Style Sheet1

Jennifer Gonnerman
Before the Law, October 6, 2014
The New Yorker
Prepared by Jake Pelini

1 I have prepared this style sheet to demonstrate my grasp of journalistic editorial

conventions in addition to the conventions of traditional academic publishing.
Jake Pelini

EXAMPLE KEY
1. Following the examples given in this guide is a set of numbers in parentheses. These
numbers correspond to page, column, and paragraph in which each example can be
found.
Kalief Browder (1:1:1)
This example can be found on the first page, in the first paragraph of the first column.
Note that blocked quotations are not treated as a separate paragraph. Therefore,
column two on page three has only four paragraphs.
2. While Chicago recommends the numbers one to one hundred be spelled out, numerals
are used in cross-references to facilitate clarity.
3. The boldface numbers in parentheses at the end of each rule correspond to rules in the
sixteenth edition Chicago Manual of Style. Throughout the Hyphenation Guide, page
numbers are provided instead to facilitate cross-referencing for readers.

REFERENCES
The rules in this style guide may be found in the sixteenth edition of the Chicago
Manual of Style, in consultation with the eleventh edition of Merriam-Websters
Collegiate Dictionary. House style is based on patterns of deviation from Chicagos
recommendations, as well as adherence to specific recommendations from the manual,
such as:
1. Beginning a sentence with a conjunction
2. Block quotations
3. Chicagos general rule for the spelling out of numbers
For more comprehensive guidelines regarding house style, please refer to pages
eighteen to twenty-one.

Jake Pelini

Table of Contents 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Capitalization...................................................................................................................
.................................13
Capitalization of personal
names............................................................................................................1
Capitals versus lowercase for acronyms and initialisms...
..1
Civil
titles.......................................................................................................................
...............1
Continents, countries, cities, oceans, and
such......................................................................................1
Days of the week, months, and
seasons.................................................................................................1
Epithets (or nicknames) and
bynames....................................................................................................1
Ethnic and national groups and associated
adjectives............................................................................1
Formal names of acts, treaties, and so
forth..........................................................................................2
Initial capital or lowercaserun-in
quotations.......................................................................................2
Institutions and
companies.....................................................................................................................2
Judicial
bodies.................................................................................................................................
........2
Lowercase or capital after a
colon..........................................................................................................2
Mountains, rivers, and the
like................................................................................................................2
Names with
particles..............................................................................................................................
.3
Political divisions
capitalization............................................................................................................3
Popular place-names or
epithets............................................................................................................3
Scholastic
grades.................................................................................................................................
....3
Thoroughfares and the
like.....................................................................................................................3
Trademarks.........................................................................................................................
....................3

Jake Pelini

Table of Contents 4
Treatment of book and periodical
titles..................................................................................................3
Numbers............................................................................................................................
...............................45
Chicagos general rulezero through one
hundred...............................................................................4
Hundreds, thousands, and hundred
thousands......................................................................................4
Millions, billions, and so
forth.................................................................................................................4
Month and
day......................................................................................................................................
..4
Number beginning a
sentence................................................................................................................4
Numbered divisions in legal
instruments................................................................................................4
Numbered political and judicial
divisions................................................................................................4
Numbered
streets.................................................................................................................................
..4
Numerals versus words for time of
day..................................................................................................5
Ordinals....................................................................................................................
...............................5
The year
alone...................................................................................................................................
......5
Words versus monetary symbols and
numerals.....................................................................................5
Punctuation........................................................................................................ .............
..............................613
Colon...................................................................................................................................
....................6
Use of the
colon.........................................................................................................................6
Comma...............................................................................................................................
...............610
And if, that if, and the
like..................................................................................................6
Comma following the main
clause............................................................................................6
Comma preceding main
clause..................................................................................................6
Commas to indicate
elision........................................................................................................6
Commas with coordinate
adjectives..7

Jake Pelini

Table of Contents 5
Commas with
dates
7
Commas with direct
address.....................................................................................................7
Commas with however, therefore, indeed, and so
forth................................................7
Commas with independent clauses joined by
conjunctions......................................................7
Commas with introductory adverbial
phrases...........................................................................7
Commas with introductory participial
phrases.........................................................................8
Commas with not . . . but, not only . . . but, and the
like....................................................8
Commas with
pairs....................................................................................................................8
Commas with parenthetical
elements......................................................................................8
Commas with
questions............................................................................................................8
Commas with restrictive and nonrestrictive
phrases................................................................8
Commas with that is, namely, for example, and similar
expressions..............................9
Commas with the more, the less, and so
on......................................................................9
Restrictive and nonrestrictive
appositives................................................................................9
Restricted and nonrestrictive clauseswhich versus
that.................................................9
Serial
commas..........................................................................................................................10
Dashes................................................................................................................................
...................10
Em dashes instead of commas, parentheses, or
colons..........................................................10
Em dashes with that is, namely, for example, and similar
expressions.........................10
Parentheses........................................................................................................................
...................10
Use of
parentheses..................................................................................................................10
Periods.....................................................................................................................
.............................11
Periods in relation to parentheses and
brackets.....................................................................11 Periods with
abbreviations.................................................................................................
.....11

Jake Pelini

Table of Contents 6
Quotation Marks and Related
Punctuation....................................................................................1112
Colon to introduce speech or
quotations................................................................................11
Commas with
quotations.........................................................................................................11
Exclamation points with quotation marks, parentheses, or
brackets.....................................11
Periods and commas in relation to closing quotation
marks..................................................11
Question marks in relation to surrounding text and
punctuation...........................................12
Quotations and quotes within
quotes..................................................................................12
Scare
quotes.........................................................................................................................12
Socalled...............................................................................................................................1
2
Semicolons..........................................................................................................................
..................12
Use of the
semicolon...............................................................................................................12
Spelling.............................................................................................................................
............................1317
General...............................................................................................................................
...................13
Contractions........................................................................................................................
....13
Plurals of proper
nouns...........................................................................................................13
Possessive form of most
nouns...............................................................................................13
Possessive of proper
nouns.....................................................................................................13
Possessive versus attributive
forms.........................................................................................13
Roman for familiar foreign
words............................................................................................13
Hyphenation
Guide.........................................................................................................................1316
To hyphenate or not to
hyphenate...................................................................................1314
Compounds According to Category and Parts of
Speech..................................................1415
Compounds Formed with Specific
Terms..........................................................................1516

Jake Pelini

Table of Contents 7
Words Formed with
Prefixes...................................................................................................16
Word
Division....................................................................................................................1617
House
Style...................................................................................................................................
................1821
Body Text
Style................................................................................................................................18
20
Beginning a sentence with a
conjunction................................................................................18
Block quotations of more than one
paragraph.......................................................................18
Chicagos general rulezero through one
hundred...............................................................18
Civil
titles.................................................................................................................................1
8
Commas with compound
predicates.......................................................................................18
Commas with introductory adverbial
phrases.........................................................................19
Contractions........................................................................................................................
....19
Italics for
emphasis..................................................................................................................19
Month and
day........................................................................................................................19
Percentages........................................................................................................................
.....19
Periods with
abbreviations......................................................................................................19
Small versus full-size capitals for acronyms and
initialisms.....................................................19
The trend toward closed
compounds......................................................................................20
Guidelines for
Formatting...............................................................................................................2021
Capitals for
emphasis...............................................................................................................20
Punctuation and boldface or
color..........................................................................................20
Special
Style.............................................................................................................................20
Recommended
dictionaries.....................................................................................................21

Jake Pelini

Table of Contents 8
Inconsistencies................................................................................................................
...................................22
And if, that if, and the
like..............................................................................................................22
Scholastic
grades.................................................................................................................................
..22
Dividing compounds, prefixes, and
suffixes..........................................................................................22
Periods with
abbreviations
.22

CAPITALIZATION

Jake Pelini

Capitalization 9

1. Capitalization of personal names

(8.4). Names and initials of person, real
or fictitious, are capitalized. A space
should be used between any initials,
except when initials are used alone.

2.
3. Kalief Browder (1:1:1)
4.
5. Bautista (3:1:2)
6.
7. Daniel Selling (4:1:3)
8.
9. Capitals versus lowercase for
acronyms and initialisms (10.6).

