Quick formatting question

NicWrites · Post by **NicWrites** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:48 am

Hi all,

I am working on a huge private request that is requiring me to right MPH (as in Miles Per Hour) over and over. My question is this: do I capitalize it (MPH), or not (mph)? I have seen it both ways in the resources I have been using to research the information, and do not want to have to redo it if i am doing it wrong and get rejected (it's a very large set of articles!)

Thanks in advance!

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:11 am

Can you ask the requester which they prefer? I don't think it really matters. It's pretty much whatever you think "looks" better throughout the piece. After all, MPH jumps out more than mph - this can either be a good thing or a slightly irritating thing depending upon the article.

Ed

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:32 am

The AP Style Book says:

The abbreviation mph with no periods is acceptable in all references. (Same with miles per gallon: mpg)

I'd go with mph versus MPH.

NicWrites · Post by **NicWrites** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:36 am

Thanks! I think some grammar handbooks are going on the old Christmas list this year! I know that info is online, but I like having a reference I can flip to - call me old fashioned I guess.

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 9:49 am

I like the books too! I finally got the AP Style Guide about a month ago. It's a good reference that I think will help me be more consistent. Things like Internet vs internet, email versus e-mail, and other finicky details are addressed.

Also among my favorites:
Noah Lukeman's A Dash of Style
Strunk and White's Elements of Style

And don't forget to upgrade to a current edition of a good dictionary. (I was using my husband's dad's old dictionary - it must be 50+ years old and recently purchased the latest Merriam Webster's)

NicWrites · Post by **NicWrites** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:05 am

Yeah, as my writing career is expanding, I am finding that my new clients are pickier about the little things (like Internet versus internet). Sometimes I just don't know! When I first started I had cheap clients that didn't care, but I have learned a lot since then (one and a half years ago). Definately time for some good resources.

Incidentally, Celeste, a long time ago you commented on an article I wrote about Guam on another site (AC). Glad to know someone else loves the island as much as we do. My best friend lives there, and we traveled there for her wedding over two years ago.

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:28 am

Hafa adai! (Sheesh, I can't remember if that's how to spell it and I'm guessing it's not in my brand new dictionary.)

I loved living and growing up on Guam and would love to go back someday. I hear it's changed since I lived there. For example, Cocos Island was all wilderness and we'd go out there and have it to ourselves, like our own private island. Now I hear it's mega resorts.

I was there during Super Typhoon Pamela and lived without electricity for six months and several weeks of no running water following the storm. Quite an experience.

The Guamanians were wonderful friends and always opened their homes and fiestas to all.

I wasn't too fond of the snakes though! And I hear there are no birds left. How sad.

Ah, memory lane. Well, off I go. Back to writing!

NicWrites · Post by **NicWrites** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:33 am

Yep, no birds. It's strange, because you don't really notice it until someone points it out. We didnt' see too many snakes, becuase we were in the touristy areas mostly, but we saw lots of lizards! Oh, and I do think you spelled it right.

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:20 am

Fun CC Fact of the Day: Ed lived on Guam too.

It's a small world we live in.

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:29 am

I have two words to say about Guam: Chinese Mafia.

Ed

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:35 am

Really?

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:53 am

Yep. Secret casinos, cutthroat loan sharks, a minor sex industry, and a not-so-minor problem with crack-cocaine, too. Sociologically and economically, Guam is a nightmare.

Sorry to ruin your happy reminiscing.

Ed

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:18 pm

Oh, that's okay. I know some of the dark side as my dad was a federal agent back then. Lots of drugs though I don't know about the Chinese Mafia. Maybe they hadn't arrived yet or my dad sheltered me. Of course, I was just a little kid so I wouldn't know about that type of stuff. I'll have to ask my dad.

Ed · Post by Ed » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:25 pm

Cool!

I think there were probably more Yakuza before the Asian Depression, though I don't know what era you're talking about. I hear the 80's was amazing on Guam - lots of businessmen so rich they had money to burn. But before that? I was told lots of nothing . . . probably no pollution, either.

Ed

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:31 pm

I was there when disco was king. Of course, it probably still is over there

I lived there in the mid-70s. I think 74 to 78. Tons of Japanese tourists. Tons. Lots of Japanese business people too. My dog was in a Japanese TV commercial for Fanta cola. They shot a Japanese "western" in our backyard and surrounding golf course area. A Japanese rock band moved into a house down the street from us. I think this must've been just before the boom that you're talking about.