STATS | Style Guide

Style Guide

Abbreviations

Apostrophes

Awards

Numerals
No. 1
12th-ranked
3-to-4 weeks
6-foot-2
6-foot
7-footer
1st-and-10
4th-and-2
1st-and-long
3-4 or 4-3 defense
5-yard line
350 pounds
350-pound
10-second violation
20-second timeout
24-second violation
100-yard game(s)
1,000-yard season(s)
1999 NFL Draft
1999 draft

A
airball
accused of (not accused with)
ACL
AFC
AFL
afterward (never afterwards)v All-Pro
ALCS
All-Star
All-Star break
All-Star Game
a.m.
AFC/NFC championship (champions)
AFC/NFC divisional playoffs
American League (AL)
assist-to-turnover ratio (should be in the form 3.78-to-1 or 3.78-1 if numbers in front of word "ratio")
assistant captain
assistant coach
AstroTurf
at-bats (ABs)

B
backboard
backcourt
backdoor (n. or adj.)
backfield
backhand
backstop
back up (v.)
backup (n., adj.)
ballcarrier
ballclub
ballgame
ballhandler
ballpark
ballplayer
baseline (n. or adj.)
basepath
baserunner (-ing)
basestealer (-ing)
base(s) on balls
base hit
bat speed
batterymate (not battery mate)
batting average
beanball
best-of-five
best-of-seven
big league(s) (n. or adj.)
big leaguer
blitz (n., v.)
blocker
blocking foul
blue line
body check
bounce pass
box score
breaking-ball (adj.)
breaking ball (n.)
brushback
bullpen

C
call-up
career high (n.)
career-high (adj.)
career low (n.)
career-low (adj.)
center field, fielder
center ice
Central Division (MLB)
change-up
Class A
cleanup
conference final
conference semifinal
courtside
crossbar
crosscheck, -ing
crossfire
crosstown
curveball
cut fastball
cutoff
Cy Young Award

D
defenseman
defensive coordinator
delay of game (n. or adj.)
delayed penalty
designated hitter (DH)
disabled list (first reference; DL after that)
Division Series
Double-A (not AA)
double-double
double dribble
double-figure (adj., as in double-figure rebounding games)
double figures (n.)
doubleheader
double minor
double play (n.)
double-play (adj.)
double-reverse
double switch
double team (n.)
double-team (v.)
downfield
draft pick

E
e-mail
Eastern Conference (NBA)
Eastern Conference finals (NBA)
Eastern Conference semifinals (NBA)
empty net (n.)
empty-net (adj.)
end-around
end line
end zone
ERA (acceptable on all references)
even strength (n.)
even-strength (adj., as in even-strength goals)
everyday (adj.)
extra-base hit
extra point

F
face off (v.)
faceoff (n., adj.)
fadeaway (n., adj.)
fair ball
fastball
fast break (n., adj.)
field goal (n.)
field-goal (adj.)
fill-in
first baseman
first down
first-down (adj.)
first intermission (not first-period intermission)
first line (n.)
first-line (adj.)
first period (n.)
first-period (adj.)
first quarter (n.)
first-quarter (adj.)
first round (n.)
first-round (adj.)
five-second violation
flea-flicker
flied out (v.)
flyout (n.)
flyball (n., adj.)
follow shot
foot speed (not footspeed)
forecheck, -er, -ing
forkball
foul ball
foul line
foul-line (adj., as in foul-line jumper)
foul shot
foul tip
four-point play
free agent, agency (n.)
free-agent (adj.)
free throw (n.)
free-throw (adj.)
free swinger
frontcourt (n. or adj.)
front line (n.)
frontline (adj.)
frontrunner (not front-runner)
frontrunning
full-court (adj.)
full-time

G
Game 1 (of any series)
game breaker
game-breaking
game misconduct
game plan
game-time (adj.)
game-tying goal
game-winning goal
general manager (caps only as formal title before a name)
giveaways
glove hand
glove save
glovework
go-ahead (adj.)
go-to guy
goal line (n.)
goal-line (adj.)
goalie stick (not goalie's stick)
goalkeeper, -ing
goal post
goals-against average (GAA on second reference)
goaltender, -ing
goaltender interference
goal-to-go
grand slam
Griffey Jr. (not Griffey, Jr.)
gross misconduct
groundball (adj. or n.)
groundout (n.) (not ground out)
ground-rule double

