Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please forward them to Hilary Andrade in the marketing department.
K thru O
K
L
LGBTQ+
The acronym is acceptable on first reference (stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning)
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lidar - All lowercase, unless it is at the beginning of a sentence or part of a title.
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LiFi - Always capitalize the L and F.
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light-based, light based - Always hyphenate this descriptor if appears before the object it describes, as in "light-based technology." Do not hyphenate if it appears after the object, as in "technology that is light based."
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lightwave, light wave -
Lightwave is the adjective form. Light wave is the noun form.
like, as -
Use like as a preposition to compare nouns and pronouns. It requires an object.
Example: “Jim blocks like a pro.”
The conjunction as is the correct word to introduce clauses.
Example: “Jim blocks the linebacker as he should.”
Like, Likes - The social media metric should always be capitalized.
login, log in -
Login is the noun or adjective form.
Example: "Contact Customer Service if you forget your login information."
Log in is the verb form.
Example: "Enter your password to log in to your SPIE Account."
M
media - Treat as singular.
Members, Membership - To make the distinction between members of other organizations and Members of SPIE, capitalize in all cases, including Student Members, Senior Members, Fellow Members, and Corporate Members.
N
Nobel Prize - Always capitalize this phrase.
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nonprofit - One word, not hyphenated.
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non-SPIE - Hyphenate this descriptor. Only capitalize "non" if it starts a sentence.
O
on-demand, on demand - 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 "on-demand presentation." Do not hyphenate if it appears after the object, as in "This presentation is on demand."
online – One word, not hyphenated.
onsite – One word, not hyphenated.
open access - Do not capitalize "open access." Also, per Pubs request, do NOT hyphenate the term if it appears before an object as a compound adjective instead write, "an open access journal."
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It is acceptable to use the acronym OA but you must spell the term out at first mention and include the acronym as a parenthetical, "the journal is open access (OA)."
opt-in, opt in -
Opt-in is the noun or adjective form.
Example: "We will not sell your opt-in information."
Opt in is the verb form.
Example: "Would you like to opt in to receive the SPIE eNews?"
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optics - That branch of physical science concerned with vision and certain phenomena of electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range extending from the vacuum ultraviolet at about 40 nm to the far-infrared at 1 mm.
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Do not capitalize this word unless it is at the start of a sentence or part of a proper noun, as in SPIE Optics + Photonics.
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optoelectronic, optoelectronics - All forms are one word, not hyphenated.
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optomechanics, opto-mechanical -
Optomechanics is the noun form.
Example: "SPIE offers courses in optomechanics."
Opto-mechanical in is the adjective form.
Example: "Take an SPIE course on opto-mechanical design."