word, p. 1,247 of the IEEE dictionary, not an acronym: “var (electric power circuits), The unit of reactive power in the International System
of Units (SI). The var is the reactive power at the two points of entry of a single-phase, two-wire circuit when the product of the root-meansquare value in amperes of the sinusoidal current by the root-mean-square value in volts of the sinusoidal voltage and by the sine of the angular
phase difference by which the voltage leads the current is equal to one.”
17
This house stylediffers with Merriam-Webster. NERC relies on Webster’s as an authority, but sometimes we use discretion to meet NERC’s
needs. Hyphenation of these terms appears awkward, and several newspaper styles do not use the hyphen.
18
A word, p. 1,266 IEEE dictionary: “voltampere, The unit of apparent power in the International System of Units (SI). The voltampere is the
apparent power at the points of entry of a single-phase, two-wire system when the product of the root-mean-square value in amperes of the
current by the root-mean-square value in volts of the voltage is equal to one.”
19
Lowercase all letters when used as a word; Capitalize the W when abbreviating the term, p. 1,270 of IEEE dictionary.
20
Chicago, Webster’s, the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Standard & Poor’s all
support capitalizing Web and using Web site and Web page as two words. The AP style guide says that Web should be capitalized, and
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Chapter 2 — Proper Usage
workstation
Write this term as one word.
Webster’s says Web is “usually capitalized.” Both AP and Webster’s say that Web site and Web page should be two words. It has been noticed
that The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Washington Post also capitalize Web and use Web page and Web site as two words.
The reasoning apparently is that there is only one World Wide Web, just like there is only one Internet and one Global Positioning System, both
of which also should always be capitalized.
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Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms
Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms
Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a shortened version of a word or compound term, or a combination of the first
letters of words in a title or company name. The two main types of abbreviations are acronyms
and initialisms.
Acronyms
When the first letter or letters of several words form a word, meaning it can be pronounced
phonetically, it is an acronym.
Examples:
• NERC — North American Electric Reliability Corporation
• LAN — local area network
• NATO — North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• AIDS — acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Initialisms
Abbreviations that are pronounced as separate letters are called initialisms. Common initialisms
that are lowercased do not have to be spelled out on the first use, such as a.m., p.m., and e.g.
Example:
• PSE&G — abbreviation for Public Service Electric and Gas
• ac — abbreviation for alternating current
Some basic guidelines for the use of abbreviations include the following:
• ALWAYS spell out every term on the first reference followed by the abbreviation in
parentheses. This is known as defining the abbreviation.
o NOTE: Some utilities and holding companies are differentiated by the use of a
common acronym as their official name. For example, though PG&E is a
common abbreviation for the load serving entity Pacific Gas and Electric, the
abbreviation PG&E is also the official name of Pacific Gas and Electric’s holding
company and should not be spelled out when used in reference to the holding
company.
• If a general term is used infrequently in a document (only two or three times), do not use
the abbreviation at all.
• In official correspondence, abbreviations should NOT be used for any two-word terms,
such as balancing authority, transmission operator, and transmission owner (BA, TOP,
and TO are just a few examples of abbreviations that should be avoided).
• Capitalized acronyms or initialisms do not use periods between the letters, except for the
abbreviation U.S. The United States is only abbreviated when it is used as an adjective.
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Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms
Initialisms, continued…
• In documents for general public consumption, abbreviations should be avoided and the
full text should be spelled out. Examples of these documents include: press releases,
Congressional testimony, speeches, presentations, and newsletters.
• Try to use a singular form of an abbreviation for its definition – digital fault recorder
(DFR). If the first use must be plural, add a lowercase s to the definition – digital fault
recorders (DFRs).
NERC Regional Entities21
FRCC
MRO
NPCC
Florida Reliability Coordinating Council
Midwest Reliability Organization
Northeast Power Coordinating Council
RFC
SERC
SPP
ReliabiltyFirst Corporation (note italics)
SERC Reliability Corporation
Southwest Power Pool, Inc.
TRE*
WECC
Texas Regional Entity
Western Electricity Coordinating Council
* ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc.), while formerly a Regional Entity, is still
used to refer to the ISO/RTO of Texas
Former NERC Regions Incorporated into ReliabilityFirst Corporation
ECAR
East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement
MAAC
MAIN
Mid-Atlantic Area Council
Mid-America Interconnected Network, Inc.
Interregional Reliability Agreements
MEN
MET
MAAC**, ECAR**, NPCC
MAIN**, ECAR**, Tennessee Valley Authority
VACAR
Virginia, Carolinas
VAST
VACAR, American Electric Power, Southern Company, Tennessee
Valley Authority
VEM
VST
VACAR, ECAR**, MAAC**
VACAR, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority
**These names may change.
21
When referring to a NERC region in text, do not capitalize the word region. If you are referring to a NERC region but it is not clear from the
context whether the word region is referring to a general geographical region or a NERC region, insert the word NERC before the word region to
make the distinction clear. The letter “r” should not be capitalized. The same is true for regional council and regional reliability council. These
words should not be capitalized.
