Office of Public Affairs 






Style Guide 




FEMA Office of Public Affairs Style Guide 

A
AAAAAbbr
bbrbbrbbrbbrbbreviations/A
eviations/Aeviations/Aeviations/Aeviations/Aeviations/Acr
crcrcrcrcronyms 
onymsonymsonymsonymsonyms 

Use the full, proper name of an organization, company, agency, 
etc. followed by the acronym or abbreviation in parenthesis 
ONLY if you refer to the organization 
again. If you mention the American 
Red Cross once, for example, 
you do not need to 
put (ARC) after the name. 
Once the name is spelled 
out in first reference, all 
subsequent references must 
use the acronym/abbreviation. 
Do not switch back and 
forth between initials and the 

FEMA







ARC 
SBA 
full name in subsequent references. 


Limit how many acronyms/abbreviations you use in any one 
sentence. NOT: The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 
have joined together to issue Public Service Announcements 
(PSAs). You might, instead, use a generic term for Public Service 
Announcement, such as “a promotional campaign” in the first 
sentence, and then introduce the specific vehicle – the PSA – in 
the next sentence. 

Some organizations and government agencies are now widely 
recognized by their initials and the full name is not necessary 
even on first reference. CIA and FBI are two examples, per AP 
style. 

For states, use the AP style for state abbreviations. Do NOT use 
the two-letter Post Office standard. See States section. 


A
AAAAAddr
ddrddrddrddrddresses 
essesessesessesessesesses 

Use abbreviations (Ave., Blvd., St.) only with numbered addresses, 
otherwise spell them out (i.e. He lives on Pennsylvania 
Avenue. He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.). Spell out and capitalize 
“First” through “Ninth” when used as street names, use the 
number for 10th and above. Abbreviate compass points used to 
indicate directional ends of a street or city quadrant without 
periods (1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW). 

Altogether vs. All 
Altogether vs. AllAltogether vs. AllAltogether vs. AllAltogether vs. AllAltogether vs. All T
TTTTTogether 
ogetherogetherogetherogetherogether 

Altogether means totally or wholly. All together means everybody 
together or at the same time. 

& 
Ampersand ( & ) 
Ampersand ( & )Ampersand ( & )Ampersand ( & )Ampersand ( & )Ampersand ( & ) 

Use when only part of a company’s formal 
name (Baltimore & Ohio Railroad). The 
ampersand should not be substituted for the 
word “and.” 

a.m. and p.m. 
a.m. and p.m.a.m. and p.m.a.m. and p.m.a.m. and p.m.a.m. and p.m. 
Use a.m. and p.m. as lower case with 
periods. Do not use uppercase and do not 
be repetitive with “at 10 a.m. in the morning 
on Thursday” or “at 12 noon.” 

A
AAAAApostr
postrpostrpostrpostrpostrophes 
ophesophesophesophesophes 

The apostrophe signals possession (“the file’s contents”) or a 
contraction (“it’s a file.”) It is not used to form the plural of a 
noun. 

YES: 1990s, LANs, TVs. 

NO: 1990’s. An apostrophe can also signal something is left out, 
as in: He lived in the ‘80s. 



A
AAAAAssur
ssurssurssurssurssure, E
e, Ee, Ee, Ee, Ee, Ensur
nsurnsurnsurnsurnsure, I
e, Ie, Ie, Ie, Ie, Insur
nsurnsurnsurnsurnsure 
eeeee 

Assure means to give confidence or to reassure. Ensure means 
guarantee or make safe. Insure means to buy or issue insurance. 

AAAAAttributionttributionttributionttributionttribution 
All quotations must have attribution attached to it. Use only one 
attribution per quote. 

YES: 
YES:YES:YES:YES:YES: “This is a terrific opportunity for disaster prevention,” 
Jones said. “FEMA is looking forward to working with this 
community in the future.” 

NO:
NO:NO:NO:NO:Alexander Jones spoke at the meeting.

NO: 

“This is a terrific opportunity for disaster prevention. 
FEMA is looking forward to working with this community in the 
future.” (N
(N(N(N(N(No attribution) 
o attribution)o attribution)o attribution)o attribution)o attribution) 

NO:
NO:NO:NO:NO:“This is a great opportunity for disaster prevention,”


NO: 
Jones said. “FEMA is looking forward to working with this 
community,” he said. (S
(S(S(S(S(Second “he said
econd “he saidecond “he saidecond “he saidecond “he saidecond “he said” is incorr
” is incorr” is incorr” is incorr” is incorr” is incorrect.) 
ect.)ect.)ect.)ect.)ect.)