H
H-back
Hail Mary
half-court pass
Hall of Fame (n. or adj.)
hand check (n., adj. or v.)
handoff (n.)
hand off (v.)
hand pass
hashmark
hat trick
headfirst
high-ball (adj.)
high post (n.)
high-post (adj.)
high-sticking (n. or adj.; refers to the penalty)
hip check
hit-and-run (n., adj.)
hit and run (v.)
hitters’ park (not hitter’s park)
hold
home court (n.)
home-court (adj., as in home-court advantage)
home field (n.)
home-field (adj.)
home ice (n.)
home-ice (adj.)
home plate
home run (HRs or homer) (n.)
home-run (adj.)
hometown
hook shot
HTML (lowercase in Web addresses)
HTTP (lowercase in Web addresses)
hurry-up offense

I
illegal defense (n. or adj.)
inbound (v.)
inbounds (adj., as in an inbounds play)
injury-prone
injured list
injured list (NBA only--not injured reserve; never abbreviated)
injured reserve (first reference; NFL only; IR after that)
interconference (NFL only)
interdivision (NFL only)
interdivisional (baseball only)
interleague (baseball only)
Internet (always cap.)
intradivision (NFL and baseball)

J
judgment
jump ball
jump shot
jumper

K
kickoff (n.)
kick off (v.)
knockdown (n.)
knock down (v.)
knuckleball

L
layup
leadoff (n. or adj.)
lead off (v.)
League Championship Series (LCS)
left-center
left field, fielder
left-handed
left-hander
left wing
lefty
lifetime
linebackers coach
line drive (n.)
line-drive (adj.)
linesman (NHL)
line up (v.)
lineup (n.)
linescore
locker room
long shot (n.)
long-shot (adj.)
long-term
low post (n.)
low-post (adj.)

M
major league(s) (n. or adj.)
major leaguer
Major League Baseball (MLB)
makeup
man advantage (n., as in scored with the man advantage)
man-advantage (adj., as in man-advantage goals)
man-to-man
match penalty
matchup
MCL
midcourt (n. or adj.)
midfield
midfielder
midseason
miles per hour (mph acceptable)
mind-set
minicamp
minor league(s) (n. or adj.)
minor leaguer
Monday Night Football (MNF)
Most Valuable Player Award (MVP Award)
multihit
multiyear

N
National League (NL)
NBA
NBA championship (or championship)
NBA Finals (or the Finals)
netminder
neutral zone (n.)
neutral-zone (adj.)
newfound
NFC
NFL
NFL Europe (not World League or WLAF)
NHL
NLCS
no-hit
no-hitter
no-huddle offense
No. 1 (not number-one)
No. 1 draft pick, No. 1 pick

O
offensive coordinator
off-guard (n.)
offseason
offside
offspeed
on-base percentage (OBP, not on-base average or OBA)
on-base plus slugging (OPS)
one-on-one
OK (not okay)
Olympic(s)
Opening Day
opponents' batting average, slugging average, on-base percentage
opposite-field (adj.)
opposite field (n.)
Original Six
out of bounds (adv.)
out-of-bounds (adj., as in an out-of-bounds pass)
outfielder
outrebound (v.)
overaggressive
overswing
overtime (or OT)

P
Pac-10 (not Pacific-10)
Pac-12 (not Pacific-12)
part-time
pass rusher
palmball
passed ball
penalty killing (n.)
penalty-killing (adj.; as in first penalty-killing unit)
penalty shot
percent (not %, always spelled out)
personal foul (or personal)
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list
pick-and-roll
pickoff (n. or adj.)
pick off (v.)
pinch hit, pinch run (v.)
pinch hitter, pinch runner (n.)
pitchers’ park (not pitcher’s park)
pitchout
place-kicker
play-action (adj.)
play action (n.)
play off (v.)
playoff(s) (n., adj.)
Player of the Month
Player of the Week
playoff series
playmaker
plus/minus rating
p.m.
point forward
point man
poke-check
popout (n.) (not pop-out)
popup (n.) (not pop-up)
postgame
postseason
post-up (n. or adj.)
power play (n.)
power-play (adj.; as in power-play goals)
pregame
preseason
Presidents' Trophy (not President's Cup)
press box
press time
prevent defense
Prince of Wales Trophy
Pro Bowl(er) (NFL only)
puck-handle
pull hitter
putback
put out (v.)
putout (n.)

Q
quarterbacks coach

R
red line
red zone
red-zone (adj.)
regular-season (adj.)
regular season (n.)
re-sign (sign again)
resign (leave a job)
retool
ribcage
right field, fielder (n.)
right-center
right-handed
right-hander
righty
roller coaster (n.)
roller-coaster (adj.)
Rookie of the Year Award
Rookie League
roughing the passer, kicker (n.)
roughing-the-passer, kicker (adj.)
Rule 5 draft (not Rule V)(baseball only)
run-and-shoot
rundown (n.)
runner(s)-up
running back
running backs coach
runs created
runs batted in (RBI (sing.), RBIs (pl.))

