Communication Standards - University of Miami Athletics

SOCIAL MEDIA | WEB WRITING | STYLE GUIDE | MULTIMEDIA GUIDELINESUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICSCOMMUNICATIONSTANDARDS

ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONSCHRIS FREETAssociate ADCommunications & MarketingAMY WOODRUFFAssistant DirectorCHRIS YANDLEDirectorCommunicationsSCOTT ZAVITZAssistant DirectorUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI COMMUNICATIONSHecht Athletic Center | 5821 San Amaro Drive | Coral Gables, FL 33146Phone: 305-284-3244 | Fax: 305-284-2807www.HurricaneSports.comOfficial Social Media Accounts for Miami Hurricanes AthleticsTwitter: @HurricaneSports, @LosHuracanesFacebook: Facebook.com/MiamiHurricanesInstagram: umiamihurricanesCOMMUNICATIONS STAFFCHRIS FREET Associate AD / Communications & MarketingAlma Mater: UC Santa Barbara, 2002@ChrisFreetOffice: 305-284-3231 Cell: 786-413-9920 Email: c.freet@miami.eduCHRIS YANDLE Director of CommunicationsResponsibilities: Football, GolfAlma Mater: Louisiana-Lafayette, 2004@ChrisYandleOffice: 305-284-3248 Cell: 786-877-9368 Email: c.yandle@miami.eduAMY WOODRUFF Assistant DirectorResponsibilities: Men’s Basketball, Men’s TennisAlma Mater: Alaska Fairbanks, 2002@CanesHoopsOffice: 305-284-3241 Cell: 813-410-1194 Email: a.woodruff@miami.eduSCOTT ZAVITZ Assistant DirectorResponsibilities: Women’s Basketball, Women’s Tennis, FootballAlma Mater: Tampa, 2006 @SZavitzOffice: 305-284-3236 Cell: 305-342-1424 Email: szavitz@miami.eduCAMRON GHORBIAssistant DirectorDAVID VILLAVICENCIOAssistant DirectorCAMRON GHORBI Assistant DirectorResponsibilities: Baseball, Women’s Soccer, Swimming & DivingAlma Mater: Miami, 2011 @CamronGhorbiOffice: 305-284-3230 Cell: 786-877-7329 Email: c.ghorbi@miami.eduDAVID VILLAVICENCIO Assistant DirectorResponsibilities: Volleyball, Track & Field, Rowing, FootballAlma Mater: Miami, 2009@dvillavicencio6Office: 305-284-3244 Cell: 305-726-6739 Email: davidv@miami.eduBRIAN BOWSHER Digital Media StrategistAlma Mater: Xavier, 2007@BrianBowsherOffice: 305-284-1904 Cell: 786-447-9494 Email: b.bowsher@miami.eduBRIAN BOWSHERDigital Media Strategist2 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTSUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 3

INTRODUCTIONThis publication provides consistent guidelines for graphic and editorial presentation associatedwith the University of Miami Athletic Communications.From web writing and social media strategy to grammar and style standards, this manualprovides an overview of the elements that Athletic Communications will follow to present a clean,consistent look across all platforms.This primary UM guide draws heavily on The Associated Press Stylebook and also uses additionalresources from The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage and Merriam-Webster’s CollegiateDictionary.4 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

VISUAL IDENTITYPRIMARY LOGOPRIMARY COLOR PALETTECoatedPaperUncoatedPaperScreenModeMIAMI GREEN MIAMI ORANGE MIAMI GRAYPantone® 3435 CC 100M 0Y 81K 66Pantone® 1665 CC 0M 68Y 100K 0Pantone® 432 CC 77M 63Y 53K 41Pantone® 3435 U Pantone® 1665 U Pantone® 432 UR 0G 80B 48Hexadecimal: #005030R 244G 115B 33Hexadecimal: #f47321R 54G 66B 74Hexadecimal: #36424aUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 5

VISUAL IDENTITYTWITTER VISUAL IDENTITY SPECIFICATIONS1. Pick Your AlignmentTwitter allows you to align your background horizontally. To maximize the branding opportunities for your Background, chooseCENTER aligned. Centered alignments allow you to easily place content in a constant position on both sides of your profile,instead of just one side (when using left or right alignment). Twitter backgrounds used to be only left-aligned, which meant thatthe background was fixed to the left of the browser, and when a user made their browser window wider they may not have seencontent on the right side of the background.2. Know Your Sizes and Visible LimitsTwitter.com’s content has a fixed size in the middle of the screen, and leaves the rest for backgrounds. With a CENTEREDbackground, you can use 194px wide on the left and right sides of your profile, and 85% of all internet users will see that content. Irecommend uploading a background that is 1920 x 1080px as this will be the maximum size anyone will view your background at.Here are how many pixels wide you can use on the sidebars of your profile to reach X% of Twitter.com visitors:• 66px for 98% of visitors (1024px wide resolutions)• 194px for 85% of visitors (1280px wide resolutions)• 238px for 56.1% of visitors (1366px wide resolutions)• Up to 520px for 42.3% of visitors with resolutions wider than 1366px.Note: Percentages of visitors above are using average screen resolution sizes via data from W3Schools, as of Jan. 2012.6 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

VISUAL IDENTITY3. Make Your Background Consistent with Your BrandingSome of the best ways to keep your branding consistent is to use your company’s color theme and logos in your background andprofile picture.Here are how many pixels wide you can use on the sidebars of your profile to reach X% of Twitter.com visitors:• Text on your background will distract from the text on your profile. Keep background text to a minimum.• Keep it SIMPLE! Clear branding with your logo and colors will let visitors quickly associate your Twitter account with yourother properties.• Instead of including a lot of URLs in the background, Tweet about your other web properties!This ensures that all your Twitter users have a chance of seeing it, instead of just the users visiting your Full Profile Page.4. Match Your Twitter.com Profile Background Color to Your Image’s ColorWhen your background color and image color are the same, you can have a shorter background image that blends right into thebackground color. It helps to start your background image with one color that matches the color you want in your Twitter designsettings.5. Use .PNG to Save Your Background ImageThe JPG image format is a lossy format, meaning you sacrifice picture quality to save file size. PNG files will be slightly larger, butwill keep your details in-tact; which is VERY important if you will be using small text in your background.6. Upload Your Creation and Test It LiveYou will only be able to see how good your background is once you test it. If you don’t want to make changes on your account untilthe background is final, create a new Twitter test account and upload your background there first.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 7

VISUAL IDENTITYFACEBOOK VISUAL IDENTITY SPECIFICATIONSCover Photo Specifications• Cover photo (header image): 520 x 260 px (max file size = 5 MB)• Profile picture: 81 x 81 pxTips• Twitter adds a black gradient layer to the header – regardless of your image.• Using a photo with vastly different proportions (i.e. vertical) will give you errors• Darker Header images allow the White overlay text to show up much better• The Twitter header makes the overall design less about a busy background and more about a vivid header.Making both busy can be distracting.Just upload the background (Settings -> Design -> Header) and the avatar photo (Settings -> Profile -> Photo) and you’re done.8 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA | WEB WRITING | STYLE GUIDE | MULTIMEDIA GUIDELINESUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICSWRITING FORTHE WEBUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 9

WRITING FOR THE WEBHEADLINES AND PHOTOSAll action photos on HurricaneSports.com should be cropped at 2X1 in Titan photo editor, while cropping theaction shot tight on the player and leaving slight room at the top (like above).You have a 45-character limit on headlines – you can be creative. Use ESPN.com as a guide for headline writing.Treat HurricaneSports.com like ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo!, etc.Each headline should have at least two links at the bottom. If possible, make them article-specific. If not, thenmake them important/time-sensitive links.10 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

WRITING FOR THE WEBHEADLINES AND PHOTOSUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 11

WRITING FOR THE WEBBIOSPlayer bios on HurricaneSports.com should follow a very similiar format to that of the one below, Duke Johnson:2012 ALL-AMERICA, SECOND TEAM (Walter Camp)2012 ALL-AMERICA, HONORABLE MENTION (SI)2012 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA (FWAA) - KR2012 ALL-ACC, FIRST TEAM (Phil Steele, CBSSports.com)2012 ALL-ACC, SECOND TEAM (ACSMA, coaches, Phil Steele)2012 ACC OVERALL & OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (ACSMA, coaches)2012 ACC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (Sporting News)2012 (True Freshman): Played in all 12 games at running back and kick returner, making five starts ... Enjoyed arguably greatest freshman season inMiami history, rushing for freshman-record 947 yards and 10 TDs ... Set UM single-season record with 892 kick return yards and 2 TDs ... Amassed2,060 all-purpose yards - second-most in program history ... Second-team All-America by Walter Camp Football Foundation, third-team All-Americaby CBSSports.com, honorable mention All-America by Sports Illustrated ... Tabbed Freshman All-American at kick returner by FWAA ... First-teamFreshman All-America as kick return by Phil Steele ... Second-team Freshman All-America as running back by CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele ...CBSSports.com All-Freshman ... Voted ACC Overall and Offensive Rookie of the Year by ACSMA and league coaches ... Sporting News ACC Freshman ofthe Year ... Second-team All-ACC running back by ACSMA, league coaches and Phil Steele ... Second-team All-ACC specialist by ACSMA ... Also garneredAll-ACC honors from CBSSports.com (kick returner) and(first-team KR) ... Six games with 200+ all-purpose yards ... Four 100-yard rushinggames ... League-best five-time ACC Rookie of the Week honoree in 2012 ... Burst onto college scene in season opener with 135 rushing yards and 2TDs on seven carries in road win at Boston College ... Named ACC Rookie of the Week for Sept. 4 ... Amassed then-career-high 246 all-purpose yardsand 4 TDs in home win vs. Bethune-Cookman in career-first start ... Rushed for 2 TDs, caught another and had 95-yard kick return for score vs. B-CU ...Named ACC Rookie of the Week for Sept. 17 ... Finished season three 100-yard rushing outings over final four games ... Rushed for 100 yards, TD andended with 217 all-purpose yards vs. Virginia Tech ... Named ACC Rookie of the Week for Nov. 5 ... Set Miami single-game and ACC freshman all-purposerecord with 368 yards at Virginia ... Rushed for 150 yards on 16 carries and had four returns for career-best 214 yards and TD ... Also threw 8-yard TDpass - career-first college pass attempt … Named ACC Rookie of the Week for Nov. 12 ... Closed freshman campaign with career-high 176 rushing yardsand 3 rushing TDs in win at Duke ... Named ACC Rookie of the Week for Nov. 26 ... Recipient of Special Teams Player of the Year Award at team’s endof-seasonbanquet ... Earned letter.TABLESAll tables on HurricaneSports.com should be 650 pixels in width. First row should be orange (#f47321), the second row should be green(#005030) and all subsequent rows should be gray (#dddddd). Text in the first two rows should be WHITE BOLD CAPS.12 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

NEULION: HURRICANESPORTS.COMINTRODUCTION TO TITANTitan is the HTML content manager we use for HurricaneSports.com, which is hosted by NeuLion. Titan is a rather easy content managerto use and the help function is informative. If you need additional help, you can email your request to helpdesk@jumptv.com and they canassist you.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 13

NEULION: HURRICANESPORTS.COMHOW TO CREATE AND EDIT AN ARTICLEGetting Started1. Click the Articles link in the Publishing section of the menu.2. Click the Add link in the sub menu create a new article.or3. Click the Edit button to edit an already existing article.14 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

NEULION: HURRICANESPORTS.COMTop Portion of the Article Edit Page1. Article ID: The 6-to-8 digit number is unique to every article in the database. This number can be used to find a specific article.2. Page: The number listed displays how many pages are within the article.3. Last Edited By: Displays the last account to save or edit content in the article.4. Last Edited Date: Displays the last date the article was saved or edited.5. Article Headline: Use this field to display the article’s headline.6. Article Teaser: Use this field to display the article’s teaser.(Note: The system can generate an automatic teaser by using a predetermined number of characters of text from the article’s body. The teasercan also be manually created. This choice can be toggled by the project manager assigned to you.)7. Publish Date: Use these drop-down menus to display the date this article will be published.Note: The system will not publish an article until the time selected has been met. It is possible to post-date an article so it is in the system8. Archive Date: Use these drop-down menus to set the date this article will be automatically archived.9. Never Archive: Enable this check box to void the Archive Date drop-down menus.Note: This is the preferred way of publishing an article, as it prevents sites from having blank pages due to a lack of new content.10. Active: Use this drop-down menu to toggle if the article should be displayed.Note: If the drop-down menu is toggled to “no,” the article will not display.11. Subscription Level: Use this drop-down menu to set the subscription level required to read this article.12. Article Priority: Use this drop-down menu to set the page placement of the article on the website. These are the choices:Feature Article: Use this priority to set the article in the top spot of the homepage as well as the sport specific page.Homepage: Use this priority to set the article in the headline section as well as the top spot of the sport page.Sport Headline Page: Use this priority to set the article in the sport specific page.Archives - Normal Article: Use this priority to set the article in the archives section of a specific sport.13. Display Priority: Use this higher-to-lower priority field to give the article a higher-or-lower priority in comparison to other articles that havebeen given the same Article Priority and share the same Publish Date. (Note: Articles with more recent publish dates will always be considered ahigher priority then articles with older ones. Display Priority only effects articles with the same Publish Date.)14. Photo Album ID: Use this field to link a Photo Album to the article. When this field is in use, a camera icon will appear in the upper right of thearticle, as well as a link entitled “photos.”Center Top Portion of the Article Edit Page1. Article Type: Use this drop-down menu to select the type of article you wish to create.Article: Use this type to create a news story.Biography: Use this type to create an athlete or coach’s biography.Email: Use this type when the article is only going to be used in the body of an email.2. Page Template: Use this drop-down menu to select the desired page template.Article No Picture: This will create an article that will not display a photo inside the body.(Note: A photo must still be selected so that the article will have a picture on the homepage and sport specific page.)Article One Picture Top Left: This will create an article that will display the selected photo in the top leftof the article body.Article One Picture Top Right: This will create an article that will display the selected photo in the top rightof the article body.MultiMedia Article: This will create an article that will not display the selected photo inside the body.The Headline, Publish Date, Photo Album, Copyright/Credit Information, PDF’s, Links, and Downloads will not displayon the article page.3. Sport: Use this drop-down menu to link the article to a specific sport. There can be several.4. Copyright/Credit Information: Use this drop-down menu to select the desired copyright/credit information.5. Section: Use this drop-down menu to link the article to a specific section of a sport.(Note: To post the article as a news story, select the News - *Headlines* section.)6. Photo Caption: Use this field to create a caption with the selected photo for the article.7. Protected Article: Add a username and passwords in these areas if you would only like certain parties to have access to this information.8. Neulion Video Id: Use this field when inserting a video id to imbed a video into the article. This information needs to correspond with theNeulion Video Administration Tool. For more information, please click here.(Note: If you don’t see this option your site has not been presented the video embed functionality, yet.)9. Preview Article: Click this link to preview the article in its last saved state.(Note: An article must be saved before this option will appear on the page.)University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 15