Betw
BetwBetwBetwBetwBetween vs. Among 
een vs. Amongeen vs. Amongeen vs. Amongeen vs. Amongeen vs. Among 

Between is used to refer to two people or entities (the partnership 
between Project Impact and Tulsa, Okla.). Among refers to three 
or more people or entities (FEMA chose from among four communities 
for the honor.) 

B
BBBBBullet R
ullet Rullet Rullet Rullet Rullet Rules 
ulesulesulesulesules 

• 
Capitalize the first word of a bullet; 
• 
Make sure the structure is consistent (start with either a verb 
or a noun, but all should be the same); and 
• 
End each bullet (unless it is a complete sentence) with a 
semicolon, except the last bullet, which takes a period. 

B
BBBBBullet U
ullet Uullet Uullet Uullet Uullet Use 
seseseseseU
UUUUUse bullets when y
se bullets when yse bullets when yse bullets when yse bullets when yse bullets when you want to: 
ou want to:ou want to:ou want to:ou want to:ou want to:

• 
Introduce a set of steps or the sections of a document; 
• 
Highlight important components that will help clarify the 
discussion; or 
• 
Break up dense text. 
C
CCCCCapitalization 
apitalizationapitalizationapitalizationapitalizationapitalization 

These words are not capitalized when they stand alone and not 
part of a full formal name: contractor, federal, government, 
nation, national, region, regional, state, agency, department. Even 
if you are using the word “agency” to refer to FEMA, it is lower 
case when standing alone. 

Titles are capitalized when used before a name and lower case 
when used after. See “Titles” for examples and more information. 

C
CCCCCaptions 
aptionsaptionsaptionsaptionsaptions 

FEMA captions should be written in 
present tense and should be as descriptive 
as possible within two or three sentences. 
Identifications are necessary when there 
three or fewer identifiable individuals. 

Captions also should include the city and 
state where the photo was taken, the date 
and the name of the photographer. 

C
CCCCCity/S
ity/Sity/Sity/Sity/Sity/State P
tate Ptate Ptate Ptate Ptate Punctuation 
unctuationunctuationunctuationunctuationunctuation 


The correct punctuation for a city/ 
state combination is: The meeting 
will be held in Miami, Fla., on 
Wednesday. Note the comma after 
the state. This is often erroneously 

omitted. 


Commas 
CommasCommasCommasCommasCommas 

A comma is used to make the sentence meaning clearer and to 
help the reader understand relationships within the sentence. 
Commas are used to divide compound sentences, to set off 
nonrestrictive phrases, to enclose parenthetical phrases, to set off 
adverbial clauses at the beginning 
of a sentence and in many other 
instances. 

, , , , , , , , , , , 

Although not a classic rule of 
grammar, one of the best rules of thumb for positioning a comma 
is this: If you read your sentence aloud, where do you naturally 
pause? These pauses are generally good places for commas. See 
serial commas. 

Cour
CourCourCourCourCourtesy 
tesytesytesytesytesy T
TTTTTitles 
itlesitlesitlesitlesitles 

FEMA does not use courtesy titles, including Mrs., Ms., Mr. or 
Dr. In most instances, an individual’s full name is used on a first 
reference and then last name is used in subsequent references. 
Occasionally, FEMA publications will include a professional title, 
such as Director or Gov. in front of the last names of individuals 
in subsequent references. 

D
DDDDDates 
atesatesatesatesates 

Abbreviate the month when used with a 
specific date, such as: Dec. 9, 2000. Spell out 
when the month is used alone with a year. 
There is no comma between the month and 
year. This is correct: September 2000. 



D
DDDDDollar F
ollar Follar Follar Follar Follar Figur
igurigurigurigurigures 
eseseseses 

Specific dollar figures should use 
the dollar sign and not the word 
“dollar.” 

NO
NONONONO

NO: 12 million dollars 
YES: 
YES:YES:YES:YES:YES: $12 million 

Dollar figures should also be 
rounded to the nearest whole 
number unless there is a reason the 
exact figure is necessary. Figures in the millions should only have 
two numbers to the right of the decimal. 

