BILLINGS GAZETTE STYLE GUIDE

A

adequate yearly progress — A benchmark of the No Child Left Behind Act that measures schools and school districts. Even though it is referred to as AYP, it is lowercase when spelled out. Use “AYP” in subsequent references.

Al Bedoo Shrine

Alberta Bair Theater — Use “the ABT” in subsequent references.

Albertsons — No apostrophe. Although the corporation is Albertson’s Inc. (with an apostrophe), we will use “Albertsons Inc.” and “Albertsons” in stories about the corporation and company.

American Medical Response — Use “AMR” in subsequent references.

associate justice — Members of the Montana Supreme Court other than the chief justice are associate justices but are commonly known as justices. In a title before a name, use only “Justice.” In subsequent references, use “the justice” or “Gray.”

B

Babcock Theatre — But “the theater” in subsequent references.

Bear Paw Battlefield — The site south of Chinook where Nez Perce Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Army. It is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park.

Bear Paw Mountains — Not “Bear’s Paw Mountains” as on the state highway map.

Beartooth Mountains — The plural is “Beartooths,” not “Bearteeth.”

Beartooth Highway — Scenic stretch of U.S. Highway 212 that begins outside Red Lodge at the border of the Custer National Forest and ends near the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

BFI Recycling — Operates recycling center on Charles Street.

BFI Waste Systems — Garbage-collecting business for homes outside the city.

Bigfork — One word.

BBWA canal — Use initials in first reference. They stand for the Billings Bench Water Association. The BBWA Canal is the largest of the canals serving the Billings area and is commonly, but mistakenly, known as “The Big Ditch.” See “Big Ditch.”

Big Ditch — The Big Ditch is shorter than the BBWA Canal. It begins about five miles west of Park City and runs north of Laurel to Shiloh Road and flows south of Poly Drive before ending at Nina Clare Road. Do not call the BBWA Canal the Big Ditch.

Big Hole National Battlefield — The site of a battle between Nez Perce and U.S. Army troops in 1877. Located near Wisdom.

Bighorn vs. Big Horn — Here is a list of the one-word and two-word usages:

One word: Bighorn Basin Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Bighorn Lake Bighorn Mountains Bighorn National Forest Bighorn River bighorn sheep Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Little Bighorn River Bighorn, Mont.

Two words: Big Horn County (in Montana and Wyoming) Big Horn, Wyo. Little Big Horn College

Big Sky Economic Development Authority — Use “Big Sky EDA” in subsequent references, but never “BSEDA.”

Big Sky State Games

Billings — Billings has a council-manager form of government adopted in 1977. The correct term for the top appointed official is city administrator. Capitalize when in advance of a name. City Hall is located at 210 North 27th Street and houses the city administrator’s office, the mayor’s office, the city clerk’s office, administrative services, human resources, information technology, parking division and the city attorney’s office.

Billings’ — Correct, but “city’s” is better. Instead of “Billings’ latest development,” consider instead “the city’s latest development” or “the latest development in Billings.”

Billings Area Chamber of Commerce — Use “the chamber” on subsequent references.

Billings Logan International Airport — Its address is 1901 Terminal Circle.

Billings-area parks Afflerbaugh Park Edgerton Park Pioneer Park Amend Park Evergreen Park Poly Vista Park Arrowhead Park Founders Park Ponderosa Park Athletic Park Gorham Park Powwow Park Big Sky Park Grandview Park Primrose Park Billings Heights Park Harris Park Rim Point Park Boulder Park Hawthorne Park Riverfront Park Bridle Moon Park Heritage Park Rose Park Burg Park Highland Park Rosebud Park Burlington Park High Sierra Park Sacajawea Park Byron Nelson Park Hillner Park South Park Cameron Park Josephine Park Sahara Park Castle Rock Park Kiwanis/Durland Park Sharon Park Cave Park Lampman Park Sled Park Cedar Park Lillis Park Spring Creek Park Centennial Park Lockwood Park Stewart Park Central Park McKenzie Park Streeter Park Charles Russell Park Millice Park Swords Park Clevenger Park Moose Park Terry Park Clydesdale Park Mystic Park Trails End Park Comanche Park North Park Two Moon Park Community Park Optimist Park Veterans Park Coulson Park Oxbow Park Walsh Park Country Manor Park Palisades Park Westwood Park Dick Logan Park Phipps Park Windsor Park Dokken Park Pike Park Zimmerman Park Eaton Park Pine Hill

Billings Business College — Use “the college” in subsequent references.

