Miscellaneous

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  1. The rules set forth in AP should be followed with regard to capitalization. Some specific examples include:
    North Carolina Department of Labor, N.C. Department of Labor, Department of Labor, the department (Note: In text, using N.C. Department of Labor is preferred over the full name.) Cherie Berry, the Commissioner of Labor; Commissioner Cherie Berry; the commissioner of labor; the commissioner (Note: The commissioner's name should appear on all brochures, booklets, forms and business cards printed by the Department of Labor) Mine and Quarry Bureau, the bureau Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the commission state of North Carolina, the state Private Personnel Service Act of North Carolina, the act 17th Annual Apprenticeship and Training Forum, 17th Annual Forum, the forum
    1. In very formal writing, as in certificates or proclamations, it may be necessary to disregard these guidelines. Also, within a quote, the capitalization and punctuation of the original must be preserved unless the change is bracketed.

      Abbreviations of academic degrees should begin with uppercase letters when immediately following a name:
      - John Johns, Ph.D.
      - Mary Smith, LL.D.

    2. Within a sentence, academic degrees should begin with lowercase letters:
      Example: John Johns earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a master's degree in political administration from the University of Cairo, and a doctorate in women's studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
  2. When addressing a person, Mr., Ms., Mrs., etc., should be used as that person prefers. If a woman's preference is not known, use Ms. Only use Dr. if the person is a doctor of medicine or if the person strongly prefers to be addressed as Dr.
    1. Capitalize titles only when they precede a proper name:
      - Commissioner Berry chaired the meeting.
      - The General Statutes delegate broad regulatory power to the commissioner of labor.
    2. Occupational titles are not capped before a name:
      Example: He hired graphic artist Tammy Harrell to design the new brochure.
    3. Use middle initials for names on programs, if known, unless the individual prefers otherwise (e.g., Mary Carol Lewis, G. Robert Smith, H.G. Wells). Treat names on programs as consistently as possible. Do not use Mr., Ms., Dr., Ph.D., etc., for speakers listed on a program. Ranks of active duty military personnel should be listed. In a program, the title of a participant is stated at first mention. On subsequent mention of the participant, the title is dropped except for Commissioner Berry.
  3. In alphabetizing lists, disregard the articles a, an and the. Use the company's full name, if known:
    Example:
    - The American Tobacco Co.
    - B.F. Goodrich Tire Co.
    - First Citizens Bank
    - Raleigh Office Supply Co.
    - The Standard Products Company
    - Statesville Office Supply Inc.
  4. Inc. and Ltd., if used, should be abbreviated. Commas should not separate Inc. and Ltd. from the rest of the name and from any words that follow:
    Example: Evans and Wade Advertising Inc. donated materials for the forum.
  5. Quotation marks around words should not be used for emphasis. In typewritten copy, use an underline. In typeset copy, use italics or boldface (underlined words in a typewritten manuscript will be typeset in italics).
  6. Avoid contractions unless a folksy, informal tone is desired. Know the difference between its and it's, your and you're, whose and who's.
  7. Use the first spelling of a word in Webster's New World College Dictionary if more than one acceptable variation is given:
    - appendixes rather than appendices
    - deltoids rather than deltoidei
    - traveled rather than travelled

    If a certain spelling of a word has become standard in a particular field, use that spelling rather than Webster's when writing about that field. Be sure to be consistent throughout a document.

  8. Some verb phrases are spelled differently when used as nouns and adjectives:
    - follow up (v.); follow-up (n.)
    - set up (v.); setup (n.)
  9. Use the following forms when referring to divisions and bureaus within the department:
    - N.C. Department of Labor
    Mine and Quarry Bureau
    - N.C. Department of Labor
    Occupational Safety and Health Division
    Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau

    NOTE: (Do not use the abbreviation "OSHNC." Never use "N.C." with just a bureau or division name, such as "N.C. Mine and Quarry Bureau.")

  10. When writing addresses, use a comma between the city and the state, but do not use a comma between the state and the zip code. Use the postal abbreviations for states (for example, NC without periods) only when using a full address, including the ZIP code.

    N.C. Department of Labor
    Publications Bureau
    4 W. Edenton St.
    Raleigh, NC 27601-1092

  11. Avoid the use of the terms mankind, chairman, clergyman, etc. Use inclusive terms, such as humankind, chair, minister, etc.

    Use appropriate pronouns when the antecedent is known and duplicate pronouns (e.g. he or she, him or her) when the antecedent is not determinant of the pronoun's gender. Many sentences can be rewritten to avoid having to use he or she or him or her :
    Example:
    Wrong: A good student always brings his homework to class.
    Right: Good students always bring their homework to class.