Initialisms tend to appear in all capital

letters, even when they are not derived
from proper nouns (HIV, VP, LCD).
Chicago generally prefers this all-capital
form, unless the term is listed otherwise
in Websters. (But see House Style, Rule
12)

17.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Civil

R.N.D.C. (1:3:5)
U.S. (2:1:1)
W.W.E. (2:2:2)

titles (8.21). In formal

academic prose, civil titles are
capitalized only when used as part of
the name. (But see House Style, Rule 4.)
18.
19.

an officer and a prosecutor

interrogated him (1:3:3)
20.
In order for a trial to start,
both the defense attorney and the
prosecutor have to declare that they
are ready; the court clerk then
searches for a trial judge who is free
and transfers the case, and jury
selection can begin (3:2:2)

21.
22.
Mayor Bill de Blasio (4:1:3)
23.
24.
Continents, countries,
cities, oceans, and such (8.44).
Entities that appear on maps are always
capitalized, as are adjectives and nouns
derived from them. An initial the as part

of a name is lowercased in running text,

except in the rare case of an initial the
in the name of a city (i.e. The Hague)

25.
26.
Queens (1:3:4)
27.
28.
New Yorkers (1:3:4)
29.
30.
Brooklyn (3:3:2)
31.
32.
Days of the week, months,
and seasons (8.14). Names of days
and months are capitalized. The four
season are lowercased, except when
used to denote an issue of a journal).

33.
34.
Saturday (1:1:1)
35.
36.
August (2:1:1)
37.
38.
summer (3:1:1)
39.
40.
Epithets (or nicknames)
and bynames (8.33). A descriptive
or characterizing word or phrase used as
part of, or instead of, a persons name is
capitalized. A the used as part of such a
name usually is not capitalized.

41.
42.

Kalief was the smallest, he

recalled, so my mom called him
Peanut. (2:2:1)

43.
44.

Central Punitive
Segregation Unit, which everyone on
Rikers calls the Bing. (4:1:2)

45.
46.
Ethnic and national groups
and associated adjectives (8.37).
Names of ethnic and national groups are
capitalized. Adjectives associated with
these names are also capitalized.

47.
48.

a Mexican immigrant
named Roberto Bautista (3:1:2)

49.
50.
Formal names of acts,
treaties, and so forth (8.79).
Formal or accepted titles of pacts, plans,
policies, treaties, acts, programs, and

Capitalization 10
similar documents or agreements are
capitalized. Incomplete or generic forms
are usually lowercased.

51.
52.

Sixth Amendment (2:1:2)

(See also Numbers, Rule 6)

53.
54.

Many states have so-called

speedy-trial laws (3:1:7)

55.
56.

groups, and companies and the names

of their departments, and often the
shortened forms of such names, are
capitalized. A the preceding a name,
even when part of the official title, is
lowercased in running text. See also
Capitalization, Rule 1 for proper
capitalization and typeset of personal
names within institutions.

71.
72.
73.
74.

Notice of Readiness

(3:2:2)

57.
58.

75.
76.
77.
78.

59.
60.
Initial capital or lowercase
run-in quotations (13.15). When

61.
62.

Kalief was the smallest, he

recalled, so my mom called him
Peanut. (2:2:1)

63.
64.

Before Rikers, he told me,

every here and there I did a couple
of pullups or pushups. When I went
in there, thats when I decided I
wanted to get big. (2:3:1)

65.
66.

A clerk read out the

chargesRobbery in the second
degree and other crimesand
asked Browder, How do you plead,
sir, guilty or not guilty? (3:1:3).

67.
68.

OMeara assumed that his

courtroom defense would be Listen,
they got the wrong kid. (3:1:6)

69.
70.
Institutions and companies
(8.67). The full names of institutions,

Robert N. Davoren Center

(1:3:5)

New York States version is

slightly different, and is known as the
ready rule. (3:1:7)

a quotation introduced midsentence

forms a syntactical part of the sentence,
it begins with a lowercase letter even if
the original begins with a capital. When
the quotation has a more remote
syntactic relation to the rest of the
sentence, the initial letter remains
capitalized.

Rikers (1:3:4)

New Day Academy (2:2:3)

Bronx County Hall of

Justice (2:3:4)

80.

79.
Judicial bodies (8.63). The

full name a court, often including a

place-name is capitalized. Subsequent
references to a court are lowercased,
except for the phrase Supreme Court
at the national level.

81.
82.

Bronx County Criminal

Court (1:3:1)
83.
but . . .
84.
Bronx criminal courts
(2:1:2)

85.
86.

Westchester County
Court (3:3:1)

87.
88.
Lowercase or capital after
a colon (6.61). When a colon is used

within a sentence, the first word

following the colon is lowercased unless
it is a proper name. When a colon
introduces two or more sentences, when
it introduces a speech in dialogue or an
extract, or when it introduces a direct
question, the first word following it is
capitalized.

89.
90.

As Browder recalls, one of

the officers walked back to his car,
where the alleged victim was, and

Capitalization 11
returned with a new story: the man
said that they had robbed him not
that night but two weeks earlier.
(1:2:1)

91.
92.

Afterward, the officers

gave the teens a choice: go to the
medical clinic or go back to bed.
(2:3:3)

93.
94.
Mountains, rivers, and the
like (8.52). Names of mountains,
rivers, oceans, islands, and so forth are
capitalized

95.
96.
Rikers Island (1:3:4)
97.
98.
East River (1:3:4)
99.
100.
Names with particles (8.5).

Many names include particles such as

de, d, de la, von, van, and ten. Practice
with regard to capitalizing and spacing
the particles varies widely, and
confirmation should be sought in a
biographical dictionary or other
authoritative source. When the surname
is used alone, the particle is usually
retained, capitalized or lowercased and
spaced as in the full names (though
always capitalized when beginning a
sentence).

101.
102.
OMeara (2:1:2)
103.
104.
Bill de Blasio (4:1:3)
105.
106.
Political divisions
capitalization (8.50). Words

denoting political divisionsfrom

empire, republic, and state down to
ward and precinctare capitalized when
they follow a name and are used as an
accepted part of the name. Used alone,
they are usually lowercased.

107.
108.

Of the eight million people

living in New York City, some eleven
thousand are confined in the citys
jails on any given day (1:3:4)

109.
110.

Forty-eighth Precinct

(1:3:1)

111.
112.

but . . .
Were just going to take
you to the precinct. . . . (1:2:1)

113.
114.

Southern District of New

York (2:1:1)

115.
116.

New York States version is

slightly different (3:1:7)

117.
118.
Popular place-names or
epithets (8.47). Popular names of
places, or epithets, are usually
capitalized. Quotation marks are not
needed. None should be used in
contexts where they will not be readily
understood.

119.
120.

Belmont section of the

Bronx (1:1:1)

121.
122.
Little Italy (1:1:1)
123.
124.
Scholastic grades (7.60).
Letters used to denote grades are
usually capitalized and set in roman
type. No apostrophe is required in the
plural (See Inconsistencies, Rule 2.)

125.
126.

He told me that his report

cards were full of Cs (2:2:3)

127.
128.
Thoroughfares and the like
(8.55). The names of streets, avenues,
squares, parks and so forth are
capitalized. The generic term is
lowercased when used alone.

129.
130.
Arthur Avenue (1:1:1)
131.
132.
East 186th Street (1:1:1)
133.
134.
Bronx Zoo (2:1:3)
135.
136.
Trademarks (8.152, 8.153).
Brand names that are trademarks
often so indicated in dictionaries

Capitalization 12
should be capitalized if they must be
used. More information about registered
trademarks can be found on the
websites of the US Patent and
Trademark Office and the International
Trademark Association. Brand names or
names of companies that are spelled
with a lowercase initial letter followed by
a capital letter need not be capitalized
at the beginning of a sentence or
heading.

137.
138.
145.

Pokemon (2:2:2)

139.
140.
iPod Touch (3:1:2)
141.
142.
Treatment of book and
periodical titles (8.166). When
mentioned in text, notes, or
bibliography, the titles and subtitles of
books and periodicals are typically
italicized and capitalized headline-style.

143.
144.

Last year, the Times, in an

extended expos (2:1:2)

Numbers 13

146.

147.