NO:
NO:NO:NO:NO:

NO: FEMA spent $45,883.45 
YES:
YES:YES:YES:YES:YES: FEMA spent $45,900 or FEMA spent $46,000 

NO:
NO:NO:NO:NO:

NO: FEMA’s budget was $345,375,643.00 
YES:
YES:YES:YES:YES:YES: FEMA’s budget was $345.37 million 

E
EEEEEx
xxxxxcept vs. A
cept vs. Acept vs. Acept vs. Acept vs. Acept vs. Accept 
cceptcceptcceptcceptcceptAccept means to receive, except means to exclude. 


E
EEEEEffect vs. Affect 
ffect vs. Affectffect vs. Affectffect vs. Affectffect vs. Affectffect vs. Affect 

Both words can serve as either nouns or verbs. These broad 
definitions show the basic differences in usage: 

1. 
1.1.1.1.1.E
EEEEEffect 
ffectffectffectffect
ffect (verb) To bring about, cause to happen, accomplish 
(e.g., the meeting effected a compromise between the participants). 


2. 
2.2.2.2.2.E
EEEEEffect 
ffectffectffectffectffect (noun) A result, influence, or action (e.g., the drug had 
a calming effect on the patient). 
3. 
3.3.3.3.3.Affect 
AffectAffectAffectAffect
Affect (verb) To have an effect on, to influence, to move or 
stir the emotions of (e.g., the music affected them profoundly). 


Usages 2 and 3 are most common; 1 is used infrequently. 


e.g. vs. i.e. 
e.g. vs. i.e.e.g. vs. i.e.e.g. vs. i.e.e.g. vs. i.e.e.g. vs. i.e.
If you want to say “for example,” use e.g.,
e.g.,e.g.,e.g.,e.g.,
e.g., (The colors of the 
American flag are symbolic, e.g., blue represents loyalty.”) 

If you want to say “that is,” use i.e., 
i.e.,i.e.,i.e.,i.e.,i.e., (The colors of the American 
flag-i.e., red, white, and blue-are symbolic.) 

Always place a comma after e.g. and i.e. when used in a sentence. 

e-mail 
e-maile-maile-maile-maile-mailThe correct usage is e-mail, not E-mail and not email. 


F
FFFFFar
arararararther vs fur
ther vs further vs further vs further vs further vs further 
thertherthertherther 

Use farther for distance and further to mean additional or continued. 



Foreign Phrases 

Foreign terms, primarily Latin ones that are 

commonly used in modern English, need not be 
italicized. Examples include per se, ad hoc, e.g., 
i.e., in situ, in vitro, per diem. 

H
HHHHHurricane/T
urricane/Turricane/Turricane/Turricane/Turricane/Tr
rrrrropical S
opical Sopical Sopical Sopical Sopical Stor
tortortortortorm 
mmmmm

When using the official name of a hurricane or tropical storm, 
the term preceding the name is capitalized. 
Correct: Hurricane Bonnie or Tropical Storm Earl 
However, when used alone, without a proper name, hurricane 


and tropical storm are lowercase. When referring to more than 
one hurricane or tropical storm, the term preceding the name is 
also lowercase. 


Correct: Both hurricanes Fran and Floyd hit North Carolina. 
Correct: The community was hit by a tropical storm. 



H
HHHHHyphens 
yphensyphensyphensyphensyphens 

Hyphens are used to make the text easier to read and understand. 
Generally speaking, hyphens are not used with adverbs that end 
in -1y (e.g., federally approved landfill, fully accredited university) 
or with proper nouns (e.g., Virginia Commonwealth laws). 
Hyphens also are not used with temporary noun compounds 
formed by a noun and a gerund (e.g., decision making, problem 
solving). 

Hyphens are used with compounds beginning with all, self, half 
or low, such as low-level contamination), and with the adverbs 
will, ill, better, best, little, lesser and least when placed before the 
noun, such as in well-prepared document or better-qualified 
candidate. Hyphens also are used with an adjective or noun plus 
the past participle (-ed) or the present participle (-ing), in such 
words as EPA-approved document or grass-eating species. 

Remember, though, when used in a sentence where it is not 
directly modifying the noun, the hyphen is NOT used, e.g., the 
document was EPA approved or the species was grass eating. 

