The words equity and equality both originate from the Latin root aequus, meaning "even," "fair" or "equal." From this root, Latin gave rise to aequitas (which became equity) and aequalitas (which became equality). While the two English terms share a common linguistic ancestor and some conceptual overlap, they carry distinct nuances — even in Latin. [...]
Your gut might tell you to hyphenate “pre-pregnancy” or other words using the prefix “pre.” But you might be dating yourself. That’s because in recent years, the Associated Press added “pre” and “post” to the list of general prefixes that don't need to be hyphenated. And — we love it when this happens — the [...]
We have another important entry for your company style guide: how to stylize bulleted lists. It’s worth adding this one because a lot of people go rogue. Here’s what you need to explain: Capitalization in Bulleted Lists Some people always capitalize the first letter of every bullet point. Others lowercase it if each bullet is [...]
Attribution is important in stories, and you may be confused about whether you should use “says” or “said.” You might also wonder: Does it really matter? This won’t surprise you, but at Active Voice Communications, we think it ALL matters. At a bare minimum, it matters because style consistency is important. So, your organization should [...]
Breathe is a verb. For example: After her new asthma medications, she could breathe easier. Breath is a noun. For example: Whenever he was stressed out, he took a deep breath.
As you prepare your content to welcome your audiences to the new year, it's a good time to brush up on capitalization rules. Here's the general rule: Capitalize "New Year" when referring to the holiday, but not when referring to the concept of a new year in general. That means: Yes, capitalize "New Year" in [...]
Is it M.D. or MD? AP Style recommends using periods with academic degrees (e.g., M.D.). However, at AVC, we prefer the cleaner look of no periods (MD). Whatever style you choose, the key is to stick with it across your content for consistency.
The Associated Press Stylebook now uses the % symbol when paired with a number (no space). This was a change for AP in 2019. Examples: The project was completed 75% faster. Her grade improved by 4.5%. At AVC, we prefer the symbol over the word for efficiency and clarity. Bonus tip: For amounts less than [...]
We frequently see style questions about sequential designations — numerals vs. spelling out and capitalization rules. For example: Phase 1, which includes a new nurses’ station and renovations to operating rooms in the east wing, will be completed in 2028. We’ve been ensuring customer satisfaction since Day 1. So, should you use numerals or spell [...]
Setup is a noun and adjective and set up is a verb. For example: He was set up by the mob. Her home entertainment center setup looked expensive. Do not use set-up.