NUMBERS

1. Chicagos general rulezero

through one hundred (9.2). In
nontechnical contexts, Chicago advises
spelling out whole numbers through one
hundred and certain round multiples of
those numbers.

148.
149.
150.
151.

seventeen hours (1:3:3)

And then theyll come with

five or six dudes. (2:3:2)

152.
153.

a week or two after the

alleged robbery (3.1.6)

154.
2. Hundreds, thousands, and
hundred thousands (9.4). Any of
the whole numbers mentioned in
Chicagos general rule (see Numbers,
Rule 1) followed by hundred, thousand,
or hundred thousand are usually spelled
outwhether used exactly or as
approximations.

155.
156.

some eleven thousand are

confined (1:3:4)

157.
158.

four-hundred-acre island

(1:3:4)

159.
160.

the jail held some six

hundred boys (1:3:5)

161.
3. Millions, billions, and so forth
(9.8). Whole numbers used in

combination with million, billion, and so

forth usually follow the general rule (see
Numbers, Rule 1).

162.
163.
eight million people (1:3:4)
164.
4. Month and day (9.32). When
specific dates are expressed, cardinal

numbers are used, although these may

be pronounced as ordinals. (But see
House Style, Rule 9.)

165.
166.

In the early hours of

Saturday, May 15, 2010 (1:1:1)

167.
168.

On the morning of July 28,

2010 (2:3:4)

169.
170.

On January 28, 2011

(3:2:2)

171.
5. Number beginning a sentence
(9.5). When a number begins a
sentence, it is always spelled out. To
avoid awkwardness, a sentence can
often be recast.

172.
173.

One reason is budgetary.

(2:1:2)

174.
175.

Seventy-four days had

passed since his arrest.
176.
(3:1:1)

177.
6. Numbered divisions in legal
instruments (9.29). Arabic or roman
numerals may be used to distinguish
divisions within legal instruments and
other documents. When in doubt about
a reference to a legal document, use
Arabic numerals or, if possible, consult
the document itself for guidance. For
proper usage of arabic or roman
numerals, refer to Numbers, Rule 10.

178.
179.

Sixth Amendment (2:1:2)

(See also Capitalization, Rule 8)

180.
7. Numbered political and judicial
divisions (9.47). Ordinal numbers
designating political or judicial divisions

Numbers 14
are spelled out if one hundred or less.
For proper usage of superscript, see
Numbers, Rule 5.

181.
182.

Forty-eighth Precinct

(1:3:1)

183.
8. Numbered streets (9.52). Ordinal
numbers designating streets, avenues,
and so forth are usually spelled out if
one hundred or less. For proper usage of
superscript, see Numbers, Rule 5. For
preferred forms of addresses in the
United State (i.e. abbreviated compass
points), consult the website of the US
Postal Service

184.
185.
East 186th Street (1:1:1)
186.
9. Numerals versus words for time
of day (9.38). Times of day in even,
half, and quarter hours are usually
spelled out in text.

187.
188.

Browder was awakened at

around half past four (2:3:4)

189.
10. Ordinals (9.6). Chicagos general rule
applies to ordinal as well as cardinal
numbers. The letters in ordinal numbers
should not appear as superscripts (e.g.
122nd, not 122nd).

190.
191.

seventeenth birthday

(1:1:1)

192.
193.
194.

Sixth Amendment (2:1:2)

195.
second degree (3:1:3)
196.
11. The year alone (9.30). Years are
expressed in numerals unless they stand
at the beginning of a sentence (see
Numbers, Rule 3), in which case
rewording may be a better option.

197.
198.

it hasnt housed anyone

since 2000 (1:3:4)

199.
200.

in 2010, Browders case

(2:1:2)

201.
202.

In 2011, seventy-four per

cent (3:2:1)

203.
12. Words versus monetary symbols
and numerals (9.21). Isolated
references to amounts of money are
spelled out for whole numbers of one
hundred or less, in accordance with the
general principle presented in Number,
Rule 1. Also see Numbers, Rule 2.

204.
205.

three thousand dollars

(1:3:3)

206.
207.

(3:1:2)

208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.

seven hundred dollars

Punctuation 15

214.

215.

PUNCTUATION

a. Colons
1. Use of the colon (6.59, 6.61). A
colon introduces an element or a series
of elements illustrating or amplifying
what has preceded the colon. When a
colon is used within a sentence, the first
word following the colon is lowercased
unless it is a proper name. (But see also
Punctuation, Rule 27.)

216.
217.

As Browder recalls, one of

the officers walked back to his car,
where the alleged victim was, and
returned with a new story: the man
said that they had robbed him not
that night but two weeks earlier.
(1:2:1)

218.
219.

Afterward, the officers

gave the teens a choice: go to the
medical clinic or go back to bed.
(2:3:3)

220.
221.

Court papers suggest a

lawyer in a hurry: in the fall of 2010,
OMeara filed a notice with the court
in which he mistakenly wrote that he
would soon be making a motion on
Browders case in Westchester
County Court, instead of in the
Bronx. (3:3:1)

222.

a. Commas
2. And if, that if, and the like
(6.32). When two conjunctions appear
next to each other (e.g., and if, but if),
they need not be separated. See also
Punctuation, Rules 5 and 6. (But see
Inconsistencies, Rule 1)

223.

224.

even though he know that

if he lost he could get up to fifteen
years in state prison (4:1:1)

225.
226.

The Bronx courts are so

clogged that when a lawyer asks for
a one-week adjournment the next
court date usually doesnt happen
for six weeks or more.

227.
3. Comma following the main
clause (6.31). A dependent clause

that follows a main clause should not be

preceded by a comma if it is restrictive,
that is, essential to the meaning of the
main clause. However, if the dependent
clause is merely supplementary or
parenthetical, it should be preceded by
a comma. Such distinctions are
occasionally tenuous. If in doubt,
rephrase.

228.
229.

Meanwhile, other inmates

advised Browder to tell his lawyer to
file a speedy-trail motiona motion
to dismiss the case, because it
hadnt been brought to trail within
six months. (3:3:3)

230.
4. Comma preceding main clause
(6.30). A dependent clause that
precedes a main clause should be
followed by a comma.

231.
232.

As they passed East 186th

Street, Browder saw a police car
driving toward them. (1:1:1)

233.
234.

With each day he spent in

jail, Browder imagined that he was
getting closer to trial. (3:1:7)

235.

Punctuation 16

236.

As he soon discovered, a
prisoner there doesnt leave his cell
except to go to rec (4:1:4)

237.
5. Commas to indicate elision
(6.49). A comma is often used to
indicate the omission of a word or words
readily understood from the context.

238.
239.

New York City pays lawyers

like OMeara (known locally as 18-B
attorneys) seventy-five dollars an
hour for a felony case, sixty dollars
for a misdemeanor. (3:3:2)

240.
241.

He told me that Browder,

compared with some of his other
clients, was quiet, respectfulhe
wasnt rude. (3:3:2)

242.
6. Commas with coordinate
adjectives (6.33). As a general rule,

when a noun is preceded by two or more

adjectives that could, without affecting
the meaning, be joined by and, the
adjectives are normally separated by
commas. Such adjectives, which are
called coordinate adjectives, can also
usually be reversed in order and still
make sense. If, on the other hand, the
adjectives are not coordinatethat is, if
one or more of the adjectives is
essential to (i.e., forms a unit with) the
noun being modifiedno commas are
used.

243.
244.

the bus made its way

across a long, narrow bridge to
Rikers Island (1:3:3)

245.
246.

New Yorkers who have

never visited often think of Rikers as
a single, terrifying building (1:3:4)

247.
248.

Browder went to the small,

progressive New Day Academy
(2:2:3)

249.
7. Commas with dates (6.45). In the
month-day-year style of dates, commas
must be used to set off the year.

250.
251.

In the early hours of

Saturday, May 15, 2010, ten days
before his seventeenth birthday
(1:1:1)

252.
253.

On the morning of July 28,

2010, Browder was awakened at
around half past four. (2:3:4)

254.
8. Commas with direct address
(6.38). A comma is used to set off

names or words used in direct address

and informal correspondence (in formal
correspondence, a colon usually follows
the name).

255.
256.

