Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please forward them to Hilary Andrade in the marketing department.
A thru E
A
AM, PM - Always uses caps and no periods. Always include at each instance. Use a space between the time and AM/PM. Not necessary when using the 24-hour clock.
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acknowledgment - Spell without an e between the g and m.
advance, advancement -
Advance, as a noun means forward movement or for progress or improvement in a figurative sense.
Example: "the advance of science" means simply the progress of science.
Advancement, also means progress in the figurative sense, but implies the existence of an agent or outside force:
Example: The advancement of science implies progress resulting from the action of an agent or force: "The purpose of the legislation was the advancement of science."
advance program - Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Advance') or part of a proper noun.
adviser - Not advisor.
affect, effect -
Affect, as a verb, means to influence. Affect, as a noun, is best avoided.
Example: “The game will affect the standings.”
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Effect, as a verb, means to cause:
Example: “He will effect many changes in the company.”
Effect, as a noun, means result.
Example: “The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions. It was a law of little effect.”
aid, aide -
Aid, as a noun, means assistance.
Aide, as a noun, means assistant.
among, between -
Among is used for more than two, but the relationship is the deciding factor, if a a one-to-one relationship exists, use between for more than two as well:
Example: A love triangle formed between the three managers.
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Between is used for two things
annual - An event cannot be described as annual until it has been held in at least two successive years. Do not use the term, "first annual" instead note that we intend to hold the event annually or use "inaugural."
annual meeting - Always lowercase.
army -
Always capitalize when referring to US forces.
Examples: The US Army, the Army, Army regulations
Use lowercase when referring to the forces of other nations.
Example: The French army
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article, paper -
Use article when referring to a single piece in a journal.
Use paper when referring to a single proceeding.
assure, ensure, insure -
Use assure to mean give confidence to (reassure).
Example: “I assure you that Marketing is amazing.”
Use ensure to mean guarantee, make certain of.
Example: “Steps were taken to ensure accuracy.”
Use insure for references to insurance.
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attendee - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
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author - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
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award - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
B
between, among -
Between is used for two things
Among is used for more than two, but the relationship is the deciding factor, if a a one-to-one relationship exists, use between for more than two as well:
Example: A love triangle formed between the three managers.
biannual, biennial -
Biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the semiannual.
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Biennial means every two years.
C
call for instructors - Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Call') or part of a proper noun.
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call for papers - Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Call') or part of a proper noun.
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Capitol - Capitalize US Capitol and the Capitol when referring to the building in Washington DC.
chair - Refer to the volunteers who head SPIE conferences as chairs rather than chairmen, chairpersons, etc. Capitalize if the title appears before the name of the individual, but not after.
co-chair - Should be hyphenated. Capitalize if the title appears before the name of the individual, but not after, and only capitalize the first c - "Co-chair."
cofounder - Should not be hyphenated. Capitalize if the title appears before the name of the individual, but not after.
colocated /co-located -
Colocated is American English, and should be used for most of our events excluding European events.
Co-located is British English and should be used for European events only.
Never "collocated" - which actually means something different (arrangement, especially of words in a sentence).
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committee - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
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conference - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
Example: "There are 25 SPIE conferences annually."
continual, continuous -
Continual means a steady repetition, over and over again.
Example: “The merger has been the source of continual litigation.”
Continuous means uninterrupted, steady, unbroken.
Example: “All she saw ahead of her was a continuous stretch of desert.”
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Corporate Member/Membership - Always capitalize these terms when referring to an SPIE Corporate Member or the program.
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course - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
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course program - Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Course') or part of a proper noun.
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COVID-19 - This is the correct way to describe this term on our website.
D
data - Treat as singular.
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digital forum - Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Digital') or part of a proper noun, as in Photonics West Digital Forum.
E
EDI - The acronym EDI stands for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and is internal and should not be used in web copy unless you follow the standard practice of spelling out the entire program name followed by EDI in parentheses.
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EDI is a more common acronym on social media and can be used at first mention if clear in context.
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Earth - The planet, is always capitalized, but "earth" when referring to soil.
effect, affect -
Effect, as a verb, means to cause:
Example: “He will effect many changes in the company.”
Effect, as a noun, means result.
Example: “The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions. It was a law of little effect.”
Affect, as a verb, means to influence. Affect, as a noun, is best avoided.
Example: “The game will affect the standings.”
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email - Never hyphenate or capitalize unless it begins a sentence.
eNews - The name of the emailed newsletter to any opted-in Member or constituent. Never capitalize the first e, always capitalize the N.
ensure, insure, assure -
Use ensure to mean guarantee, make certain of.
Example: “Steps were taken to ensure accuracy.”
Use insure for references to insurance.
Use assure to mean give confidence to (reassure).
Example: “I assure you that Marketing is amazing.”
entitled - Use it to mean a right to do or have something. Do not use it to mean titled.
Correct: “She was entitled to the promotion.”
Correct: “The book was titled Gone with the Wind.”
exhibit, exhibition
Use exhibit as a verb, meaning to place on show: to exhibit paintings.
Use exhibition as a noun, meaning a public display of products or objects of general interest.
Do not capitalize unless at the start of a sentence, or part of a proper noun, as in SPIE Photonics West Exhibition.
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exhibition guide - Not 'exhibitor guide.' Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Exhibition') or part of a proper noun as in Photonics West Exhibition Guide.