Billings City Council — Use the full name only when clarity is needed; otherwise, City Council (note the capital letters) is fine. Members are Peggie Gaghen and Jim Ronquillo (Ward 1); Larry Brewster and Joy Stevens (Ward 2); Vince Ruegamer and Shoots Veis (Ward 3); Nancy Boyer and Ed Ulledalen (Ward 4); and Richard Clark and Donald Jones (Ward 5). The mayor is Ron Tussing. For the City Council members and the mayor, capitalize their titles before their names.

Billings Clinic — Formerly Deaconess Billings Clinic. Its name was changed in October 2005.

Billings Education Association — Represents teachers and other educators in School District 2. Use “the BEA” in subsequent references.

Billings Fire Department — Marv Jochems is fire chief. Capitalize his title before his name.

Billings Gazette — First reference is always “The Billings Gazette.” Subsequent references are “The Gazette.”

Billings Heights Water District — In subsequent references, use “the district.”

Billings Logan International Airport — Use full name in first reference. Logan International Airport is in Boston. In subsequent references use “the airport.”

Billings Mustangs — Baseball team in the Pioneer League. “Mustangs” is fine on first reference.

Billings Outlaws — Arena football team in the National Indoor Football League. “Outlaws” is fine on first reference.

Billings Police Department — Rich St. John is chief of police. Capitalize his title before his name.

Billings Public Schools — For list of schools in Billings, see Schools entry.

Billings Studio Theatre — Use “BST” or “the theater” in subsequent references.

Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale — Official name of the organization that encompasses the orchestra and the chorale. The two do not always perform together. Use “Billings Symphony Orchestra” or “Billings Symphony Chorale” when writing about performances of each, but use the full name when writing about the organization.

Billings urban area — Use this term for what may be known to some as greater Billings. The urban area encompasses areas adjacent to but not incorporated in the city of Billings, including Lockwood.

Blackfeet — Always “Blackfeet,” as in The Blackfeet Tribe, the Blackfeet Reservation. When writing about members of the tribe, again use Blackfeet, even when referring to one person. “Blackfoot” is used only for the river near Missoula.

Blackfeet Community College — A community college in Browning offering two-year associate degrees, tribal education and education support for the community.

blog, Web log — “Web log” is two words. Its shortened, more popular version is “blog,” which is acceptable on first reference.

Blue Creek — Creek that runs into the Yellowstone River south of Riverfront Park. Use “the Blue Creek area” when referring to the development and housing near the creek and Blue Creek Road.

Blue Creek Bridge — The bridge across Blue Creek on Blue Creek Road south of the South Bridge. See “South Bridge.”

BNSF Railway Co. — Its parent company is Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Use “BNSF” in subsequent references.

borrow pit — Use this term for the ditch along roads. It is not “barrow pit.” The correct term comes from the fact that dirt is borrowed from the trench and used for fill.

Briarwood Country Club

Bresnan Communications — Use “Bresnan” in subsequent references.

Buffalo Bill Historical Center — Center in Cody, Wyo., that houses five museums: the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, and the Draper Museum of Natural History. Use “BBHC” in subsequent references.

buildings — Capitalize specific buildings: the Fratt Building, the Stapleton Building.

Bureau of Land Management — Use “the BLM” in subsequent references.

Bureau of Reclamation — Use “BuRec” or “the bureau” in subsequent references.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. — Parent company of BNSF Railway Co.

bylines — Qualifiers under bylines of Gazette editorial office employees will read: Of The Gazette Staff, including bylines for all editors. Do not use “Of The …” when using stories from other newspapers. For example:

By JOHN DOE Missoulian

Use the following in bylines for Lee newspapers: Casper Star-Tribune, Independent Record, Ravalli Republic, Montana Standard, Missoulian.

C

Cam-Plex

Carroll College — A private Catholic college in Helena offering four-year undergraduate degrees.

Casper College — A community college in Casper, Wyo., offering two-year associate degrees.

Central Wyoming College — A community college in Riverton, Wyo., offering two-year associate degrees.

Charles M. Bair Family Museum — Located in Martinsdale.

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge — Surrounds Fort Peck Reservoir. On subsequent references, use “the refuge” or “the CMR wildlife refuge,” but not “the CMRNWR.”

chief deputy U.S. marshal — In a title before a name, capitalize.

Chief Dull Knife College — A community college in Lame Deer offering two-year associate degrees.