NEULION: HURRICANESPORTS.COMCenter Bottom Portion of the Article Edit Page1. Article Photo Thumbnail Window: A thumbnail of the selected photo and its Photo ID number.2. Change Photo: Click the Change Photo button to open up the photo bucket and select the desired photo for the article.3. Clear Photo: Click the Clear Photo button to remove a selected photo.4. Front Page Article (Optional Function):Change Photo: Click the Change Photo button to open up the photo bucket and select the desired photo for the article.(Note: This photo will display outside of the article only. If no photo is selected, the original photo will display inside andoutside of the article.)Clear Photo: Click the Clear Photo button to remove a selected photo.Top Bottom Portion of the Article Edit Page1. Page 1: Click the Page button to edit the corresponding page content.2. Player Bio Link: Click the Player Bio Link button and the system will run through the selected sport’s roster and make a link for all thematching names in the article.3. Remove P tags: Click this button to remove P tags from article HTML which causes spacing issues in the text.4. Set Game Recap/Stats: Click the Set Game Recap/Stats button to open a schedule list. Click the Recap, Stats, Notes, and Quotes buttons onthe specific schedule entry to link the game with the article.TinyMCE Article Editor1. B: Use this button to make highlighted text bold.2. I: Use this button to make highlighted text italicized.3. U: Use this button to make highlighted text underlined.4. Superscript: Use this button to make highlighted text float above a guideline.5. Subscript: Use this button to make highlighted text shrink.6. Alignment Left: Use this button to make text align to the left.7. Alignment Center: Use this button to make text align to the center.8. Alignment Right: Use this button to make text align to the right.9. Alignment Justified: Use this button to make the text alignment justified.10. Unordered List: Use this button to create a bullet-point list.11. Ordered List: Use this button to create a numbered list.12. Indention Left: Use this button to create a left indention.13. Indention Right: Use this button to create a right indention.14. Undo: Use this button to undo last action.15. Redo: Use this button to redo last action.16. Insert/Edit Link: Use this button to change highlighted text/selected image into a hyper link.Article ID: Use this field to link to a specific article.External Link: Enable this check box to prevent database information from being added to the external link.(Note: This must be checked if connecting to a file.)Link URL: Use this field to link to a specific URL address.Target: Use this drop-down menu to open a link in the same window or a new window.(Note: If the user will be leaving the site, it is always recommended that the link open in a new window.)Title: Use this field to name a new window.17. Unlink: Use this button to break hyper links from the text.18. Anchor: Use this to create an Anchor Tag16 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

NEULION: HURRICANESPORTS.COM19. Insert/Edit Image: Use this button to insert or edit an image into the body of the article.Image URL: Use this field to enter the file path of the desired image.Image Description: Use this field to create a tool tip description window for the desired image.Alignment: Use this drop-down menu to select an alignment for the desired image.Note: Setting the alignment of an image will automatically allow for word wrapping.Dimensions: Use these fields to set the desired image’s aspect ratio.Border: Use this field to create a pixel width border around the desired image.Vertical Space: Use this field to create vertical pixel padding around the desired image.Horizontal Space: Use this field to create horizontal pixel padding around the desired image.20. Edit HTML Source: Use this button to view/edit the HTML source code of the article.*Make note that you can also see the extra HTML code that comes along with content pasted from microsoft word in this area. Many timesthis extra code can cause issues on your site. We do not suggest pasting your article directly from Microsoft Word into the body when usingFirefox or Safari, use the paste from word function in the tool bar. You can paste as usual fron Internet Explorer. If you have issues withdiapearing text, or drastic site changes after posting your article, that extra code could be the cause.21. Insert Horizontal Ruler: Use this button to create a horizontal ruler across the article’s body.22. Insert Custom Character: Use this button to open a custom character palette. Click on the desired character to input it into the body of thearticle.23. Insert a New Table: Use this button to create a new table in the body of the article.Columns: Use this field to create the number of columns in the table.Rows: Use this field to create the number of rows in the table.Cellpadding: Use this field to set the amount of space between the cells.Cellspacing: Use this field to set the horizontal and vertical spaces between the cell content and the cell borders.Alignment: Use this field to set the alignment of the table.Border: Use this field to create a pixel width border for the table. (Note: To create an invisible table, set the field to “0.”)Width: Use this field to create a fixed width for the table.Height: Use this field to create a fixed height for the table.Class: Use this field to create a specific class for the table.Insert Column Before: Use this field to insert a new colum before your table.Insert Column After: Use this field to insert a new column after your table.Insert Row Before: Use this field to insert a row at the top of your table.Insert Row After: Use this field to insert a row at the bottong of your table.24. Body: Use this field to create the content of your article.25. Paste as Plain Text: Use this button to Paste without any formatting into the body of the article.26. Paste from Word: In Internet Explorer simply paste using Ctrl-V in the regular article content area. The paste process will automatically stripMicrosoft proprietary code from the article while preserving formatting such as bolds, italics, links and tables. In Firefox or Safari, click thePaste from Word button Seen in image above and then paste using Ctrl-V. This new functionality should make posting article content eveneasier than before while still maintaining the integrity of your site designUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 17

NEULION: HURRICANESPORTS.COMHOW TO ADD AN AUDIO OR VIDEO CLIPGetting Started1. Please make sure that your video/audio file is a wmv/wma so it will function properly within the media player.2. You will need to log into titan and under multimedia> on demand> upload A/V where you will select the desired mediato upload and drag into your ftp folder.3. After the media uploads, you will find the file under Multimedia, new arrivals where you can use as desired.How to edit an audio or video clip:1. Click the On Demand link in the Multimedia section of the menu.2. Click the Search link in the sub menu.3. Click the Edit button next to the desired clip.Top of Audio / Video Clip Edit Page:1. Video Section: Use this drop-down menu to select the media type of the clip.2. Video Category: Use this drop-down menu to select a specific category for the clip.3. Season: Use this drop-down menu to select the season the clip took place.4. Sport: Use this drop-down menu to select the sport associated with the clip.5. Event Date: Use these drop-down menus to display the date the event took place.6. Display Order: Use this area to determine what order this clip will show in the media player out of the clips that were postedthat day.Top Middle of Audio / Video Clip Edit Page:1. Status: Use this drop-down menu to mark the status of the clip. (Note: This functionality is designed for staff members capableof understanding the technical requirements of the On-Demand service. Furthermore, marking the clips with different status typeswill allow for there to be efficient communication between the people who upload files and those who publish them.)(a) New: Use this Status type to mark the clip as new and ready for its status to be updated.(b) Updated: Use this status type to mark the clip as updated and ready to be published.(c) Publish: Use this status type to publish the clip in the On-Demand directory.(d) Podcast-Only: Use this status type to mark the clip for podcasts only. (Note: This status type should be selected if the file isanything other than a WMA/WMV.)(e) Delete: Use this status type to mark the clip as ready for deletion.2. Subscription Level: Use this drop-down menu to set the subscription level required to view this clip.3. Active: Use this drop-down menu to toggle if the article should be displayed.4. Copyright Credit: Use this drop-down menu to select the desired copyright/credit information.5. Now Featuring Option: Use this drop-down menu to select the location of the clip on the premium home page.6. Video Advertisement: Use this drop-down menu to select a specific media advertisement to be played before the clip.Middle of Audio / Video Clip Edit Page:1. Publish Date: Use these drop-down menus to display the date the clip will be published.2. Archive Date: Use these drop-down menus to set the date the clip will be automatically archived.3. Never Archive: By enabling this check box, you are voiding the Archive Date drop-down menus.Bottom Middle of Audio / Video Clip Edit Page:1. Short Description: Use this field to name the clip.2. Long Description: Use this field to create caption information for the clip.3. Change Photo: Click this button to select a specific image to act as the thumbnail for the clip.4. Clear Photo: Click this link to clear the photo for the clip.Top Bottom of Audio / Video Clip Edit Page:1. Search for Article ID: Use this link to search for a specific article ID.2. Add Article: Click this button to add a specific article to the clip by using the article ID.3. Remove: Click this button to remove the connected article.Bottom of Audio / Video Clip Edit Page:1. Search for Player ID: Use this link to search for a specific player ID.2. Add Player: Click this button to add a specific player to the clip by using the player ID.3. Remove: Click this button to remove the connected player.18 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA | WEB WRITING | STYLE GUIDE | MULTIMEDIA GUIDELINESUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICSSOCIAL MEDIASTRATEGYUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 19

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY12Take3IfEvery day is a job interview.Be respectful. Anything you post in your role as a University of Miami employee reflects eitherpositively or negatively on the University. Be professional and respectful.pride in who/what you represent.The University of Miami, the Athletics Department, family, church, organization, etc.you can’t say it in front of your mother, grandmother, pastoror another family member, then don’t say it.4Listen.“Listen” to online conversations on your preferred tools to maintain a clear and current understandingof what is relevant and of interest to the community.5Be active.Engage and be active on social media. Don’t go weeks without a post.6Twitter78Don’t9Whatis a telephone, not a megaphone.Don’t use it as an outlet to complain about your life.Have some common sense.Think before you post, remembering that anything you share within social media, even within aclosed network, is not private.engage in Twitter arguments. No one wins. Ignore them.happens behind closed doors stays there.Don’t tweet or post something about a heated argument in the office or what happened in thelocker room. Things said in private settings should never see the light of the internet.20 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYSOCIAL MEDIA AWARENESS – R.A.I.S.E. PRINCIPLEWhen using social media for personal or professional use (including student-athletes), be sure to utilize the R.A.I.S.E. principle:RespectfulAuthenticIntentionalSmartEngagingSOCIAL MEDIA PHILOSOPHYThis social media strategy was adopted from the University of South Carolina’s 2012-13 strategy set forth by their marketing team.We share many of the same philosophies. As with anything related to social media, trends and approaches can change over time so thisportion of the standards manual will be fluid.We want our presence in social media to be highly interactive and a two-way conversation – not a one-way advertisement or informationpush. Think of it like this: Twitter/Social Media is TELEPHONE, not a MEGAPHONE. We want to position HurricaneSports.comand our social media accounts as a hub of all Hurricanes content as well as the official source. We are in direct competition with othermedia outlets when it comes to Miami Hurricanes information and coverage. We want to leverage our access and position as the ownerof content to promote our brand. We want to be engaged with our fans, listening to and leading the conversation about the Canes,amplifying our messaging, and developing online brand advocates.Goals and Strategy:• Fan Engagement/Fan Community• Listen to and Lead the Conversation• Spread our Information and Amplify messaging• Position ourselves as the official sourceWe also use our personal, non-school Twitter accounts to be additional voices in promoting not only your personal brand but also theMiami Hurricanes brand. We are an information source, but engagement and interaction is paramount in amplifying our message.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 21

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYEDUCATIONEducation on best practices is important for consistency in social media across multiple individuals and departments. Staff who will behandling departmental or sport team social media accounts: Director of Communication and Digital Media Strategist will educate on bestpractices and tactics.Staff personal accounts used for athletics-related purposes: Director of Communication and Digital Media Strategist will lead occasionaltutorial sessions and one-on-one meetings to educate staff on best practices and tactics.Student-athletes: Distribute social media guidelines at team meetings at the beginning of each year, periodic follow-ups when necessary.Sebastian the Ibis: Currently, Sebastian’s Twitter is run by Communications and Marketing. Students that are Sebastian have had theirTwitter access suspended until they go through rules and education training.All social media education for University of Miami student-athletes, athletics staff and coaches will be conducted by ChrisYandle, Director of Communications. Each sport contact is responsible for scheduling a meeting time with their assigned sport.PLATFORMSSocial media has changed the way people get and share information. We want to reach people where and how they are communicatingand do so across multiple platforms. With ever-changing and growing social networks we must continuously evaluate best practices fordifferent platforms. Various platforms have different strengths that we need to maximize appropriately. When evaluating new tools, weneed to see where they fit in our strategy and prioritize resources when choosing where to focus our social media efforts.FACEBOOKOur goal with Facebook is to create an engaging and interactive fan community, showcasing the passion of South Carolina fans and that “It’s Great to bea Gamecock”. While we want to share content and information, we do not want Facebook pages to be merely a duplication of our website. Facebook’sEdgeRank algorithm demands that posts be engaging to generate likes, comments, and shares by fans to ensure our content appears in fans’ news feeds.– Main Miami Hurricanes Facebook page:GOAL STRATEGY SAMPLE FACEBOOK TACTICSFan Engagement and Appreciation Post interactive and engaging content Fan photos, asking open-ended questionsProvide customer serviceAnswering fans’ questions, providing customerservice options, commenting back and leadingthe conversationEnhance and Promote the BrandRepresent and share the brand in a visual,engaging waySample cover photos, marketing images,branded action imagesSpread Information/Amplify messaging News and promotion Big wins/game results, player awards, originalcontent, highlight videos, ticket information22 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY– Individual Sport Facebook Pages:The goal with individual sport Facebook pages is to provide fans a more in-depth look at an individual team than provided on the main page. Not allsports have individual pages. A past strategy in social media was that athletics staff only managed the main account and teams’ had their own pages.Athletics staff have become involved in the individual team pages. The same goals as above apply with the addition of the following:GOAL STRATEGY SAMPLE FACEBOOK TACTICSProvide look inside the programLeverage access to provide behind-the-scenesand insider contentPhotos from travel, pre-game, facilities Complete coverage of that team’s events In-game updates/results, game previews andevent promotiongocan.es linksWe have specialized bit.ly links for all Miami Hurricanes official accounts. After you post your article on HurricaneSports.com, log on to bit.ly using the@HurricaneSports Twitter login information. Paste in your HurricaneSports.com link and bit.ly will generate a personalized gocan.es link that you willpaste into Twitter and Facebook. When you post a link on Facebook, post a photo and brief text with the link. Photos drive more engagementon Facebook.90-minute ruleAs a rule of thumb, do not post more than one Facebook entry within a 90-minute span – this avoids us from posting things on top of each other. If youschedule a post for a certain time, alert the rest of the group so we know.TWITTEROur goal with Twitter is to be a quick, go-to source of official information. All of our news should be distributed via Twitter via our official accountssimultaneously or immediately surrounding being posted to our website and prior to being emailed to media. Fan questions should be answered in timelymanner to position ourselves as a customer service resource and good source. Fan engagement and leading the conversation is a priority. Ideally alltweets would be done manually, but we currently use Twitter feed to generate automated tweets of all releases posted to HurricaneSports.com toensure that they are all tweeted. All of our general social media goals apply with Twitter with the addition of the following:GOAL STRATEGY SAMPLE FACEBOOK TACTICSPosition our accounts as the official sourcefor informationPost to Twitter before emailing mediareleaseProvide customer service Answer fan questions in a timely mannerOwn our stories and content first whenpossibleUse gocan.es bit.ly linkFan Engagement and Appreciation Join and lead the conversation Search for conversations with#IStandWithTheU or search player names toretweet or commentUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 23