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Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms
List of industry abbreviations (section title)
ANSI
ACE
ADR
AFC
AGC
ATC
AVR
BPA
CAISO
CBM
CIAO
CO2
COMTRADE
CPS
CPU
DCLM
DCS
DFR
DOE
DSM
DTS
EHV
EIA
EMS
EPRI
ERO
ESISAC
FERC
GLDF
GMS
GPS
GSF
ICCP
IDC
IEEE
IESO
American National Standards Institute
area control error
alternative dispute resolution
available flowgate capacity
automatic generation control
available transfer capability
automatic voltage regulator
Bonneville Power Administration
California Independent System Operator
capacity benefit margin
Critical Infrastructure Protection Office of the U.S. Department of
Commerce
carbon dioxide*
IEEE Standard Common Format for Transient Data Exchange
control performance standard
central processing unit
direct control load management
disturbance control standard
digital fault recorder
U.S. Department of Energy
demand side management
dispatcher training simulator
extra high voltage
U.S. Energy Information Administration (under the U.S. Department
of Energy)
energy management system
Electric Power Research Institute
electric reliability organization22
Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center
U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
generator-to-load distribution factor
generation management system
Global Positioning System23
generator shift factor
intercontrol center communications protocol
Interchange Distribution Calculator
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Independent Electricity System Operator24
22
The term electric reliability organization should not be capitalized.
Global Positioning System is capitalized because it is a proper noun and not a general term. There is only one GPS.
24
The Independent Electricity System Operator manages the Ontario power system. It is a proper name.
23
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Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms
IPP
IROL
ISAC
ISN
ISO
ISO-NE
LEDs
LODF
LSE
LSF
LTC
MISO
MMWG
MUST
NIST
NAESB
NARUC
NEL
NGA
N2O
NO2
NOx
NRC
NRCan
NYISO
OASIS
OATI
OATT
OTDF
PCIS
PI
PJM
POD
POR
PSLF
PSS
independent power producer
interconnection reliability operating limit
Information Sharing and Analysis Center
interregional security network
independent system operator
ISO New England25
light emitting diodes
line outage disturbance factor
load-serving entity
load shift factor
load tap changers
Midwest Independent System Operator
Multiregional Modeling Working Group
Managing and Utilizing System Transmission26
National Institute of Standards and Technology
North American Energy Standards Board
National Association Regulatory Utility Commissioners
net energy for load
Natural Gas Association
nitrous oxide*
nitrogen dioxide*
nitrogen oxides*
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Natural Resources Canada
New York Independent System Operator
Open Access Same-time Information System
Open Access Technology International, Inc.
open access transmission tariff
outage transfer distribution factors
Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security
plant information27
PJM Interconnection28
point of delivery
point of receipt
Positive Sequence Load Flow29
power system stabilizer
PSS/E
Power System Simulator for Engineering30
25
ISO New England is the proper name of the independent system operator in New England.
Managing and Utilizing System Transmission is the proper name of software.
27
As in “PI historian,” which is a type of software.
28
PJM Interconnection is the formal name of PJM. (PJM is not an acronym. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland Interconnection is incorrect
and should never be used.)
29
Positive Sequence Load Flow is a General Electric software.
30
Power System Simulator for Engineering is a software produced by Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc., Power Technologies
International.
26
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Chapter 3 — Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms
PSS/O
PTDF
PTP
PTI
pu
RAS
RCIS
RDL
RDRC
rms
ROW
RSG
RTCA
RTO
RTU
RUS
SCADA
SDX
SO2
SOx
SOE
SOL
SPS
TDF
TLR
TRM
TTC
TVA
UFLS
UPS
UVLS
WAPA
VoIP
Power System Simulator for Operations31
power transfer distribution factors
point to point32
Power Technologies International (part of Siemens Power
Transmission & Distribution, Inc.)
per unit33
remedial action scheme
Reliability Coordinator Information System
reliability data link
Rocky Mountain-Desert Southwest Reliability Coordinator
root-mean-square
right-of-way, rights-of-way
reserve sharing group
real-time contingency analysis
regional transmission organization
remote terminal units
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service
supervisory control and data acquisition34
System Data eXchange
sulfur dioxide*
sulfur oxides*
sequence of events (do not use this acronym, use full text only)
system operating limit
special protection system
transfer distribution factor
transmission loading relief
transmission reliability margin
total transfer capability
Tennessee Valley Authority
underfrequency load shedding
uninterruptible power supply
undervoltage load shedding
Western Area Power Administration
Voice over Internet Protocol
* Avoid two-word abbreviations unless noted otherwise in the guide, expect for chemical
symbols from the periodic table of elements.35
31
Power System Simulator for Operations is a software produced by Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc., Power Technologies
International.