Chief Joseph Scenic Highway — Begins north of Cody, Wyo., where Wyoming Highway 296 meets Wyoming Highway 120. It ends where Highway 296 meets the Beartooth Highway. It is also known as the Sunlight Basin Road, Dead Indian Road and Crandall Road.

chief justice — In a title before a name of a Montana Supreme Court member, capitalize: “Chief Justice Karla Gray.” As an appositive, lower case: “Karla Gray, chief justice.” In subsequent references, use “the chief justice” or “Gray.”

chief U.S. district judge — In a title before a name, capitalize all elements: “Chief U.S. District Judge Don Molloy.” As an appositive, lower case: “Don Molloy, chief U.S. district judge.” In subsequent reference, use either “the judge” or “Molloy.”

Chief Plenty Coups State Park — Located near Pryor.

Children’s Health Insurance Plan — Use “CHIP” on subsequent references. CHIP is publicly funded and provides health coverage to kids whose families can’t find affordable insurance elsewhere. Note the difference from the national program, which is the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Choteau, Chouteau — Note difference in spelling of Choteau, the town in Teton County, from Chouteau County.

chronic wasting disease — No hyphen. Use “CWD” or “chronic wasting” on subsequent references.

cities, towns — Montana has three small communities with the same names as three Wyoming communities. They are Buffalo, Rock Springs and Sheridan. Use the state after each: Buffalo, Wyo.; Buffalo, Mont.; Rock Springs, Wyo.; Rock Springs, Mont.; Sheridan, Wyo.; Sheridan, Mont. In other cases, for cities in Montana, do not use “Mont.” But for cities in Wyoming, use “Wyo.”

City Council — When referring to the “City Council,” whether in Billings or elsewhere, capitalize in all references: “The City Council agreed Friday”; lowercase “the council” in subsequent references. It is not necessary to use “Billings” before City Council.

City Hall — When referring to the one in Billings, omit “Billings” if the omission is not confusing and capitalize. For other cities: “Missoula City Hall” but “city hall in Missoula.” Always lower case as a general term: “You can’t fight city hall.”

city of — Lowercase “city” as in “city of Billings.” In almost all cases, however, just “Billings” is sufficient.

Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River — No apostrophe. Note difference from the Clark Fork of the Columbia River in northwestern Montana. Use “Clarks Fork” in subsequent references.

coalbed methane — “Coalbed” is one word. “CBM” is acceptable in headlines, but refrain from using it in stories.

colleges, universities — In first reference, use the entire name. (Montana State University, University of Montana, Montana State University-Billings, Montana State University-Billings College of Technology, Rocky Mountain College.) In subsequent references, use letter designation for MSU and UM. But “Rocky” and “MSU- Billings” are preferred for subsequent references; “RMC” and “MSU-B” are acceptable in headlines. Note: Do not write “MSU-Bozeman.” “MSU” is enough.

Colstrip — One word.

committees — Full name of all standing governmental (city, county, state and U.S.) committees are capitalized. The City Council has a Public Works Committee. The U.S. House has a Ways and Means Committee. Conversely, governmental subcommittees are lowercase unless they have a name of their own. (A Ways and Means subcommittee, but the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.)

corner, intersection — If the accident was at Grand Avenue and 17th Street West, the words “corner” and “intersection” are unnecessary.

correspondents’ copy — If a byline is required, use the same credit line “For The Gazette” under the name:

By PAT BLAIR For The Gazette

county — When a specific county is named, capitalize: “Yellowstone County.” Lowercase in plural usages: “Yellowstone, Roosevelt and Carbon counties.”

county attorney — In title before a name, capitalize: “County Attorney Dennis Paxinos.” After a name, lower case: “Dennis Paxinos, county attorney.”

County Commission — If it is clear that the commission being referred to is Yellowstone County’s, omit the word “Yellowstone” in first reference and capitalize. Use “the commission” in subsequent references.

County Extension Service — In first reference, use “Yellowstone County Extension Service.” In subsequent references, use “extension service.”

Custer, Lt. Col. George Armstrong — Custer received a wartime commission as a brevet general during the Civil War, reverting back to his previous rank after the war. When he met his fate on the Little Bighorn, he was a lieutenant colonel.

Custer Bridge — The bridge across the Yellowstone River near Custer.

Custer National Forest

Cut Bank — Two words.

D

DARE — On first reference use “Drug Abuse Resistance Program” for the anti-drug program for children.

datelines — Use datelines for all communities, incorporated or unincorporated, outside the Billings urban area. Use a dateline for Laurel, but not for Billings Heights or Lockwood.

Dawson Community College — A community college in Glendive offering two-year associate degrees.

Department of Agriculture — “Agriculture Department” in subsequent references.

Department of Commerce — “Commerce Department” in subsequent references.

Department of Corrections — “Corrections Department” in subsequent references.

