UIL Copy Editing Tips + Tricks

None

Singular (is)

Either

Singular (is)

Neither

Singular (is)

All

Plural (are)

LGBTQIA or LGBTQ+?

LGBTQ+

Race

Black: capitalized, white: lowercase

Titles

Capitalized before a name, lowercase when common noun

Titles of jobs (director of arts)

Always lowercase

First lady

lowercase

Degrees

Spell out instead of abbreviation, capitalize if specific

When is B.A. or Ph.D. okay?

Right after a name

Period or no period with MBA/MFA?

No period

What #s do you spell out?

1-9

What #s do you use numerals for?

10+

Months

Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. abbreviated, March, April, May, June, and July never abbreviated

When do you spell out a month?

When used alone or with a year

Should you use years?

No, usually omit them

12 o’clock

Noon/midnight, not 12 a.m./p.m.

When to use a.m./p.m.?

When time is a numeral

Are titles before or after the name?

Before

Regions

Capitalize

Cardinal Directions

Lowercase

Seasons

Lowercase

Between vs. Among

Between is two people, among is more than two

Who

Can replace with he/she

Whom

Can replace with him/her

Which

objects that add information but aren’t necessary

That

used for essential clauses w/ no commas

Animals (referring to)

Who for animals w/ names, that or which for animals without names

Address

Abbreviate Ave. and Blvd.

When to abbreviate cardinal directions?

When they are part of an address

Percent

Numeral + %

Money

Amount under 1 million, write number w/ comma

Cents

number + cents (if under a dollar)

Since vs. Because

Only use since for time, do not substitute because w/ since

Do you spell out state names?

Yes, only when standing alone

When do you abbreviate state names?

If they follow a city/place

Omit or keep Oxford comma?

Omit (usually)

Continuous

Uninterrupted like a place or time

Continual

Repetition of actions

Fewer

individual items that can be counted

Less

Bulk, quantity, degree, time, money, and distance

Measurements

Spell out (2 inches)

Miles per hour or MPH?

mph

Further vs. Farther

Further: conversations, Farther: distance

Holidays

Usually Capitalized

Off vs. Off of

Usually just use off

Opinion?

Omit

Temperature

Numbers + degrees + Fahrenheit/Celsius

Exceptions: Zero degrees, minus or below zero

Music

No apostrophes

Titles of books, movies, songs, etc.

In quotation marks, capitalized

Holy books

Capitalized, no quotations

Newspapers

If “The” is in the name, capitalize, if in a list, lowercase

When is No. # used?

Jerseys or placements

Formal titles

Shorten before names

Supt.

Superintendent

Laying vs. Lying

Laying: action to something, Lying: action that the subject does

Its vs. Their

Its: singular, Their: plural

Good vs. Well

Good is an adjective, well is an adverb

Acts? Scenes?

Capitalize when followed by a numeral

Half-staff

Flags flying on poles on land

Half-mast

Flags on ships/naval stations

Jail

short-term (under a year), for misdemeanors, pre-trial detention, minor offenses

Prison

Long-term, often state/federal facilities for serious felonies

Blond vs. Blonde

Adjective: Blond

Noun: Blond boy, Blonde girl

Family

If “Rachel Smith and John Smith”, then just use “Rachel” and “John” the rest of the story