The Book of Lafayette
Style tips and pointers from their editors:
Here are a couple of things to clarify going forward to avoid confusion:
— Three (3) teases usually run on the OPE rail. We try to get art for all. In the instances where we
can't, the items can be spaced apart evenly, allowing for a reasonable amount of white space. The
editor assembling the rail teases will suggest appropriate art that can run deep enough, as well as
enough copy for all three teases — particularly, the one with no art.
— Also one-column headlines for both LAF and OPE are four (4) decks, with dropheads a maximum of
three.
----------------Some guidelines of sorts for headline sizes for both OPE and LAF (working from the idea of a
descending point size):
— Lead head starts at 78, can creep into 90s for big story (we'll try to write as close to spec as
possible for that).
— Main news head (No. 2 story, either strip or center) starts between 50-55. Soft center heads are
good around 52 (we want to try to keep them big enough so they don’t get lost on the page).
— Right rail heads around 36-38 (let’s limit bumping up bastard-measure head sizes).
— Downpage heads cap around 40.
Other notes:
Unless it’s a page like Lafayette&Acadiana or Nation&World, inside pages don’t usually get lead head
style (usually run regular head to about 58) — not that this has been a problem, just a clarification.
PHOTO CREDIT STYLES
With the transition to the Consolidated Production Center, styles are proving difficult to master. Photo
cutlines have been falling victim to this.
(photo credit style for live photos)
Photographer’s name/e-mail address@theadvertiser.com
Examples:
P.C. Piazza/ppiazza@theadvertiser.com
Brad Kemp/bkemp@theadvertiser.com
Claudia B. Laws/claws@theadvertiser.com
Leslie Westbrook/lwestbrook@theadvertiser.com
Denny Culbert/dculbert@theadvertiser.com
The Associated Press
Gannett News Service
(photo credit style for file photos)
Advertiser file photo/Photographer’s name
(example: Advertiser file photo/P.C. Piazza)
AP file photo
GNS file photo
THE ADVERTISER LOCAL STYLE GUIDE
NOTE: Please double-check all names and numbers in stories and captions. We are seeing misspellings
and transposed numbers. Just be careful.
KEEP IT SIMPLE:
There is no need to say back in 1990. Just say: “In 1990 ...”
Abortion — Use pro-life instead of anti-abortion. This is an exception to AP style.
ABOUT vs. ROUGHLY
Let’s use about instead of roughly with talking about approximate values. Example: Average occupancy
at extended-stay hotels was about 75 percent. Nearly also could work here.
ACRONYMS
Don’t follow an acronym with the words it represents. Spell out school performance score on first
reference and simply use the acronym on other references. If an acronym isn’t clear when presented
this way, we shouldn’t use it.
Addresses — Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600
Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number.
Adviser — Not advisor.
Affect, effect — Affect, as a verb, means to influence. Example: The game will affect the standings.
Affect, as a noun, is best avoided. It occasionally is used in psychology to describe an emotion, but there
is no need for it in everyday language.
Effect, as a noun, means result. Examples: The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of
his actions. It was a law of little effect.
Effect, as a verb, means to cause. This usage is rare. Example: He will effect many changes in the
company.
Ages — Use figures for people and animales but no for inanimates.
Example: The girl is 15 years old. The law is eight years old. Also, use hyphens for ages expressed as
adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun.
Example: A 5-year-old boy ...
The boy is 5 years old.
The boy, 7, has a sister.
The race is for 3-year-olds.
The woman is in her 30s.
Albertsons — (the supermarket — no apostrophe)
Albertson Parkway
Alcoholic — Use recovering, not reformed, in referring to those afflicted with the disease of alcoholism.
alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae — Use alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a man who
has attended a school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for similar references to a woman. Use
alumni when referring to a group of men and women.
Amid — Not amidst.
barbecue — Not barbeque or Bar-B-Q.
Biannual — Biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual.
Biennial means every two years.
cabinet — Capitalize references to a specific body of advisers heading executive departments for a
president, king, governor, etc. Example: The president-elect said he has not made his Cabinet selections.