Hyphen also are used with a cardinal number plus a unit of 
measure placed before the noun [e.g., 100-acre site] and with 
phrases as adjectives (e.g., day-to-day activities, camera-ready 
copy, user-friendly system) 

Hyphens are NOT used with permanent compound words, such 
as statewide or multicolored. Consult a dictionary to be sure. 

I
IIIIIts vs it
ts vs itts vs itts vs itts vs itts vs it’
’’’’’s 
sssss 

Remember, “it’s” is a contraction for “it is” and “its” is a possessive 
meaning something belonging to “it.” 



I
IIIIIts vs theirs 
ts vs theirsts vs theirsts vs theirsts vs theirsts vs theirs 
Agencies and states are singular and the possessive “its” should be 

used rather than “theirs.” You can avoid this by substituting a 
plural noun, such as “state officials” for the singular noun. 
NO: The state is trying to ensure their residents are prepared. 
YES: The state is trying to ensure its residents are prepared 
YES: State officials are trying to ensure their residents are pre


pared.

 
“-iz 
“-iz“-iz“-iz“-iz“-ize
eeeee” 
””””” W
WWWWWor
ororororords 
dsdsdsdsds 

Choose less bureaucratic 
alternatives. Examples: 
“use” or “employ” for 
“utilize;” “set priorities” or 
“rank” for “prioritize.” 

Consult a thesaurus for 
help. 

Lay/lie 
Lay/lieLay/lieLay/lieLay/lieLay/lie 

Use lay when referring to something being put down or placed. 
Its use requires a direct object. Hens lay eggs and librarians lay 
books on a table. Other tenses for lay are: laid and laying. 

Lie means to recline or be in a 
location. It doesn’t need an object. 
The coral reef lies north of the 
island. Sleeping dogs lie. Other 
tenses for lie are: lying, lain and lay 
(which creates much confusion). 



M
MMMMMor
ororororore 
eeeee Than vs. Ov
Than vs. OvThan vs. OvThan vs. OvThan vs. OvThan vs. Over 
ererererer 

The phrase “more than” is more specific than and preferred to the 
word “over.” Over implies a physical place rather than a number. 
Likewise, “fewer than” and “less than” are preferable to “under.” 
Under implies a physical place rather than a number. 

N
NNNNNumbers 
umbersumbersumbersumbersumbers 

Numbers one through nine are words; 10 and above are numerals. 


P
PPPPParallel Constr
arallel Constrarallel Constrarallel Constrarallel Constrarallel Construction 
uctionuctionuctionuctionuction 

Words and phrases that do 
the same kind of work are 
easier to read if they are 
similar (parallel) in grammatical 
construction. Make 
sure items in a list, especially 
verbs, have the same 
structure. 

NO: 
NO:NO:NO:NO:NO: Anita is responsible for 
editing 
editingeditingeditingeditingediting and handl
handlhandlhandlhandlhandles
eseseseses production. 


YES: 
YES:YES:YES:YES:YES: Anita is responsible for editing 
editingeditingeditingeditingediting and handl
handlhandlhandlhandlhandling
inginginging

ing production. 

P
PPPPPer
ererererercent 
centcentcentcentcentSpell out percent. Do not use %. Do not make it two words. 


P
PPPPPr
rrrrroject I
oject Ioject Ioject Ioject Ioject Impact 
mpactmpactmpactmpactmpact 

Whenever practical, on first reference use the full name: Project 
Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities. Use Project 
Impact on second and subsequent references. Do not abbreviate 
as PI. 


P
PPPPPunctuation in Q
unctuation in Qunctuation in Qunctuation in Qunctuation in Qunctuation in Quotations 
uotationsuotationsuotationsuotationsuotations 
Punctuation goes inside quotation marks. 

Q
QQQQQuotations 
uotationsuotationsuotationsuotationsuotations 

Quotes generally should sound conversational (not bureaucratic 
or filled with jargon) and should not be more than four sentences 
total (Three is ideal, with the first sentence coming before the 
attribution and the second and third coming after.) If longer than 
four sentences, the quote should be broken into two quotes or 
trimmed. Quotes should not convey general information. 

NO: “We will be holding a press conference at 3 p.m. tomorrow,” 
FEMA Director Bill Smith said. 

Generally, quotes should start their own paragraph and should 
not be preceded by a lead-in phrase. 

YES: “We believe the best way to reduce disaster damage is by 
helping communities identify their specific risks,” said John 
Smith, federal coordinating officer. 