How do you plead, sir,

guilty or not guilty? (3:1:3)

257.
9. Commas with however,
therefore, indeed, and so
forth (6.25). Commassometimes
paired with semicolonsare traditionally
used to set off adverbs such as
however, therefore, and indeed. When
the adverb is essential to the meaning
of the clause, or if no pause is intended
or desired, commas are not needed.

258.
259.

Instead, the teens were

taken to Central Booking at the
Bronx County Criminal Court. (1:3:1)

260.
261.

In practice, however, this

time limit is subject to technicalities.
(3:1:7)

262.
10.
Commas with independent
clauses joined by conjunctions
(6.28). When independent clauses are
joined by and, but, or, so, or yet, or any
other conjunction, a comma usually
precedes the conjunction. If the clauses
are very short and closely connected,
the comma may be omitted unless the
clauses are part of a series (Example 4).

263.
264.

Browder's family could not

afford to hire an attorney, so the

Punctuation 17
judge appointed a lawyer named
Brendan OMeara to represent him.
(2:1:2)

is inverted and the phrase immediately

precedes the verb.

283.
284.

265.
266.

Staring through the

grating on the bus window, he
watched the Bronx disappear. (1:3:3)

This rule stipulates that all

felony cases (except homicides)
must be ready for trial within six
months of arraignment, or else the
charges can be dismissed. (3:1:7)

267.
268.

OMeara, who works

mostly in the Bronx and Westchester
County, never made the trip out to
Rikers to see him, since a visit there
can devour half a day. (3:3:1)

269.
270.

I actually took his sneaker

and I threw it, and he got mad. . . .
(4:1:2)

285.
286.

Housed in one of the

islands newer jails, the Bing has four
hundred cells (4:1:2)

287.
13.
Commas with not . . .
but, not only . . . but, and the
like (6.41). With an interjected phrase
of the type not . . . but or not only . . .
but, commas are usually unnecessary.

288.
289.

the man said that they had

robbed him not that night but two
weeks earlier (1:2:1)

271.
11.
Commas with introductory
adverbial phrases (6.36). An
introductory adverbial phrase is often
set off by a comma but need not be
unless misreading is likely. (But see
House Style, Rule 6.)

272.
273.

Inside R.N.D.C., Browder

soon realized (2:2:3)

274.
275.

At the Bronx County Hall of

Justice, they spent the day in a
basement holding pen (2:3:4)

276.
277.

After all, the accusation

had been made a week or two after
the alleged robbery (3:1:6)

278.
279.

By early 2012, prosecutors

had offered Browder a deal (3:3:4)

280.
281.

In 2011, in the Bronx, only

a hundred and sixty-five felony cases
went to trial (4:1:1)

282.
12.
Commas with introductory
participial phrases (6.35). An

introductory participial phrase should be

set off by a comma unless the sentence

290.
291.

The next court date set by

the judgeMarch 9thwas not one
week away but six. (3:2:2)

14.

292.
Commas with pairs (6.17).

Whenever a comma is used to set off an

element (such as 2010 in the first
example), a second comma is required if
the phrase or sentence continues
beyond the element being set off.

293.
294.

In the early hours of

Saturday, May 15, 2010, ten days
before his seventeenth birthday
(1.1.1)

295.
296.

On the morning of July 28,

2010, Browder was awakened at
around half past four. (2.3.4)

297.
298.

On January 28, 2011,

Browders two-hundred-and-fiftyeighth day in jail (3.2.2)

299.
15.
Commas with parenthetical
elements (6.24). If only a slight
break is intended, commas should be
used to set off a parenthetical element

Punctuation 18
inserted into a sentence as an
explanation or comment.

315.

300.
301.

some eleven thousand are

confined in the citys jails on any
given day, most of them on Rikers, a
four-hundred-acre island (1:3:4)

302.
303.

he slept with his head off

the side of his bed, atop his bucket
(2:2:5)

Kalief was the smallest, he

recalled, so my mom called him
Peanut. (2:1:3)
When I met him, earlier
this year, he was eating a hamburger
and drinking coffee (3:3:2)

304.
305.

It lasted about two weeks,

he recalls, and followed a scuffle with
another inmate. (4:1:2)

306.
16.
Commas with questions
(6.52). An indirect question does not
require a question mark, nor does it
need to be set off with a comma.
Indirect questions are never capitalized
(except at the beginning of a sentence).

307.
308.

When Browder asked a

guard how inmates were supposed to
get their clothes cleaned, he was
told that they had to wash them
themselves (2:2:4)

309.
17.
Commas with restrictive
and nonrestrictive phrases
(6.26). A phrase that is restrictive
that is, essential to the meaning (and
often the identity) of the noun it belongs
toshould not be set off by commas. A
nonrestrictive phrase, however, should
be enclosed in commas (or, if at the end
of the sentence, preceded by a comma).
This rule applies also to phrases
introduced by such as or including.

310.
311.

past bakeries and cafs

with their metal shutters pulled down
for the night (1:1:1)

312.
313.

Browder had already had a

few run-ins with the police, including
an incident eight months earlier,
when an officer reported seeing him
(1:3:2)

314.

316.
317.
318.
319.

Robbery in the second

degree and other crimes (3:1:3)

320.
18.
Commas with that is,
namely, for example, and
similar expressions (6.43).
Expressions of the type that is are
traditionally followed by a comma. They
may be preceded by an em dash or a
semicolon, or the entire phrase they
introduce may be enclosed in
parentheses or em dashes. Note that in
the following example, that is
constitutes a different purpose.

321.
322.

The clock stops for many

reasonsfor example, when defense
attorneys submit motions before trial
so that the amount of time that is
officially held to have elapsed can be
wildly different from the amount of
time that really has. (3:2:1)

323.
19.
Commas with the more,
the less, and so on (6.42). A
comma is customarily used between
clauses of the more . . . the more type.
Shorter phrases of that type, however,
rarely merit commas.

324.
325.

the more a case drags

drags on the greater the pressure
to give up and plead guilty (3:3:4)

326.
20.
Restrictive and
nonrestrictive appositives
(6.23). A word, abbreviation, phrase, or
clause that is in apposition to a noun
(i.e., provides an explanatory
equivalent) is normally set off by
commas if it is nonrestrictivethat is, if

Punctuation 19
it can be omitted without obscuring the
identity of the noun to which it refers.

342.
343.

They walked along Arthur

Avenue, the main street of Little
Italy, past bakeries and cafs (1:1:1)

A former staff member

described him as a fun guy, the
type of kid others wanted to be
around (2:2:3) (that is omitted before
wanted)

329.
330.

344.
345.

331.
332.

346.
347.

327.
328.

Browder repeatedly told

OMeara, his court-appointed lawyer,
that he would never plead guilty
(3:1:6)
Mayor Bill de Blasio
appointed a new jails commissioner,
Joseph Ponte, who promised to end
the culture of excessive solitary
confinement. (4:1:3)

333.
334.

If, however, the word or

phrase is restrictivethat is,
provides essential information
about the noun (or nouns) to
which it refersno commas
should appear.

335.
336.

the judge appointed a

lawyer named Brendan OMears to
represent him (2:1:2)

337.
338.

The criminal complaint

alleged that he and his friend had
robbed a Mexican immigrant named
Roberto Bautista (3:1:2)

339.
21.
Restrictive and
nonrestrictive clauseswhich
versus that (6.22). A relative

clause is said to be restrictive if it

provides information that is essential to
the meaning of the sentence. Restrictive
relative clauses are usually introduced
by that (or who/whom/whose and are
never set off by commas from the rest of
the sentence. The pronoun that may
occasionally be omitted but need not be
if the sentence is just as clear without it.

340.
341.

eight for men, one for

women, and one so decrepit that it
hasnt housed anyone since 2000
(1.3.4)

Storied circulate on Rikers

about inmates who plead guilty to
crimes they didnt commit just to put
an end to their ordeal (4:1:1)
A relative clause is said to
be nonrestrictive if it could be
omitted without obscuring the
identity of the noun to which it
refers or otherwise changing the
meaning of the rest of the
sentence. Nonrestrictive relative
clauses are usually introduced by
which (or who/whom/whose) and
are set off from the rest of the
sentence by commas.

348.
349.

But Browser had entered

the legal system through the Bronx
criminal courts, which are chronically
overwhelmed. (2.1.2)

350.
351.

their father, who worked

as a subway cleaner, moved out
(2.2.2)

352.
353.