Department of Environmental Quality — “DEQ” in subsequent references.

Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks — “FWP” in subsequent references.

Department of Livestock — “Livestock Department” in subsequent references.

Department of Natural Resources and Conservation — “DNRC” in subsequent references.

Department of Revenue — Use “Revenue Department” in subsequent references.

deputy sheriff — In title before a name, capitalize: “Deputy Sheriff Steve Corson.” To pluralize, use “Sheriff’s Deputies Ted Smith and Dick Johnson.”

district judge — In title before a name, capitalize all elements: “District Judge Richard Cebull.” As an appositive, lower case: “Richard Cebull, district judge.”

downtown — Lowercase “downtown” in all references.

Downtown Billings Association — Use “DBA” in subsequent references.

Duck Creek Bridge — The bridge across the Yellowstone River on Duck Creek Road.

E

East Bridge — The bridge across the Yellowstone River east of Billings on the Old Hardin Road. Its formal name is the Dick Johnston Bridge, but it is more commonly known as the East Bridge.

Eastern Montana, Western Montana — Capitalize both terms; “central Montana” is lowercase.

Eastern Wyoming College — A community college in Torrington, Wyo., offering two-year associate degrees.

Edwards Jet Center

ExxonMobil — One word in all references for the sake of consistency and thought for our readers. Although the corporation is Exxon Mobil Corp. (two words), we will use “ExxonMobil Corp.” and “ExxonMobil” in stories about the corporation and company

F

farmers’ market — Note the apostrophe’s placement; applies to “Yellowstone Valley Farmers’ Market” as well.

First Student Inc. — Operates buses for School District 2.

Flathead Valley Community College — A community college in Kalispell offering two-year associate degrees. It also has a campus in Libby.

Fort Belknap College — A community college in Harlem offering two-year associate degrees.

Fort Peck Community College — A community college in Poplar offering two-year associate degrees.

G

Gallatin Field Airport — Located in Gallatin County. Although it mainly serves Bozeman, it is not in Bozeman. It is in Belgrade.

Gillette College — Branch of Sheridan College, a two-year state college in Sheridan, Wyo., that offers associate degrees. Formerly called “the Gillette Campus.”

Grass Range — Two words.

Greycliff — One word.

governor-elect — Hyphenate and abbreviate “governor” in a title before a name: “Gov.-elect Brian Schweitzer.”

H

Hart-Albin Building

Helena College of Technology — A branch of the University of Montana offering two-year technical degrees. Its full name is The Helena College of Technology of The University of Montana, but Helena College of Technology will do.

Heights — Use “the Heights” on first reference.

Highland Elementary — Note difference in spelling from Hilands Golf Club.

Hilands Golf Club — Note difference in spelling from Highland Park and Highland Elementary.

Hi-Line — Use “Hi-Line” (capitalize “H” and “L” and hyphenate) for that part of northern Montana along the original Great Northern Railroad route — Havre, Glasgow, Chinook, etc., are on the Hi-Line.

Holiday Inn Grand Montana — When writing about the hotel, call it “Holiday Inn Grand Montana.” The convention center is “the Montana Convention Center.”

Huntley Bridge — The bridge across the Yellowstone River near Huntley.

Huntley Project High School — This is the name of the high school in Worden, and it serves the entire Huntley Project Irrigation District. In subsequent references, it is “Huntley Project” or “the high school.” It is never “Worden High School” or “Huntley High School.”

I

Indian Country — Both words capitalized. Refers to lands set aside in the United States for the use of Native Americans. It can also be personified to refer, in a general way, to the community inhabiting those lands (“Among the challenges facing Indian Country …”)

Indian reservations — Montana has seven: Blackfeet Indian Reservation: It’s main community is Browning, main tribe is Blackfeet, established 1851. Crow Indian Reservation: Crow Agency, Crow Tribe, 1851. Flathead Indian Reservation: Pablo, Salish, Kootenai and Pend Oreilles tribes, 1855. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation: Fort Belknap Agency and Harlem, Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes, 1888. Fort Peck Indian Reservation: Poplar, Assiniboine and Sioux tribes, 1888. Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation: Lame Deer, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, 1884). Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation: Box Elder, Chippewa Cree Tribe, 1916.

Internet addresses — URLs should be in boldface. The http:// should be included if the address does not begin with www. Do not add hyphens at the end of each line.

interstate highways — First reference, write Interstate 90; subsequent references, I-90.