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYgocan.es linksWe have specialized bit.ly links for all Miami Hurricanes official accounts. After you post your article on HurricaneSports.com, log on to bit.ly using the@HurricaneSports Twitter login information. Paste in your HurricaneSports.com link and bit.ly will generate a personalized gocan.es link that you willpaste into Twitter and Facebook.@HurricaneSports:RT sport-specific contentHurricaneSports.com newsGeneral contests/promosIn-game updates for certain sports (Football)Final scores/resultsFan engagementEvent remindersInfographics/victory posters@LosHuracanes:HurricaneSports.com newsGeneral contests/promosIn-game updates for certain sports (Football)Final scores/resultsFan engagementEvent remindersIndividual Sports (acts as team voice):HurricaneSports.comLive updatesEvent remindersBehind the Scenes/team-centric photosInfographics/victory postersYOUTUBEYouTube as a video platform encourages sharing and enhances chances of our videos being seen by a wide group of people over a longer period oftime. Videos that are “evergreen” and will hold interest over a longer period of time are posted to our YouTube channel and organized in playlists bysport. Types of videos include highlights, features, Raising Canes, and hype or promotional videos. News conference or media availability videos arenot typically posted to YouTube. NO ESPN AND NETWORK CONTENT SHOULD BE HOUSED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL – ONLY MIAMIHURRICANES CONTENT WE’VE CREATED.INSTAGRAMInstagram is a photo-based social network growing in popularity. We use it to host and tweet pictures from the main @umiamihurricanes Twitteraccount. All photos are tagged with #Canes or #IStandWithTheU to increase the likelihood of fans finding them via search. Instagram is almost entirelymobile app-based and supports our presence in the mobile space.GOOGLE+Our Google+ profile is a placeholder to protect our brand in the space. We only post releases to Google+ to better increase our SEO. Further analysis ofGoogle+ strategy will be necessary.24 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYSPONSOR INTERGRATIONCorporate external posts are coordinated through our sponsorship partnership with Hurricane Sports Properties. We are sensitive to both protecting thevalue of our social media audience as well as protecting the integrity of our relationship with them. We have guidelines to determine whether a sponsoredpost is appropriate or permissible.With the growth in social media we get regular requests from external parties to post their content to our social media accounts. We must be discerningand careful about which, if any, we post in order to protect our social media sponsorship value and our sponsors. We discourage posting items related toa business that is not a sponsor with the following guidelines considered:• If the post or promotion provides a direct benefit to a student-athlete or program, it may be posted.Examples: Winning mascot of the Capital One Mascot Challenge receives a $20,000 scholarship;some major awards for athletics achievement now include a fan voting component• Promotions that require an email address or Facebook “Like” for a user to enter are not likely to be approved.That provides valuable data to the company without a sponsorship.Moving forward, we are asking HSP to provide us with social media sponsor integration expectations so that we know what we are tweeting/postingand at what frequency the message is being sent.OFFICIAL HASHTAGSNote the capitalization in the hashtags.#Canes#IStandWithTheU#ItsAllAboutTheUUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 25

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYFACEBOOK POSTSTWITTER POSTS26 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYTWITTER POSTSUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 27

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYINSTAGRAM POSTS28 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGYGOOGLE+ POSTSUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 29

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY30 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

SOCIAL MEDIA | WEB WRITING | STYLE GUIDE | MULTIMEDIA GUIDELINESUNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ATHLETICSWRITINGSTYLE GUIDEUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 31

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEOne measure of good writing is consistency. The Universityof Miami Athletic Communications has compiled this styleguide to help achieve a consistent image across the varietyof written communication materials that represent UM,including marketing materials, news releases, almanacs,game notes, e-mail correspondence and HurricaneSports.com.All communications materials created by Miami AthleticCommunications will adhere to this guide.The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual serves asour primary reference for word usage, spelling, grammar,capitalization and punctuation. Additional references, includingThe New York Times Manual of Style and Usage, The WashingtonPost Deskbook of Style and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionaryalso provide extensive information of copy editing. This styleguide also includes entries corresponding to almost all APSPORTS GUIDELINES AND STYLE listings as well as entriessuggested by ESPN editors.KEY TO ENTRIESThis style guide is organized alphabetically. Entry names, inBook Antiqua bold type, indicate lowercase or capitalizationas appropriate. Body text, in Univers Condensed, explains usage.Examples of usage (correct or incorrect) are shown in italics.Aa, an1. In general use a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound.Use a before a pronounced h, long u (or eu), and o as pronounced inone. Example: a one-on-one meeting; a euphemism2. Use an when the ‘h’ is not pronounced, as in “an honor student”3. Use an when a group of initials begins with a vowel sound (even ifthe first letter is a consonant). Example: an MBA graduatea.m., p.m.Lowercase, with periods. Avoid redundant phrasing (9 a.m. in the morning)abbreviations and acronymsAvoid following an organization’s full name with the acronym inparenthese when the acronym is clear on second reference.The following abbreviations are acceptable on first reference: ACC(Atlantic Coast Conference), AFC (American Football Conference), FIA(Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), FIFA (Federation Internationalede Football Association), MLS (Major League Soccer), MRI (magneticresonance imaging test), NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car AutoRacing), NBA (National Basketball Association), NCAA (National CollegiateAthletic Association), NFC (National Football Conference), NFL (NationalFootball League), NHL (National Hockey League), PGA (ProfessionalGolfers’ Association).NOTE: There are others, such as colleges and universities, that can beused on first reference if your judgment is that their identity is readilyapparent in context — e.g., UCLA, USC, LSU, TCU, VCU.AFTER A NAME Abbreviate Jr. or Sr. after an individual’s name.Abbreviate Co., Corp., Inc., and Ltd. following the name of a corporateentity. In general, abbreviate academic degrees after an individual’s name.INITIALS In general, follow AP’s rules that most two-letter abbreviationstake periods except that we drop the periods when a person’s full name isreduced to initials.NUMBERED ADDRESSES Abbreviate St., Ave., Blvd. only with numberedaddresses.STATES Most states are abbreviated with periods when following a cityor town. See The AP Stylebook.See ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS in The AP Stylebook and LibelManual.academic degreesSpell out and use lower case for academic degrees: bachelor’s degree,master’s degree, juris doctor, doctor’s degree or doctorate (not doctoral).When incorporating degree abbreviations in text, use PhD, EdD, MA, MS,BA, BS with no periods.academic majorsUse lower case for majors with the exception of languages, which areproper nouns.academic titlesCapitalize and spell out formal titles when they directly precede a name.Lowercase title and uppercase formal department designation whenfollowing a name or when appearing without a name. Do not capitalizeoccupational descriptions or identifiers, even if they appear directly beforea name.Following are some examples of how various academic titles might appearin text:President Donna E. Shalala; Donna E. Shalala, president of theUniversity of MiamiRalph Wilcox, provost and senior vice president for Academic AffairsBetty Castor, executive director of the Kiran C. Patel Center for GlobalSolutionsMike Zaworotko, chair of the Chemistry department; ProfessorZaworotko, department chairAssociate Vice President Government Relations, Kathleen BetancourtIn new releases and articles, an individual’s full name and title are usedonly on a first reference. On subsequent references, use only the lastname.ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)Abbreviation is acceptable on first reference.BEFORE A NAME Abbreviate the following titles when used before a fullname outside direct quotations: Dr., Gov., Lt. Gove., Mr., Mrs., Rep., Rev.,Sen., and certain military designations (See The AP Stylebook). Spell outall except Dr., Mr., Mrs., and Ms. when they are used before a name indirect quotations.32 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEaccentsUse per Webster’s (résumé, cliché) in common nouns, but generally avoidin proper nouns. Coding: The basic format is & # xxx ; -- with no spacesand subbing in the three-digit code for each character wheere the x’s are.In the list below, there’s a space added after each ampersand and beforeeach semicolon so the coding will show up in the stylebook; REMOVE thespaces to use the coding.é = & #233 ; or &eacute ;à = & #224 ; or & agrave ; (e.g., voilà)ï = & #239; or iuml ; (but note: AP style is naive with no accent)Click for more codesaccessNoun; avoid using as verbaccuracyNothing undermines credibility quicker or with more devastating effectthan inaccurate information; when readers know a report to be wrong, andspot what they see as a trend of inaccurate reports from a source, theycome to question all reports from that source. The source can be a singlebyline, or an entire brand, or all media. HurricaneSports.com is dedicatedto being recognized for its accuracy and credibility.Achilles’ heelCapitalized, possessive.Achilles tendonCapitalized, no apostrophe.acronymsOn first reference, spell out names of schools and colleges, governmentagencies, associations, and other groups. You can use acronyms on secondreference. Don’t use too many acronyms in a document or article becausethey can clutter your text. See also abbreviations and acronymsad hocFor a specific purpose. Do not hyphenate or italicize. Used as an adjectiveor adverb.addressesUse the abbreviation Ave., Blvd. and St. with numbered addresses. Spellthem out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without anumber (Pennsylvania Avenue). Lowercase and spell out when usedalone or with more than one street name (San Amaro and Ponce de Leonavenues).All similiar words – alley, drive, road, terrace, etc. – are always spelledout. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number,lowercase when used alone with two or more names.Use numerals for an address number: 7 Hurricane Way.Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names;use figures for 10th and above.administrative officesCapitalize the names of departments, divisions and offices. Use lower casefor the words department, division or office when they stand alone.advance, advancedUsed as adjectives, advance means “ahead of time” and advanced means“beyond others.”adverse, averse“Adverse” means unfavorable. “Averse” means reluctant.adviser, advisor“Adviser” is preferred although both are correct.affect, effectDo not confuse; use affect as a verb, effect as a noun. The effect of themedicine is unknown. It will affect [bring about] the transition.African-American, blackFirst, determine whether race is relevant to the story, and if it is,determine whether the person or group involved has a preference, thenattempt to comply with their wishes if it can be done within the contextof the story, its content and construction. Be aware that an African-American is black, but a black person is not necessarily an African-American. Nonetheless, the term African-American is preferred for nounusage (unless it’s false).afterwardNot afterwardsagesAlways use figures: 18-year-old student, 4-year-old boy; but the boy is 4years old (dashes are only used when the age is used as a modifier), thestudent just turned 18 years old.NOTE: AP says to use 30-something with the numeral. Also, APchanged its style (November 2007) so that numerals are called for withsingle-digit ages even for inanimate objects.air ball (n.), air-ball (v., adj.)All-America, All-AmericanUse All-America when referring to the team; use All-American whenreferring to an individual; players named to unofficial preseason All-America teams should not be referred to as All-Americans. If a player isnot a consensus All-American, named to the majority of recognized All-America teams, reference should be made to the organization naming him,such as a Walter Camp All-American.All-American generally is assumed to mean first-team status. Specify if it’ssecond-team, etc. (and possibly for first-team athletes if story goes backand forth among lists).all-conference, all-stateLowercase for generic versions (all-state, all-conference), but cap forofficial conference / school teams (All-ACC, All-Florida).All-StarWhen referring to Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NFL, it is theAll-Star Game and the participants are All-Stars. For the minor leagues andall other all-star games, use lowercase. For the NFL use Pro Bowl and ProBowlers. Note: All-Star Weekend seems to be pretty official now, but stillAll-Star break.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 33

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEalley-oop (n., adj.)allowsIt has connotations of giving permission; do not use if the meaning isenables.all rightNever alright; Hyphenate as a modifier: He is an all-right student.all time, all-timeAn all-time high, but the greatest quarterback of all time. Avoid theredundant phrase “all-time record.”allude, refer“To allude” means to speak of without mentioning. “To refer” means tospeak of directly.alumna, alumnae, alumnus, alumniAlum/alumni refers to any group of graduates – both men and womenor just men. Alumna refers to one woman. Alumnae refers to a group ofwomen. Alumnus refers to one man.American Football Conference (AFC)Alum/alumni refers to any group of graduates – both men and womenor just men. Alumna refers to one woman. Alumnae refers to a group ofwomen. Alumnus refers to one man.American IndianPreferred usage. Where possible, use the name of the tribe.American League (AL)Use abbreviation on second reference and beyond.among, betweenAmong indicates the interval, intermediate position, or relationship of morethan two people or things; between implies only two.ampersandsUse an ampersand (&) only if part of an official name. Otherwise spell outthe word ‘and’.and/orAlways avoid: You and/or me means you or me or both; it’s either or.annualAn event cannot be annual until it has been held in at least twosuccessive years. There is no such thing as first annual picnic, firstannual banquet. Note instead that the sponsors plan to hold the eventannually.anotherRefers to an alement that somehow duplicates a previously statedquantity. It is not a synonym for additional.anticipate, expectAnticipate means to expect and prepare for something; expect does notinclude the notion of preparation.They expect a record crowd.Anticipating a record crowd, they ordered more food.apostrophe, use ofTreat the use of apostrophes with team nicknames as you would the useof the possessive with the city name in a similiar construction, e.g., MiamiHurricanes tight end Jimmy Graham... Hurricanes tight end Jimmy Grahamcaught a... Miami’s tight end, Jimmy Graham, hauled in... The Hurricanes’tight end, Jimmy Graham, was...Some hints: Phrases with “the” generally take the possessive (see lastexample); when there’s no “the,” it can help to sub in the city name anddetermine whether that would be possessive. Is s/he the team’s onlycenter? If so, possessive. If not, it’s just a modifier, so no apostrophe.Used to indicate elision (‘94, ‘roids, etc.) EXCEPT with proper names.Don’t use an apostrophe with truncated proper names even if itdoesn’t form a word; e.g., Canes, Noles, Skins – also use Cuse,Nova, etc. – no apostrophe.Also use in plurals of a single letter (X’s and O’s, K’s) but not in plurals ofsingle numerals (3s) or multiple letters (IOUs). See also APOSTROPHE inthe AP Guide to Punctuation for other applications.around, about“Around” should refer to a physical proximity or surrounding. “About”indicates an approximation (Let’s have lunch about 11:30 a.m.).Asians, Asian-AmericanUse Asian when referring to anyone from Asia, but use Asian-Americanwhen specifically referring to those of Asian ancestry who are Americancitizens.assistYou don’t dish out or hand out an assist. You dish out the ball to get anassist.assure, ensure, insureAssure means to convince someone or set a person’s mind at ease. Herprofessor assured her that she could enroll in the course. Ensure means toguarantee or secure.as well asConjunction; means “and in addition;” don’t set off by commas; He wasbrave as well as loyal. Preposition; “means in addition to;” set off bycommas; The coach, as well as the team, was ready to play.at-bat(s)He was hitless in four at-bats, or, he was hitless in four times at bat.Correct: Ten people took the test; another 10 refused.Incorrect: Ten people took the test; another 20 refused.Correct: Ten people took the test; 20 others refused.34 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEathletics director, Director of AthleticsAbbreviation AD is acceptable on first reference.athletics directors, University of MiamiBelow is list of University of Miami Athletics Directors:ATHLETIC DIRECTORTENUREJack Harding 1948-63Andy Gustafson 1963-68Charlie Tate 1968-71Ernie McCoy 1971-73Pete Elliott 1974-78Lou Saban 1978Dr. Harry Mellios 1979-83Sam Jankovich 1983-90Dave Maggard 1991-93Paul Dee 1993-2008Kirby Hocutt 2008-11Shawn Eichorst 2011-12Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)Abbreviation is acceptable on first reference; founded in 1953 inGreensboro, N.C.; ACC sponsors 25 Division I sports for 12 memberinstitutions (14 in 2013, 15 by 2015).attorney, lawyerInterchangeable in common usage. Do not abbreviate attorney.avenueAbbreviate only in numbered addresses.awards and trophiesIf a player or team wins more than one of the same award, keep thecapitalization of Award, Trophy, etc. If a player wins more than one kindof award, though, lowercase the generic portion. E.g., Robert Griffin IIIbecame the first Heisman Trophy winner in Baylor history in 2011; RogerClemens won a record seven Cy Young Awards; Martin St. Louis won theHart, Art Ross and – oh yeah – Stanley Cups trophies in 2004.awhile/a whileExamples: They plan to stay for a while. They plan to stay awhile.Bbaccalaureatebachelor of arts, bachelor of scienceA bachelor’s degree or bachelor’s is acceptable.See also academic degreesbackboardbackcourtbackdoor play, back door (n.)When a players slips behind the defense (and toward the basket) to take aquick pass, often at the baseline.‘backerAs in linebacker.backfieldbackhandbackspinbackstopbackup (n., adj.), back up (v.)bad (adj.), badley (adv.)ball boy, ball girlTwo words (AP style).ball carrierTwo words (AP style).ballclubOne word (AP style).ballgameOne word (AP style).ball handlerTwo words (Merriam-Webster).ballhandlingOne word (M-W).ball hawkTwo words (M-W).ball hogTwo words (M-W, by omission).ballparkOne word (AP style).ballplayerOne word (AP style).ball strikerTwo words (M-W, by omission).Baltimore chopA ball hit into the ground in front of (or off of) home plate that takes ahigh bounce over an infielder’s head.BamaBama – no apostrophe – is fine on second reference, in headers, etc., forthe University of Alabama.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 35