NO: When asked how he thought residents could protect themselves, 
John Smith, federal coordinating office, said, “We believe 
the best way to reduce disaster damage is by helping communities 
identify their specific risks.” 

Try to avoid “bumping” quotes, in other words, having one quote 
directly follow another without an intervening paragraph. 

P
PPPPPr
rrrrreferr
eferreferreferreferreferred: 
ed:ed:ed:ed:ed: 

“This is a terrific opportunity for disaster prevention,” 
FEMA Director Joe Smith said. “FEMA is looking forward to 
working with this community to reduce future disaster risk.” 

North Carolina’s governor agreed. (inter
(inter(inter(inter(inter(interv
vvvvvening graph) 
ening graph)ening graph)ening graph)ening graph)ening graph) 

“We are looking forward to working with FEMA now and 
in the future,” Gov. Jim Smith said. “This is a great opportunity.” 


R
RRRRRedundant S
edundant Sedundant Sedundant Sedundant Sedundant Statements 
tatementstatementstatementstatementstatements 

Take care to avoid redundant statements such as these: absolute 
necessity, close proximity, end result, plan in advance, follow 
after, any and all, new innovation, unless and until, few in number, 
estimated at about, untimely death, pre-plan etc. 


R
RRRRRegional Ar
egional Aregional Aregional Aregional Aregional Areas 
easeaseaseaseas 

Uppercase the names of recognized regions, 
such as Northern California or New England. 
Lowercase when the referenced area does not 
refer to a recognized region, such as northern 
Ohio. Always lowercase when using north, 
south, east or west in a directional context i.e., 
He went north when the flooding began. 

S
SSSSSaid 
aidaidaidaidaid 
Use “said” in quote attribu


tions. Avoid using stated, 
announced, reiterated, etc. 
simply as alternatives to 
“said.” In nearly all circumstances, 
“said” works 



said

said 
just fine. Do not use “says” 
in attribution. 

S
SSSSSemicolons 
emicolonsemicolonsemicolonsemicolonsemicolons 

A semicolon indicates a more definitive break in thought than a 
comma and is used wherever a comma would not be distinctive 
enough. Semicolons are used to join two clauses that are closely 
related. The two clauses need not be complete sentences, but 
many times they are. Semicolons should also be used to separate 
a list of items that have been punctuated internally with commas. 


S
SSSSSerial Commas 
erial Commaserial Commaserial Commaserial Commaserial Commas 

Generally speaking, don’t use a comma before the “and” in a 
simple list of three or more items (parking, concierge and security). 
The exception to this is when the list is complex. 

S
SSSSSexist Language 
exist Languageexist Languageexist Languageexist Languageexist Language 

Most sexist language is inadvertent. Be 
vigilant about avoiding gender stereotyping 
and other subtle sexist language. Use gender 
neutral terms such as chair instead of 
chairman or police officer rather than 
policeman. Also, avoid making assumptions 
about gender in professions that are often 
seen as traditionally male or female. Nurses 
are not always women and doctors are not 
always men. When necessary, avoid the 
awkwardness of using his/her by making 
nouns plural. 

NO: This is a matter between a patient and 
his doctor. 

NO: This is a matter between a patient and his/her doctor 

YES: This is a matter between patients and doctors. 

S
SSSSSpacing After P
pacing After Ppacing After Ppacing After Ppacing After Ppacing After Periods 
eriodseriodseriodseriodseriods 

There is only ONE space after a period in all circumstances. The 
double space after the period is NOT correct style. 


S
SSSSState A
tate Atate Atate Atate Atate Abbr
bbrbbrbbrbbrbbreviations 
eviationseviationseviationseviationseviations 

U
UUUUUse the A
se the Ase the Ase the Ase the Ase the Associate P
ssociate Pssociate Pssociate Pssociate Pssociate Pr
rrrrress state abbr
ess state abbress state abbress state abbress state abbress state abbreviations not the post office 
eviations not the post officeeviations not the post officeeviations not the post officeeviations not the post officeeviations not the post office 
state abbr
state abbrstate abbrstate abbrstate abbrstate abbreviations. N
eviations. Neviations. Neviations. Neviations. Neviations. Note that some states ar
ote that some states arote that some states arote that some states arote that some states arote that some states are spelled out. 
e spelled out.e spelled out.e spelled out.e spelled out.e spelled out. 