Browder was placed in

shackles and transferred by bus to
the Central Punitive Segregation
Unit, which everyone on Rikers calls
the Bing. (4:1:2)

354.
22. Serial commas (6.18). Items in a
series are normally separated by
commas. When a conjunction joins the
last two elements in a series of three or
more, a commaknown as the serial or
series comma or the Oxford comma
should appear before the conjunction.

355.
356.

he learned that he had

been charged with robbery, grand
larceny, and assault (1.3.3)

357.

Punctuation 20

358.

371.
Em dashes with that
is, namely, for
example, and similar
expressions (6.85). An em

Browder loved Pokemon,

the W.W.E., free Wednesdays at the
Bronx Zoo, and mimicking his
brothers workout routine. (2.2.1)

359.
360.

dash may be used before

expressions such as that is or
namely.

Bautista told the police

that his backpack contained a credit
card, a debit card, a digital camera,
an iPod Touch, and seven hundred
dollars. (3.1.2)

372.
373.

The clock stops for many

reasonsfor example, when defense
attorneys submit motions before trial
so that the amount of time
officially held to have elapsed can be
wildly different

361.

a. Dashes
23.
Em dashes instead of
commas, parentheses, or colons
(6.82, 6.86). The em dash, often
simply called the dash, is the most
commonly used and most versatile of
the dashes. Em dashes are used to set
off an amplifying or explanatory element
and in that sense can function as an
alternative to parentheses, commas, or
a colonespecially when an abrupt
break in thought is called for. If the
context calls for an em dash where a
comma would ordinarily separate a
dependent clause from an independent
clause, the comma is omitted.

362.
363.

the island has ten jails

eight for me, one for women, and
one so decrepit that it hasnt housed
anyone since 2000 (1:3:5)

364.
365.

By the time it came to

Kalief, my mom had alreadyin
foster care or adoptiona total of
thirty-four kids. (2:1:3)

366.
367.

Meanwhile, other inmates

advised Browder to tell his lawyer to
file a speedy-trail motiona motion
to dismiss the case, because it
hadnt been brought to trail within
six months. (3:3:3)

368.
369.

Her was throwing shoes

at peopleI told him to stop,
Browder said. (4:1:2)

370.

374.

a. Parentheses
24.

Use of parentheses (6.92).

Parenthesesstronger than a comma

and similar to the dashare used to set
off material from the surrounding text.
Like dashes but unlike commas,
parentheses can set off text that has no
grammatical relationship to the rest of
the sentence.

375.
376.

This rule stipulates that all

felony cases (except homicides)
must be ready for trial within six
months of arraignment, or else the
charges can be dismissed. (3:1:7)

377.
378.

New York City pays lawyers

like OMeara (known locally as 18-B
attorneys) seventy-five dollars for
an hour for a felony case, sixty
dollars for a misdemeanor. (3:3:2)

379.

a.
b. Periods
25.
Periods in relation to
parentheses and brackets (6.13).
When an entire independent sentence is
enclosed in parentheses or square
brackets, the period belongs inside the
closing parenthesis or bracket.

380.

Punctuation 21

381.

(The original police report

said on or about May 2, but
Bautista later told a detective that it
happened on May 8th.)

382.
383.

Adolescents cant handle

it. Nobody could handle that. (In
March, Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed
a new jails commissioner, Joseph
Ponte, who promised to end the
culture of excessive solitary
confinement.) (4:1:3)

384.
26.
Periods with abbreviations
(10.4). Use periods for initials standing
for given names, but do not use periods
for an entire name replaced by initials.
(See also House Style, Rule 11.)

385.
386.

Robert N. Davoren Center

(1:3:5)

387.

a. Quotation Marks
and Related
Punctuation
27.
Colon to introduce speech
or quotations (6.63). A colon may
be used instead of a comma to
introduce a quotation, either where the
syntax of the introduction requires it or
to more formally introduce the
quotation. (For more general use of the
colon, see Punctuation, Rule 1.)

388.
389.

A few hours later, when an

officer opened the door, Browder
jumped up: I can leave now?
(1:3:1)

390.
391.

The report featured a list

of inmate injuries: broken jaws,
broken orbital bones, broken noses,
long bone fractures, and lacerations
requiring stitches. (2:1:1)

392.
393.

An index card in the court

file explains:

394.

395.
June 23, 2011:
People not ready, request 1 week
(3:2:2)

396.
28.
Commas with quotations
(6.50). Material quoted in the form of

dialogue or from text is traditionally

introduced with a comma (but see
Punctuation, Rule 27). If a quotation is
introduced by that, whether, or a similar
conjunction, no comma is needed. (But
see also Capitalization, Rule 9.)

397.
398.

Browder whispered to his

friend, Are you sure you didnt do
anything? (1:2:1)

399.
400.

A clerk read out the

chargesRobbery in the second
degree and other crimesand
asked Browder, how do you plead,
sir, guilty or not guilty? (3:1:3)

401.
402.

If a quotation is introduced
by that, whether, or a similar
conjunction, no comma is
needed.

403.
404.

Not long after Browder was

indicted, an assistant district
attorney sent the court a Notice of
Readiness, stating that the People
are ready for trial. (3:2:2)

405.
29.
Exclamation points with
quotation marks, parentheses,
or brackets (6.74). An exclamation
point should be placed inside quotation
marks, parentheses, or brackets only
when it is part of the quoted or
parenthetical matter.

406.
407.

I didnt do anything!

(1:2:1)

408.
30.
Periods and commas in
relation to closing quotation
marks (6.9). Periods and commas
precede closing quotation marks,
whether double or single.

Punctuation 22

409.
410.

I didnt rob anybody,

Browder replied. You can check my
pockets. (1:1:1)

readers if overused. (But see

Punctuation, Rule 34.)

422.
423.

officers pressured inmates

not to report beatingsto hold it
down, in Rikers parlance (2:3:3)

411.
412.

He was throwing shoes at

peopleI told him to stop, Browder
said. I actually took his sneaker and
I threw it, and he got mad. He swung
on me, and we started fighting.
(4:1:2)

413.
31.
Question marks in relation
to surrounding text and
punctuation (6.70). A question mark
should be placed inside quotation
marks, parentheses, or brackets only
when it is part of (i.e., applies to) the
quoted or parenthetical matter.

414.
415.

Browder whispered to his

friend, Are you sure you didnt do
anything? (1:2:1)

416.
417.

Every time Browder got

the chance, he asked OMeara the
same question: Can you get me
out? (3:3:3)

418.
32.
Quotations and quotes
within quotes (13.28). Quoted
words, phrases, and sentences run into
the text are enclosed in double
quotation marks. Single quotation marks
enclose quotations within quotations;
double marks, quotations within these;
and so on.

419.
420.

A lot of times, Id say, Im

not sitting on the floor, Browder
said. (2:3:2)

33.

421.
Scare quotes (7.55)

Quotation marks are often used to alert

readers that a term is used in a
nonstandard (or slang), ironic, or other
special sense. Nicknamed scare quotes,
they imply, This is not my term or
This is not how the term is usually
applied. Like any such device, scare
quotes lose their force and irritate

424.
425.

New York States version is

slightly different, and is known as the
ready rule. (3:1:7)

426.
427.

(known locally as 18-B

attorneys) (3:3:2)

34.

428.
So-called (7.56). A word or

phrase preceded by so-called need not

be enclosed in quotation marks.

429.
430.

Many states have so-called

speedy-trial laws, which require trials
to start within a certain time frame.

431.

a. Semicolons
35.
Use of the semicolon
(6.54). In regular prose, a semicolon is
most commonly used between two
independent clauses not joined by a
conjunction to signal a closer connection
between them than a period would.

432.
433.

There werent hours of

wiretaps or piles of complicated
evidence to sift through; there was
just the memory of one alleged
victim. (2:1:2)

434.
435.

In 2011, in the Bronx, only

a hundred and sixty-five felony cases
went to trial; in three thousand nine
hundred and ninety-one cases, the
defendant pleaded guilty. (4:1:1)

436.
437.

As he soon discovered, a
prisoner there doesnt leave his cell
except to go to rec, the shower, the
visit room, the medical clinic, or
court; whenever he does leave, he is
handcuffed and strip-searched.
(4:1:4)

Punctuation 23

438.
439.
440.
441.
442.
443.
444.
445.
446.
447.
448.
449.
450.