Capitol vs. capital
capital — The city where a seat of government is located. Do not capitalize capital. It also is used in a
financial sense, capital describes money, equipment or property used in a business by a person or
corporation.
Capitol — Capitalize U.S. Capitol and the Capitol when referring to the building in Washington.
Example: The meeting was held on Capitol Hill in the west wing of the Capitol.
Follow the same practices when referring to state capitols: The Virginia Capitol is in Richmond. Thomas
Jefferson designed the Capitol of Virginia.
CATHOLIC
Capitalize Catholic Church, Catholic and Catholicism. AP says
use Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholic or Roman Catholicism in the first references to those who
believe the pope, as bishop of Rome, has the ultimate authority in administering an earthly organization
founded by Jesus Christ.
On other references, Catholic Church, Catholic and Catholicism are OK, unless there is a need to make a
distinction between Roman Catholics and members of other denominations who often describe
themselves as Catholic.
Be careful with this one. We have four denominations of Catholics in Lafayette: Roman Catholic (the
Diocese of Lafayette falls under this one), African American Catholic Congregation, Independent Catholic
and Catholic.
Cell phone — two words
CEO — CEO is acceptable on first reference as a title before a name or a stand-alone abbreviation for
chief executive officer. Spell it out somewhere in the story. Spell out chief financial officer and chief
operating officer, which are less familiar as abbreviations.
City and parish — Watch the use of city-parish vs. city and parish. For example, use a hyphen if you are
talking about City-Parish President Joey Durel. A comma should be used in the drophead: “Proposal aims
to save million for city, parish.”
ITALICS
Composition title:
• When we refer to a headline in the newspaper, it should be in quotes, not italics.
• We italicize book titles, computer game titles, TV and radio show titles, movie titles, poem titles,
albums, opera titles, play titles, song titles and title of lectures, speeches and works of art.
• In headlines, dropheads and subheads, these titles should NOT be in italics. They SHOULD be in single
quotes.
• In cutlines, titles should be in italics.
• The Bible and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material do not need quotation marks or
to be in italics. For examples: Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft, Webster’s New World Dictionary of the
American Language, etc.
cop — Use police officer instead. Often it is a derogatory term out of place in serious police stories.
Couple — When used in the sense of two people, the word takes plural verbs and pronouns. Example:
The couple were married Saturday and left Sunday on their honeymoon. They will return in two weeks.
In the sense of a single unit, use a singular verb. Example: Each couple was asked to give $10.
Crime Stoppers
Damage — Damage is destruction. Example: Authorities said damage from the storm would total more
than $1 billion.
Damages — Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc. Example: The
woman received $25,000 in damages.
Datelines
We do NOT use LAFAYETTE as a dateline in The Daily Advertiser. Instead use no dateline.
• If you don’t use a dateline, you should write the location into the first couple paragraphs of the story.
For example, if sports is writing a story about Lafayette High School playing Opelousas Catholic in
Lafayette, the story should NOT have a dateline. Instead, it should say the game was played at Lafayette
High School.
• A dateline should tell the reader that the information for the story was obtained in the datelined city.
If you go to the town or city, use that as the dateline. For example, Youngsville, Broussard, Carencro,
Scott, Erath, New Orleans, etc.
If you cover a game from the radio or TV broadcast, do not use a dateline.
• When a story has been assembled from sources in widely separated areas, use no dateline.
• Here are the exceptions: Do NOT use a Carencro dateline in Carencro News, and do NOT use a
Broussard or Youngsville dateline in the Broussard/Youngsville edition.
• Datelines on stories should contain a city name, entirely in capital letters, followed in most cases by
the name of the state, country or territory where the city is located. There are a few cities that stand
alone. For example, Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Beijing, Berlin, Mexico City,
Tokyo, etc.
daylight saving time — Not savings. No hyphen.
When linking the term with the name of a time zone, use only the word daylight: Eastern Daylight Time,
Pacific Daylight Time, etc.
Lowercase daylight saving time in all uses and daylight time whenever it stands alone.