J

jail — Uppercase when part of a name: “Carbon County Jail.” But the “Yellowstone County Detention Facility” should be the “Yellowstone County jail.”

jailer — Lowercase when in a title before a name: “jailer Jerry Daugherty.” But capitalize “head jailer” when used before a name: “Head Jailer Lloyd Siker.” A jailer is never a deputy.

justice of the peace — In title before a name, capitalize: “Justice of the Peace Pedro Hernandez.” As an appositive, lower case: “Pedro Hernandez, justice of the peace.” In subsequent references, use either “the justice of the peace” or “Hernandez.”

jargon — Don’t use jargon of medical specialists, police and fire departments, journalists or bureaucrats. Except in direct quotes we don’t say, “The fire was knocked down.” But we do say, “The fire was extinguished” or “put out.”

Justice Department

K

Knight Ridder News — This is the style that should be used in bylines.

L

Labor and Industry Department

Lake Hills Golf Club

-land — In terms using “land,” it is one word. Therefore: “farmland,” “ranchland,” “forestland,” “timberland.”

last names — Use last names in subsequent references, except when referring to children. Use first names of children younger than 18.

Laurel Frontage Road

Legislature — In first reference, use “the 2005 Legislature.” In subsequent references, use “the Legislature.” Lowercase if referring to legislatures in general.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument — On first reference, it is permissible to use “Little Bighorn Battlefield.”

M

mad cow disease — Use the official name of the disease on first reference: “bovine spongiform encephalopathy.” Use “mad cow disease” or “BSE” on subsequent references, but include an explanation that the disease is also called or known as “mad cow disease.”

Magic City — A moniker invented by the city’s earliest promoters, one that still carries a Chamber of Commerce ring. Instead, use “city” or “Billings” or “local.”

Makoshika State Park

Malmstrom Air Force Base

Masonic lodges — Billings has four: Ashlar Lodge No. 29, Billings Lodge No. 113, Rimrock Lodge No. 149 and Pryor Mountain Lodge No. 151. The following is correct: “He was a member of Ashlar Lodge No. 29, AF&M.”

MEA-MFT — This is the official name of the teachers union. It is no longer an abbreviation.

Medical conditions – There are four acceptable conditions that we refer to in print:

* Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. The outlook for recovery is good to excellent. * Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable or may have minor complications. Outlook is favorable. * Serious: Vital signs are unstable or not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Outlook is questionable. * Critical: Vital signs are unstable or not within normal limits. There are major complications. Patient may be unconscious. Outlook is unfavorable.

Please note that “stable” is not an acceptable description of a patient’s condition, as it gives no indication of the seriousness of the injury.

Metra — “Metra” is the building, and “MetraPark” is the name for the fairgrounds where “Metra” is located. “Fairgrounds” can be used in subsequent references to “MetraPark.” The name of the arena is “Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.” Use “the arena” on subsequent references.

MET Transit

modifiers, compound — AP guidelines are vague. Use a hyphen to combine two words expressing a single concept before a noun if not doing so would cause confusion. For example, do not hyphenate “high school student” or “health care provider.” There is little danger of misunderstanding. But “small-business person.” See full entry in the grammar section of the local stylebook.

Molt Road — The county road that begins at the end of Rimrock Road and goes northwest to Molt. It is also known as Highway 302. Either “Molt Road” or “Highway 302” is permissible.

Mont. — Abbreviation for Montana is not used in datelines, even in the Wyoming edition.

Montana Cattlemen’s Association

MontanaFair — The annual agricultural fair in Billings. One word.

Montana Family Medicine Residency — Doctor-training program headquartered at the Yellowstone City- County Health Department building. Previously called “the Montana Family Practice Residency.”

Montana School for the Deaf and Blind — Located in Great Falls.

Montana State Fund — This state agency oversees workers’ compensation in Montana.

Montana State Hospital — The psychiatric facility at Warm Springs.

Montana State Prison — Official name, but “the state prison in Deer Lodge” is permissible on first reference.

Montana State University — Not “Montana State University-Bozeman.” Use “Montana State University in Bozeman” instead. Use “MSU” in headlines and subsequent references.

Montana State University Billings — In July 1994, Eastern Montana College became Montana State University-Billings, and in 2007 it dropped the hyphen. Use “MSU Billings” or “MSUB” in subsequent references.

Montana Supreme Court — Capitalize; but: the “state Supreme Court” and the “high court.”

Montana Tradeport Authority

Montana University System — Use “the University System” in subsequent reference. “U-System” is permissible in headlines. The University System consists of the state’s public campuses and their satellites: the University of Montana, Montana Tech, Montana State University, Montana State University-Billings, Montana State University-Northern, University of Montana-Western, the Missoula College of Technology, The University of Montana-Helena College of Technology, Montana Tech College of Technology, Montana State University- Billings College of Technology, and Montana State University-Great Falls College of Technology.