451.
452.
453.
454.
455.
456.
457.
458.
459.
460.
461.
462.

Spelling 24

463.

SPELLING

a. General
1. Contractions (7.29). In contractions,
an apostrophe normally replaces
omitted letters. Some contractions, such
as wont or aint, are formed irregularly.
Websters lists many common
contractions and their plurals.

464.
465.
466.
467.
468.
469.
470.
2. Plurals of

hadnt (1:2:1)
dont (2:2:5)
cant (4:1:3)

proper nouns (7.8).

Names of persons and other capitalized

nouns normally form the plural by
adding s or es. Rare exceptions are
generally listed in Websters.

471.
472.
New Yorkers (1:3:4)
473.
474.
Wednesdays (2:2:2)
475.
3. Possessive form of most nouns
(7.15). The possessive of most singular
nouns is formed by adding an
apostrophe and an s. The possessive of
plural nouns (except for a few irregular
plurals, like children, that do not end in
s) is formed by adding an apostrophe.

476.
477.
inmates access (2:3:2)
478.
479.
clients behalf (3:3:3)
480.
4. Possessive of proper nouns
(7.16). The general rule extends to
proper nouns, including names ending in
s, x, or z, in both their singular and
plural forms.

481.

482.
483.
484.

Browders family (2:1:2)

U.S. Attorneys report

(2:3:3)

485.
486.
New York Citys jails (4:1:3)
487.
5. Possessive versus attributive
forms (7.24). The line between a
possessive or genitive form and a noun
used attributivelyto modify another
nounis sometimes fuzzy, especially in
the plural.

488.
489.
islands newer jails (4:1:2)
490.
6. Roman for familiar foreign words
(7.52). Foreign words and phrases
familiar to most readers and listed in
Websters should appear in roman (not
italics) if used in an English context;
they should be spelled as in Websters.
German nouns, if in Websters, are
lowercased.

491.
492.
493.
494.
495.

cafs (1:1:1)
expos (2:1:2)

a. Hyphenation Guide
496.
Hyphenation guide
for compounds and words
formed (7.85). This section is

meant to provide a guide to

hyphenation. In general, Chicago
prefers a spare hyphenation
style: if no suitable example or
analogy can be found either in
this section or in the dictionary,
hyphenate only if doing so will aid
readability.

497.

Spelling 25
7. To hyphenate or not to
hyphenate (7.77). The most
common spelling questions for writers
and editors concern compound terms
whether to spell as two words,
hyphenate, or close up as a single word.
Prefixes (and occasionally suffixes) can
be troublesome also. The first place to
look for answers is the dictionary.

498.
499.
500.
501.
502.
503.
504.
505.
506.
507.
508.
509.
510.
511.
512.

10.
Adverb Ending in ly +
Participle or Adjective (p.377).
Leave open whether before or after a
noun.

521.
522.
523.
524.

foster care (2:1:3)

here and there (2:3:1)
briefcase (3:3:2)
get through (3:3:3)
state prison (4:1:1)

a. Hyphenation Guide:
Compounds
According to
Category and Parts
of Speech (7.85)

525.
526.

513.
514.
515.
516.

speedy-trial laws (3:1:7)

is known as the ready

rule (3:1:7)

517.

527.
528.
severely addicted (4:1:3)
529.
11.
Adverb Not Ending in ly +
Participle or Adjective (p. 377).
Hyphenate when before but not after a
noun. Compounds with more, most, less,
least, and very usually remain open
unless there is ambiguity.

530.
531.
most backlogged (2:1:2)
532.
533.
very smart (2:2:3)
534.
535.
much longer (3:2:3)
536.
12.
Compound possessives
(7.23). In compound nouns and noun
phrases the final element usually takes
the possessive form, even in the plural.

537.
538.

deep-seated culture of
violence (2:1:1)

520.

Bronx District Attorneys

(2:1:2)

539.
540.
New York Citys (4:1:3)
541.
13. Gerund + Noun (p.377). Noun form
remains open; hyphenate adjective
forms.

9. Adjective + Participle (p. 377).

Hyphenate when found before but not
after a noun.

518.
519.

freshly laundered clothes

(2:2:5)

8. Adjective + Noun (p. 377).

Hyphenate when found before but not
after a noun.

chronically overwhelmed

(2:1:2)

squad cars (1:1:1)

dayroom (1:3:1)

notoriously grim (1:1:1)

14.

542.
543.
holding cell (1:3:1)
544.
545.
visiting room (2:2:5)
546.
Multiple hyphens (7.83).

Multiple hyphens are usually appropriate

for such phrases as an over-the-counter

Spelling 26
drug or a winner-take-all contest. If,
however, the compound modifier
consists of an adjective that itself
modifies a compound, additional
hyphens may not be necessary.

547.
548.

four-hundred-acre island

(1:3:4)

549.
550.

two-hundred-and-fiftyeighth day (3:2:2)

15.

adjective forms.

569.
570.
fellow-prisoners (2:2:5)
571.
19. Number, Ordinal, + Noun (p.
376). Hyphenate adjective forms

preceding a noun; otherwise leave open.

572.
573.

551.
Noun + Participle (p. 378).

Hyphenate the adjective form before but

not after a noun.

552.
553.

court-appointed lawyer

(3:1:5)

16.

18.
Noun + Noun, Two
Functions (both nouns equal) (p.
378). Always hyphenate both noun and

554.
Number + Noun (p. 376).

(3:1:3)

574.
20.
Number + Percentage (p.
376). Both noun and adjective forms
always remain open. (See also House
Style, Rule 10.)

575.
576.

seventy-four per cent of

felony cases

Hyphenate adjective forms preceding a

noun; noun form open.

555.
556.
557.
558.

But, with so many oneweek requests that had turned into

six-week delays, Browder had yet to
reach the six-month mark. (3:3:3)

559.
560.

577.
578.

twenty-seven per cent of

the adolescent inmates

four-hundred-acre island

(1:3:4)

579.
21.
Numbers, spelled out (p.
376). Hyphenate only twenty-one

through nine ninety-nine; all others

remain open. (But see also House Style,
Rule 3.)

580.
581.
582.
583.

twelve feet by seven

(4:1:2)

561.
17.
Noun + Noun, Single
Function (first noun modifies
second noun) (p. 378). Noun form

remains open; adjective form is

hyphenated when before a noun. Some
permanent compounds are closed.

562.
563.
564.
565.

criminal record (1:3:2)

jail commissary account

(2:2:5)

566.
567.

(4:1:3)

568.

solitary-confinement beds

in the second degree

eleven thousand (1:3:4)

five thousand six hundred

and ninety-five (2:1:2)

22.

584.
Participle + Noun (p. 378).

Hyphenate adjective form if found

before but not after a noun.

585.
586.
587.
588.

alleged victim (1:2:1)

broken jaws, broken

orbital bones, broken noses, long
bone fractures (2:1:1)

589.
23.
Participle + up, out, and
similar adverbs (p. 378).

Hyphenate adjective form before but not

Spelling 27

605.
606.

after a noun. Verb form always remains

open.

24.

590.
591.
pulled down (1:1:1)
592.
593.
ruled over (2:3:2)
594.
Phrases, Noun (p. 379).

Hyphenate or open in accordance with

Websters recommendations. If the
phrase does not appear in the
dictionary, leave open.

595.
596.

Robbery in the second

degree and other crimes

25.

597.
Time (p. 377). Usually leave

a visit there can devour at

least half a day

28.

607.
House (p. 381). Close or

29.

608.
609.
courthouse (3:2:2)
610.
Old (p. 381) Hyphenate

open in accordance with Websters

recommendations. If the compound
does not appear in the dictionary, leave
open.

noun forms. Hyphenate adjective forms

if found before a noun; leave open if
after a noun.

611.
612.
613.

open; hyphenate forms such as three

thirty, four twenty, etc. before the
noun.

a. Hyphenation Guide:
Words Formed with
Prefixes (7.85)

598.
599.

Browder was awakened at

around half past four. (2:3:4)

600.

a. Hyphenation Guide:
Compounds Formed
with Specific Terms
(7.85)

614.

