Resources
- Citation Guide
- Month Abbreviations
- Recommended Reference Books
- Rules for Good Writing
- State Abbreviations (In Text)
- State Abbreviations (Postal)
- Time Zones
Month Abbreviations
Months may be abbreviated in news stories, but not days of the week. Abbreviate the month only when it is followed by the number of the day.
Example: Plan to turn in your photos for the March issue by Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2010.
| January | Jan. | July | July |
| February | Feb. | August | Aug. |
| March | Mar. | September | Sept. |
| April | Apr. | October | Oct. |
| May | May | November | Nov. |
| June | June | December | Dec. |
Note: There are three months that are never abbreviated.
Recommended References Books
- Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc.
- Review and Herald Stylebook, Review and Herald Publishing Assn.
- The Associated Press Guide to Punctuation, Basic Books
- The Associated Press Stylebook, Basic Books
- The Chicago Manual of Style, The University of Chicago Press
- The Gregg Reference Manual, McGraw Hill
- Webster's Guide to Abbreviations, Merriam-Webster, Inc.
NOTE: The Lake Union Herald editorial staff primarily refers to The Associated Press Stylebook and the Review and Herald Stylebook. During a production cycle, all of the above books may be utilized to clarify grammar, spelling, and style questions. Since a majority of our work is spent editing the copy we receive, it would be helpful if all writers referred to these books also for style questions.
State Abbreviations (For use in all text except postal addresses and feature articles.)
| Alabama | Ala. | Missouri | Mo. |
| Alaska | Alaska | Montana | Mont. |
| Arizona | Ariz. | Nebraska | Neb. |
| Arkansas | Ark. | Nevada | Nev. |
| California | Calif. | New Hampshire | N.H. |
| Colorado | Colo. | New Jersey | N.J. |
| Connecticut | Conn. | New Mexico | N.M. |
| Delaware | Del. | New York | N.Y. |
| District of Columbia | D.C. | North Carolina | N.C. |
| Florida | Fla. | North Dakota | N.D. |
| Georgia | Ga. | Ohio | Ohio |
| Hawaii | Hawaii | Oklahoma | Okla. |
| Idaho | Idaho | Oregon | Ore. |
| Illinois | Ill. | Pennsylvania | Pa. |
| Indiana | Ind. | Rhode Island | R.I. |
| Iowa | Iowa | South Carolina | S.C. |
| Kansas | Kan. | South Dakota | S.D. |
| Kentucky | Ky. | Tennessee | Tenn. |
| Louisiana | La. | Texas | Texas |
| Maine | Maine | Utah | Utah |
| Maryland | Md. | Vermont | Vt. |
| Massachusetts | Mass. | Virginia | Va. |
| Michigan | Mich. | Washington | Wash. |
| Minnesota | Minn. | West Virginia | W. Va. |
| Mississippi | Miss. | Wisconsin | Wis. |
| Wyoming | Wyo |
State Abbreviations (Postal Addresses)
Alabama
AL
Missouri
MO
Alaska
AK
Montana
MT
Arizona
AZ
Nebraska
NE
Arkansas
AR
Nevada
NV
California
CA
New Hampshire
NH
Colorado
CO
New Jersey
NJ
Connecticut
CT
New Mexico
NM
Delaware
DE
New York
NY
District of Columbia
DC
North Carolina
NC
Florida
FL
North Dakota
ND
Georgia
GA
Ohio
OH
Hawaii
HI
Oklahoma
OK
Idaho
ID
Oregon
OR
Illinois
IL
Pennsylvania
PA
Indiana
IN
Rhode Island
RI
Iowa
IA
South Carolina
SC
Kansas
KS
South Dakota
SD
Kentucky
KY
Tennessee
TN
Louisiana
LA
Texas
TX
Maine
ME
Utah
UT
Maryland
MD
Vermont
VT
Massachusetts
MA
Virginia
VA
Michigan
MI
Washington
WA
Minnesota
MN
West Virginia
WV
Mississippi
MS
Wisconsin
WI
Wyoming
WY
Time Zones
Time zones may be abbreviated after a clock time, if the story involves travel between time zones or the time of a radio broadcast or televised program is likely to affect people in more than one time zone. Check your time zone.
- Example: The program will be aired at 7:00 p.m. ET.
- Example: Listen for the program at 6:00 p.m. CDT.
- Choose the simple word over the fancy.
- Use the familiar word rather than the unfamiliar.
- Avoid unnecessary adjectives and adverbs.
- Use picture nouns and action verbs.
- Never use a long word when you can just as well use a short one.
- Avoid excessive "to be" words.
- Master the simple declarative sentence.
- Choose the simple sentence over the complicated one.
- Vary your sentence length.
- Put the words you want to emphasize at the beginning or end of your sentence.
- Use the active voice.
- Put statements in a positive form.
- Vary paragraph length.
- Cut needless words, sentences, and paragraphs.
- Avoid limitation. Write in your own natural style.
- Avoid denominational jargon and phraseology.
- Write for understanding, not to impress.
- Never assume the reader is religiously oriented as you are.
- Revise and rewrite. You can always improve.
Source: Atlantic Union Gleaner Correspondent's Handbook
