Capitalization
When do you capitalize "Administration"?
Always capitalize when referencing a specific administration--even if the administration is not named specifically. ("Administration," Style Guide p. 30).
Identify 3 Style Guide mistakes:
However, the new rule will incentivize businesses to invest in clean energy.
Do not use “incentivize.” Instead, use “encourage,” “prompt, or “spur.” Pg. 64.
Do not begin a sentence with "however." Pg. 66.
Avoid "will" because we cannot predict the future.
CORRECT: The new rule, however, intends to encourage businesses to invest in clean energy.
"First, Second, Third" or "Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly"?
"First, Second, Third" (P. 54)
When there is no primary source available, what should you cite to?
Cite to a reputable secondary source that does not have a paywall
Which is correct: healthcare or health care?
health care (P. 65)
How should "CONGRESS" and "CONGRESSIONAL" be capitalized?
Capitalize Congress but not congressional (P. 36).
"The" should not proceed EPA (or DHS, EPA, FDA, GAO, HHS, OMB, OSHA, USDA) in accordance with agency usage. (pg. 33)
For numbers one (1) through ten (10), do you spell them out or use Arabic numerals?
Spell out one through nine and use Arabic numbers for 10 and up. (Pg. 54)
(This is the first sentence of the essay) The Supreme Court's decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency concerned the constitutionality of the Clean Air Act.
"The U.S. Supreme Court ...." Include "U.S." before Supreme Court on the first usage.
When do you write out “United States” and when do you abbreviate “U.S.”?
Write out “United States” when used as a noun. Use the “U.S.” abbreviation when used as an adjective. (P. 62)
Identify 1 Style Guide mistake:
Baker and Coleman believe that more robust state regulation would help the electricity grid meet Texans' needs amid freezing temperatures.
Do not use “believe” when describing someone’s argument. Instead use “argue,” “assert,” or “explain." Pg. 63.
Congress' or Congress's?
Congress's. The possessive form of every singular noun should end with 's, except for the United States'. ("Apostrophes," Style Guide p. 33).
When a number appears at the very beginning of a sentence, do you spell it out or use Arabic numerals?
Spell it out!
What adjective or qualifying term can you use to describe an action when there is a charge against a specific individual or entity, or there is no official finding of fact by a court?
Allegedly or reportedly (P. 36).
When do you use "that" vs "which"?
What are two instances when compass points with a geographic region should be capitalized?
Only capitalize compass points when they are part of a proper name or are used to designate a politically divided nation (e.g. Northern Ireland, but not northern Canada, northern California). (Pg. 38).
When do periods and commas go inside quotation marks?
Always. (Pg. 57)
What is correct: Eleventh or 11th?
11th! (Pg. 54)
What do you add to the end of the URL to hyperlink to a specific page in a document?
#page=n (where “n” is the page number as indicated by the browser)
Identify 2 Style Guide Mistakes:
Compliance increased from five to 25 percent following the policy change.
Repeat "percent" after each number. Pg. 55.
CORRECT: Compliance increased from 5 percent to 25 percent following the policy change.
If you are writing about a specific agency (ex. FDA), do you capitalize "agency" on subsequent references?
No, do not capitalize agency when referencing a specific agency or when referencing agencies in general. (Pg. 37).
Identify 1 Style Guide mistake:
The agency initiated the notice and comment rulemaking process.
Use a hyphen when a compound adjective precedes a noun.
CORRECT: The agency initiated the notice-and-comment rulemaking process. Pg. 45.
Write the correct form of the phrase on the board: “…between two/2 percent/% and fifty/50 percent/% of the population…”
“...between 2 percent and 50 percent of the population…” Always spell out the word "percent." ("Percentages," Style Guide p. 55)
Identify 2 Style Guide mistakes:
Artificial intelligence experts warn that ChatGPT may spread disinformation.
Never hyperlink on the first word of a sentence. Except for proper nouns, hyperlinks should be placed on single words. Pg. 49.
Identify 2 Style Guide mistakes:
The Biden administration recently proposed increasing funding for the Department of Education. (First sentence in the essay)
On first reference, U.S. Department of Education. All later references, Education Department. Pg. 32.
Always capitalize when referencing a specific administration. Pg. 30.
CORRECT: The Biden Administration proposed increasing funding for the U.S. Department of Education.