Full (p. 380). Hyphenate

when found before a noun; otherwise
leave open. Use ful only in certain
permanent compounds. (The second
rule more applies to this piece.)
601.
youthful (1:3:2)
respectful (3:3:2)

Half (p. 381) Hyphenate

adjective forms before and after the
noun; leave noun forms open. Some
permanent compounds remain closed,
whether nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

27.

30.

603.
604.

Already he had missed his

seventeenth birthday, the end of his
sophomore year, and half the
summer.

General Suggestions.

Compounds formed with prefixes

are normally closed, whether
they are nouns, verbs, adjectives,
or adverbs. A hyphen should
appear, however, (1) before a
capitalized word or a numbers;
(2) before a compound term; (3)
to separate two os, two as, and
other combinations of letters or
syllables that might cause
misreading; (4) to separate the
repeated terms in a double prefix;
(5) when a prefix or combining
form stands alone. Consult
Websters Collegiate Dictionary
for more comprehensive
suggestions.

26.

602.

At six years old (2:2:2)

615.
Mid (p. 383).
616.
617.
Between 2007 and mid2013 (4:1:3)

31.

618.
Over (p. 383).
619.

Spelling 28

32.

620.
overwhelmed (2:1:2)
621.
Un (p. 384).
622.
623.
unprepared (2:1:2)
624.
625.
unsuccessful (3:3:3) (see
also Spelling, Rule 37.)

33.

626.
Re (p. 384).
627.
628.
recalls (1:2:1)
629.
630.
recount (2:3:4)
631.

a. Word Division (7.317.38)

34.
Dictionary word division
and words that should not be
divided (7.31, 7.32). For end-of-line

word breaks, Chicago turns to Websters

as its primary guide. The dots between
syllables in Websters indicate where
breaks may be made; in words of three
or more syllables, there is usually a
choice of breaks. Single-syllable words,
including verb forms, are never divided.

632.
633.
lar-ceny (1:3:3)
634.
635.
commit-ted (2:2:4)
636.
637.
No-body (4:1:3)
638.
35.
Dividing according to
pronunciation (7.33). In the usage
preferred by Chicago and reflected in
Websters, most words are divided
according to pronunciation rather than
derivation (But see also Spelling, Rule
37)

639.
640.

pros-ecutors (not prosecutors) (2:1:2)

641.

sol-itary confinement (not

soli-tary) (4:1:2)

642.

discov-ered (not discovered) (4:1:4)

643.
36.
Dividing after a vowel
(7.34). Unless a resulting break affects
pronunciation, words are best divided
after a vowel. When a vowel forms a
syllable in the middle of a word, it
should run in to the first line if possible.
Diphthongs are treated as single vowels
(e.g., the eu in aneurysm).

644.
645.
sopho-more (3:1:1)
646.
647.
homi-cides (3:1:7)
648.
37.
Dividing compounds,
prefixes, and suffixes (7.35).

Hyphenated or closed compounds and

words with prefixes or suffixes are best
divided at the natural breaks. (See also
Inconsistencies, Rule 3.)

649.
650.
651.
652.

run-ins (1:3:2)
re-mained (3:2:3)

653.

un-successful (not unsuccessful) (3:3:3) (See also Spelling,

Rule 32.)

654.
38. Dividing words ending in ing
(7.36). Most gerunds and present
participles may be divided before the
ing. When the final consonant before the
ing is doubled, however, the break
occurs between the consonants. For
words ending in ing, check the
dictionary.

655.
656.
grat-ing (1:3:3)
657.
39.
Dividing proper nouns and
personal names (7.38). Proper
nouns of more than one element,
especially personal names, should be
broken, if possible, between the
elements rather than within any of the
elements. If a break within a name is
needed, consult the dictionary. Those

Spelling 29
that cannot be found in a dictionary
should be broken (or left unbroken)
according to the guidelines elsewhere in
this section. If pronunciation is not
known or easily guessed, the break
should usually follow a vowel.

658.
659.

Department of Cor-rection

(1:3:3)

660.
661.

Department of Proba-tion

(3:1:5)

662.
663.
664.
665.
666.
667.
668.
669.
670.
671.
672.
673.
674.
675.
676.
677.
678.
679.
680.
681.
682.
683.
684.
685.
686.
687.
688.

Dan-iel Selling (4:1:3)

689.
690.
691.
692.
693.
694.
695.
696.
697.
698.
699.
700.
701.
702.
703.
704.
705.
706.
707.
708.
709.
710.
711.
712.
713.
714.
715.
716.
717.
718.
719.
720.
721.
722.
723.
724.
725.
726.
727.

House Style 30

728.

HOUSE STYLE

a. Body Text Style

1. Beginning a sentence with a
conjunction (5.206). There is a
widespread beliefone with no
historical or grammatical foundation
that it is an error to begin a sentence
with a conjunction such as and, but, or
so. In fact, a substantial percentage
(often as many as 10 percent) of the
sentences in first-rate writing begin with
conjunctions. The New Yorker frequently
begins sentences with conjunctions.

729.
730.

But Browder had entered

the legal system through the Bronx
criminal courts, which are chronically
overwhelmed. (2:1:2)

731.
732.

And as theyre talking

theyre punching us one by one.
(2:3:3)

733.
2. Block quotations of more than
one paragraph (13.20). Quoted
material of more than a paragraph, even
if very brief, is best set off as a block
quotation. A multiparagraph block
quotation should generally reflect the
paragraph breaks of the original.
Chicago indicates that if the first
paragraph quoted includes the
beginning of that paragraph, the block
quotation need not start with a first-line
paragraph indentation. However, The
New Yorker indents the first paragraph
of its block quotations. All subsequent
paragraphs are also indented. In
accordance with Chicagos
recommendation, the text is both
indented and set in a smaller type to
distinguish it from the surrounding text
(13.9). In The New Yorker, an extra

space also both precedes and succeeds

the block quotation.

734.
735.

An index card in the court

file explains:

736.
737. June 23, 2011: People not
ready, request 1 week.
738. August 24, 2011: People not
ready, request 1 day.
739. November 4, 2011: People
not ready, prosecutor on trial, request
2 weeks.
740. December 2, 2011:
Prosecutor on trial, request January
3rd.

741.
3. Chicagos general rulezero
through one hundred (9.2, 9.5).

While Chicago recommends that most

numbers above numbers one hundred
be expressed in numerals, The New
Yorker spells out specific numbers,
perhaps for purposes of emphasis.
Additionally, while Chicago prefers that
and is omitted when larger numbers are
spelled out, The New Yorker includes
and in its spelling.

742.
743.

five thousand six hundred

and ninety-five felonies (2:1:2)

744.
745.

two-hundred-and-fiftyeighth day in jail (3:2:2)

746.
4. Civil titles (8.21). In formal

academic prose, Chicago recommends

that civil titles are capitalized only when
used as part of the name. The New
Yorker deviates from this practice in the
following instances.

747.
748.
749.

U.S. Attorney (2:1:1)

House Style 31

750.

Bronx District Attorneys

office (2:1:2)

751.
5. Commas with compound
predicates (6.29). A comma is not

normally used between the parts of a

compound predicatethat is, two or
more verbs having the same subject, as
distinct from two independent clauses
(see Punctuation, Rule 10). A comma
may occasionally be needed, however,
to prevent a misreading. The New Yorker
also seems to use commas in compound
predicates to split longer sentences or to
emphasize latter parts of sentences,
however, even if misreading is not
necessarily a threat.

752.
753.

if the inmates went to the

clinic and told the medical staff what
had happened, they would write up
charges against them, and get them
sent to solitary confinement (2:3:3)

754.
755.

The Department of
Correction refused to respond to
these allegations, or to answer any
questions about Browders stay on
Rikers. (2:3:3)

756.
757.

New York States version is

slightly different, and is known as the
ready rule. (3:1:7)

758.
6. Commas with introductory
adverbial phrases (6.36). While

Chicago states that shorter introductory

words and phrases need not be
separated by a comma unless a
misreading is likely, The New Yorker
seems to prefer to almost always set
them off with a comma.

759.
760.

The next day, he was led

into a courtroom (1:3:3)

761.
762.

As a child, Browder loved

Pokemon, the W.W.E., free
Wednesdays at the Bronx Zoo, and
mimicking his brothers workout
routine. (2:2:2)

763.
764.

