GRAPHIC NEWS STYLE GUIDE – Part 1

The words in graphics need to have a consistent style for dates and times, punctuation, etc. This page is part of a series of information pages for proofers
  • Dates:
    September 22, 2007 -- month first, then day followed by comma and year
    Sep 22, 2007 -- three letter abbreviation for month (no full point), then day followed by comma and year
    Sep 2007 -- three letter abbreviation for month, no comma after month
    Sep 07 -- no apostrophe before 0
  • Times:
    08.00, 17.00 -- full point separates hours and minutes. Colon is also acceptable but don't mix on same graphic.
    8am, 5pm (NEVER 17pm!) -- no space between hour and am/pm. American usage does leave space
  • Apostrophes:
    On Illustrator files we use the curved apostrophe rather than the straight one. This is achieved by using (option[) key rather than simple apostrophe key.
    We use double rather than single quotation marks, (option/option shift [ ) key.
    BUT use simple apostrophe / shift apostrophe key on accompanying stories, which are Pages files saved in text format.
  • Hyphens and dashes:
    Hyphen used when no spaces around it e.g. 2007-08, carbon-fibre
    Longer dash (option -) used in clauses e.g. Malaya – renamed Malaysia in 1963 – gained independence...
    BUT use double hyphen instead of dashes in stories and blurbs e.g. Malaya -- renamed Malaysia in 1963 -- gained independence...
  • Footnotes:
    Where symbols are used for footnotes follow Economist sequence as follows:
    * (asterisk) shift 8
    † (dagger) opt t
    ‡ (double dagger) opt shift 7
    § (section mark) opt 6
  • Abbreviations, full points:
    Full points in U.S. only, other abbreviations, e.g. UK, UN, EU, NATO, ASEAN, etc. do not have them
    Do use after initials in names, e.g John F. Kennedy, O.J. Simpson
    Do not use in place names e.g. St Petersburg
    Do not use after common abbreviated titles, e.g. Mr Holmes, Dr Watson
    Can be used for clarity in less common titles e.g. Prof. Smith, Lt. Johnson -- but again, be consistent if variety of titles features in single graphic.
  • Measures, weight, speed:
    Three kilometres / 3km -- no space if abbreviated
    Two feet, six inches / 2ft 6in
    100 metres / 100m
    80g / 4kg / 30-lb -- hyphen adds clarity to distinguish lower case L from number 1
    68.9mpg / 4.1-l/100km -- as above (features on motoring graphics)
    60mph, 100km/h
    N.B. American usage leaves space before all such abbreviations
  • Numbers:
    Use numerals for 10 and higher, spell in full if below 10 (unless followed by abbreviation, see above)
  • Metric / Imperial:
    We generally opt for metric measurements on graphic, with conversions to imperial supplied. Occasionally this is reversed, depending on original source material. Again, check to see consistency applied within same graphic.
  • Singular / plural
    A team of scientists HAS concluded... (not HAVE concluded) i.e. one team, regardless of how many scientists
    String of barges CRASHES into bridge (not CRASH)
    EXCEPTION: Sports teams. Manchester Utd ARE top of the league, is in common use and therefore acceptable.

/contd Part 2