32
The acronym PTP should be avoided and the full text should be spelled out.
33
The acronym pu should be avoided and the full text should be spelled out.
34
SCADA is a generic term and should not be capitalized.
35
Exceptions can be made sparingly and only in certain circumstances for commonly used and understood acronyms like FERC and ERO.
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Chapter 4 — Capitalization
Chapter 4 — Capitalization
Glossary of Terms Used in Reliability Standards
The house style for the Reliability Standards Program requires that all terms in the glossary are
capitalized in all specific standards-related documents. These documents include the:
• Standard Authorization Request form
• Specific reliability standard
• Implementation plan
• Comment form
• Standards guidelines and training material
• FERC filings
NERC documents that do not capitalize every term in the glossary include:36
• Announcements, releases
• Newsletter, bulletins
• Web pages
• Business documents (agendas, minutes, and letters)
• Reports (assessments, evaluations)
For these documents, try to avoid excessive capitalization.37 The following items should be
capitalized:
• Names of specific people, places, and things
• Titles that come before a person’s name
• The first word of every sentence
• Regional Entity(ies)
General Electricity Terms and Acronyms
General terms should be lower case. Just because something is an acronym does not mean that
the full name should be capitalized. For example, the New York Independent System Operator
(NYISO) would be capitalized because it is a proper name; but independent system operator
(ISO) would not be capitalized.
Examples:
• interconnection (unless specified as the “Eastern Interconnection”)
• regional transmission organization (RTO)
• available transfer capability (ATC)
• energy management systems (EMS)
• area control error (ACE)
36
37
Legal staff clarified these distinctions for use of capitalization with the standards’ glossary in January 2007.
Chicago pp. 311–323
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Chapter 4 — Capitalization
Headlines, Outline Titles
Always capitalize the first and last word in all titles and subtitles, as well as all other major
words — adjectives, adverbs, noun, pronoun, and verbs.38
Lowercase the conjunctions and, but, for, or, and nor; and the articles a, an, and the.
Prepositions are lowercase regardless of length except when they are stressed, or used
adverbially or adjectivally. (Come Aboard, The Off Switch)
Reliability Standards
“NERC Reliability Standard(s)” is a proper term and is capitalized in all NERC documents. Do
not capitalize:
• reliability standard (when used generically without “NERC” in front)
• regional standard
38
Chicago p. 367
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Chapter 5 — Punctuation
Chapter 5 — Punctuation
Punctuation functions to assist with reading. All punctuation should appear in the same font —
e.g., Times New Roman or italic formatting — as its surrounding text, except in the case of
boldface text.
Colon
No space proceeds or follows a colon that is used in URLs. The first word after a colon, when
used within a sentence, is lowercase, unless it is a proper name. One single space, not two,
follows a colon.39
Lists should be similar in syntax, such as noun forms, phrases, or full sentences. If necessary,
the order should be chronological or in order of importance. 40
Commas
Commas indicate the smallest break in a sentence. Though the general rule of placing a comma
where one would pause verbally in a sentence can be useful, we recommend using the following
guidelines instead:
• Between items in a series (Power generation resources include water, coal, and natural
•
•
•
•
gas.)
Between independent clauses connected by a conjunction — and, but, or, nor, for, and
so.
After a dependent clause (Before the plant operator could install the new relay, he had to
repair the malfunctioning bus.)
Around non-essential words (The natural gas plant, though not affected by the fuel
shortage, reduced its output.)
Before and after quotations (“Electric reliability,” he said, “is essential.”)
If items in a series include internal punctuation, the items should be separated by semicolons.
(Power generation fuel options include coal, such as pulverized coal, fluidized bed, and
integrated gasification combined cycle; natural gas, such as combustion turbine and combined
cycle; hydro; nuclear; and renewables, such as wind, solar, and wave.)
A comma should be both before and after “etc.” when it is the final item in a series unless it ends
the sentence. (The utility trimmed all its trees, such as oak, maple, etc., the same way. OR The
utility trimmed all its trees, such as oak, maple, etc.)
Commas should not appear after the year in a date unless the structure of the sentence requires
such. Using a date as an introductory phrase requires a comma after the year. (On June 18, 2007,
reliability standards became mandatory in the U.S.)
39
40
For bibliography differences see Chicago section 16.15, 17.169
Chicago pp. 257, 258, 271, and 272
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Chapter 5 — Punctuation
Dashes
NERC uses three types of dashes:
• The dash (-) is used to hyphenate a word (cost-effective)
• The em dash (—) is used to regulate complicated grammar structures or create emphasis
(there is a space before and after this dash)
ƒ To set off parenthetical elements (All three documents — agenda, attendance list, and
cover sheet — were included.)