But, with so many oneweek requests that had turned into

six-week delays (3:3:3)

765.
766.

In recent years, the use of

solitary confinement has spread in
New Yorks jails. (4:1:3)

767.
7. Contractions (5.103). Most types of
writing benefit from the use of
contractions. If used thoughtfully,
contractions in prose sound natural and
relaxed and make reading more
enjoyable. Be-verbs and most of the
auxiliary verbs are contracted when
followed by not. The New Yorker
frequently uses contractions.

768.
769.
770.
771.
772.
773.
774.
8. Italics for

hadnt (1:2:1)
hes (3:3:1)
didnt (4:1:1)

emphasis (7.47).

Although Chicago states that italics

should be used for emphasis sparingly,
The New Yorker does occasionally
employ them for this purpose.

775.
776.

Are you sure you didnt do

anything? (1:2:1)

777.
9. Month and day (9.6, 9.32). Note

that while Chicago recommends cardinal

numbers are used to express specific
dates, The New Yorker prefers ordinal
numbers. Additionally, note that letters
in ordinal numbers are used (unless they
appear in quoted material in which
letters are not used) and do not appear
as superscripts, in accordance with
Chicagos recommendation.

778.
779.

Bautista later told a

detective that it happened on May
8th (3:1:5)

780.
781.

March 9th (3:2:2)

House Style 32

10.

782.
Percentages (9.18). While

Chicago recommends that percentages

should usually be expressed in numerals
when not at the beginning of a
sentence, The New Yorker prefers to
spell out numerals related to
percentages.

783.
784.

seventy-four per cent

(3:2:1)

785.
786.

Between 2007 and mid2013, the total number of solitaryconfinement beds on Rikers
increased by more than sixty per
cent, and a report last fall found that
nearly twenty-seven per cent of the
adolescent inmates were in solitary.
(4:1:3)

787.
11.
Periods with abbreviations
(10.4). When writing in nontechnical
settings, Chicago prefers no periods
when abbreviations appear in full
capitals. The New Yorker, however,
prefers to use periods in its
abbreviations, that of the United States.
(See also Punctuation, Rule 26 and
Inconsistencies, Rule 4.)

788.
789.

Robert N. Davoren Center

R.N.D.C. ( 1:3:5)

790.
791.
U.S. Attorney (2:1:1)
792.
12.
Small versus full-size
capitals for acronyms and
initialisms (10.8). In accordance
with Chicagos recommendation, The
New Yorker prefers full-size capitals for
acronyms and initialism.

793.
794.
R.N.D.C. (1:3:5)
795.
796.
W.W.E. (2:2:2)
797.
13.
The trend toward closed
compounds (7.79). With frequent
use, open or hyphenated compounds

tend to become closed. Chicagos

general adherence to Websters does
not preclude occasional exceptions
when the closed spellings have become
widely preferred by writers and
pronunciation and readability are not at
stake. However, The New Yorker prefers
to continue to separate certain
compounds that are widely accepted to
have become closed.

798.
799.
800.
801.

per cent (3:2:1)

Similarly, The New Yorker

closes certain
802.
compounds that Websters
hyphenates.

803.
804.
805.
806.
807.

pullups (2:3:1)
pushups (2:3:1)

a. Guidelines for
Formatting
14.
Capitals for emphasis
(7.48). Capitalizing an entire word or
phrase for emphasis is rarely
appropriate. If capitals are wantedin
dialogue or in representing newspaper
headlines, for examplesmall caps
rather than full capitals look more
graceful. The New Yorker sets each of its
article titles in full capitals in a font
larger than the rest of the text. Although
Chicagos guidelines for headline-style
capitalization (8.157) recommends that
a, and, and the are lowercased, The
New Yorker capitalizes the articles.
Please refer to House Style, Rule 16.

808.
15.
Punctuation and boldface
or color (6.3). The choice of boldface
(or, by extension, type in a different
color), unlike that of italics, is more
often an aesthetic than a purely logical
decision. Punctuation marks following
boldface or color should be dealt with
case by case, depending on how the

House Style 33
boldface is used. Please refer to House
Style, Rule 16.

809.
16.

Special Style. For this specific

article, the title, byline, subhead, journal
section, and photograph are centered
with respect to the first two columns
and is set in bold. They are doublespaced and appear only on the verso.
810.

811. BEFOR
E THE LAW
812.
813.

Like the title, both the

section of the journal to which the
article belongs and the authors
byline are also set in full capitals
and boldface. However, they are
set in a font smaller than the title
but slightly larger than the body
text.

814.

815.
OUR LOCAL
CORRESPONDENTS
816.
817.
BY JENNIFER
GONNERMAN

818.
819.

The articles subhead is

set in all italics and appears only
on one line (column spacing here
does not allow re-creation of line
spacing). The font is the same
size as the body text.

820.
821.

A boy was accused of

taking a backpack. The courts
took the next three years of his
life.

822.
823.

The photographs caption

appears at the bottom of the
page and is separated from it by
the first two columns. Like the
subhead, the caption is set in all
italics and appears only on one
line (column spacing here does

not allow re-creation of line

spacing). However, the caption is
aligned left.

824.
825.

Kalief Browder spent more

than a thousand days confined
on Rikers Island.

826.
827.

The photographers byline

comprises part of the footer only
on the verso of the first page, is
set in small capitals, is bolded,
and is aligned right.

828.

829.

830.
831.
832.
833.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ZACH
GROSS

Running feet include:

On verso (aligned left):

[page number in boldface]
[indent] [journal title in small
capitals and boldface type]
[comma] [dateincluding month,
date, and yearin small capitals]

834.
835.
26
THE NEW
YORKER, OCTOBER 6, 2014

836.
837.

On recto (aligned right):

[journal title in small capitals and
boldface type] [comma] [date
including month, date, and year
in small capitals and boldface]
[indent] [page number in
boldface]

838.
839.
THE NEW YORKER,
OCTOBER 6, 2014
27

840.
841.

Decorative initials (drop

caps and raised initials):
Following the first section, The
New Yorker denotes further
internal article sectioning with a
double space. The first paragraph
of the next section begins with a
decorative initial, as does the
first.

House Style 34

842.

n the early hours of

Saturday, May 15, (1:1:1)

843.

or as long as Browder

could remember (2:1:3)

844.

ot long after arriving

on Rikers (4:1:2)

845.
17.
Recommended dictionaries
(7.1). If more than one spelling is given
in Websters, or more than one form of
the plural, Chicago normally opts for the
first form listed (even for equal
variants), thus aiding consistency. Note
that The New Yorker also generally
follows this practice.

846.
847.
848.
849.
850.
851.
852.
853.
854.
855.
856.
857.
858.
859.
860.
861.
862.
863.
864.

T-shirt (2:2:4)
pleaded (4:1:1)

865.
866.
867.
868.
869.
870.
871.
872.
873.
874.
875.
876.
877.
878.
879.
880.
881.
882.
883.
884.
885.
886.
887.
888.
889.
890.
891.
892.
893.
894.
895.
896.
897.
898.
899.
900.
901.

Inconsistencies 35

902.

903.

INCONSISTENCIES

1. And if, that if, and the like

(6.32). While The New Yorker generally

follows Chicagos preference not to

separate two conjunctions with commas,
it deviates from this rule in one place.

2.
3. But, they made it clear that, if the
inmates went to the clinic and told
the medical staff what had
happened, they would write up
charges against them (2:3:3)
4.
5. Scholastic grades (7.60). While
Chicago does not require an apostrophe
to denote scholastic grades in the plural,
The New Yorker uses an apostrophe in
the following instance.
6.
7. He told me that his report card is
full of Cs (2:2:3)
8.

9. Dividing compounds, prefixes,

and suffixes (7.35). The New Yorker
generally follows Chicagos guidelines
for word division. However, Chicago
recommends that hyphenated and
closed compounds be divided at the
natural breaks, and The New Yorker
deviates from this.
10.
11. court-ap-pointed (better, courtappointed) (3:2:4)
12.

13.
Periods with abbreviations
(10.4). The New Yorker generally

deviates from Chicagos

recommendation to omit periods in
abbreviations. In the following example,
however, it follows Chicagos guidelines.

14.

15. TV (2:3:2)