Grammar Punctuation Protocol - 2023 Update (No DEI Section)

U S A G E

Years Do not use years within copy when referring to events that are occuring in the current year. Exceptions for clarity can be made in materials published toward the end of one calendar year that are referring to the following year. The use of years related to deadlines is acceptable when needed for clarity.

Contractions Contractions should not be used for years.

Correct Usage

1970s

n

Incorrect Usage

n ‘70s In rare instances, such as event titles or common expressions like “Summer of ’69,” contractions may be used. Abbreviations Do not abbreviate days or months, unless special permission is given by the Public Information Office for publications such as Inside Irvine .

Correct Usage

n The festival is October 23 at Great Park.

n Commitee applications are due by 5 p.m., Monday, October 23, 2022.

Incorrect Usage

n The upcoming festival is October 23, 2022.

n Next week’s Studio Arts Festival is June 5, 2022.

Correct Usage

February

Monday

n

n

Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries.

Incorrect Usage

Feb.

Mon.

n

n

Correct Usage

1970s

1700s

n

n

Start of a Sentence Years are the lone exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure is not used to start a sentence. However, reword a sentence to avoid starting with a year whenever possible.

Incorrect Usage

1970’s

1700’s

n

n

Fiscal Year

1976 was a very good year.

n

Correct Usage

For historical periods, see the AP Stylebook .

First Use: Fiscal Year 2012–13

n

Hashtags

Subsequent Use: FY 2012–13

n

Incorrect Usage

Capitalize the first letter of every word in a hashtag.

Fiscal Year2012–13

n

Correct Usage n #IrvineCares

FY2012–13

n

n #Irvine50thPhotos

FY12–13

n

Incorrect Usage

In tables and charts where there are space limitations, FY 12–13 may be used.

n #irvinecares

n #Irvine50thphotos

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