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEBand-AidTrademark; capitalized.barehand (v.), bare-handed (adj., adv.)One word for the verb, but hyphenate the modifier form.baselineOne word. (but first-base line)baserunner, baserunningOne word in both cases. (Latter is in Merriam-Webster; former appears tobe standard usage).bases-loaded single (etc.)Hyphenate.base stealerTwo words.batter’s boxNote apostrophe.beatdown (n., mod.), beat down (v.)because, sinceUse because to denote a specific cause-effect relationship. Use since ina casual sense when one event led logically to a second but was not itsdirect cause.bench press (n.), bench-press (v.)beside, besidesUse beside to mean at the side of (sit beside me); to compare with (besideother studies); or apart from (that’s beside the point). Use besides tomean furthermore (besides, I said so); in addition to (and elm and mapletrees besides); or otherwise (there’s no one here besides Bill and me).between. amongUse between to show a relationship between two objects only. Use amongwhen it’s more than two. Between takes an objective pronoun — me, her,him.biannual, biennialBiannual is twice a year. Biennial is every two years.bias-free languageAvoid reference to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic backgroundor debilitating physical condition if it is not germane to the story.AGE: Avoid “elderly” and “senior citizen” in reference to an individual.DISABILITY: The term “disabled” is preferable to “handicapped.” Thephrase “people with disabilities” is preferable to “the disabled.” Do not use“afflicted with” or “is a victim of” or “wheelchair-bound.”DISEASES: Do not use a disease to describe an individual.GENDER NEUTRALITY: Avoid the awkware “s/he” and “his/her” by usingplurals whenever possible. Be sensitive to gender-specific terms andtitles. For “policeman,” “waitress,” “chairman,” “stewardess,” “foreman,”“mankind,” substitute police officer, server, chair, flight attendant,supervisor, humanity. Avoid superfluous gender references.(NOTE: In some corporate uses, chairman is acceptable, if that’s the titleused by the comany.)BibleCapitalize, without marks or italics. Also capitalize related terms.Lowercase biblical in all usage. Lowercase bible in non-religious use.bicepsNot bicep.Big DanceCap B, D when referring to NCAA tournament. Capital D may beretained when referring simply to “the Dance,” but that one’s more of adiscretionary matter.big leagues, the bigs, big league playerNo hyphen in last one is (newish) AP style.billionA thousand million. Use the word billion with numerals; do not use a seriesof zeros.bimonthlyEvery other month. Semimonthly means twice a month.birdie (n.), birdies (pl.), birdie (v.), birdied, birdieingOne stroke under par for a golf hole.birthdayCapitalize when part of a holiday. Lowercase otherwise.biweeklyEvery other week. Semiweekly means twice a week.black, African-AmericanFirst, determine whether race is relevant to the story, and if it is,determine whether the person or group involved has a preference, thenattempt to comply with their wishes if it can be done within the contextof the story, its content and construction. Be aware that an African-American is black, but a black person is not necessarily an African-American. Nonetheless, the term African-American is preferred for nounusage (unless it’s false).blindDescribes a person with complete loss of sight. For others, use visuallyimpaired.blitz (v., n.)blitzerblocked shotIn hockey and soccer, a shot prevented from reaching the net by a playerother than the goaltender.Board of TrusteesOn first reference, acceptable ways to refer to the university’s governingbody include: the University of Miami Board of Trustees and the UMBoard of Trustees, using capitals. Use capital letters on first reference.On subsequent references, you may use board (if it won’t be confusedwith another board) or trustees. Avoid using the acronym BOT in writtenmaterials.36 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDETrustee may be used as a title and is capitalized before a name: UMTrustee Michael I. Abrams. Complete list of Board of Trustees members,click here.bogey (v., n.), bogeys (pl.), bogeyed (v.)One stroke over par for a golf hole.book titlesPut quotation marks around the title of most books; exceptions include theBible and books that are primarily reference material such as almanacs,catalogs, directories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, gazetteers, handbooksand similar publications.Capitalize the principal words, including prepositions and conjunctions offour of more letters. Capitalize an artcle – the, a, an – or a word of fewerthan four letters if it is the first or last word in a title.Also see COMPOSITION TITLES in The AP Style and Libel Manual.Bowl Championship Series, BCS, BCS standingsAbbreviation is acceptable even on first reference. Note lowercasestandings. Also BCS (National) Championship Game (cap C, G even withoutNational) – but BCS title game. NEW in 2007: Once the first BCSstandings are released midseason, those rankings supercede others(including AP) in all instances.Note: It’s appropriate to use the word “rank” to refer to BCS standingsposition, but don’t call those standings a “poll” because they aredetermined based on a formula that incorporates multiple computerrankings and two polls.bowl gamesCapitalize, as in Rose Bowl. Include reference to the sponsor on firstreference in body text (e.g., FedEx Orange Bowl).(the) boxIn football, the players in the box are concentrated near the line ofscrimmage to defend primarily against the run and do not include thoseplayers lined up in pass coverage.bracketology vs. BracketologyThink of our versions as having a virtual trademark: Joe Lunardi’s workgets a cap B – as does Charlie Creme’s women’s hoops version – butgeneral attempts to duplicate the same should be lowercase.brackets [ ], and parentheses ( )In general, parenthese enclose an aside by the writer or, in the case ofquotations, by the speaker being quoted, while brackets enclose materialthat has been added to – or changed in – a quote, e.g., “I was looking fora fast ball and Pedro [Martinez] threw me a curve (and he has a doozy ofa curve) for a strike,” said (Sammy) Sosa, who out [editors’ note: threestrikes and you’re out.].brand namesGenerally, just don’t do it unless the brand is truly material to the story –e.g., a paid endorsement or the like. Writers and editors should considervery carefully whether a specific brand name really needs to be in a story.Most references can be written to imply the cost, style, etc., withoutusing the actual brand name. Any implication – intended or otherwise –that a brand or manufacturer is inferior or at fault should be treated withextreme caution and, particularly in the “fault” instances, journalisticallyairtight.break away (v.), breakaway (n., adj.)He was unable to break away, as the defense was alert for breakawaysand the potential for breakaway plays.break out (v.), breakout (n., adj.)Aggressive forechecking made it difficult for the Bruins to break out oftheir zone, disrupting their breakout play and limiting their breakouts.break up (v.), breakup (n., adj.)Matches AP style.brush back (v.), brushback (n., adj.)Merriam-Webster (noun: a pitch intentionally thrown near the batter’shead or body).building and facility namesCapitalize the proper names of buildings, including the word Building if itis part of the name. In outside media usage, use the complete name of thebuilding in the first reference.Here’s a list of athletic facility names:Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field (baseball)BankUnited Center (men’s/women’s basketball)Cobb Stadium (women’s soccer/track)GreenTree Practice Fields (football)Hecht Athletic CenterJames L. Knight Sports Complex (volleyball)Mark & Jason Squillante Strength and Conditioning CenterNeil Schiff Tennis CenterNorman Whitten Student Union Pool (swimming & diving)Ronald W. Shane Watersports Center (rowing)Sun Life Stadium (football)Theodore G. Schwartz & Todd G. Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellencebuild up (v.), buildup (n, adj.)bullpenOne word. If you must use the shortened version, we’re going with anapostrophe: ‘pen.buntA left-handed batter drags a bunt past the pitcher on the first-base side ofthe mound; he drops a bunt on the third-base side. A right-handed batterpushes a bunt to the first-base side of the mound and drops a bunt theother way. A sacrifice bunt is sometimes referred to as a sacrifice hit,though it is an out; simply use sacrifice.bylawUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 37

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDECcaddieOther forms: caddied, but cadying take a y.California LeagueOne of seven baseball Class A minor leagues and one of three advancedClass A leagues.campaignCapitalize when referring to the full title of a major fundraising drive.campusCapitalize only when used as part of a formal name. Lowercase in all otheruses.campuswideOne word. Also: citywide, countywide, statewide, nationwide andworldwide. An exception is if a word becomes long and cumbersome. As inuniversity-wide. Another exception is World Wide Web.can/mayCan means being able to; may suggests possibility or permission.cancel/canceled/canceling/cancellationcapitalizationAs a general rule, don’t use all caps (even for a brand name) unlesssomething is an acronym (ALLTEL Stadium, FOX, STATS Inc., but BIGEAST is always in all caps). Limited internal capitalization for brand namesis OK, though.Capitalize the first word after a colon if the text after the colon couldstand alone as a sentence; this includes imperatives with an understood“you” (e.g., She told us: Remember where you came from and whereyou’re going).For titles, see TITLES in The AP Stylebook and Libel Manual.catalog, catalogued, cataloger, catalogingNot “catalogue” except when formal title of publication.CD-ROMCD-ROM disc is redundant.centerNot centre; in basketball position No. 5, usually takes the opening jumpball.center field (n.), center fielder (n.), center-field (adj.)The center fielder must cover the vast expanse between left and rightfields and from short center field to the center-field fence. (Also centermidfielder in soccer)centuryLowercase unless part of a title: eighth century, 15th century, 21stcentury, 20th Century Fox.chairUse instead of chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, unless it is official titleused by company. Capitalize before a name, but not after a name.championshipGenerally lowercase.change up (v.), changeup (n.)check-in (n.), check in (v.)checklistcheckup (n.), check up (v.)checkoff (n.), check off (v.).Chicano, Chicana, Hispanic, Latino, Mexican AmericanThe preferred designation is Latino, which refers to all people of Spanishorigin in the United States who identify with Latin America. Hispanic is afederal U.S. Census term, and Chicano is a political term that arose out ofthe civil rights movement of the 1960s. All should be capitalized.chop-block (n., v.)citywide/statewide/worldwideGenerally not hyphenated.class, ClassCap the C in a “Class ox 20xx” construction when referring specifically toa graduating class; lowercase in constructs such as “the rookie class of2006.”Class AMinor league baseball classification, also Triple-A, Double-A, RookieLeague. He was recalled from Class A Greensboro; he made it all the wayfrom Class A to the majors. (Don’t use Single A except in quotes.)Class AAOK in quotes, but not preferred style; use Double-A.Class AAAOK in quotes, but not preferred style; use Triple-A.clay court (n.), clay-court (adj.)cleanup (n, adj.), clean up (v.)clichéClichés are quick, precise hits, perfect for the occasion, and, unfortunatelyoverused, so write something original.click (v., n.)closerThe relief pitcher who normally records most of a team’s saves; preferredto stopper.co-To remain consistent, retain the hyphen when forming nouns, adjectivesand verbs that indicate occupation or status: co-author, co-chairman,co-host, co-worker. Use no hyphen in other combinations: coexist,coeducation. Two people, no hyphen when state of being.38 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEcoachUse lowercase except when it’s substituting for a name – including justa first name. E.g., “I couldn’t believe Coach told us to skate more sprintsafter Coach Smith already almost killed us with ‘em.” Note: quarterbackscoach, running backs coach, etc. (but QB coach w/ no s, whereabbreviation is appropriate).coachspeakOne word.collective nounsNormally, collective nouns take singular verbs and pronouns, but teamssuch as the Heat, Jazz, Liberty, Thundering Herd are treated as plural:e.g., The Jazz were hammered unmercifully in suffering their third straightloss.college and university namesSpell out and capitalize as part of formal name. Lowercase the college, theacademy, etc.college football rankingsOnce the first BCS standings are released midseason, those rankingssupersede others (including AP) in all instances. Staff/stringer copy shouldstick to BCS rank; AP copy may include parenthetical references to APpoll position.NOTE: It’s appropriate to use the work “rank” to refer to BCSstandings position, but don’t call those standings a “poll” because theyare determined based on a formula that incorporates multiple computerrankings and two polls.colloquialismsWhile the Internet developed as a less formal medium than most, and stillretains a greater sense of community than television and print media,we must take care to not become inappropriately conversational intone, thus threatening credibility. On the other hand, we must retain apersonality and voice. Be aware of the differences between news articles,commentary and chats.colons and clausesCapitalize the first word after a colon if the text after the colon couldstand alone as a sentence; this includes imperatives with an understood“you” (e.g., She told us: Remember when you came from – and whereyou’re going.). A colon should be used in a Q&A format.combineLowercase, even for NFL combine, NFL scouting combine.come back (v.), comeback (n., adj.), comebacker (n.)To come back from 35 points down in the fourth quarter would be acomeback victory to dwarf all comebacks. The last one (a grounder rightback to the pitcher) also is one word.comeback victoryPreferable to AP’s standard come-from-behind victory.NOTE: Teams trail series 2-0, never 0-2. (same logic applies to gamescores)commas• No comma before conjunction in a series unless confusion mightresult without one (e.g., if there’s a conjunction in item(s) in theseries; “His favorite sandwiches are grilled cheese, peanut butterand jelly, and tuna melts”).• No comma when quoted material ends in a question mark orexclamation point. (“Why not?” he asks.)• No comma before Jr., Sr. or Inc. (Mel Kiper Jr., Scouts Inc.).• Commas should be used with nonessential phrases/clauses, but notwith those integral to the understanding of the sentence. “Joe’sbrother, Bill, knew better” indicates that Joe has only one brother,who happens to be named Bill; “Joe’s brother Bill knew better”indicates that Joe has more than one brother (and that the other one(or more) isn’t as savvy, perhaps).See also AP Punctuation Guide entry.commencementDo not capitalize unless the term is being used as the official title of aprogram.committeeCapitalize full name, but not second referencese. Do not abbreviate.communications, telecommunicationsUse plural unless official directory shows a singular in an organization’sname. Thus, communications software and telecommunications service.company, Co.Use an ampersand with Co., e.g., Brett Favre & Co. are coming to town.company namesUse the spelling and capitalization preferred by the company/corporation,with several exceptions:• Names that are not capitalized (e.g. adidas) are capitalized to begina sentence.• All-caps are not used unless it is an acronym (e.g. IBM andNASCAR).• Symbols such as exclamation points, asterisks and contrivedspellings that might confuse the reader are not used.• Do not use a comma after the name and before Inc. or Ltd., even if itis used in the official company/corporate name.complement/compliment“Complement” is something that supplements. “Compliment” is praise orthe expression of courtesy.complimentary, complementaryComplimentary denotes a courtesy; complementary denotes completeness.comparativesDo not use comparative forms of words without indicating whatcomparison is being made.composeMeans to create or put together.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 39

