Writer’s Style Guide

Frequent questions or errors

  1. When abbreviating Canadian provinces and territories, we prefer a longer shortform (Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., N.L., N.S., Nun., N.W.T., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon). The postal shortform (e.g. MB, ON), is to be used only when referring to a postal address.

  2. Degrees do not need periods: BA, BRS, MA, PhD

  3. Abbreviations that do not need periods: EMC, RCMP, CFGB, MCC, MDS, MWC

  4. Use “Indigenous Peoples” as an umbrella term that includes all First Nations, Métis, Inuit people in Canada. For more guidelines and cautions, see the guide at Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.

  5. In the first reference to a person in a news item use both the first and last names. In subsequent references using only one is fine.

  6. Photo captions: put names in order that people appear

  7. “Women” is normally preferred over “ladies” except for so-named events (e.g., “Ladies Tea” is fine, but “Many women arrived early…”).

  8. Please use

    1. Metric units, not imperial

    2. use noon and midnight, not 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. (nor 12 noon)

    3. period inside, not outside, of quotation marks

    4. Canadian spellings (colour, honour, centre, counselling)

Styles related to the Bible and church

  1. Do not abbreviate books of the Bible. Use Arabic, not roman, numerals (e.g., 2 Timothy, not II Timothy). Do not print chapter and verse references without actually quoting a few words of text.

  2. Following the style of the NIV and several other Bible translations, do not capitalize pronouns referring to God and Jesus.

  3. Do not capitalize church or kingdom unless referring to the name of a local church or church organization (e.g., Kingdom Gospel Church, Church of God).

  4. Baptism, baptize, baptizing, baptized

  5. Bible, biblical, Bible study, Bible college (but Steinbach Bible College)

  6. Footwashing, not feetwashing or feet-washing

EMC Specific Style Issues

  1. Anabaptist is preferred over Mennonite in most cases though it is a broader term

  2. We prefer not to use Mennonite in a cultural sense, but to reserve the word for the faith or denominational meaning as it is used by Mennonite groups around the world. Alternate ways to identify the cultural Mennonite include Cultural Mennonite, Low-German Mennonite or Ethnic Mennonite.

  3. The “C” in EMC can refer to either church (i.e. Kola EMC) or conference. In general, spell EMC out entirely or use the full abbreviation. EM Conference or EM Church is not preferred.

  4. Do not abbreviate the whole church name (abbreviating EMC is fine) i.e. use Steinbach EMC instead of SEMC because Straffordville EMC is also SEMC.

  5. Certain characteristic words or phrases tend to appear when pieces are very much the same from time to time, as reports and prayer requests tend to be. Be mindful of these and try to avoid common catchphrases.

  6. Some style features have become associated with prayer requests and more natural speech patterns are preferred. Some to be aware of are:

    1. Speak with assurance: Use “pray that God will work…” rather than “pray that God would work…” or “pray that God can work…”

    2. Similarly use “pray that our plans will go well” rather than “pray for our plans to go well”

    3. Try to avoid words like “seek” and “desire.” 

    4. Instead of generic “pray for our program” if possible, specify what to pray for your program “pray that the program will …”

Grammar Resources