A federal law specifies that, starting in 2007, daylight time applies from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of
March until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November in areas that do not specifically exempt themselves.
Deacon — Roman Catholic deacons should be referred to as deacons, not Rev. Mr.
democrat, democratic, Democratic Party —Please don’t use “Dems” in headlines.
Detective — Do not abbreviate. Capitalize before a name only if it is a formal rank.
Examples: police Detective Frank Serpico, but private detective Richard Diamond
dual vs. duel — Dual means double or twofold. Example: The organization held a dual-purpose event.
Duel is a contest between two people. Three people cannot duel. Example: He was challenged to a duel.
DWI, OWI, DUI — DWI, OWI and DUI are OK on first reference but should be spelled out somewhere in
the story.
elderly — Use this work carefully and sparingly. Do not refer to a person as elderly unless it is clearly
relevant to the story. It is appropriate in generic phrases that do not refer to specific individuals. For
example, concern for the elderly, a home for the elderly, etc.
Elicit, illicit — Elicit means to draw forth or evoke. Example: His statement was to elicit a response from
the crowd. Illicit means unlawful or improper. Example: The recent post on AcadianaMoms.com was
illicit.
Ensure, insure — Use ensure to mean guarantee. For examples: Steps were taken to ensure accuracy.
Use insure for references to insurance. Example: The policy insures his life.
governor-elect, Gov.-elect — Jindal is governor-elect. He is not governor until after he is officially sworn
in. When used as a title in front of his names, use Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal.
Grades — Spells our first through ninth grades. Grades 10 through 12 are numerals. Hyphenate firstgrade student and first-grader, but not first grade when it stands alone. Example; John is a fifth-grade
student. He looks forward to sixth grade. His brother, Tim, is in the 10th grade. Their sister, Suzie, is a
12th-grader.
Headlinese — We need to avoid headlinese whenever possible. Some of the worst: inks, mulls, eyes,
probes. The words fit a tight count, but that's about the only thing that can be said for them.
Highway designations
First reference Interstate 10, second reference and after I-10
First reference Interstate 49, second reference and after I-49
First reference Interstate 20, second reference and after I-20
First reference U.S. Route 90, second reference and after U.S. 90
First reference U.S. Route 167, second reference and after U.S. 167
First reference U.S. Route 190, second reference and after U.S. 190
Federal highways always get the “U.S . Route” distinction. Any questions about a particular highway that
slips through the copy, please chat an editor.
All other highways should be marked La. 89, La. 92, La. 182, La. 35, etc. La. 89 is OK on all references.
Hub City — Avoid in headlines and all display type.
Joseph Savoie — Please use Joseph NOT Joe. After July 1, he will be referred to as UL President Joseph
Savoie. For now, he’s still UL President-elect Joseph Savoie.
junior, senior — Abbreviate as Jr. and Sr. only with full names of persons or animals. Do not precede
with a comma. For example, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
Katrina and Rita
First references should be:
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Rita,
hurricanes Katrina and Rita
On Second reference:
Katrina
Rita
Katrina and Rita
Katrina was in summer 2005; Rita was in fall 2005.
LA 4 — Louisiana’s early childhood education program., according to the Louisiana Department of
Education Web site
Lead, lead and led — Lead as a noun refers to a heavy, soft metallic element used in pipes, batteries,
solder, pencils and shields against radioactivity.
Example: When you’re hit over the head, the instrument could be a lead pipe.
Lead as a present tense verb means to direct or to guide.
Example: The argument leads the reader to a rational conclusion.
The past tense is led. Example: She led us to the scene of the crime.
lifelong friend
lifetime companion
lifestyle
life-size
Marquis de La Fayette — On all references to the man. This includes all events named for him.
CORRECT: Marquis de La Fayette
INCORRECT: Marquis de Lafayette or Marquis de LaFayette
Mass — Mass is always capitalized when referring to the ceremony. For example: A Mass will be
celebrated at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Months — Abbreviations for months when used with a specific date:
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
When used alone, they are not abbreviated.