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEcompriseMeans ‘composed of.’ Use include instead of comprise if number ofobjects is not the complete set. Comprise means to contain, to include, orembrace. It is best used only in the active voice, follwed by a direct object.conferences, collegeUse lowercase nouns when referring to things such as the SECchampionship or the Pac-10 tournament unless you are using the officialtitle (e.g. Aeropostale BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Championship, DrPepper ACC Championship Game) or when writing a headline.counter punch (v.), counterpunch (n.),counterpuncher (n.)In the fourth round, the counterpuncher of all counterpunchers began tocounter punch with even more effect, beating his opponent to the punchwith counterpunch after counterpunch.course titlesLowercase those without proper names.cross countryTwo words in reference to the running event; see CROSS COUNTRY inAP Sports Guidelines and Style for correct competition summary. (Dohyphenate for skiiing [AP] and as a modifier meaning across a country, i.e.,a cross-country bus trip.)cum laudeTo graduate with distinction.curveballOne word.C-USA (Conference USA)Abbreviation acceptable on second reference. Never use CUSA.cut off (v.), cutoff (adj.)The cutoff man helped the team in the field cut off the runner’s progress.DdashesUse sparingly to mark a sudden change in thought or to give emphasisor explanation by expanding a phrase occurring in the main clause. Bestused in pairs, and worth considering limited their usage to instances whenthere are commas in other portions of the clause and dashes are neededfor clarity.dataUse data is...datelinesA dateline indicates the location of the story. The city of local jurisdictionof the dateline is ALL CAPS, the state, province or country as required iscaps and lowercase.• The following U.S. cities do not require state abbreviations in thedateline: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland,Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, LosAngeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, NewYork, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, St. Louis,Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle,Washington.• The following Canadian cities do not require provincial abbreviationsin the dateline: Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto.See also DATELINES in The AP Stylebook and Libel Manual for more.datesFor all days seven or more days before or after the current day, use themonth and date; use the day of the week for days six days or less beforeor after the current date, including the current day, except in certain cases(see TODAY); the verb tense and context should indicate whether the dayhas passed or is coming up.Day 1, day oneUse cap D and numeral when referring to first day of an ongoingexperience. Use lowercase and the word “one” for the colloquialism thatmeans from the get-go.daylight timeDo not use EDT, use ET, which is the time reference for all upcomingevents in all HurricaneSports.com copy and denotes prevailing time at anytime of the year. NOTE: As for March 29, 2007, AP style is daylightsaving time, no hyphen.days of the weekCapitalize, do not abbreviate; use for all days six days or less before orafter the current date, including for the current day except in certaincases; the verb tense and context should indicate whether the day haspassed or is coming up. For seven or more days in the past or future, usethe month and date.See also TIME ELEMENT.D-back (football)Short for defensive back.D-coordinatorDo not use DC.deanCapitalize before a name; lowercase in other uses.dean’s listLowercase.decadesPluralize with s, no apostrophe: the 1990s; the ‘90s.40 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEDecember, Dec.Capitalize and spell out, abbreviating only when used with a specific date,e.g. The third day of December 2050 will be Dec. 3, 2050, no matterwhat.decision-maker (n.), decision-making (n., adj.)defensesUse numerals for 4-3 defense and the like.degreesCapitalize the full degree title. Lowercase the shorter form. Bachelor ofArts degree; bachelor’s degree; doctorate.Do not use the word degree with a degree abbreviation. (He has a MS inathletic administration, not ‘He has a MS degree in history.’)designated hitter, DH, DHedAbbreviation acceptable on first reference if the meaning is apparent fromcontext. No apostrophe in DHed because no letters missing.desireUse want instead; see also wish.dial-up (adj.), dial up (v.)difference-makerdifferent thanUse different from instead.dime back (two words – n., adj.)This is prevailing style for a cornerback who serves as the sixth defensiveback use in dime coverage (a nickelback is the fifth defensive back [ thirdcornerback]). Usually used for pass coverage and filled by a fast playerwho essentially has been relegated to backup cornerback. (based onWikipedia definition)directions and regionsIn general, lowercase east, western, southeast, etc. when referring to acompass direction and uppercase when referring to a region (Southernaccent, South Florida, the West Coast, Southwestern Louisiana).disabledUse this term rather than handicapped. See the “disabled, handicapped,impaired” entry in the AP Stylebook for further instructions.discreet vs. discreteDiscreet means “prudent, circumspect”: I’m afraid I was not discreet;discrete “means detached, separate,” e.g., There are four discrete soundscoming from the system. Use discrete if you mean distinct; separate;otherwise, use discreetdisc, diskIn general, audio terminology takes a c (compact disc, laserdisc, discjockey), also disc brake, but most other words use a k (herniated disk,floppy disk, e.g.).discusThe disc thrown in track and field events.disinterested, uninterested“Disinterested” means impartial. “Uninterested” means someone lacksinterest.dissociatenot disassociatedistancesThe first reference to miles, meters, feet, inches and other units ofmeasure should be spelled out, separated by commas, e.g., She ran 26miles, 385 yards and he jumped 26 feet, 10 inches; subsequent distancesare separated by hyphens, e.g., 26-10.NOTE: Use numerals for the length of any track at least 1 mile long. So,1-mile, 1.5-mile and 2-mile tracks, but do spell out half-mile track (e.g.)for those shorter than a mile. See also NUMBERS.Division IThe subdivision of the NCAA for the largest colleges in all sports exceptfootball. Avoid shorter versions in regular text, but when needed, use Div.I or – for quotes/charts only – D-I. See FBS, FCS entry for style on thefootball subdivisions.Division I-A, Division I-AA (in quotes only)These terms are obselete, but if someone uses one in a quote, go with thestyle listed or, for shorter versions: Div. I-A or Div. I-AA – if uttered in theultrashort version – DI-A or DI-AA. See FBS, FCS entry for style on thefootball subdivisions.Division IIThe subdivision of the NCAA for colleges in neither the largest norsmallest grouping. Avoid shorter versions in regular text, but when needed,use Div. II or – for quotes/charts only – D-II.Division IIIThe subdivision of the NCAA for colleges for its smallest colleges. Avoidshorter versions in regular text, but when needed, use Div. III or – forquotes/charts only – D-III.D-lineShorthand for defensive line.DNP, DNQ, DNS, plus DNP, DNP-CDFirst three OK on first reference in golf stories for did not finish, did notqualify, did not start, respectively. Last two OK in basketball stories fordid not play or did not play-coach’s decision, respectively.doctoral, doctorateDoctoral is an adjective, doctorate is a noun.dollarsNo hyphen between numeral and million/billion/etc. even when the wholeamount if used as a modifier (“No wonder the coach stayed, he got a $1million raise.”).Double-AMinor league baseball classification, also Triple-A, Class A, Rookie League;Double-A leagues are the: Eastern League, Southern League, TexasLeague. (DON’T use Class AA except in a quote.)University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 41

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEdouble-bogey (n., v.)Hyphenated, likewise triple-bogey, etc.double coverage (n.), double-cover (v.)No hyphen for the noun, but do hyphenate the verb that equates to doubleteam.double-doubleHyphenated, likewise triple-double, quadruple-double.double dribbleTwo words in all cases.double-eagleHyphenated.doubleheaderOne word, likewise tripleheader.double overtime (n.), double-overtime (adj.)E.g., The game went to double overtime.double play (n.), double-play (adj.)The middle infielders pinched toward the middle looking for the double-playgrounder, and sure enough, Jim Rice hit into a double play.double pumpTwo words in all cases.double punctuation (tip: Don’t do it)Punctuation marks generally shouldn’t be doubled up. (Other thanquotation marks, obviously, or abbreviations followed by a comma orsimilar). E.g., no comma at the end of a quote if there’s a question mark orexclamation point, not even if the sentence continues (“What is she talkingabout?” he wondered), and no colon at the end of a lead-in if the lead-inends with a question mark (What is she talking about? After Monday’sannouncement, editors are tying to wrap their heads around the conceptof double punctuation...).double-teamHyphenate in all cases.double and distanceYardage – whether indicating a given yard line or indicating yards gained– is always given in figures and is hyphenated when the down is included(e.g., fourth-and-1, third-and-goal from the 2, the 6-yard line).downfieldOne word.Down syndromedraftFirst-round pick; he was picked in the second round; first-rounder; Round2.drag buntA left-handed batter drags a bunt past the pitcher on the first-base sideof the mound; he drops a bunt toward third base. A right-handed battercannot drag a bunt.See also BUNT.draw backdrop-off (n.), drop off (v.)dropout (n.), drop out (v.)drop shot (n.)Two words, a shot that a tennis player hits softly over the net.dugoutOne word.Ee-As a prefix for electronic: e-commerce, e-banking, e-publishing, etc.;hyphenate and use lowercase.e-mailLowercase, hyphenated.e-wordsUnless a proper name, use lowercase “e” and hyphen for e-business,e-commerce, etc.eagleTwo strokes under par for a golf hole.early signing periodA period in November during which colleges may sign high school seniorathletes (except in football, field hockey, soccer and men’s water polo toletters of intent.See: NCAA EligibilityEastern ConferenceOf the NBA, MLS (etc.), two words, both capitalized.Eastern Conference FinalsOf the NBA, MLS (etc.), three words, all capitalized.Eastern LeagueOne of three baseball Double-A minor leagues.e.g.Precede and follow with commas. It means “for example,” from Latinexempli gratia. (i.e. = “That is,” from Latin id est)effect/affectUse affect as a verb, effect as a noun. The effect of the medicine isunknown. It will affect [bring about] the transition. See affect.Elite EightSpell out “Eight” in nickname for NCAA tournament’s round of regionalfinals. (NOTE: The NCAA does use the term for sports other thanbasketball.)42 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEellipsisDON’T OVERUSE. If a quote starts to look like Swiss cheese with ellipsesfor the holes, paraphrase (at least the dottiest parts) rather than quotingthe whole speech directly. Ellipses should almost never be used within asentence that isn’t a quote. If a pause is desired, use a comma or a dashor – if appropriate – go with a period and make it two sentences. Whenan ellipsis is used to indicate that a sentence is trailing off or deliberatelybeing left unfinished, then no period is used.See also AP STYLEBOOK PUNCTUATION section for more.embed/embeddedThe past tense is not embedded.em dashesUse em dashes (—) to indicate a sudden break in thought or an abruptchange in sentence structure.emerge/emersionMeans “to rise from or as if from immersion;” “to come forth fromobscurity;” “to come into existence,” see immersion.end around (n.), end-around (adj.)Two words for the football play in which an offensive end comes frombehind the line of scrimmage to take a handoff and attempts to carrythe ball around the opposite flank (M-W style for the noun, and M-Wdefinition).en dashesUse en dashes (–) between inclusive numbers and with compoundadjectives when one element consists of more than one word.end lineTwo words.endowed chairs and professorshipsCapitalize full title.end zoneTwo words.ensureMeans “make sure;” see insureESPN proper titlesESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio,ESPYS, EXPN, X Games, SportsCentury, ESPN The Magazine.espressoThe coffee is espresso, not “expresso.”ESPYESPYS (all caps) are handed out at the ESPYS (ceremony also all caps).essential/nonessential phrasesAn essential clause cannot be eliminated without changing the meaningof a sentence – use no commas. A nonessential clause can be eliminatedfrom a sentence; use commas. See ESSENTIAL, NONESSENTIALPHRASES in the AP Stylebook for further instructions.ET (Eastern Time)The time reference for HurricaneSports.com copy to all upcoming events isto Eastern Time (ET); the abbreviation is acceptable on first reference.See also TIME ELEMENT.et al and etc.Do not precede et al – which is used for people – with a comma. (Notethat M-W lists this abbreviation with no period after al.) Do precede etc. –which is used for things – with a comma, and follow it with another if thesentence continues.ethicsReporters and editors are to observe the highest journalistic standards.ethnicityMention ethnicity only when it is pertinent; that Roberto Clemente wasPuerto Rican is relevant in a story about the inspiration he provided forHispanic baseball players; generalizations about players of Hispanic originhaving alleged tendencies would not be.every day (n.), everyday/every-day (adj.)In general, follow the AP rule that the noun is two words and the adjectiveone unhyphenated word. However, when the power is that a player is usedevery day, go with the hyphenated form to distinguish it from the genericadjective, which is synonymous with “ordinary.”ex-There is no hyphen for words that use ex- in the sense of out of:excommunicate, expropriate. Hyphenate when using ex- in the sense offormer: ex-president, ex-convict. Do not capitalize when attached to aformer title before a name: ex-President Clinton and ex-New York Gov.Rudy Guiliani. Using former is always better.extra innings (n.), extra-inning (adj.)The extra-inning game went three extra innings.FfacultyA collective noun. Use in conjunction with the term members whenreferring to a group of individuals.fair ballTwo words.fair catchTwo words.fairwayOne word.FAQFrequently asked questions, all caps, no periods.farther, further“Farther” refers to physical distance. “Further” refers to an extension oftime or degree.fastballOne word.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 43