Corr
CorrCorrCorrCorrCorrect: 
ect:ect:ect:ect:ect:

Alabama 
AlabamaAlabamaAlabamaAlabamaAlabama Ala. 
Ala.Ala.Ala.Ala.Ala.
Alaska 
AlaskaAlaskaAlaskaAlaskaAlaskaAriz
ArizArizArizArizArizona 
onaonaonaonaona Ariz. 
Ariz.Ariz.Ariz.Ariz.Ariz.
Ar
ArArArArArkansas Ar
kansas Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Ark. 
k.k.k.k.k.
C
CCCCCalifor
aliforaliforaliforaliforalifornia 
nianianianiania C
CCCCCalif. 
alif.alif.alif.alif.alif.
Colorado 
ColoradoColoradoColoradoColoradoColorado Colo. 
Colo.Colo.Colo.Colo.Colo.
Connecticut 
ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut Conn. 
Conn.Conn.Conn.Conn.Conn.
D
DDDDDelawar
elawarelawarelawarelawarelaware 
eeeee D
DDDDDel. 
el.el.el.el.el.
F
FFFFFlorida 
loridaloridaloridaloridalorida F
FFFFFla. 
la.la.la.la.la.
G
GGGGGeorgia 
eorgiaeorgiaeorgiaeorgiaeorgia G
GGGGGa. 
a.a.a.a.a.
H
HHHHHawaii 
awaiiawaiiawaiiawaiiawaiiI
IIIIIdaho 
dahodahodahodahodahoI
IIIIIllinois 
llinoisllinoisllinoisllinoisllinois I
IIIIIll. 
ll.ll.ll.ll.ll.
I
IIIIIo
ooooowa 
wawawawawaI
IIIIIndiana 
ndianandianandianandianandiana I
IIIIInd. 
nd.nd.nd.nd.nd.
K
KKKKKansas 
ansasansasansasansasansas K
KKKKKan. 
an.an.an.an.an.
K
KKKKKentucky 
entuckyentuckyentuckyentuckyentucky K
KKKKKy
yyyyy. 
.....
Louisiana 
LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana La. 
La.La.La.La.La.
M
MMMMMaine 
aineaineaineaineaineM
MMMMMar
arararararyland 
ylandylandylandylandyland Md. 
Md.Md.Md.Md.Md.
M
MMMMMassachusetts 
assachusettsassachusettsassachusettsassachusettsassachusetts M
MMMMMass. 
ass.ass.ass.ass.ass.