Moss Mansion

N

names — Use the name that the person prefers. For celebrities, use the common name. Use nicknames only when the situation demands, but place quote marks around it and use the first name or initials before it: (Ed “Moose” Zaidlicz).

National Park Service

NILE — Northern International Livestock Exhibition on first reference. Note lack of periods in the abbreviation.

NorthWestern Energy — W is capitalized. NorthWestern Energy used to be a subsidiary of Sioux Falls, S.D.- based NorthWestern Corp., but the company recently switched to just “NorthWestern Energy.” NorthWestern Corp. bought Montana Power Co.’s utility operations for $1.1 billion in 2002 and declared bankruptcy in 2003. The company provides electricity to more than 300,000 Montana customers and natural gas to about 157,000.

Northern Rockies Cancer Center

O

obscenity, profanity — Avoid using obscene and profane words, even if they are directly attributed to a source unless it is germane to the story. Never use them if they are not part of a direct quotation. Do not use a letter followed by dashes or asterisks. Find a way to not use the word.

Odd Fellows — Not Odd Fellows Lodge.

of — Use “of” between a name-age combination and a street address (Joe Jones, 65, of 3105 N. 30th St.) so that a dropped comma after the age does not cause a problem. If there is no numbered street address, “of” is not necessary (Joe Jones, 65, Laurel).

Office of Public Instruction — Montana’s state department of education. Use “OPI” in subsequent references.

Office of the State Public Defender — This state agency was created by the 2005 Legislature to oversee public defense.

OHV — Acceptable on subsequent references for “off-highway vehicle.”

Order of DeMolay — Use full name in first reference to this organization. Chapter number is not necessary.

Order of Eastern Star — Billings has three chapters: Edna Hedges Chapter No. 15, Billings Friendship Chapter No. 124 and Moss Agate Chapter No. 126. In local stories, the following usage is correct: She was a member of Edna Hedges Chapter No. 15, OES.

Order of Rainbow — Use full name in first reference to this organization. Chapter number is not necessary.

Outlaws Community SportsPlex — Official name of the Billings Outlaws training facility, located off Interstate 90 and South Billings Boulevard near the Amend Park soccer complex. Note that the P in SportsPlex is capitalized. Use “the SportsPlex” on subsequent references.

P

Park 1, Park 2, Park 3, etc. — City parking garages. Capitalize “Park” in all references.

Parmly Billings Library — The city’s public library was named after Parmly Billings, the son of Frederick Billings.

Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility — This is the state institution for delinquent boys and is in Miles City. If there is no “Miles City” in the dateline on the story, it is “the Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility in Miles City” in first reference.

police titles — In first reference, capitalize if the title is used before the name: “Police Chief Rich St. John,” “Deputy Chief Joe Bryce.” Always identify by their titles.

Pompeys Pillar National Monument — No apostrophe. Use “Pompeys Pillar” on subsequent references and in specific reference to the rock formation.

Pompeys Pillar Bridge — The bridge across the Yellowstone River near Pompeys Pillar.

Prairie Tower

Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range

Public Auction Yards — Use “PAYS” in subsequent references.

Public Employee Retirement Administration

Public Service Commission

Q

Qwest Communications

R

R-CALF — Billings-based nonprofit cattlemen’s organization. The full title to be used on first reference is “Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America.” Use “R-CALF” in subsequent references.

Rattlesnake Reservoir

Rebekah Lodge — Often misspelled as “Rebecca Lodge.” Female counterpart to the fraternal organization The Oddfellows.

Reed Point — Two words.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program — Use “RSVP” in subsequent references.

Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark — The official name of the arena at MetraPark. Use “the arena” on subsequent references.

Rimrock Foundation

Rimrock Mall

Rimrocks — Although “rimrocks” is a generic term, usage in the Billings area refers to a particular geological formation. When referring to this formation, capitalize. Use “the Rims” in subsequent references.

Rimrock Opera Company

Rocky Boy

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

Rocky Mountain College — Use “Rocky” on subsequent references. “RMC” is permissible in headlines, but do not use it in stories.

Rosebud Battlefield State Park

S

Sacrifice Cliff — The cliff southeast of the city and across the river from Josephine Park will be known as “Sacrifice Cliff.”

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent Healthcare

Salish Kootenai College — Tribal college located in Pablo, Mont., on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

School District 2 — It is not necessary to precede the local district with “Billings” on first reference. Use the name of the city for out-of-town districts, including those of Laurel and Lockwood. On subsequent references, use “the district.”