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEfast break (n., v.), fast-break(ing) (adj.)Two words for noun, verb; hyphenate as adjective.FBS, FCSThese are acceptable on first reference if, e.g., spelling them out wouldclutter the lede, but – as we adopt this terminology – the full term(Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision) should bespelled out as soon as possible.February, Feb.Capitalize and spell out, abbreviating only when used with a specific date,e.g. The third day of February 2050 will be Feb. 3, 2050, no matter what.fewerUse fewer when meaning “a smaller number of.” Use less for abstractor continuous quantities. Fewer answers the question How many? Lessanswers How much? Examples: fewer seconds, less time; fewer words,less space.fewer than, less thanFewer than is to be used with count nouns: fewer tickets (number). Lessthan is to be used with noncount nouns: less sugar (quantity).fielder’s choiceFielder’s choice is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and,instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throwsto another base in an attempt to put out a preceding runner. (MLB rulesdefinition, which notes that scorers expand on this definition to refer torunners’ behavior in this situation.)field goalTwo words in all cases, including field goal attempt, field goal percentage.FieldTurfOne word with capital T for brand name of artificial playing surface.Final FourTwo words, capitalized.first-and-10Yardage is always given in figures, and the term is always hyphenated.first base (n.), first baseman (n.), first-base (adj.)The first baseman covers the ground between the first-base line andthe second baseman’s territory, takes almost all throws from the otherinfielders to first base, and, when not otherwise occupied, often scuffs upthe dirt of the first-base coach.first round (n.), first-round (adj.), first-rounder, Round 15Basketball term for center, as in “He’s a 5.” Do not overuse.flier, flyerFlier is an aviator or handbill. Flyer is the proper name of some trains andbuses.Florida, Fla. (abbreviation), FL (postal abbreviation)Spell out when standing aline in text, abbreviate in datelines and inconjunction with a city, county, town, village or military base in text.Abbreviation may be used in charts. Use postal abbreviation only whenproviding a mailing address.fly ball, fly out, flied outTwo words. (Note: DON’T use flew out for baseball purposes.)follow-through (n.), follow through (v.)follow-up (n., adj.), follow up (v.)footballGenerally spell out all numbers less than 10 except scores and yards. Usedecimals (e.g., 11.5) for sack totals.See also FOOTBALL in AP Sports Guidelines and Style for information onstatistics, summaries and standings.Football Bowl Subdivision, FBSThe abbreviation FBS is acceptable on first reference if, e.g., spelling thefull name out would clutter the lede, but the full term should be spelled outas soon as possible.If the terms get used in a story that doesn’t have a college football focus,they should be spelled out on first reference; including “formerly known asDivision I-A” (or I-AA, obviously) language if it might help. A list of the FBSconferences:• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)• Big East Conference (Big East)• Big Ten Conference (Big Ten)• Big 12 Conference (Big 12)• Conference USA (C-USA)• Division I FBS Independents• Mid-American Conference (MAC)• Mountain West Conference (MWC)• Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12)• Southeastern Conference (SEC)• Sun Belt Conference (Sun Belt)• Western Athletic Conference (WAC)Football Championship Subdivision, FCSThe abbreviation FCS is acceptable on first reference if, e.g., spelling thefull name out would clutter the lede, but the full term should be spelled outas soon as possible.If the terms get used in a story that doesn’t have a college football focus,they should be spelled out on first reference; including “formerly known asDivision I-AA” (or I-A, obviously) language if it might help. A list of the FCSconferences:• Big Sky Conference• Big South Conference• Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)• Division I FCS Independents• Ivy League• Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)• Missouri Valley Football Conference• Northeast Conference (NEC)• Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)• Patriot League44 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDE• Pioneer Football League• Southern Conference (SoCon)• Southland Conference (Southland)• Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)force out (v.), forceout (n.)Two words as a verb but one one word (no hyphen) as a noun for thebaseball play when a runner is out by virtue of being required to advance(because another runner needs his current base) and failing to do so safely.forego, forewentPerry Jones III opted to forgo the final two years of his eligibility,declaring for the 2012 NBA Draft, while Quincy Miller forewent hiscollegiate eligiblity one year too soon.forehandOne word.foreign words and phrasesUse familiar foreign words as appropriate.forkballA baseball pitch in which the ball is gripped between the forked index andmiddle fingers with the thumb underneath and delivered with a snap of thewrist; the ball will (should) take a sharp dip near home plate. (from M-W,other dictionaries)formations in footballSome style examples: I-formation, T-formation, wing-T, wing-T formation,wishbone formation. (Other than wing-T as a modifier, hyphenation is newin 2008).foul ball, foul line, foul pole, foul tipTwo words.foul shot (and foul line)Two words.4Basketball term for power forward, as in “He’s a 4.” Do not overuse.four-ball, foursomes (golf)Foursomes play consists of two teams of two golfers with golfers on thesame team taking alternate shots using the same ball. Four-ball also usestwo teams of two golfers, but everyone plays his or her own ball and eachhole is won by the team that boasts the individual with the lowest score.four-point playA 3-point basketball and a free throw.four-seamerfourth-and-1Yardage is always given in figures, and the term is always hyphenated.fractionsSpell out amounts less than one and use hyphen; Always use figures forprecise amounts larger than 1.free agent (n.), free-agent (adj.),free agency (n.), free-agency (adj.)The Redskins were very successful in free-agent signings, picking up fivefree agents during the free-agency window. Don’t hyphenate free agentbefore a player’s name (noun as modifier versus true adjective).free throwTwo words even as a modifier.freelancefreshmanReminder: Should be spelled only like this (never -men) when it’s beingused as a modifier – Both players had stellar freshman seasons.Note on true freshmen: Outside a football context, preference is just tosay freshman (or redshirt freshman when that’s the case), but this phraseis OK to use when talking about football if redshirt freshman and truefreshman are both mentioned or it otherwise might be unclear without it.front nine (n.), front-nine (adj.)fulfill, fulfilled, fulfillingfullHyphenate when used as compound modifier, e.g., full-length.fullbackOne word.full-court pressHyphenated.full time, full-timeHyphen when used as a compound modifier.functionalityOverused; use function or functions, features and usefulnessfundraiser, fundraisingOne word in all cases.GGAA (goals against average)Note hyphen in spelled-out version. Abbreviation acceptable on secondreference and in charts.game ballTwo words for the honor coaches bestow on the day’s key player.game day (n.), game-day (adj.),“College GameDay” (ESPN show)The coach will announce on “College GameDay” his game-day decision asto which quarterback will start.game-endingHyphenated, as in Morgan Burkhart hit a game-ending home run; preferredto the cliched walk-off home run.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 45

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEgame time (n.), game-time (adj.)game winner (n.), game-winning (adj.)gender sensitivitiesConstruct your sentences so you can avoid having to use gender-specificterms. For example, by using plural pronouns (they, their), you can avoidhaving to use the awkward but gender-sensitive construction he/she orhis/her. Instead of chairman, use chair. Instead of waiter/waitress, useserver. Instead of mailman, use postal carrier. It’s also becoming morecommon to see the term actor used for men and women.get off the schneidUse this spelling for the saying that means to snap a winless/scoreless/hitless/etc. skid.give and go (v.), give-and-go (mod.)To give and go is to pass to a teammate, move into an opening and receivea return pass from the teammate, thus completing the give-and-go play.goalieHockey goaltender, soccer goldkeeper.goalkeeperOne word, soccer goalie, do not use goaltender. Goalkeeping also is oneword, no hyphen.goal kickTwo words (M-W).goal line (n.), goal-line (adj.)With their backs to the goal line, the defenders dug in for a goal-line stand.goalpostOne word.goals-against average (GAA)Note hyphen. Abbreviation acceptable on second reference and in charts.goal scorer (n.), goal scoring (n.), goal-scoring (adj.)Two words for the noun forms.goaltendingOne word.golfSee GOLF in AP Sports Guidelines and Style for common terms andcorrect competition summaries.golf clubsThe various clubs are designated by figures and are hyphenated; e.g.,2-wood, 5-iron.golf courseTwo words in all cases.GPA, grade-point averageWhen written out, use a hyphen between grade and point; GPA isacceptable on first reference; usually with two numbers after the decimal:4.00, 3.75, 3.25, 2.17.grade-point average, GPAWhen written out, use a hyphen between grade and point; GPA isacceptable on first reference; usually with two numbers after the decimal:4.00, 3.75, 3.25, 2.17.gradesUse capital letters. Add s, to indicate plurals. To avoid confusion with theword as, use the apostrophe to designate plural of the letter grade A: A’s,Bs, Cs, etc.grand slam home runHome run is redundant; e.g. Lou Gehrig hit a record 23 grand slams in hiscareer. All of them were home runs.grassUsed when referring to natural turf; the use of turf refers to articial grass.ground ball, grounderTwo words for the former.groundbreakingOne word, not hyphenated.groundout (n.), ground out (v.)The groundout seemed to be his specialty that night, and he grounded outyet again in the eighth.ground-rule doubleHyphenated.Hhalf-time (adj.), halftime (n.)Hail MaryTwo words, two caps for long pass thrown into or near the end zone inlast-ditch attempt to score as time runs out. (M-W definition)halfbackOne word.half court (n.), half-court (adj.)In a half-court offense, a team eschews the fast break, walks the ball upcourt into the half court, or front court, and sets up its plays.half-mast, half-staffTo use “half-mast,” you must be referring to a flag on a ship or at a navalstation. A flag anywhere else is at “half-staff.”halftimeOne word.Hall of Fame (n.), Hall of Famer (n., adj.)A Hall of Famer, capitalized, must be an inducted member of a Hall ofFame, capitalized, recognized by HurricaneSports.com, including: theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Naismith MemorialBasketball Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, ProfessionalFootball Hall of Fame.46 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDENo hyphens in any forms. OK to cap Hall on its own if reference is to aparticular HOF (and it’s clear which one).hand off (v.), handoff (n.)Turning to hand off the ball, the quarterback found himself with no one totake the handoff.hands-on, hands-offhang timeTwo words for how long a kicked football or a leaping athlete stays in theair. (M-W)hat trickTwo words, three goals scored by one soccer player in a game.H-backHybrid of fullback and tight end positions, associated most closely withJoe Gibb’s Redskins.(head) coach, head-coaching (modifier)Preference is to leave off the “head,” but the full term is acceptable whenpeople are getting promoted or in other situations when confusion mightreign without it. If “the head-coaching landscape,” e.g., is being discussed,use a hyphen.head-onhealth careTwo words.height, weightUse figures, hyphenate when used a preceding modifier: He is 6 foot 2,223 pounds, he is a 6-foot-2-inch, 221-pound quarterback, he is 6 feet, 3inches tall; do not abbreviate foot, feet, inch, inches, pound or pounds anddo not use ( ‘ ) and ( “ ) to indicate feet and inches.Heisman TrophyAvoid Heisman candidate, because all college football players arecandidates; alternatives include hopeful and contender. Plural is HeismanTrophies with an uppercase T.higher, lowerHigher is better, lower is lesser, so don’t be confused by the numbers;e.g., even though 66 is a higher number than 1, No. 1 Duke is higher thanNo. 66 Duquesne, and a change from No. 6 to No. 16 is going lower in therankings.high five (n.), high-five (v.)his, herUse with everyone, not their.historic eventUse a before, instead of an.hit and run (v.), hit-and-run (n., mod.)Because he liked to use the hit-and-run play and because of Pee WeeReese’s prowess at the hit-and-run, Charlie Dressen often called on Reeseto hit and run when he batted with a man on first base.hitters’ parkNote presence, and placement, of the apostrophe.hole-in-one (n., adj.), holes-in-one (n.)Two hyphens.homecoming, HomecomingCapitalize when referring to actual event.home run (n., adj.)Two words.homestandOne word.home pageTwo words.home teamTwo words.honorsLowercase honorary degree, honorary doctorate.hot dog (n.), hotdog (n., v.)Two words for the food; one word for the ostentatious players.hyphenThe major purpose of hyphens is to clarify, alerting the reader that two ormore words are being combined into a single idea, thus avoiding ambiguity;e.g. a well-known slugger is a slugger who is well known, not a knownslugger who is in good health; do not hyphenate after adverbs ending inly; use hyphens in conjunction with figures when the combination is to beread as a single unit, i.e., he went 3-for-4 and he had a 3-for-4 day, and hedominated them with 16-of-24 passing, but do not use hyphens when oneof the numbers could stand alone, e.g., He completed 16 of 24 passes (Hecompleted 16 passes).General rule is that nouns are two words unless listed in M-W (or AP) ashyphenated (e.g., award winner, performance enhancer, record breaker,revenue sharing, run producer, table setter; but two-a-days). It’s OK touse more than one hyphen if needed to make it clear what’s modifyingwhat, but consider whether it’d be even more clear if the phrasing werereworked entirely.NOTE: In state university names, we hyphenate when the state is used(Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe) but not when the (school)abbreviation is (UL Lafayette).See also NUMBERS.Ii.e.Precede and follow with commas. It means “that is,” from Latin id est.(e.g. = “for example,” from Latin exempli gratia.)I-formationHyphenate.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 47

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEimpactOverused; for verb, use affect.implement, implementationOverused; if you mean “carry out or execution,” say so.inbound (v.), inbounds pass, in bounds (adj., adv.)The other team couldn’t seem to keep the ball in bounds, so Wambachwent to the sideline to inbound the ball – again.includeUse include when what follows is only part of the total.incompletionOK for an incomplete pass in football.includingSet off by a comma within a sentence.independent leaguesProfessional baseball leagues not affiliated with Major League Baseballor the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues; they arethe Atlantic League, Frontier League, Northern League, Texas-LouisianaLeague and Western League.in-depthindex/indexes/indicesUse the plural indices only when referring to mathematical subscripts.Indian, AmericanPer AP style, American Indian is preferred to Native American.initialsFull names that are reduced to initials – LT, JJ, etc. – do not take periodsexcept when font might cause confusion or if person uses periods withinitials.input, outputAvoid using as verbs; consider more precise words such as print, write,read or type; never use the forms inputting, outputting, inputted oroutputted.in regard tonot in regards to; “As regards” or “regarding” may also be used.insureUse ensure unless discussing the insurance business.InternetAlways preceded by the, unless used as a modifier, e.g., Internet serviceprovider; do not put http:// in front of internet addresses.Internet site namesRefer to them as they refer to themselves.intrasquadNot intersquad.irregardlessThe word is “regardless.” No such word as irregardless.its, it’sIts is possessive form: his, hers and its. It’s is a contraction of it is.JJAcceptable for jumper, jump shot in basketball.jargonIt may seem that using jargon gives a story an insider’s authority, but itmay leave the reader feeling like an outsider; discreet use of jargon mayhelp a story, but use such terminology in a way that its meaning is clearor explain it; after the meaning of jargon becomes common knowledge, itmay also become a cliché.See also CLICHÉ.JC (junior college)JC and juco are acceptable on first reference if the meaning is apparentfrom context; do not use other variations of juco.jell, gelFuriously scratching his head, manager Kevin Kennedy said that if his teamdidn’t jell, he would pull out all of his hair and have no further need forstyling gel.jibe, gibeTo jibe is the sailing term, meaning to shift the boom to turn the boat; togibe is to jeer or taunt.juco (junior college)JC and juco are acceptable on first reference if the meaning is apparentfrom context; do not use other variations of juco.judgmentReporters and editors must exercise judgment constantly, weighingthis story against that story, the value of this information against thatinformation to a given story, whether certain information is fair to thesubject of a story or libelous; good judgement includes realizing when it isthe best decision to confer with others before reaching a judgment.jump ballTwo words.jumper, jump shot, jump-shooterOne or two words for the shot itself, depending; hyphenate the noun forthe player.Jr.Do not precede by a comma.junior college (JC, juco)JC and juco are acceptable on first reference if the meaning is apparentfrom context; do not use other variations of juco.intramuralNot intermural.48 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEKK, K’sAs in strikeout and strikeouts. (Note the apostrophe for plural of a singleletter.)kickoff (n.), kick off (v.)knee padTwo words. Also, elbow pad, tail pad.knock out (v.), knockout (n.)Louis knocked out yet another overmatched opponent, another who wasunable to rise from a knockout punch, thus giving the champ yet anotherknockout.knuckleball, knuckleballerOne word in each case.LladyDo not use as a synonym for woman.late signing periodA period during spring and summer, depending upon the sport, whencolleges can sign high school graduating athletes to letters of intent.For more information, see www.national-letter.org.lay, lieSee AP’s lengthy entry on this potentially confusing pair. Gist: If you’redoing it to something, that’s lay, laud, has laid; if there’s no direct object(and you’re talking about going horizontal rather than about telling lies,obviously), that’s lie, lay, has lain. I generally lay my latest book downbefore I lie down to go to sleep.,layupOne word.leaderboardOne word.lead off (v.), leadoff (n., adj.)Jennie Finch isn’t the team’s leadoff hitter, but she led off the sixth inningwith a grand slam.left field (n.), left fielder (n.), left-field (adj.)The left fielder is usually the team’s least proficient outfielder, placed inleft field with hopes he won’t run into the left-field wall.left hand (n.), left-hander (n.), left-handed (adj.)People who throw with their left hand are left-handed and known asleft-handers.left-justify (v.), left-justified (adj.)lessSee fewer.(national) letter of intentAn agreement signed by a recruited scholarship athlete in which theathlete is bound to a specific college for athletic eligibility for theupcoming year and the college agrees to provide aide. National is fine,but not required, on first reference; regardless, all lowercase. For moreinformation, see www.national-letter.org.letterwinnerNot letterman, letterwoman.liaisonliaison to, not liasion withlibelTo libel is to defame, and the defense against a libel suit in simplest termsis that what was written was fair and true, or was fair commentary. Apreemptive defense is to follow ethical journalistic standards.lifelongOne word.like/asUse “like” to compare nouns and pronouns. Use “as” to introduce clausesand phrases.linebackerOne word.line drive (n.), line-drive (adj.)He hit a line drive to right, where the right fielder turned it into a line-driveout.linemanOne word.line of scrimmageNo hyphens.line out (v.), lineout (n.)He lined out to the right fielder, who made a nice running catch for thelineout.linescoreOne word.line up (v.), lineup (n.)“Line up,” barked the grizzly coach, who envisioned a motley lineup for theseason.literally/figuratively“Literally” means in an exact sense. “Figuratively” means in a comparativesense.long balllong-snapperHyphenate.long-standingHyphenated.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 49