Numbers
Spell out a numeral at the beginning of a sentence. If necessary, recast the sentence. One exception — a
numeral that identifies a calendar year.
Examples:
Wrong: 993 freshmen entered the college last year.
Right: Last year 993 freshmen entered the college.
Right: 1976 was a very good year.
Spell out casual expressions:
A thousand times no!
Thanks a million.
He walked a quarter of a mile.
OK, OK’d, OK’ing, OKs — Do not use okay.
OVER vs. DURING
Over generally refers to spatial relationships. Example: The plane flew over the city. During is the word
we often should be using. Example: The crimes occurred during a two-year period.
Passed, past — Passed means to go or move forward, through, etc.; to die; to be approved, etc.
Examples: An hour passed. The legislation passed. He passed the ball to another player. Past means
gone by or ended; time gone by; etc. Example: Past tense. It happened in the past.
PHOTO CREDIT STYLES
With the transition to the Consolidated Production Center, styles are proving difficult to master. Photo
cutlines have been falling victim to this.
(photo credit style for live photos) Photographer’s name/e-mail address@theadvertiser.com
Examples:
P.C. Piazza/ppiazza@theadvertiser.com
Brad Kemp/bkemp@theadvertiser.com
Claudia B. Laws/claws@theadvertiser.com
Leslie Westbrook/lwestbrook@theadvertiser.com
Denny Culbert/dculbert@theadvertiser.com
The Associated Press
Gannett News Service
(photo credit style for file photos)
Advertiser file photo/Photographer’s name
(example: Advertiser file photo/P.C. Piazza)
AP file photo
GNS file photo
Plead, pleaded, pleading — Do not use the colloquial past tense form, pled.
Police department — It’s Lafayette Police Department, but Lafayette police.
pore, pour — The verb pore means to gaze intently or steadily. For example: She pored over her books.
The verb pour means to flow in a continuous stream. For example: It poured rain. He poured the coffee.
possessives
Plural nouns not ending in S: Add ‘s
Example: The alumni’s contribution, women’s rights
Plural nouns ending in S: Add only an apostrophe
Example: the churches’ needs, the girls’ toys, the horses’ food
Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning: Add only an apostrophe
Example: Mathematics’ rules, measles’ effect,
Plural words in formal name of singular entity:
Example: General Motors’ profits, the United States’ wealth
Nouns the same in singular and plural: Treat them the same as plurals
Example: one corps’ location, the two deer’s tracks, the lone moose’s antlers
Singular nouns not ending in S: Add ‘s
Example: the church’s needs, the girl’s toys, the horse’s food
Singular common nouns ending in S: Add ‘s unless the next word begins with S
Example: the hostess’s invitation, the hostess’ seat, the witness’s answer, the witness’ story
Singular proper names ending in S: Use only an apostrophe
Example: Achilles’ heel, Agnes’ book, Ceres’ rites
Descriptive phrase: Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in S when it is used primarily in a
description sense.
Example: citizens band radio, A Cincinnati Reds infielder, a teachers college, a Teamsters request, a
writers guild
Precincts and Wards:
• Use Arabic figures and capitalize the accompanying word when used with the figures.
For examples: 1st Ward, 10th Ward, 3rd Precinct, 22nd Precinct.
• Lowercase when not using the specific division.
For examples: the ward, the precinct.
reign, rein — The leather strap for controlling a horse is a rein. This is the form used in the expressions
“seize the reins” and “give free rein to.”
Reign is the period a ruler is on the throne. For example: The king began his reign.
Reverend — Father Chester Smith on first reference should be the Rev. Chester Smith. If a person has
earned a doctor of divinity degree, then the Rev. Dr. Chester Smith.
ROADS
On first reference, we use U.S. Route 90, Interstate 10 and La. 93.
RSVP — RSVP should not have periods.
Shut down, shutdown — Shut down is a verb meaning to cease to operate or cause to cease operating.
For example: The business owner decided to shut down early. Shutdown is a noun and means a
cessation of operations or activity, as at a factory. For example: Factory workers wondered how long the
shutdown would last.