ƒ To show a break in thought or tone (NERC was certified as the ERO in June 2006 —
a major regulatory event that will reshape the electricity industry.)
While the Chicago Manual of Style does not support a space on either side of the em
dash, NERC house style does.
ƒ In lists to separate introductory statements and qualifying text, as in an agenda item
(1. 2007 Summer Assessment — Approve)
• The en dash (−) is used to indicate the period between the start point and the end point
(pages 32−35 or August 5−August 10) (there is NO space before or after this dash)
Parenthesis
When a complete sentence is in parentheses or brackets, the period belongs inside the closing
parentheses or brackets. If a complete sentence in parentheses or brackets is part of another
sentence, the period belongs outside.41
Examples:
• The director developed a new program. (He worked hard to maintain the current
program as well.)
• The balancing authority replied to the request (it noticed the request before any other
entity).
• The company decided to revamp it (the program).
Period
A period indicates the end of a declarative or an imperative sentence. Periods always precede
closing single and double quotation marks.
Quotation marks
NERC uses smart quotes, which include the “ball and the stem”
in the quotation marks, as opposed to only the double slashes.
“ ”
Single
Chicago style reserves single quotations for use with foreign terms, linguistics, and
horticulture. IEEE gives no distinction between use of single or double quotes. Both
have been used by NERC staff. NERC house style will use double quotes.
double
Words, phrases, or sentences that are quoted within a text are enclosed in double quotes.
41
Chicago p. 244
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Chapter 5 — Punctuation
Periods and commas are enclosed in double quotes, while colons and semicolons are
placed outside double quotes.
If a question mark or exclamation mark belongs with the quoted material, those forms of end
punctuation belong inside the double quotes. (The transmission operator asked “What time does
the report get published?” The rule stated that compliance was required by all “owners,
operators, and users.”)
If double quotes are used for “emphasis,” they should only be used once for emphasis.
Afterward, the term does not need the double quotes.
Semicolon
A semicolon is weaker than a period but stronger than a comma. It can be used to separate two
independent clauses that are not joined by a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, etc.). (The
information was deleted from the document to preserve privacy; an asterisk was substituted in
the copy to replace the information.)
Most commonly, semicolons are used before adverbs (however, thus, therefore, besides) noting
transition in a sentence. (The writer decided to include a glossary in the document to support
readability; however, the writer was not sure how long it would take to produce the glossary.)
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Chapter 6 — Numbers
Chapter 6 — Numbers
In text, spell out numbers zero through nine. In a highly technical report full of numbers, use
numerals only. Press releases, newsletters, and bulletins are not highly technical reports. Spell
out any number that begins a sentence.
Use Arabic numerals for all units of measure, including time (with some exceptions), currency,
distance, length, area, capacity, units, and quantity.
When ranges are used with numbers, except for dates and time, repeat the unit of measure and
use the words to or through (e.g., 115 kV to 125 kV).
Do not use dashes with ranges because they can be misconstrued for subtraction or negative
signs. As an option, use the words, such as through or between.
Units of measure
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 5 MW, 50 MW
Distance: 5 miles, 30 miles
Length: 5 inches, 24 inches
Area: 5 square feet, 50 square feet
Time
•
•
•
•
Do not use numbers for noon or midnight
Use the “en” dash to separate times and dates, e.g., 8–9 a.m.; August 15–16, 2007
ƒ Do not use a dash with numbers when noting duration of time. Use the word through.
In technical documents, a dash can be misconstrued as a negative symbol.
ƒ Do not use zeros with the hour, such as 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Avoid redundancies, such as “4:30 p.m. this afternoon”
Use the standard NERC house style (spell out zero through nine) referencing an amount
of time (two minutes, 12 hours) (duration) as opposed to an exact time.
Currency
For all documents, use U.S. as the primary currency. 42 Do not use periods between the U and
the S.
• US$5
• US$1 million
• For amounts more than $1 million, round up two decimal points ($1.56 million)
• US$20 to US$100
• Do not use the word dollar(s) when using the $ symbol
42
This is an example where Chicago offers options. The information included represents NERC house style. Chicago p. 387
NERC Style Guide
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Chapter 6 — Numbers
For proofreaders: If the text includes Canadian or Mexican currency, place those currencies after
the U.S. currency in parenthesis.
• US$100 (CA$106; MEX$1,077)
For writers and editors: Documenting Canadian or Mexican currency may be an important
consideration if the currency information applies or relates to, or impacts their investment plans.
Always double check your currency conversion.43 Include the date with the currency
conversion, US(2007)$100, if the currency information:
• Will be used as reference information, such as in an investigation
• Represents estimated or exact spending or receipt of dollars
Percent
Use Arabic numerals and spell out the word percent in humanistic copy (press release,
newsletter, bulletin, and announcement).
