Editorial Help Desk
YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR
GRAMMAR AND MCPS STYLE
Word of the Month
Feckless
(Adjective) Describes people or things that are weak or ineffective.
The candidate gave a short, feckless response to Madge’s question about what to do about the increase of mosquitoes in the valley.
A hole in the fence surrounding the facility inspires the inmates to joyfully slam through en masse, disregarding the feckless guards who fail to stop their stampeding toward a nearby lake.
Salon, Jun 16, 2016
Tip of the Month
Notes on Use of “United States”
U.S. (with periods) is the preferred abbreviation for United States. Use U.S. as an adjective only. Spell out United States as a noun.
Examples:
Noun: We are one of the largest school systems in the United States.
Adjective: Many U.S. schools offer a subsidized lunch program.
Spell out United States in a sentence containing the name of another country.
Examples:
The United States, Canada, and Mexico signed a new trade agreement.
The United States is considered a beacon of democracy worldwide.
Use U.S. before the name of a government organization or entity, except in formal writing.
Examples:
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
An example to illustrate formal writing:
A United States Department of Education report provides the basis for this international analysis.
As always, when in doubt, check it out! Contact the Editorial Help Desk for help (Donna_M_MarksPleasant@mcpsmd.org).
Quick Links
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References and Citations
- Tip of the Month Archives
- Copyright and
Fair Use - Links to Helpful Resources
- Editorial Summit
Knowledge Center
for Editorial Help Desk
Learn to decipher the alphabet soup! Look it up in MCPS Acronyms
Do you know the difference between an ELT and an EMT, between FLS and FLES? Keep this reference on hand and you'll never get lost in jargon.
Get the interactive
Correspondence Manual
Learn to prepare memoranda, letters, and other documents in a consistent format. See the updated examples of memoranda and letters. Refresh your knowledge of email etiquette and more.
You've got to have style! Get the interactive Editorial Stylebook
Present your message in a clear, consistent, and professional manner. Learn some basic style rules to save time and improve your documents.
MCPS Interactive Editorial Stylebook