Sourcing law — Louisiana Revised Statutes, title 1907, section 1a
This format is clear, but let’s avoid using it in stories. If it’s in a pullout box as a source, that’s fine.
In the text of the stories, let’s say according to state law.
spokesman, spokeswoman — But not spokesperson. Use a representative if you do not know the sex of
the individual.
State police — Capitalize with a state name if part of the formal description for a police agency.
Lowercase whenever the words state police stand alone.
For example, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana State Police Troop I.
Superdome
On first reference, simply call it the Superdome.
We’re in Louisiana. Folks here know that.
Avoid using Dome in a headline unless it’s super clear we’re talking about the Superdome not the
Cajundome.
On second reference, it’s Dome, not ’Dome or ’dome.
SYMBOLS
é í á — Hold option and e and then type the letter you want
è à ì — Hold option and ~ and then type the letter you want
î â û — Hold option and i and then type the letter you want
ñ ã — Hold option and n and then type the letter you want
å — Hold option and a
ç — Hold option and c
Telephone numbers — Area code should be written using a dash. For example, 337-289-6300. We don’t
use the 337 area code in print, but online it is needed.
They’re vs. it’s
A business or a group should be referred to as an it.
For example: The Station, a little caboose-style eatery situated in the middle of Broussard’s industrial
complex, offers homemade burgers, hot dogs, chicken and shrimp salad. Located in the 200 block of
Burgess Street next to C&M Trucking, it’s open from 6 a.m. To 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Titles
In general, lowercase and spell out title when they are not used with an individual’s name.
Example: The president issued a statement.
The pope gave his blessing.
Lowercase and spell out titles in constructions that set them off from a name by commas.
Example: The vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, declined to run again.
Capitalize formal titles when they are used immediately before one or more names. Hint: A formal title
generally is one that denotes a scope of authority, professional activity or academic activity.
Example: Pope Paul, President Washington, Vice Presidents John Jones and William Smith
The following formal titles are abbreviated as shown when used before a name outside quotations. Dr.,
Gov., Lt. Gov., Rep., Sen. And certain military ranks.
Spell out all except Dr., Mr., Mrs. and Ms. When used in quotes.
UL and LSU — Use UL and LSU on first reference for the University of Louisiana and Louisiana State
University. An exception would be the University of Louisiana System.
Under way — Two words in virtually all uses. One word only when used as an adjective before a noun in
a nautical sense: an underway flotilla.
United Nations — Should be abbreviated as U.N. (required periods and no spaces). This is an exception
to the dictionary.
United States — Should be abbreviated as U.S.
Web
Web site is two words, with a capital W.
Web page follows the same format.
Here are a few cases that WEB is lowercase: webcam, webcast and webmaster
your, you’re — Your means of, belonging to, or done by you. You’re means you are.
========
Titles
Sgt. Mark Francis, spokesman for the Lafayette Police Department
========
Guide to Mardi Gras
• Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association/Krewe of Gabriel —
There’s a fine line between the two, but they’re very particular about it.
The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association is an umbrella
organization that encompasses about 20 Lafayette krewes. But, not all krewes
belong to Greater Southwest. Some, including some older, well-established
krewes are independent of GSLMGA, including Brigands and Atlantis.
Most of the citywide activities are functions of Greater Southwest, although
we sometimes attribute them to Gabriel. Be sure to ask krewe members how
to refer to an event, whether it is being put on by Greater Southwest or
Gabriel.
King Gabriel and Queen Evangeline are considered the king and queen of the
city’s Mardi Gras celebration and are royalty above all the other member
krewes, each of which has its own king, queen and court.
The krewe of Gabriel was created several years after GSLMGA to raise money
to support it and is considered the premier krewe. King Gabriel is selected
from among Krewe of Gabriel members.
However, the King’s parade and the “city ball” are functions of Greater
Southwest.
• Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc. — This is a fairly small krewe that puts
on a very big Mardi Gras celebration. It’s the oldest black krewe,
celebrating its 50th year.