Schools — With most Billings schools, there’s no need to include “school” or “Billings”. For example, “West High” or “Sandstone Elementary.” Middle schools, however, should include “school”: “Lewis and Clark Middle School.” Billings schools are:

Billings public schools Elementary schools Alkali Creek Arrowhead Bench Big Sky Bitterroot Boulder Broadwater Burlington Central Heights Eagle Cliffs Highland McKinley Meadowlark Miles Avenue Newman Orchard Poly Drive Ponderosa Rose Park Sandstone Washington

Middle schools Castle Rock Lewis and Clark Riverside Will James

High schools Career Center Crossroad Alternative School Senior Academy (9th) Senior High Skyview High West Academy (9th) West High

Billings Catholic Schools Billings Central Catholic High School — “Central High” is acceptable on first reference. St. Francis Upper School — Grades six, seven, eight St. Francis Intermediate — Grades three, four, five St. Francis Primary School — Preschool, day care, kindergarten, grades one, two

sections of Montana — Capitalize “Eastern Montana” and “Western Montana.” Lowercase and write as one word “southeastern,” “southwestern,” “northwestern” and “northeastern” when writing about Montana. But hyphenate “south-central” and “north-central.”

Shepherd Ah-Nei Off-Highway Vehicle Area — Use “Shepherd Ah-Nei” in subsequent references.

Sheridan College — A two-year state college in Sheridan, Wyo., that offers associate degrees. The campus in Gillette is referred to as “the Gillette College.”

Shrine Auditorium

Skypoint — The arching metal canopy at the corner of Broadway and Second Avenue North in downtown Billings. Once commonly known as "The Thing," it was named by middle schooler Elizabeth Burley in a 2002 contest.

South Bridge — The bridge across the Yellowstone River south of Billings near the mouth of Blue Creek. See “Blue Creek Bridge.”

South Hills — For the barren hills in the Blue Creek area south of Billings, capitalize.

South Rims — For the clifflike geologic formation along the Yellowstone River, including the point known as Sacrifice Cliff, capitalize.

South Side — Two words and capitalize.

Stillwater River and Stillwater County — One word for Stillwater.

Stone Child College — Two-year tribal community college of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe located on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.

Sweetgrass — A small town near the Canadian border. Note difference from Sweet Grass County, which is two words.

Sweet Grass County

T

Taser

Teachers’ Retirement System — Montana agency that administers pension plans for retired teachers.

Teamsters — Employees of the city of Billings belong to Local 190 of this union.

Ten Sleep — Two words for the town in Wyoming and for the nearby canyon: “Ten Sleep Canyon.” The geological formation called “Tensleep sand” is one word.

Thiel Bridge — The bridge on Thiel Road near Laurel across the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River.

Tongue River Reservoir State Park

Transportation Department

Transtech Center — A high-tech business park on Gabel Road, just north of the Shiloh interchange on Interstate 90.

Tribe — Capitalize when part of a tribe’s full name: “Northern Cheyenne Tribe.”

Two Dot — Two words.

U

United Blood Services

University of Great Falls — Private four-year Catholic university located in Great Falls.

University of Mary — University based in Bismarck, N.D., that offers classes in Billings.

University of Montana — Four-year public university located in Missoula.

University of Montana-Western — Four-year public university located in Dillon.

University of Wyoming — Wyoming has one four-year public university. The main campus is in Laramie.

Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument — Use “Missouri Breaks” in subsequent references.

US Bank

US West — No periods.

V

Venture Theatre — Use “Venture” or “the theater” on subsequent references.

W

wards — For specific city wards, use numerals and capitalize: “Ward 2, Ward 4”; but “the ward.”

Warm Springs — Two words for the town.

West End — Capitalize and use two words when referring to the western area of Billings. Encompasses all of west Billings from Eighth Street West and westward.

Western Heritage Center

Western Wyoming College — Two-year state college located in Rock Springs, Wyo.

West Nile virus — Use “West Nile” in subsequent references.

West Park Plaza

wildfires — Lowercase “fire” in fire names, such as “the Willie fire.”

Wolf Point — Two words.

Wyoming Department of Game and Fish — Use “Game and Fish” in subsequent references.

Wyoming Department of Transportation — Use “WYDOT” on subsequent references.

Wyoming Technical Institute — Technical college located in Laramie. “WyoTech” is acceptable on subsequent references.

X

Xanterra Parks & Resorts — Yellowstone National Park’s largest concessionaire. Xanterra has been in Yellowstone since 1995, when it purchased TW Recreational Services. Use “Xanterra” in subsequent references.