S
sacrifice
sacrifice fly
sacrifice hit
Safeco Field (not SAFECO Field)
save percentage (should be in the form .897)
scoresheet
screen-and-roll
screwball
second-chance points
second period (n.)
second-period (adj.)
set offense
set shot
setup
shake up (v.)
shake-up (n., adj.)
shootaround
shooting foul
shooting guard
shooting percentage (should be in the form 10.3 percent, not .103)
short-handed
short-lived (adj.)
shot-blocker
shut down (v.)
shutdown (n., adj.)
shut out (v.)
shutout (n., adj.)
sidearm
sideline
single coverage
skate save
sky hook
Slam Dunk Contest
slap shot
slide step (not slide-step)
slot (high slot; low slot)
sinkerball
slugging percentage
snapshot
soft-toss
special teams coach
splitter
split-finger fastball
spring training
squeeze play
Stanley Cup (or the Cup)
Stanley Cup finals (Cup finals on second reference)
strikeout (n.)
strike out (v.)
strike zone
stopgap
subpar
sudden death (n.)(football only)
sudden-death (adj.)(football only)
Super Bowl
surehanded
swingman
switch-hit
switch-hitter

T
takeaways
teammate(s)
technical foul (or technical)
tendinitis
Texas leaguer
three-and-out
3-point (adj., as in 3-point line, 3-point basket, 3-point shooting)
3-point arc (or the arc)
3-pointer (or three; refers only to a 3-point field goal)
three-point play (basket & foul)
three-second violation
third period (n.)
third-period (adj.)
tie up (v.)
tie-up (n., adj.)
tight ends coach
timeout
tip-in
tipoff (n.)
top of the key (n.)
top-of-the-key (adj., as in a top-of-the-key jumper)
top-notch
top shelf
touchdown(s) or TD(s)
triangle offense
Triple-A (not AAA)
Triple Crown
triple-double
tune up (v.)
tuneup (n., adj.)
turnaround
turnover (n.)
turn over (v.)
turnover differential (not ratio)
twinight doubleheader (not twi-night doubleheader)
two-guard
two-line pass
two-man game
two-minute warning
two-minute offense
two-point conversion
two-yard line

U
uppercut
upright(s)
U.S.
USFL
utilityman

V
versus (body of story)
vs. (headline or phrases)

W
waiver draft
wake up (v.)
wake-up (adj.)
walkoff
warmup (n. or adj.)
Web (always cap W)
Web site
Week 1-17 (of a season)
weightlifting
West Coast Offense
Western Conference
Western Conference finals
Western Conference semifinals
Western Division (MLB)
wideout
wide receiver
wide receivers coach
wild card (n.)
wild-card (adj.)
wind up (v.)
windup (n., adj.)
won-lost record (not won/lost record or win-loss record)
World Champions, Championship
World Series (the Series on second reference)
wrist shot

X
X-ray(s) (X always in caps, even in middle of sentence)

Y
yard line
yards per carry (catch, reception)
yards-per-carry (catch, reception) average

Z
zone
zone coverage

Abbreviations
Abbreviations such as 2B, 3B and HR should not be used in text.
“Ruben Sierra collected three doubles and a homer” is correct.
“Ruben Sierra collected three 2B and a HR” is NOT correct.
Abbreviations for leagues do not require periods:
AL (not A.L.)
NL
Phrases such as “number-one” should be abbreviated:
No. 1 (not number-one)

Apostrophes with Names Ending in S, X or Z
Do not add an “s” after the apostrophe in a plural noun or proper name which ends in s, but DO add "s" in nouns and proper names that end in x, z or ce.
Jones’ (not Jones’s)
Maddux’s (not Maddux’)
Cruz’s (not Cruz’)

Baseball Awards
When discussing awards such as the Most Valuable Player Award, always capitalize the word “Award.”
Most Valuable Player Award (not Most Valuable Player award)
Cy Young Award
Rookie of the Year Award

NHL Awards
Art Ross Trophy (not the Ross Trophy)
Calder Trophy (or Calder Cup)
Conn Smythe Trophy
Hart Trophy
Jack Adams Award
Jennings Trophy
Lady Byng Trophy
Masterton Trophy
Norris Trophy
Selke Trophy
Vezina Trophy