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDElong-termHyphenated.longtime (adj.), long time (adv.)They are longtime friends; They’ve known each other for a long time.lower, higherHigher is better, lower is lesser, so don’t be confused by the numbers;e.g., even though 66 is a higher number than 1, No. 1 Duke is higher thanNo. 66 Duquesne, and a change from No. 6 to No. 16 is going lower in therankings.LPGA (Ladies Professional Golfers Association)LPGA can be used in first reference unless its meaning is not apparentfrom the context.Mmagazine namesCapitalize the name but not place in quotes; lowercase magazine unless itis part of the magazine’s formal title; if in doubt, check the masthead.magna cum laudeLatin for with great honors.magnetic resonance imaging exam (MRI)MRI is acceptable even on first reference, and you don’t need “exam” or“test.”Maine (not abbreviated in dateline, text),ME (postal abbreviation)Spell out even when used in conjunction with a city, county, town, villageor military base in text. Use postal abbreviation only when providing amailing address.major league (n., adj.), major leagues (n.),major leaguer (n.)Major League Soccer may be considered a major league by some, but whenone speaks of the major leagues, one is speaking of the American Leagueand the National League, where major leaguers play major league baseball.majorsDo not capitalize the title of a program unless it’s a proper noun.makeup (n., adj.), make up (v.)mamaPreferred spelling (versus momma); regardless, unlikely to belong in newsystories other than in a quote.many, muchIn general, use “many” for individual items that can be counted. Use“much” for bulk or quantity that is measured.man-to-manmarathonSee CROSS COUNTRY in AP Sports Guidelines and Style for correctcompetition summary.March MadnessCap college basketball’s spring frenzy (men’s and women’s).master of arts, master of scienceA master’s degree or a master’s is acceptable.may, mightErr on the side of using “might” unless it really is a question of permission.(He might go to the store means it’s possible he will. He may go to thestore could be read as someone having said he’s allowed to do so.)mediaThis is generally [read: almost always] plural. “The media were there withbells on.”media dayCapitalize if it’s part of the actual name. For ACC, it’s OperationBasketball. For the Big 12, it’s Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day.me, myselfAvoid using “myself.” In most constructions, it’s the objective pronoun youreally want.Miami HurricanesOn first reference, say Miami Hurricanes in any written document orpublication. In subsequent references, use Hurricanes or Canes (Note:there is no apostrophe on Canes.).Miami, University ofOn first reference, always spell out the university name – The Universityof Miami – in any written document or publication. In subsequentreferences, use the university, Miami or UM.micNo such word.See MICROPHONE, MIKEmicrophoneThe correct alternative is mike.See MIC, MIKEmidcourtOne word, no hyphen.mid-majorThis term used to describe those outside the “big six” (BCS) conferences– especially those programs or conferences with consistenly high quality –takes a hyphen, an exception to the general mid- rules.midnightUse instead of 12 a.m.Midnight MadnessCapitalized for the Division I basketball phenomenon.midseasonOne word, no hyphen.midterm50 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEmikeThe correct alternative to microphone, not mic.See MIC, MICROPHONEmiles per hour, mphEven on first reference, mph is preferred. Use numerals even for singledigitnumbers. Don’t put a hyphen between the number and mph evenwhen used as a modifier: “He boasts a 90 mph fastball.”millionNo hyphen between numeral and million/billion/etc. even when the wholeamount if used as a modifier (“No wonder the coach stayed, he got a $1million raise.”).mindsetAP added an entry on this – with no hyphen, which is a change fromdictionary version – sometime in 2008.minor league baseballMinor league baseball leagues affliated with Major League Baseball, andcollectively known as organized baseball, are members of the NationalAssociation of Professional Baseball Leagues.Triple-A: International League, Mexican League, Pacific Coast LeagueDouble-A: Eastern League, Southern League, Texas LeagueClass A: California League (advanced), Carolina League (advanced), FloridaState League (advanced), Midwest League, New York-Penn League (shortseason), Northwest League (short season), South Atlantic League.Rookie: Appalachian League (advanced), Arizona League, Gulf CoastLeague, Pioneer League (advanced).MNFMNF (no quotation marks) is acceptable for “Monday Night Football” onsecond reference and in features, heds, etc.monthsCapitalize the names of months in all uses. If possible, abbreviate: Jan.,Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec., when used with specific dates. Donot use a comma if no specific date is used.more than/overUse “more than” when you mean in excess of; use “over” when referringto physical placement of an object, an ending or extent of authority.morningDo not use the time of day as the routine time element; use only whenrequired to describe a sequence of events within a day; e.g. The Yankeesdenied the rumors in the morning, acknowledged in the afternoon that atrade was being discussed, and announced the transaction in the evening.muchWhen using much, phrases such as much loved friend needs no hyphen forclarification.Nnames, nicknamesIn general, “the” is uppercase when it precedes a one-word nickname (TheBoss, The Bus, The BOB), lowercase when it precedes a nickname of twoor more words (the Flying Dutchman, the Big Bopper).Shortened proper names do not take an apostrophe: Zo, Toine, Skins,Canes, Bama, even Noles.Last-name initials (Joe D, Coach K, Coach L) and initials in place of wholename (MJ, LT, JJ, AJ) do not take periods.No need for quotation marks around nicknames in constructions such as“The Mag calls Mike Piazza the Sultan of Squat” or “his friends call himKiller.”national anthemLowercase for generic reference. Ours is “The Star-Spangled Banner”;Canada’s is “O Canada” (not the absence of h)national championship game, BCSBCS (National) Championship Game (cap C, G even without “National”) –but BCS title game.National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Not NC2A; abbreviation acceptable on first reference.NCAA Division I Men’s, Women’s BasketballChampionshipUse NCAA Division I Men’s/Women’s Basketball Championship on firstreference. NCAA tournament (lowercase t), the tournament and NCAAtourney are acceptable on second reference.National Invitation Tournament (NIT)Abbreviation acceptable on first reference if the meaning is obvious incontext. Middle word in Invitation, not Invitational. Do not say NITTournament (redundant).Native AmericansPer AP style, American Indian is preferred to Native American.(national) letter of intentAn agreement signed by a recruited scholarship athlete in which theathlete is bound to a specific college for athletic eligibility for theupcoming year and the college agrees to provide aide. National is fine,but not required, on first reference; regardless, all lowercase. For moreinformation, see www.national-letter.org.NBDLThe appropriate shortened/second reference for the NBA DevelopmentLeague is D-League, not NBDL.(NCAA) National Collegiate Athletic AssociationNot NC2A; abbreviation acceptable on first reference.NCAA tournamentUse NCAA Division I Men’s/Women’s Basketball Championship on firstreference. NCAA tournament (lowercase t), the tournament and NCAAtourney are acceptable on second reference.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 51

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEnear missNo hyphen (at least not as a noun).new recordA no-no, a record is a record, even when new; e.g., Mark McGwire set arecord with his third-inning home run, not Mark McGwire set a new record... Also avoid all-time record; if it needs qualifying, qualify it.newspaper namesUse normal body type, do not use italics, do not use quotation marks,capitalize The if the newspaper uses it in its masthead, e.g., TheWashington Post, The Dallas Morning News, except when naming severalnewspapers in a listing; if further geographic identification that is notpart of the newspaper’s name is required for a general audience, insert inparentheses, e.g., the Bangor (Maine) Daily News, the Houma (La.) DailyCourier, the Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald.nicknamesUse Hank Aaron and Henry “Hank” Aaron, but not Henry (Hank) Aaron.nicknames, as modifiersTreat the use of apostrophes with team nicknames as you would the useof the possessive with the city name in a similiar construction, e.g., NewYork shortstop Derek Jeter doubled... Yankees shortstop Derek Jeterdoubled... New York’s shortstop, Derek Jeter, doubled... The Yankees’shortstop, Derek Jeter, doubled...Some hints: phrases with “the” generally take the possessive (see lastexample); when there’s no “the,” it can help to sub in the city name anddetermine whether that would be possessive. Is s/he the team’s onlycenter? If so, possessive. If not, it’s just a modifier, so no apostrophe. Usethe plural version of the nickname even as a modifier. (Matt is a Mets fan,not Matt is a Met fan.) Some EXCEPTIONS: Dodger Blue, Raider Nation(and most other “nations”). See also NAMES, NICKNAMES.nightDo not use the time of day as the routine time element; use only whenrequired to describe a sequence of events within a day.NIT (National Invitation Tournament)Abbreviation acceptable on first reference if the meaning is obvious incontext. Middle word in Invitation, not Invitational. Do not say NITTournament (redundant).no-decisionHyphenated for when a baseball pitcher leaves before either team gainsthe ultimate lead.no-hitterHyphenated.noonNot 12 noon or 12:00 noon, just noon and lowercase.numberUse No., Nos., not number, not #.numbersThe overwhelming majority of numbers are expressed in figures unlessspecified otherwise below:• In casual expressions, e.g., That’s happened hundreds of times.• Numbers as the start of a sentence, e.g., Sixty-six players sawaction (an exception to the exception, use figures for a calendaryear starting a sentence, e.g., 1976 was a very good year).• Fractions standing alone, e.g., The utility infielder made one-sixthas much as the superstar.• Numbers of a single digit that can or do stand alone, or are useddescriptively – e.g., He had four hits and He pitched a four-hitter– or colloquially.Figures are used for all scores, scorekeeping, timing, measurements,designations and labels, even when single digits, for example:• Scores: The Hurricanes completed a second-half comeback,defeating Georgia Tech 42-36 in overtime and The BaltimoreOrioles knocked off the New York Yankees 6-4. (NOTE: Forscores and series, the higher/winning number always goes firstexcept in situations such as volleyball, tennis, boxing judging,etc., in which the order denotes who won which subset.• Scorekeeping: Jones was 5-for-13 from the floor and Morris gota first down on a 2-yard run and he carded a birdie 3.• Timing: She won the marathon in 3 hours, 2 minutes, 1.1seconds.• Measurements: He is 6 feet 3 inches tall.• Designations and labels: The 3-handicap golfer used a 3-woodto drive the green and card a birdie 3 and The team’s No. 1pitcher was scheduled to start Game 1 of the series.• Numbers as numbers: Ruth’s No. 3; Jeff Gordon drives the 24car.• Statistical shorthand: He has 7 home runs and 19 RBI thisseason.• For ages, use digits for people, animals and inanimate objectseven when single digits.• For dates, follow AP style• For fractions, follow AP style – spelling out amounts less than 1and using figures for precises amounts larger than 1.• For rankings, generic single-digit references are spelled out.• Miscellaneous: Game 3, Lap 8, Round 6, Turn 2, Day 1.• Hyphens: Besides being used in scores and (sometimes) when acompound of words and figures is serving as a modifier, hyphensare used with figures when the compound is to be read as a singleunit event if not being used as a modifier.• Ranges: Either use a hyphen or use “to” and repeat anything thenumber modifies.See also NUMERALS in The AP Stylebook and Libel Manual.nonconferenceNo hyphen (ditto for most non-words). See AP Stylebook; if the non- prefixjust means “not,” generally no hyphen.noseguard, nose tackleNote differing styles.52 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEOOAs in offense – no quotes, no period, etc. (also, O-coordinator, O-line)offensive coordinator, O-coordinatorDon’t use OC.off guardTwo words for generic “that caugh me off guard” and for the termsometimes used for a shooting guard in basketball.offsideOne word, not offsides.off-speed pitchoh-ferStyle for when someone says a player/team/etc. has been hitless/scoreless/etc. for a period of time. The Cajuns are oh-fer the past seveninnings.OK, Ok’d, OksDo not use okay.O-lineStyle for shorthand for offensive line.OlympicsCapitalize references to the international athletic contests: The WinterOlympics, the Olympic Games.on-base percentage (OBP)Don’t forget the hyphen in baseball stat – (H + BB + HBP) divided by (AB+ BB + HBP + SF).on deck, on-deck batterMany teams walked Bonds regardless of who was on deck.1Basketball designation for point guard, as in “He’s a 1.” Do not overuse.one-and-doneHyphenated. Quincy Miller was the first one-and-done player in Baylorbasketball history.one-on-oneHyphenated, he went one-on-one with the defender.1-2 finish, but one-two punchThese differ because former is actual numbered order and latter morefigurative.ongoingonlyOften misplaced, only belongs next to the word it modifies. Only he wentfor a knockout means that no one else did; He went only for a knockoutindicates that he probably threw nothing by haymakers; He only went fora knockout implies that while he went for a knockout, he did not succeed.There are idiomatic exceptions to the placement of only, such as It canonly get worse, not It can get only worse.onside, onside kickon-site (adj., adv.)open-facedopening ceremony, opening ceremoniesLowercase (same for closing ceremonies).opinionWhile HurricaneSports.com and our official Twitter feeds have a voicewith attitude and edge, there is still a difference between news andopinion. The reader should be able to count of the contents of the tweetsand news stories being verifiable facts or informed observation of eventsand that opinion will be expressed in forms that are understood to becommentary.OPSOn-base percentage plus slugging percentage = OPS.outfield, outfielderOne word.oral vs. verbal“Oral” refers to spoken words. “Verbal” can refer to either spoken orwritten words, but most often connotes the process of reducing ideas towriting.orientedNot orientated.out of bounds (adv.), out-of-bounds (adj.)He knocked the ball out of bounds, setting up an out-of-bounds play with11 seconds remaining.outpitch (v.), out pitch (n.)Martinez outpitched Clemens. Chan Ho Park has three out pitches.outreachoverA direction; do not use when you mean more than.overpursue (v.)No hyphen.onlineUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 53