Use the symbol (%) in tables or highly technical papers that frequently use percentages. Some
examples of highly technical reports produced by NERC include:
• The seasonal and annual assessments
• The blackout investigation report
Punctuation
Use commas with numbers 1,000 or greater.
43
U.S. and Canadian dollars, and maybe someday the Mexican peso, will likely be the only currencies NERC will have to use. But in case you
encounter British pounds, use the symbol £ rather than $. Fifteen British pounds would be £15, pp. 385−387 in the Chicago manual.
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Chapter 7 — Commonly Misused Words
Chapter 7 — Commonly Misused Words
Affect/Effect
Effect is usually a noun that means result. (as in: The sound of the waves crashing on the beach
had a calming effect, nearly putting the sunbather to sleep. Or, The senator questioned the effect
of the defense cutback.)
Effect can also be a verb to mean bring about, cause, or execute, but is generally used to refer to
broader societal changes. (as in: The civil rights movement sought to effect change in
discriminatory policies and legislation.)
It is best to avoid using “effect” as a verb when referring to relatively smaller circumstances;
using make or produce is preferable. (as in: The technician will effect changes to the standards
to improve security. Versus, The technician will make changes to improve security.)
Affect is usually a verb that means to influence or to pretend to have. (as in: The baby was crying
in the seat behind me, and it was affecting {influencing} my ability to concentrate. Or, The utility
commission’s decisions affect {influence} all utilities in the state. Or, The woman affected
{pretended to have} an attitude of sorrow at the death of her uncle, but she was truthfully
pleased to get the inheritance.)
All together/Altogether
All together is applied to people or things treated as a group, “all acting together,” or “all in one
place.” (as in: We put the plates and bowls all together on the shelf.)
All together is the form that must be used if the sentence can be reworded so all and together are
separated by other words. (as in: We put all the plates and bowls together on the shelf.)
Altogether means entirely or completely. (as in: I am altogether pleased to be receiving this
award. The trip was altogether unnecessary.)
Alternately/Alternatively
Alternately is an adverb that means in turn or one after the other. (as in: We spun the wheel
alternately.)
Alternatively is an adverb that means on the other hand, or one or the other. (as in: You can
choose a large bench or, alternatively, you can buy two small patio chairs.)
Assure/Ensure/Insure
Assure is a verb that speaks directly to a person to offer him or her confidence in a promise. (as
in: Please be assured, each word is different!)
Ensure is a verb that offers to provide something or make a guarantee. (as in: The woman did all
she could to ensure the safety of her children.)
Insure is used to describe contractual obligations offered by health, medical, life or other
insurance companies. (as in: Some companies insure homeowners for floods, but others don’t.)
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Chapter 7 — Commonly Misused Words
Beside/Besides
Beside is a preposition that means next to or apart from. (as in: The woman made sure not to set
her coffee mug beside the computer.)
Besides is an adverb that means in addition to (also) or other than. (as in: No one offered to help
the little old lady cross the busy street besides the police officers.)
Between/Among
Between is used to relate two items or persons. (as in: Josie had to choose between Earl Grey or
lemon tea.)
Among is used to relate more than two items or persons. (as in: Josie’s job duties were
distributed among five employees.)
Can/May
Can indicates capability. (as in: I can finish all the projects before the end of the day.)
May refers to possibility or permission. (as in: I may try hot dogs as a different menu plan this
Christmas. May I plan your Christmas meal also?)
Council/Councilor/Counsel/Counselor
A council is an assembly called together for discussion or deliberation and has councilors, which
are members of the council. (as in: The city of Groton, Connecticut, held its city council meeting
and councilors David Hill and Hubert Poppe addressed community issues.)
A counselor is one who gives counsel, which is advice or guidance, such as an attorney or a
supervisor at camp. (as in: Jane made an appointment with the school counselor before selecting
a college major. Or, The judge ordered the counselors to approach her bench several times
during the trial.)
Cite/Sight/Site
Cite means to acknowledge, reference, or quote an authority. (as in: The secretary of energy will
cite data and conclusions from a DOE report on electricity.)
Sight is the ability to see. (as in: An optometrist examines eyes and can prescribe corrective
lenses to help improve a person’s sight.)
Site is a location or plot of land. (as in: Watch out for potholes at the construction site. The
power plant site is very close to the river.)
Defective/Deficient
Defective means something is faulty. (as in: The mouse on the computer was defective.)
Deficient means something is incomplete or lacking. (as in: The child had a calcium and iron
deficiency. His diet was deficient of calcium.)
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Chapter 7 — Commonly Misused Words
Differ from/Differ with
Differ from indicates that two things are not alike. (as in: The earlier version of the report differs
from the current version.)
Differ with indicates disagreement between persons. (as in: The characters Felix and Oscar
differed with each other on every aspect of life, except that they shared an apartment in the TV
show the Odd Couple.)