Y

Yellowstone Art Museum — In subsequent references, use “the art museum” or “the museum.”

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch

Yellowstone Country Club

Yellowstone County Council on Aging

Yellowstone County Detention Facility — The official name of the Yellowstone County jail.

Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Auxiliary — “Sheriff’s Auxiliary” is permissible in first reference if it is clearly the one in Yellowstone County.

Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office — This is the full name, but “Sheriff’s Office” is permissible in first reference.

Yellowstone Downs

Yellowstone National Park — Use “the park” or “Yellowstone” in subsequent references. Do not use Wyo. in datelines.

Yellowstone Public Radio — Local call letters are KEMC, 91.7 FM. Noncommercial, public radio station licensed to Montana State University-Billings.

Yellowstone Valley Farmers’ Market

Yellowtail Dam

Yellowtail Reservoir

YMCA — The official title is the “Billings Family YMCA.” Laurel’s is “Yellowstone Valley YMCA.”

Youngs Point — A Lewis and Clark site on the Yellowstone River west of Park City. No apostrophe.

Z

ZooMontana — One word.

Grammar and punctuation guide updated 4/22/07

Compound modifiers and hyphens

This is a grammatical issue that leads to wild inconsistency in the stories we publish. The general move- ment these days, judging from our copy (wire and locally produced), is to eschew hyphens in compound modifi- ers unless ambiguity would result. The problem with that approach is in perception: One person's clarity is an- other's ambiguity.

Accordingly, we're instituting some guidelines that, we hope, will round us into form:

„ First, be sure you're actually dealing with a compound modifier and not a single adjective modifying a noun phrase. That's dangerously gobbledygookish, so here's an example: One might be tempted to hyphenate "grilled cheese sandwich," but a closer examination makes it clear that the cheese sandwich (there's your noun phrase) is being grilled, not the cheese inside the sandwich. Verdict: not a compound modifier, and therefore no hyphen.

„ Once you're sure you've hooked a compound, look in the AP stylebook for an explicit ruling on the specific compound in question. The general rule, as outlined in the punctuation section, is far less reliable -- so much so that even AP's own writers and editors follow it inconsistently, making it almost useless.

„ If you don't find the compound in the AP stylebook, check the dictionary (Webster's New World College Edition), which governs everything AP doesn't. The dictionary, for example, calls for a hyphen in "ice cream" as a compound modifier (e.g., "ice-cream cone"). While that might strike you as overly rigid, hyphenate away. Because you know what happens once we start disregarding the dictionary willy-nilly: collapsing schools, anarchy, cats and dogs living together in sin and other enormities too horrible to mention.

So, let's say for argument's sake that you haven't found satisfaction from AP or the dictionary. Here's how you arrive at a solution:

„ In noun-noun combinations (stream access bill, coalbed methane drilling, etc.), no hyphen. This will come up a lot with legislation and other government-related (!) stuff.

„ In adjective-noun or noun-adjective combinations (small-arms fire, right-field fence, time-consuming task, AIDS-related complications, user-friendly, etc.), use a hyphen, as do those compounds backloaded into a sen- tence (the man is well-known, her advice is well-regarded, he is quick-witted, etc.)

„ Here comes a mouthful: In any compound modifier of three or more words in which at least one is an adjec- tive, use the hyphens throughout. For example: property-tax-related bills (not property tax-related bills).

„ In any case where ambiguity is evident, regardless of combination, use the hyphen. No amount of codifica- tion will eliminate the need for writers and editors to practice discretion. And thank goodness for that, or else we're all filling out job applications at Albertsons (no apostrophe).

„ One last hint: It’s OK to embrace grammatical avoidance, that deft little maneuver that involves writing around a problem. Sometimes, it's better to find a new construction than to untangle a pile-up of modifiers. "He is awaiting trial on charges of immigration fraud" sounds a lot less stilted than "He is awaiting trial on immigration fraud charges." (And never mind the extra words; we're talking about clarity here, not brevity.)

As ever, a relatively small number of adjective-noun compounds, owing to common usage, will remain un- hyphenated: middle school, high school, real estate, civil rights, mental health, natural gas. We will err on the restrictive side in granting these exceptions, however. The guiding principle is that a hyphen will almost never inhibit clarity, while the absence of one can certainly lead to unclear writing and unhealthy relations between felines and canines, both of which are outcomes we should all strive to avoid.

Finally, this by no means covers all possibilities and combinations. We'll just grapple with the ones that don't neatly fall into categories as they come up.