Specific Words and Phrases

Rules for how we use common words and phrases: the terms in bold show the accepted form (capitalization, hyphenation, punctuation), with the accompanying text detailing usage.

ages, avoid hyphens in ages unless it clarifies the text. For example, a group of 10 18-year-old White House tourists.
agile
a.m.
back end or back end development, no hyphen.
Congress refers to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
congressional is lowercase unless part of a proper name. For example, Congressional Record.
DC, not D.C.
digital coalition
drop-down when used as an adjective. For example, drop-down menu. drop down when used as a noun. For example, an option from the drop down. Never “dropdown.”
email, not “e-mail”.
executive branch
federal, unless part of a proper noun. For example, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
federal government, not “Federal Government” or “Federal government”.
fiscal year is lowercase. It’s okay to abbreviate as “FY” on the second reference.
front end or front end developer, no hyphen.
GitHub
government, unless part of a proper noun. For example, Government Printing Office.
human-centered design
info is an acceptable shortening of information. In formal situations, use the full word.
internet, not Internet.
JavaScript
kanban
login when used as noun. For example, I forgot my login name and password. Also, for when used as an adjective. For example, make sure the login page is 508 complaint. log in when used as a verb. For example, log in to access your calendar.
open source or open source software
percent is preferred more than the “%” symbol. For example, 10 percent of respondents.
p.m.
startup
States:
- Spell out names. For example, Mississippi.
- Used alone, “state” should be lowercase. For example, all 50 states responded.
- When used with a city, spell out the name of the state.
tech is an acceptable shortening of technology. In formal situations, use the full word.
to do (noun) and to-do (adjective). For example, your to dos or your to-do list.
United States government or U.S. government, not “U.S. Government”.
URLs should be lowercase, even when they appear at the start of a sentence. For example, notalone.gov launched today.
U.S., not “US” and not “USA”.
user-centered design
Wi-Fi