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The Society

The Society's name is SPIE, which is not an acronym. This is a registered DBA (Doing Business As) name.

 

The name reflects the Society's Statement of Purpose: "SPIE is an international society advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light."

 

The Society's registered legal name is the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

 

The DBA "The International Society for Optical Engineering" has been retired.

Usage Notes

Always capitalize all four letters in the name of SPIE; do not use periods between the letters. 

Exception: Use lowercase when writing out an URL as in "spie.org/news."

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Do not use the possessive form of SPIE, as in "SPIE's Members." Instead use "of SPIE" or simply SPIE as a descriptor. This rule does not apply to social media.

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When SPIE is the descriptor, it is "an SPIE" never "a SPIE."

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Refer to SPIE as “we,” not “it" though when using the name SPIE as the subject, it is a singular entity and therefore subject-verb agreement is singular.

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When referring to SPIE as the "Society," always capitalize "Society."

SPIE

Uses:

  • Most common iteration in all web writing

  • All references on social media platforms

  • Legal uses

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Use cases: Legal: To be used for contracts, MOUs, or other organizational ID need.

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

Also SPIE is the the international society for optics and photonics

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Uses:

  • Commonly used

  • Briefest description available

  • Elevator speech

  • For an audience moderately familiar in science and technology

  • Where long description is too cumbersome or lengthy due to space or content restrictions

  • Where or when credentials are needed    

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Use cases:

  • In the boilerplate messaging

  • Conversationally

  • Staff email signatures and business cards

SPIE - The International Society for Optics and Photonics

Uses:

  • As a succinct identifier of SPIE where long description is too cumbersome or lengthy due to space or content restrictions

  • Where or when credentials are needed

  • A statement, less conversational

  • Hyphen is necessary over a comma so that it is clear the descriptor is attached to SPIE

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Use cases:

  • Both SPIE and non-SPIE environmental signs 

  • Both SPIE and non-SPIE event informational materials such as directories, exhibit guides

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