Newsletter Style Notes

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All submitted content is copyedited prior to publication to ensure clarity, consistency, and readability across the newsletter. Copyediting may include corrections to grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, sentence structure, and formatting, as well as standardization of dates, times, and stylistic conventions. These edits do not alter theological content, narrative intent, or authorial voice. Substantive changes that affect meaning or emphasis are reviewed with the author before publication. This process is applied consistently to all contributors in support of clear communication and a unified editorial voice.

Good advice here: https://elevateapp.com/blog/stop-overusing-exclamation-points

We always capitalize this word.

Avoid using exclamation marks in headlines.

Use "Title Case"

In title case, major words are capitalized, and most minor words are lowercase. In sentence case, most major and minor words are lowercase (proper nouns are an exception in that they are always capitalized).

• major words: Nouns, verbs (including linking verbs), adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and all words of four letters or more are considered major words.
• minor words: Short (i.e., three letters or fewer) conjunctions, short prepositions, and all articles are considered minor words.

Area codes should be in parenthesis (610) 264-8421. Hyphen only after the third digit.

9am - 3:30pm.  No spaces or periods.  Omit :00

September 1 or October 3.  No "st" or "rd" needed. Exception: when the month is not included, "1st and 15th of each month".

Don't abbreviate months or days.  Saturday, November 10, not Sat., Nov. 10

Please use a single space between sentences.

Use single-spaced paragraphs

When writing your article, don't add extra blank lines.

Don't capitalize "church office" OR "church kitchen"

To reference a decade, use a lowercase s, no apostrophe, for example -  1950s. In the case of Roaring '20s, where contracting the first two digits, use an apostrophe.

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are capitalized

not "fun" raising

Assume the reader does not know what these stand for.  Spell out entirely on first use.

STARs - St John's Technical Artistic Resources

PEEPs -  Positive, Extraordinary, Encouraging, Prayerful Sisters

WCSD - Whitehall-Coplay School District

WCHI - Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative

COVID or COVID-19 - not Covid.

Always spell out complete dates:

Saturday, November 2 - not Sat, Nov. 2