Alhambra Source Style Guide

Last updated: October 10, 2012 Alhambra Source uses Associated Press style and adheres to the following specific rules: Abbreviations and Acronyms -Spell out phrases and titles as often as possible except if they are used repeatedly in the story -There are common acronyms and abbreviations that are okay to use without first spelling out: AIDS HIV NASA FBI CIA Scuba ATM Addresses -If address is numbered, abbreviate directions and street names (e.g., 1000 S. Fremont Ave.) -If street is referred to separately, spell out completely (e.g., South Fremont Avenue) -Spell out numbered streets if under 10 (e.g., Ninth Street) Alhambra Source -Do not use the when referring to Alhambra Source unless you are referring to it as the Source Article Updates and Corrections -If there is a major change in the information presented in an article and it needs an update, the writer or editor must do the following: 1. Add *Updated after the headline 2. Add the updated information at the top of the article under a line that reads *Updated at h/mmam/pm, mm/dd/yyyy 3. Add *Originally reported mm/dd/yyyy above older information -If inaccurate information was given in an article and needs to be corrected, the writer or editor must do the following: 1. Add *Corrected to the end of the headline 2. Make the correction in the article 3. Add the following note at the bottom: *Corrected hh:mmam/pm, mm/dd/yyyy: An earlier version of this story said xxx. That was incorrect. [Explanation and correction]. Alhambra Source regrets the error. Capitalization -Capitalize Alhambra City Council, City Council, and City of Alhambra -Only capitalize city when it is part of a title before an officials name (e.g. the city of Alhambra, City Manager Julio Fuentes)

Commas -Use the serial comma (e.g., We publish announcements, features, and news pieces.) Comments Roundup -Do not edit any usernames, even if it is written incorrectly -Write COMMENTS ROUNDUP: before the teaser

Council agendas: -Write On the agenda: before the headline Crime Map -Write: CRIME MAP before the teaser Dashes -Use the M dash for pauses or asides with a space before and after (e.g., The staff members at Alhambra Source Daniela, Nasrin, and Jasmin are awesome.) Dates -Abbreviate months with more than five letters in dates, but spell out if referring to month alone. Do not abbreviate March, April, May, June, July. (e.g., Oct. 12, 2012, October 2012) -Do not include apostrophes when referring to decade. Do not abbreviate decade (e.g., 1970s) Headline -Alhambra Source uses Sentence style - capitalize the first word of the headline and all proper nouns only (e.g., Election 2012: What Alhambra residents want to know from local candidates) Hyphens -Do not hyphenate ethnicities, even when used as an adjective (e.g., African American teacher, Asian American voters) More Information -Any additional information about an event or store such as contacts or a website should be at the bottom of the story in italics Names -Write out complete Title, First and Last name of person in first reference, then last name in subsequent references Newsletters -Newsletter subject lines should be under 40 characters. Avoid using acronyms and symbols Percent

-Spell out the word percent Poll and Poll Results -If a poll or poll results are included in a story, write POLL: or POLL RESULTS: before the teaser Q&As -Questions are in bold -If only one person is interviewed, no names or initials are included before answers -If multiple people are interviewed, write the full names of each in bold before their first answers, followed by a colon. Use just their initials in bold in subsequent answers Quotations -Avoid using ellipses and brackets -Write said last whenever possible: (e.g., I love AP style, Nasrin said.) Slideshows -If a slideshow is included in a story, write SLIDESHOW: before the teaser Social Media -All posts on social media should be complete sentences and contain correct punctuation/ grammar when space allows -Voice on social media should be more conversational than on site Times -Times are written as h:mmam/pm (4:00pm) Word Format -If drafts are written in Word, they should be submitted in 12-point Times New Roman. -Spelling caf cellphone co-author email Farmers Market hummus internet Koran