M
MMMMMichigan 
ichiganichiganichiganichiganichigan M
MMMMMich. 
ich.ich.ich.ich.ich.
M
MMMMMinnesota 
innesotainnesotainnesotainnesotainnesota M
MMMMMinn. 
inn.inn.inn.inn.inn.
M
MMMMMississippi 
ississippiississippiississippiississippiississippi M
MMMMMiss. 
iss.iss.iss.iss.iss.
M
MMMMMissouri 
issouriissouriissouriissouriissouri M
MMMMMo. 
o.o.o.o.o.
M
MMMMMontana 
ontanaontanaontanaontanaontana M
MMMMMont. 
ont.ont.ont.ont.ont.
N
NNNNNebraska 
ebraskaebraskaebraskaebraskaebraska N
NNNNNeb. 
eb.eb.eb.eb.eb.
N
NNNNNev
evevevevevada 
adaadaadaadaada N
NNNNNev
evevevevev. 
.....
N
NNNNNew H
ew Hew Hew Hew Hew Hampshir
ampshirampshirampshirampshirampshire 
eeeee N.H. 
N.H.N.H.N.H.N.H.N.H.
N
NNNNNew J
ew Jew Jew Jew Jew Jerse
erseerseerseerseersey 
yyyyy N.J. 
N.J.N.J.N.J.N.J.N.J.
N
NNNNNew M
ew Mew Mew Mew Mew Mexico N.M. 
exico N.M.exico N.M.exico N.M.exico N.M.exico N.M.
N
NNNNNew 
ewewewewew Y
YYYYYor
ororororork 
kkkkk N.Y
N.YN.YN.YN.YN.Y. 
.....
N
NNNNNor
orororororth C
th Cth Cth Cth Cth Car
arararararolina 
olinaolinaolinaolinaolina N.C. 
N.C.N.C.N.C.N.C.N.C.
N
NNNNNor
orororororth D
th Dth Dth Dth Dth Dakota 
akotaakotaakotaakotaakota N.D. 
N.D.N.D.N.D.N.D.N.D.
O
OOOOOhio 
hiohiohiohiohioO
OOOOOklahoma 
klahomaklahomaklahomaklahomaklahoma O
OOOOOkla. 
kla.kla.kla.kla.kla.
O
OOOOOr
rrrrregon 
egonegonegonegonegon O
OOOOOr
rrrrre. 
e.e.e.e.e.
P
PPPPPennsylv
ennsylvennsylvennsylvennsylvennsylvania 
aniaaniaaniaaniaania P
PPPPPa. 
a.a.a.a.a.
Rhode I
Rhode IRhode IRhode IRhode IRhode Island 
slandslandslandslandsland R.I. 
R.I.R.I.R.I.R.I.R.I.
S
SSSSSouth C
outh Couth Couth Couth Couth Car
arararararolina 
olinaolinaolinaolinaolina S.C. 
S.C.S.C.S.C.S.C.S.C.
S
SSSSSouth D
outh Douth Douth Douth Douth Dakota 
akotaakotaakotaakotaakota S.D. 
S.D.S.D.S.D.S.D.S.D.
T
TTTTTennessee 
ennesseeennesseeennesseeennesseeennessee T
TTTTTenn. 
enn.enn.enn.enn.enn.
T
TTTTTexas 
exasexasexasexasexasU
UUUUUtah 
tahtahtahtahtahV
VVVVVer
ererererermont 
montmontmontmontmont Vt. 
Vt.Vt.Vt.Vt.Vt.
Virginia 
VirginiaVirginiaVirginiaVirginiaVirginia V
VVVVVa. 
a.a.a.a.a.
W
WWWWWashington 
ashingtonashingtonashingtonashingtonashington W
WWWWWash. 
ash.ash.ash.ash.ash.
W
WWWWWashington, D.C. 
ashington, D.C.ashington, D.C.ashington, D.C.ashington, D.C.ashington, D.C.
W
WWWWWest 
estestestestest Virginia 
VirginiaVirginiaVirginiaVirginiaVirginia W
WWWWW. 
..... V
VVVVVa. 
a.a.a.a.a.
W
WWWWWisconsin 
isconsinisconsinisconsinisconsinisconsin W
WWWWWis. 
is.is.is.is.is.
W
WWWWWy
yyyyyoming 
omingomingomingomingoming W
WWWWWy
yyyyyo. 
o.o.o.o.o.


T
TTTTTemblor vs tr
emblor vs tremblor vs tremblor vs tremblor vs tremblor vs tremblor 
emblorembloremblorembloremblor 

Temblor is another name for an earthquake. Tremblor is NOT a 
word. 

T
TTTTTenses 
ensesensesensesensesenses 

Make sure they agree, both within a sentence and throughout a 
document. 

That vs. 
That vs.That vs.That vs.That vs.That vs. Which 
WhichWhichWhichWhichWhich 

Writers tend to overuse “which” and under use “that.” “That” is 
the defining pronoun; “which” is the nondefining. “Which” 
phrases are usually set off with commas; they have a more parenthetical 
feel than “that” phrases. 

I’m taking the bike that is in the garage. (defines a particular 
bike: that one, in the garage) 

I’m taking the bike, which is in the garage. (adds a fact about the 
bike) 

T
TTTTTitles 
itlesitlesitlesitlesitles 

Job titles are only capitalized before a person’s name: FEMA 
Director Bill Brown. They are lower case after: Bill Brown, 
director of FEMA. Generally speaking, put long titles after the 
name, not before. NO:
NO:NO:NO:NO:

NO: Federal Emergency Management Agency 
Associate Director for Mitigation Michael Smith. 

W
WWWWWeb site 
eb siteeb siteeb siteeb siteeb site 

FEMA adheres to the Washington Post style 
regarding Web site. The term is two words, 
with Web capitalized. Also, the correct usage 
is World Wide Web, on the Web, but 
www.fema.gov. Do NOT add http://. 



Produced by the 
FEMA Office of 
Public Affairs 
January 2001 
(202) 646-4600 
Produced by the 
FEMA Office of 
Public Affairs 
January 2001 
(202) 646-4600