Please note: The word, “association” does not appear anywhere in the
krewe’s official name. (Even though we would like it to.) We and others have
referred to it in the past as the Lafayette Mardi Gras Association, but this
is NOT their proper name. Please use Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc.
It is the equivalent to Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association
in terms of the size of its activities and the parade it orchestrates on
Mardi Gras.
However, unlike GSWLMGA, it does not have any member krewes.
Until about five years ago, it was the only black Mardi Gras krewe, with
the exception of the 12th Night Revelers, which is a group of ladies who
have a small, private celebration. Then, the Krewe of Nia was formed and is
growing each year. About two years ago, a second black krewe formed the
Krewe of Majestic.
Both newer krewes participate in the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc.
parade.
• Clark Field Mardi Gras celebration — This is the “other” black
celebration. It began in local black neighborhoods in the days when the
downtown celebrations were whites only.
Until recent years, they were held on neighborhood streets, until a child
was struck by a car, prompting organizers to move to a safer location.
It’s a grass-roots event, involving elaborate home-made costumes, most of
which take the form of “Mardi Gras Indians.”
• Royal Order of the Troubadours/Townhouse — The official name of this
krewe is The Royal Order of the Troubadours, but they are often referred to
as “Townhouse.” That’s because when it was founded, it grew out of the
Townhouse, which is now a restaurant, but was a private club at the time.
• David Bennett — The president of the Krewe of Victoria is David Bennett.
David is a woman whose first name is David.
Some terms for those new to Lafayette:
• krewe — a private social club the purpose of which is to celebrate Mardi
Gras. There are men’s krewes, women’s krewes, krewes for both genders,
children’s krewes and gay krewes. While there are none that are officially
race-specific, most are either black or white, but there are exceptions.
• mystic krewe or mystick krewe — A krewe in which the members’ names are
kept secret. For example, the Krewe of Attakapas is a women’s mystic krewe.
Krewe members are identified only by the name of the personna they’re
protraying, such as Queen Karakondye. Male royalty are guests and are ID’d
by name and their personna, such as King Lacassine, John Smith.
• courir — (sometimes courir de Mardi Gras) — translates from French as
“run,” as in a Mardi Gras run. It usually involves riding on horseback in
traditional costumes from door to door, begging for ingredients to make a
gumbo. It also usually involves chasing live chickens. Children’s courirs
usually have the kids riding in wagons.
• King Gabriel, Queen Evangeline — The king and queen of the Greater
Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association and member krewes.
• King Toussaint l’Ouverture, Queen Simone Simmoné — King and queen of the
Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc. activities. This is the oldest black
krewe in Lafayette.
• bal masque — masked ball
• tableau (plural, tableaux) — a scene presented onstage by costumed
participants. Mardi Gras tableaux depart from the dictionary definition in
that the participants are not necessarily silent or motionless.
• mardi gras — (lower case) The term, aside from referring to the day or the
entire season, is also an old-time country phrase to mean a costumed
participant, a reveler.
• reveler — someone participating in Mardi Gras activities, usually reserved
for adults.
• Carnival — a term for the season between Jan. 6 and Mardi Gras, used more
in the New Orleans area. In this area, we usually refer to it as the Mardi
Gras season. The proper spelling in English, is Carnival (no E). The correct
spellilng in French, Spanish and Portuguese is carnaval (lower case, A in
the middle and no E at the end.) The Krewe de Carnivale en Rio had added an
E to the end of it, so that’s how we have to spell it when referring to
them.
• Twelfth Night — Jan. 6, the Catholic Feast of the Epiphany and the
official first day of the Mardi Gras season (although this year, the season
is short, so a few of the krewes are having their balls before then).
• King Cake — a pastry that is usually reserved for the Mardi Gras season,
although some bakeries make them year-round. An authentic King Cake is made
with Danish dough and topped with purple, green and gold icing. A plastic
doll in the form of a baby is inserted into the cake. Whoever gets the
slice with the baby in it buys the next King Cake.
• purple, green and gold — Mardi Gras colors.