Farther/Further
Farther means to or at a more distant point. (as in: Joe ran 15 miles this weekend in preparation
for the marathon. Next week he will run five miles farther.)
Further means to or at a greater extent or degree. (as in: We won’t be able to make any
statements on the power plant outage until we are further along in the evaluation of the event.)
Further can also mean in addition or moreover. (as in: The manager further stated that the
smoking policy would not change.)
Few/Less
Few is an adjective (modifier) that means small in number and is used with countable objects.
(as in: The association has few members.)
Less is an adjective (modifier) that means small in amount or degree, and is used with objects of
indivisible mass. (as in: This jar holds less water.)
Foreword/Forward
Foreword is a noun and means a preface or introductory statement in a book or other work. (as
in: The director of sales wrote the foreword for the book Sales-r-US, written by his boss.)
Forward is used to describe a movement or location that is ahead or in advance. (as in: Move the
level forward. The forward section of the airplane is reserved for first class.)
It's/Its
It's is a contraction for it is. Its is a possessive form of it. (as in: It's a big opportunity for the
company and its first major opportunity.)
Passed/Past
Passed is the past tense and past participle of pass. (as in: During the last two years, I passed
over several opportunities.)
Past refers to time gone by. The word also is used as a preposition meaning beyond. (as in: I
have determined not to let any new opportunities get past me again.)
Percent/Percentage
Percent is the word used with a number in humanistic copy, or non-technical. (as in: Each
employee gave 100 percent on the job.)
Percentage is never used with numbers and refers to a non-specific size. (as in: Only a small
percentage of the United States population lives past 100 years of age.)
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Chapter 7 — Commonly Misused Words
Precede/Proceed
Precede means to come before. (as in: He preceded me when the group entered the room.)
Proceed means to move forward. (as in: Once I caught up with him, I proceeded to thank him
for his letter of recommendation.)
That
Use of that can help avoid confusion, but its use often results in unnecessary wordiness. (as in: I
think that this plan will work and that you should try the plan. Versus: I think this plan will
work. You should try the plan.)
That/Which
Use which when introducing a nonrestrictive (nonessential) clause or phrase (a clause must have
a subject and a verb). A nonrestrictive phrase provides additional information about what it
modifies, but does not restrict the meaning of what it modifies.
The nonrestrictive phrase can be removed without changing the essential meaning of the
sentence. It is a parenthetical element set off by commas. (as in: This instrument, which was
bought last year, measures the heat and pressure levels at the power plant. Or, Political polls,
which are often cited in modern campaigns, are an important key to party fund raising.)
Use that when introducing a restrictive (essential) clause or phrase. A restrictive phrase or
clause limits or restricts the essential meaning of what it modifies. Because a restrictive clause
or phrase is essential to the meaning of a sentence, it is never set off by commas. (as in:
Employees that work together usually succeed. Or, The poll that the senator commissioned has
not gone well for her.) Without the restrictive clause, the sentence lacks definition.
Which can be used to introduce a restrictive phrase or clause, but only if it is preceded by a
preposition. (as in: The predicament in which we find ourselves today is serious.)
Their/There/They're
Their is the possessive form of they. There refers to place. They're is the contraction of they are.
(as in: They're going there because their parents insisted they become proficient in French.)
Who's/Whose
Who's is the contraction of who is. Whose is the possessive form of who. (as in: Who's going to
figure out whose job it is to clean the kitchen?)
Your/You're
Your is the possessive form of you. You're is the contraction you are. (as in: If you're planning
on mountain climbing, then be sure to bring your equipment.)
For additional examples on commonly misused words, see the Chicago Manual of Style, section
5.202.
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Chapter 8 — Words/Phrases to Avoid
Chapter 8 — Words/Phrases to Avoid
Legal documents often include language that is not appropriate for other types of documents.
This table provides options to help writers reduce wordy or redundant language and to create
clear, concise sentences.