NFL Positions
Football positions are abbreviated as follows:
center = C
cornerback = CB
defensive end = DE
defensive tackle = DT
free safety = FS
fullback = FB
guard = G
H-back = none
inside linebacker = ILB
middle linebacker = MLB
kicker = K
kick returner = KR
linebacker = LB
long snapper = LS
nose tackle = NT
tackle = T
punter = P
punt returner = PR
quarterback = QB
running back = RB
safety = S
strong safety = SS
tight end = TE
wide receiver = WR

NBA Positions
Only three positions should be abbreviated:
center C
forward F
guard G
For references to more specialized positions (shooting guard, small forward, etc.), the position should be written out.
Abbreviations can also be used for multi-position players:
forward-center F-C (not C-F)
guard-forward G-F (not F-G)
Positions are not capitalized when written out:
Bulls forward Elton Brand was the team's first draft pick in 1999.

NHL Positions
Positions can be abbreviated as follows:
center C
defenseman D
goaltender G
left wing LW
right wing RW

NBA Statistics
Some statistics can be abbreviated after they have been referred to previously:
assists per game= apg
points per game= ppg
rebounds per game= rpg
(Note that only points, rebounds and assists should be abbreviated in the form ppg, rpg and apg.)
When a percentage is used as an adjective, always hyphenate between the number and word percent:
Boston's 38.3-percent field-goal shooting was one of the league's worst figures.
O'Neal was a 46.2-percent free-throw shooter entering this year.

NBA Playoffs
Playoff series should be referred to as follows:
first-round series (not conference quarterfinals, even though that is the league's official name)
conference semifinals
conference finals
NBA Finals (or the Finals)
miniseries (best-of-three series prior to 1984)
(note that conference becomes Conference if the specific conference is referred to: Eastern Conference semifinals)

NFL Playoffs
wild-card game(s)
1999 wild-card game(s)
NFC wild-card game(s)
1999 NFC wild-card game(s)
divisional playoffs
divisional playoff game(s)
1999 divisional playoffs
1999 divisional playoff game(s)
NFC divisional playoffs
conference championship game(s)
1999 conference championship game(s)
NFC championship game(s)
AFL, NFL championship game(s) (for years prior to merger)
1999 NFC championship game
Super Bowl
Super Bowl XXXIV

NHL Playoffs
Playoff series should be referred to as follows:
first-round series
conference semifinals
conference finals
Stanley Cup finals (Cup finals on second reference)
division finals (1982-93)
division semifinals (1982-93)
(note that conference becomes Conference if the specific conference is referred to: Western Conference semifinals)

Miscellaneous
Dangling Participles
Best avoided everywhere; definitely do avoid them at the start of essays. Full name of subject should be used in first sentence of each essay, unless there’s a good reason against.
Dashes
“The staff posted a 4.93 ERA—astronomical for Comiskey Park.”
Dates
Months are abbreviated: Sept., not September.
Years are spelled digitally, e.g. 1994.
Leagues
Use American League, National League, American League East, National League West, etc. On second reference: the league, the pennant in the West, the league’s Western Division, etc.
Numbers
Single digit numbers are written out (i.e. one, six, nine) EXCEPT for 1-for-4, 2 for his last 17, or 3 hits in 11 at-bats. All other numbers in numbers in numeral form. Scores are always listed as numbers, not written out.
‘90s, but preferably 1990 (at least at the start of an essay)
1980s
90+ MPH fastball
30-year-old (adj.)
1-for-4
2 for his last 17
3 hits in 11 at-bats
Some sample uses of numbers; first inning, seventh-inning stretch, 10th inning; first base, second base, third base, first home run, 10th home run; first place, last place. The pitcher’s record is now 6-5. The final score was 1-0. The batter went 1-for-4.
Quotation Marks
A comma or period goes inside the quotation mark, but not if an incomplete sentence.
Question marks, dashes, colons and semicolons only go inside the quotation mark if they are part of the quote. Otherwise they go outside it.
Space Between Sentences
Use only one space, not two, between sentences.
Team Nicknames
Do not use an apostrophe at the end of a team’s nickname when using the nickname to identify the team’s players, except when the word “the” precedes the team nickname.
“Reds outfielder Ruben Sierra” is correct.
“Reds’ outfielder Ruben Sierra” is incorrect.
“The Reds’ Ruben Sierra” is correct.
Team nicknames that are nominally singular such as Magic, Blaze, etc., should be treated as plural when refereed to thusly:
The Magic were 8-3 last week.
The Heat won their first six games.