Ensian-Specific
The way we refer to the University of Michigan in body copy (after the first reference)
UM
The punctuation mark used before the and or or in a series, which is omitted unless absolutely necessary
Oxford comma
The only place contractions should be used
In a direct quote
One of the ways that a colon is used
To introduce a list, to introduce an explanation, to introduce a direct quote that takes place in the next sentence/paragraph, to connect two independent clauses when the second explains or summarizes the first
The five sections of the Ensian
Business, Managing, Copy, Design and Photo
The way we attribute quotes
Name said
The numbers that are spelled out, while the rest are represented by numerals
One through nine
The version of the word farther/further that refers to physical distance
Farther
The punctuation you use for the titles of smaller works (poems, songs, articles, etc.)
Quotation marks
The edition of this year's book
131st
The maximum number of major words allowed in a headline
Eight
The months that are abbreviated when used with a date
January, February, August, September, October, November, December.
The words that are (usually) NOT capitalized in a title/headline
Articles (a, an, the), prepositions of three letters or fewer (for, of, on), and conjunctions of three letters or fewer (and, but, for)
How and when to use brackets
Around info that is being inserted into or replacing info in a direct quote in order to improve clarity or correct grammar/punctuation.
Our previous EIC
Who is Mishal?
The character allowance for a subheadline
105 characters
One example of a filler word that is allowed to be removed from direct quotes without the use of an ellipsis
uh, um, erm, or like
The term for when a comma alone separates two independent clauses (don't do this)
A comma splice
The only part of a quote/sentence where ellipses should be used
The middle. Do not use ellipses to remove the beginning or end of a sentence!
The year the Michiganensian was founded
1896
The appropriate word count for each type of spread (SNP, ST, NEWS)
SNP: ~100 words per block (3–4 blocks)
ST: ~450–500 words
NEWS: ~650–700 words
The three differenct forms of the word alum that represent a single male alum, a single female alum, and multiple alums
Alumnus, Alumna, Alumni
The punctuation you use to indicate ranges in numbers and dates, and in scores
En dash (–)
The role Stanford Lipsey (our building's namesake) served when he was on the Ensian staff
Photo Editor