Avoid wordy and
redundant terms
Absolutely essential
Absolutely perfect
Accorded
Actual experience
Afforded
Aforesaid,
aforementioned, beforementioned
And/or
Use
Essential
Perfect
Given
Experience
Given
Use “the” or “that” or
“those”
Avoid wordy and
redundant terms
Is binding upon
Is defined as
Is directed to
Joined together
Make application
Use
Binds
Means
Shall
Joined
Apply
Make payment
Pay
Make provision for
Provide for
Mixed together
Mixed
Modify
Mutual cooperation
Necessitate
No later than
No later than January
1st
None whatsoever
Null and void
Occasion (v)
Of a technical nature
Past history
Per annum
Change
Cooperation
Require
By
None
Void
Cause
Technical
History
A year
Per centum
Percent
Use
Preceding section,
page
Give specific page or
section references
Delete
Prior to
Before
Promulgate
Provided
Adopt
If or but
Purchase
Buy
For the duration of
For the reason that
Formulate
Forthwith
From and after
Spend
Outcome
Section (fill in section
name or number)
During
Because
Make
Immediately
After
Under
Rules
Give
Keep
Is
From January 1st
After December 31st
Pursuant to
Regulations
Render
Retain
Shall be
Shall be construed to
mean
At such a time as
At the time of
Authorized to
Carry out
“Either A or B, or both”
Use either one word or
the other
When
When
May
Complete or execute
Commence
Begin
Current status
Deal with
Deemed as
Deemed to be
During such time as
During the course of
Status
Address
Is
Is
While
During
Use either one word or
the other
Any and all
Each and all
Employ
Except when otherwise
provided
Expend
Final outcome
Following section
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By January 1st
Means
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Chapter 8 — Words/Phrases to Avoid
Shall constitute
Is
Give consideration to
Use one word or the
other
Consider
Small in size
Greater than
More than
Sole and exclusive
Small
Use on word or the
other
Has the duty to
Shall
Have need of
In case
In order to
In the event that
In the interests of
Inquire
Institute (v)
Is able to
Is able to
Is applicable
Is authorized
Need
If
To
If
For
Ask
Begin or start
Can
Can
Applies
May
Full and complete
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Subject to the
provisions of
Subsequent to
Such
Suffer
Take action
Terminate
True facts
Until such time
Utilize
Whatsoever
Whensoever
Wheresoever
Whosoever
Under
After
The
Allow
Act
End
Facts
Until
Use
Whatever
When or if
Where
Who
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Chapter 9 — Formatting
Chapter 9 — Formatting
bullets
The first layer of bullets use a solid, solid, round bullet (y); and, the measurements should be set
at:
Bullet position: Indented at .25”
Text position: Tab space after .5” Indent at .5”
The second layer of bullets use a solid, square bullet (ƒ); and, the measurements should be set at:
Bullet position: Indented to .5”
Text position: Tab space after .75” Indent at .75”
citations
Italicize complete names of:
• Reports (August 14, 2003 Blackout: NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the Impacts
of Future Cascading Blackouts.)
ƒ To avoid multiple uses of a long report name and italics:
– Use the full name of first reference and “the report” thereafter if there is only one
report name used in the context of the document, August 14, 2003 Blackout:
NERC Actions to Prevent and Mitigate the Impacts of Future Cascading
Blackouts (August 2003 Blackout), otherwise
– Use the full name on first reference, followed by an abbreviated name in
parenthesis, and use the abbreviated name thereafter.
• Books or magazines
• Newspapers (Wall Street Journal), not publishers (Dow Jones)
44
• Articles from a periodical used as citations in a report or a bibliography
44
IEEE 19.3
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Chapter 9 — Formatting
colors
NERC’s corporate colors will be found in all public documents published as of January 1, 2008.
Pantone 302C
C-100 M-40 Y-0 K-60
R-0 G-51 B-102
#003366 (Web hex)
Pantone 7408C
C-0 M-30 Y-100 K-0
R-253 G-185 B-19
#FFCC00 (Web hex)
Pantone 302C (85% screen)
C-85 M-34 Y-0 K-51
R-38 G-77 B-116
Pantone 1205C
C-0 M-10 Y-50 K-0
R-254 G-225 B-154
#FFCC66 (Web hex)
Pantone 302C (50% screen)
C-50 M-20 Y-0 K-30
R-93 G-133 B-169
#6699CC (Web hex)
Pantone Process Black C
C-45 M-45 Y-30 K-100
R-0 G-0 B-0
#000000 (Web hex)
Pantone 302C (10% screen)
C-10 M-4 Y-0 K-6
R-211 G-220 B-233
#CCCCFF (Web hex– try to
avoid)
columns
Most NERC documents do not use columns.
figures
Titles: Use numbers and titles for formal figures. Use a colon and a single space to separate the
number and title.
Example:
Figure 1: Title of Figure
Number figures in their own series starting with Figure 1 (tables should be in a separate series
starting with Table 1).
Text references: Reference figures in the text using the figure number. It is good practice to use
text to support the message of a graphic (as in the example below), as opposed to simply
referring to it (“See Figure 1”).
Example:
As shown in Figure 1, most new units in the area will be powered by natural gas.
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Chapter 9 — Formatting
Fonts
NERC uses Times New Roman font, 12-point typeface for standard body text in the following
types of NERC documents:
• Reports
• General business documents (letters, announcements, minutes)
• Press releases
Report Title – Tahoma 32 pt. –
R-38 G-77 B-116 – Shadow
Heading 1 – Tahoma 20 pt. – R-38 G-77 B-116 –
Shadow
Heading 2 – Arial 12 pt – black – bold
Heading 3 – Times New Roman 12 pt. – black – bold
Body Text – Times New Roman 12 pt. – black
Header Text – Tahoma 10 pt. - black
Footer Text – Tahoma 10 pt. – black
Footnote Text – Times New Roman 10 pt. - black
footnotes
Footnotes should be formatted in Times New Roman, 10 pt. font.
