Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please forward them to Hilary Andrade in the marketing department.
F thru J
F
Fellow - Always capitalize this term when referring to an SPIE Fellow or the Fellow program.
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fewer, less - In general, use fewer for individual items, less for bulk or quantity.
Correct: “Fewer than 10 applicants called.” (individuals)
Correct: “I had less than $50 in my pocket.” (an amount)
But: “I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket.” (individual items)
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final program - Do not capitalize this term unless it is at the start of a sentence (and then only capitalize 'Final') or part of a proper noun.
follow-up, follow up -
Follow-up is the noun or adjective form.
Example: "The researchers conducted a follow-up to their queries."
"I will make a follow-up appointment."
Follow up is the verb form.
Example: "Researchers follow up their research by contacting participants."
full-time, full time - Always hyphenate this descriptor if it appears before the object it describes, as in "full-time job." Do not hyphenate if it appears after the object, as in "This job is full time."
G
gray - Not grey.
H
head-up display - Always hyphenate, before or after nouns or when it appears alone. Try to avoid using "heads-up display."
I
IDL - The acronym IDL stands for the International Day of Light and is common in our community and can be used in web copy if you follow the standard practice​ of spelling out the entire program name followed by IDL in parentheses at first mention.
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IDL is a more common acronym on social media and can be used at first mention if clear in context.
imply, infer - A speaker or writer implies a meaning; the listener or reader infers the meaning.
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in-person, in person - In general do not hyphenate unless it is a compound adjective. In other words, always hyphenate this descriptor if it appears before the object it describes, as in "in-person event." Do not hyphenate if it appears after the object, as in "This event is in person."
in vivo, in vitro, in situ - These phrases are italicized when used. Do not hyphenate these phrases.
insure, assure, ensure -
Use insure for references to insurance.
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.”
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instructor - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
internet - Never capitalize, unless it is at the beginning of a sentence or included as part of the phrase "Internet of Things."
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Internet of Things, IoT - Always capitalize Internet and Things when using the full name and at first mention, then use the more common acronym, IoT.
irregardless - This word is a double negative. "Regardless" is the correct form.
it’s, its -
It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
Example: “It’s up to you. It’s been a long time.”
Its is the possessive form of the neuter pronoun.
Example: “The company lost its assets.”
J
journal - Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun.
judgment - Spell without an e between the g and m.
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Junior, Senior - Set off by commas when abbreviated, period included.
Example: “Joe Smith, Jr., became a Member of the Society.”
However, II and III never have a comma before them.
Example: Joe Smith III
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When the full word is attached to the Member status, it is always capitalized, SPIE Senior Member.