When the information in a footnote needs to be repeated, add the next footnote and type “Ibid.”
in place of the text.
headers/footers
NERC uses Tahoma 10 point typeface for headers and footers. The header should include the
name of the document section. The footer includes the name of the document, left justified on
the first line, and the page number right justified on the first line. The version and date number
are left justified on the second line.
hyperlinks
Where possible, links should be embedded into the text with a footnote referencing the full Web
site address.
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Chapter 9 — Formatting
logo
Versions of the NERC logo are available at: H:\NERC Logos Corporation
A minimum of 1/8” clearance must be provided around the logo at all times.
Minimum size of the logo is 1.5” wide
The NERC logo may not be placed on a dark background (improper use shown).
In this case, a knockout logo is necessary (proper use shown).
Altering or changing the logo in any fashion is strictly prohibited (improper use shown).
The colors of the logo are:
NERC & North American Electric Reliability
Pantone Process Black C
C-45 M-45 Y-30 K-100
R-0 G-0 B-0
#000000 (Web hex)
NERC Style Guide
First Expanded Version, December 2007
Gradient bar
Pantone 302C (100% to 10% screen)
C-100 M-40 Y-0 K-60
R-0 G-51 B-102
#003366 (Web hex)
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Chapter 9 — Formatting
margins
The margins for NERC documents are as follows:
Top: .5”
Bottom: .5”
Left: 1”
Right: 1”
page numbers
Use the following abbreviations for citing page numbers in text and footnotes.45
• p. 141
• pp. 132, 135
• pp. 145–155
tables
Titles: Use numbers and titles for formal tables. Use a colon and a single space to separate the
number and title.
Example:
Table 1: Title of table
Number tables in their own series starting with Table 1 (figures should be in a separate series
starting with Figure 1).
Appropriate tables should use NERC’s corporate colors to aid in readability:
Example:
Title of Table Goes Here
Date
12/14/07
12/14/07
12/17/07
12/18/07
12/20/07
Voltage
345kV
500kV
345kV
500kV
345kV
Area
New Jersey
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
New York
Issue
Relay
Overloading
Relay
Vegetation
Relay
Capitalization: For titles, column headings, and line headings, only the initial letter of the first
word and proper nouns need to be capitalized.
Units of measure: Include units of measure in the table title or column headings. Abbreviations
may be used.
Numbers: Align numbers at the decimal point.
45
Chicago pp. 681–682, and 688.
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Chapter 9 — Formatting
tables (continued…)
Placement: Try to fit tables on a single page. If a table spans more than one page, repeat the title
and column headings at the top of subsequent pages.
Example:
“Table 1: Title of table (continued).”
Text references: Reference tables in the text using the table number. It is good practice to use
text to support the message of a table (as in the example below), as opposed to simply referring
to a table (“See Table 1 for average age data.”).
Example:
As shown in Table 1, the average age of system operators has steadily increased over the
past 15 years.
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Chapter 10 — E-mail Guidelines
Chapter 10 — E-mail Guidelines
When sending e-mails there are a few basic guidelines to follow:
• All e-mail communications are subject to discovery and can be used as electronic
evidence. Therefore, be professional in the message and language being used in all emails, even those e-mails not intended to go outside of the organization.
•
When sending to multiple list server groups, put your name in the TO: field and list the email addresses in the BCC: field.
•
The subject line of the e-mail should be clear and should only contain high value
information. For example, the word “announcement,” while commonly used, does not
say much about the content of the email itself and should thus be removed from the
header.
•
E-mails should be treated as any other professional business correspondence and should
include the full name, title, and contact information of the sender.
•
Do not use the NERC logo or any other image in your e-mail signature.
•
When sending out technical documents and letters to the NERC roster, committees,
individuals, etc., the full name and title of the responsible program manager, not the
administrative assistant sending the e-mail, should appear as the signature and “FROM”
address on the e-mail. The signatory to the e-mail should be the actual point of contact
for outside persons who may have questions about the content of the e-mail being sent.
This rule should be followed as long as the administrative assistant cannot be expected to
answer questions about the technical or process content of the e-mail being sent.
Exceptions to this rule are appropriate for meeting and registration announcements,
posting of agendas and minutes, etc.
•
When sending to a group, the group name should be listed in all caps at the top of the
message (i.e., TO: NERC BOARD OF TRUSTEES).
•
When attaching a letter to an e-mail it should be stated in the body of the message who
the letter is from, who it is going to, and the subject.
•
All e-mails going to the NERC roster and any other list of over 50 recipients should
utilize the approved NERC e-mail template.
Letters, reports, etc., should be distributed using the Acrobat portable document format (PDF).
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