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEPparentheses ( ), and brackets [ ]In general, parentheses enclose an aside by the writer or, in the case ofquotations, by the speaker being quoted, while brackets enclose materialintroduced from the outside; brackets, not parentheses, are used withinquotations for material that has been added to – or changed in – thequote, e.g., “I was looking for a fast ball and Pedro [Martinez] threw mea curve (and he has a doozy of a curve) for a strike,” said (Sammy) Sosa,who stuck out [editor’s note: three strikes and you’re out.].NOTE: In ordered lists contained within a single graf, they should be usedin pairs, e.g., items (1), (2), (3), etc., rather than 1), 2), 3), etc. See LISTSentry for more info.part timeUse hyphen only when used as a modifier.partially, partlyThese two are not interchangeable. “Partially” is used to mean to a certaindegree when speaking of a condition or state. “Partly” implies the idea ofa part, usually of a physical object, as distinct from the whole.passer-by/passers-bypast experienceWhat other kind of experience is there? Just use “experience” alone.pastimepeddle, pedalTo “peddle” is to sell. To “pedal” is to use pedals, as on a bicycle.people, personsUse “person” when speaking of an individual. The word “people,” ratherthan “persons,” is preferred for plural uses.percentOne word; spell out in all instances except tabular form when % isappropriate.periodsPeriods are used in certain abbreviations and after points of the compassin street addresses: U.S., U.N., 5 a.m., 16 E. Wabash Ave. However, inmost other instances, abbreviations in the form of initials do not takeperiods: ROTC, GOP, NBC, OSU, ACLU.PGA, Professional Golfers’ Association (of America)With apostrophe, an association of teaching pros that also conducts thePGA Championship, Ryder Cup, and Senior PGA Championship. PGA orPGA of America is acceptable on first reference.Ph.D.The preferred form for Ph.D. is to say a person holds a doctorate in (nametheir field of specialty).pick and roll (v.), pick-and-roll (n., adj.)This is style for basketball play in which a player sets a screen, then cutstoward the basket for a pass. Plural of the noun appears to be pick-androlls.pick off (v.), pickoff (n., adj.)The best pickoff men are those who are able to keep the start of theirdelivery the same whether they are picking off a runner or throwing afastball over the plate.pick up (v.), pickup (n., adj.)pinch hit (v.), pinch-hit (n., adj.), pinch hitter (n.)Called on to pinch hit, veteran pinch hitter Joe Smith hit a pinch-hit single,solidifying his status as the team’s best pinch hitter and the player to callupon when a clutch pinch-hit is needed.pinch run (v.), pinch runner (n.)Run, without pinch, is preferable as a verb, e.g., Jones ran for Smith, orJones was a pinch runner for Smith.pinkiepitchers’ duel, pitcher’s mound, pitchers’ parkNote the placement of the apostrophe in each.pitch out (v.), pitchout (n.)The catcher called for a pitchout and the pitcher pitched out.pivotmanOne word.place kick (v., n.), place-kicker (n., adj./label),place-kicking (n., adj.)Place-kicker Jan Stenerud was considered the best of all place-kickers;when called upon to place kick, he was almost always successful with theplace kick, no matter what the yardage.plagiarismPlagiarism is journalism’s original sin, and in the electronic age, it is easierthan ever to copy the material of others inadvertently. Be vigilant. Becareful when electronically perusing clips for background and copyingnotes. Always give full credit where credit is due. Even rewriting,rewording is wrong. Do your own reporting, your own outlining and yourown writing.plate umpireNot home plate umpire.play-actionHyphenate even as a noun.play calling (n.), play-calling (adj.), playcallerplayer of the year, rookie of the yearDuke Johnson is the ACC Rookie of the Year, but he is the running forrookie of the year.play fake (n.), play-fake (v.)playmaker (n.), playmaking (n., adj.)play off (v.), playoff/playoffs (n., adj.)plug-inNot plugin.54 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEp.m.Lowercase with punctuation.podcastLowercase; podcast titles do not take quotation marks.political office holdersCapitalize Democrat, Republican, or any other party; note state if electedofficial holds national office; state office, list city of residence.pom-pom, pompon“Pom-pom” is a rapidly firing weapon. A cheerleader’s prop is correctlycalled a “pompon.”pop fly, popup (n.), pop up (v.)This is the style for a high fly ball in baseball – or the act of hitting one.possessivesDistinguish between singular and plural possessives: a user’s needs but allusers’ needs. Use singular in titles that have phrases such as User’s Guideor User’s Reference List. Remember that it’s is NOT a possessive, but acontraction for it is.Treat the use of apostrophes with team nicknames as you would the useof the possessive with the city name in a similiar construction, e.g., NewYork shortstop Derek Jeter doubled... Yankees shortstop Derek Jeterdoubled... New York’s shortstop, Derek Jeter, doubled... The Yankees’shortstop, Derek Jeter, doubled...postdoctoralOne word.postgame, pregameOne word.postgraduateOne word.post-master’sUse hyphen to differential from an employee of the postal service(postmaster)postrace, preraceOne word.postseason, preseasonOne word.postsecondarypost-traumatic stress disorderpower forwardIn basketball, the 4 position, the larger and better rebounder of the twoforwards. In hockey, a big strong forward who is equally capable ofscoring or playing physically.PowerPoint®Trademarked name.pregame, postgameOne word.premedpremedicalpremier (adj., n.)“first performance”prerace, postraceOne word.preseason, postseasonOne word.presently, currentlyMany writers use these terms as if they were synonymous. But“presently” means in a little while, soon. “Currently” means now. In mostcases you can do just fine without using “currently.” For example, “weare currently revising the plan” works better when simply stated, “we arerevising the plan.”president-electPresident Donna E. ShalalaTook office on June 1, 2001.presidents of The University of MiamiBowman Foster Ashe 1926-52Jay F.W. Pearson 1953-62Henry King Stanford 1962-81Edward T. Foote 1981-2001Donna E. Shalala2001-presentPresidents (U.S.)Address a former U.S. President, such as former President Bill Clinton asThe Honorable Bill Clinton; the salutation will be to Mr. Clinton.pretense, pretext“Pretense” is a false show or unsupported claim to some distinction oraccomplishment. “Pretext” is a false reason or motive put forth to hide thereal one, an excuse or a cover-up.press conferenceDo not use unless it’s within a quote; use news conference.prevalentpreventiveNot preventative.prime ministerCorrect title of an individual who is the first minister in a nationalgovernment that has a council of ministers, correct throughout theCommonwealth; use chancellor in Austria and Germany.prime time (n.), prime-time (adj.)University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 55

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEprincipal, principle“Principal” as a noun is a chief person or thing; as an adjective, it meansfirst in importance. “Principle” is a noun meaning a fundamental truth,doctrine or law; a guiding rule or code of conduct; a method of operation.proceed, procedureNot procede.proceed, proceeded, proceeding, proceeds (n.)pro dayLowercase.profanityObscene, profane or vulgar content does not belong in most articles orcommentaries; words or descriptions that might offend readers should beused only when they convey an essential point of the story, and then onlyafter consultation with senior editors.When they are included, style is to use the first letter and the appropriatenumber of hyphens, plus any subsequent inoffensive letters. The boxererupted. “What is this s---?” he bellowed. “Where’s my f---ing belt?”For fictional profanity, use the symbols avoe the number row on thekeyboard. “What the Sam Hill is going on here, you #%&$ing varmint?” –Yosemite Samproper nounsCapitalize proper nouns and avoid using them in sequence; e.g., use TheAstros won in Houston on Sunday instead of The Astros won in HoustonSunday.providesOverused; try has or gives.publication namesFor magazines, capitalize the name but do not place in quotes; lowercasemagazine unless it is part of the magazine’s formal title; if in doubt,check in the masthead; for newspapers, use normal body type, do not usequotation marks, capitalize The if the newspaper uses it in its masthead,e.g., The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, except whennaming several newspapers in a listing; if further geographic identificationthat is not part of the newspaper’s name is required for a generalaudience, insert in parentheses, e.g., the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register, theHouma (La.) Courier.putback (n., adj.), put back (v.)One word for when a player gets an offensive rebound and immediatelyscores; two words as a verb, but wouldn’t normally use it in verb form tomean this.put out (v.), putout (n.)He put out the fire, getting two strikeouts and a putout at second base.QquadricepsNot quadricep.quarterbackOne word.quarterfinal(s)One word.quotesThe use of quotes is best kept to a minimum, save for those that willhave an impact. When used, quotations must be an accurate transcriptionof what was said, a reasonable match for what the reader may see onSportsCenter, with changes for only ums and the like and, very carefully,false starts and dead-ends. Often, people are composing their thoughts asthey speak, resulting in ungrammatical syntax. To quote them verbatimis unfair. Rambling quotations that may be difficult to transcribe are bestnot used anyway; the thoughts and information conveyed in disjointedquotations are best skillfully paraphased succinctly and used withoutquotation marks.RracketNot raquet when referring to the racket used in tennis, badminton, etc.,not even for racquetball.rangesSpell out three to four week for injury rehab estimates rather than usingnumerals. It is OK to use numerals for ranges that are more like stats, butbe extra careful of things with multipart elements, such as money and/ormillions.RBI, RBIsAP style is to add s for the plural, but HurricaneSports.com will not followthat style. NOTE: Merriam-Webster says to add s for the plural of POW, anexactly analogous acronym, and for RBI.rebut, refuteTo “rebut” is to argue to the contrary. To “refute” is to win the argument.recordDo not use new record or all-time record. A record is a record, even whennew, and best of all time is assumed (if it needs qualifying, qualify it).redshirt (n., adj.)One word; e.g., Like all redshirts, he sat out a season and now, as aredshirt freshman, he was getting to play. [See also FRESHMAN.]regardless“Regardless” is a word. “Irregardless” is not a word.RepublicanSee political office holders.residence hallUse instead of dormitory.56 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEresuméFor a resumé in English, put one accent aigu (é), over the second e.reverendUse the in front of the title; do not write out Reverend and do abbreviate(Rev.).rewordDo not hyphenate unless the result could be confused with another word,such as re-creation, re- sent, re-serve, re-sort, etc.right field (n.), right fielder (n.), right-field (adj.)The right fielder is usually the team’s outfielder with the best arm, placedin right field with hopes that he will gun down runners from the right-fieldcorner.right hand (n.), right-hander (n.), right-handed (adj.)People who throw with their right hand are right-handed and known asright-handers.right-justify (v.), right-justified (adj.)Use hyphen in both the verb and adjective formsRivals.comItalicize.road game, road tripTwo words in each case.rookie of the yearOnly capitalize when the whole official title is included, not in the genericsense, not even when the league is understood.roomCapitalize when used with a number.rosinPitchers use a rosin bag, not resin.rounds (of drafts)Examples: first-round pick; he was picked in the second round; firstrounder;Round 2.rounds (of events)Same as previous entry for the first round of Round 2, e.g., but uselowercase for round of 16 and its ilk.round-tripperIt’s a clichè for home run that’s to be avoided, but if you do use it (or asource quoted does), hyphenate it.RPI (Ratings Percentage Index)Abbreviation is acceptable on first reference if meaning is understood incontext.RSVPThe abbreviation for the French repondez s’il vous plait; it means “pleasereply.” Do not use the redundant “please RSVP.”rulebookOne word.run back (v.), runback (n.)run block (v.), run block (n.), run-blocker (n.)The run-blocker’s role is to run block, clearing the way for the runner withan effective run block.run down (v.), rundown (n.)The third baseman ran down the ball in foul territory, threw home, and therunner was caught in a rundown.runner-up (sing.), runners-up (pl.)Hyphenated.running backTwo words.run-stopper (n.)Hyphenated, in football, the nose guard can be a formidable run-stopper.runoffSsacrifice fly, sacrifice hitTwo words; though a successful sacrifice bunt is referred to in rules andrecords as a sacrifice hit, it is an out and a better construction is to referto it as simply a sacrifice.SaintAbbreviate as St. in names of saints, cities and other places.sand tripTwo words.schneid, get off theUse this spelling for the saying that means to snap a winless/scoreless/hitless/etc. skid.scoreboard, scorebook, scorecard, scorekeeperOne word in each case.scoresFinals scores are always given in figures with a hyphen between thewinning and losing team, winning score first; they are not set off bycommas except in headlines, e.g., Hurricanes edge Seminoles, 17-13 andThe Miami Hurricanes defeated Florida State 17-13 when the Seminolesfailed...screwballOne word for the pitch that has reverse spin and breaks in oppositedirection to a normal curve.seasonAvoid using the word “year” to refer to a season in any sport with aregular season that crosses the New Year’s line (NBA, NHL, college hoops,etc.).seasonsDo not capitalize: fall, spring, summer, winter.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 57

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEseason-ticket holderOne hyphen – between season and ticket.Sebastian the IbisOfficial mascot for The University of Miami Athletics.second-and-10 (etc.)Yardage is always given in figures, and the term is always hyphenated.second base (n.), second baseman (n.), second-base (adj.)In covering the ground between the first baseman and second base, thesecond baseman must avoid the second-base umpire.second round (n.), second-round (adj.), second-rounder,Round 2seedingOfficially acceptable styles for referring to seeding:• No. 1 seed (with or without school/nickname after it).• 2-seed (with or without school/nickname after it).• No. 3-seeded Hoops U.• fourth-seeded Hoops State.Do not include seed/seeded because of the potential for confusion withrankings.NOTE: Don’t forget that a seed with a lower number is actually a higher(aka better) seed. (e.g., the top seed is seeded three spots higher than theNo. 4 seed.)selection committeeLowercase – yes, even for the NCAA basketball tournament(s). (Especiallyas it appears the full official name of each committee doesn’t actuallyinclude the word “selection”...)Selection SundayCap both s’s for the NCAA men’s basketball extravaganza.Use Selection Monday for the women’s version.self-Always hyphenate.semesters/sessionsDo not capitalize the common names of semesters, terms, or academicsessions.seniorLowercase senior class. Abbreviate Sr. and Jr. with full names. Omitcomma.series, scoresFor scores and series, the higher/winning number always goes firstexcept in situations – such as tennis or volleyball matches, boxing judging,etc. – in which the order denotes who won which subset. (e.g., the Leadstrail 2-0 in the Stanley Cup finals and the Saints came back from a 21-0third-quarter deficit, but John McEnroe defeated Jimmy Connors 3-6, 6-3,2-6, 6-2, 6-1.)serve-and-volley (adj.), serve and volley (v.),serve-and-volley (n.)Cap both s’s for the NCAA men’s basketball extravaganza.Selection SundayUse Selection Monday for the women’s version.set up (v.), setup (n.), set-up manTo set up is to prepare and the setup is the way a car is prepared for arace. The set-up man is the relief pitcher who immediately precedes, andsets up for, the closer.shake ‘n’ bakeTwo apostrophes (and two spaces) for a shake-off move that leaves thedefense behind.shin guardTwo words.shoestring catchNo hyphen, two words.shootaroundNo hyphen, one word; in basketball, the team’s morning practice before agame.shootoutNo hyphen is versus Merriam-Webster but follows general sports style.short-handedHyphenate (AP style trumphs Merriam-Webster).shortstopOne word.shot-blockerHyphenate.shot-maker, shot-making (n., adj.)Hyphenate.shot put (n.), shot-putter (n.), shot-putting (n.)A shot-putter throws the shot put while participating in competitive shotputting.shutdown (n.), shut down (v.)shut out (v.), shutout (n.)He shut out the Mariners, dealing them their sixth shutout of the season.SI.comItalicizesidearm, sidearmer, sidearmingOne word for the baseball pitch delivery and its brethren.sidelineOne word.signal-callerHyphenate the term writes throw in to avoid saying “quarterback” for theumpteenth time.sign in/sign out (v.)58 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEsign-in/sign-out (sheet) (n., adj.)signing dayLowercase.sinker, sinkerballIt’s fine – perhaps even preferred – to leave off “ball,” but if it’s in a quoteor “ball” just helps the sentence flow, make “sinkerball” one word.sit-up (n.), sit up (v.)sixth manTwo words; in women’s basketball try to avoid, using top reserve or firstplayer off the bench.slam dunkTwo words.slangUsing the occassional slang term in a context in which it will beunderstood can help develop personality and voice. Be aware of thedifferences between news articles, commentary and chats. See alsoCOLLOQUIALISMS.soDon’t use it as a coordinator. Instead of writing The box is empty, so youcan discard it, write Because (or Since) the box is empty, you can discardit.Social SecurityUse lower case when referring to social security number. Only capitalizereferences to the Social Security Administration.Southern CaliforniaThe correct first reference to the University of Southern California; USC isacceptable when the identity is clearly understood.Southern MissPreferred term for the University of Southern Mississippi. Don’t use So.Miss, So. Mississippi.special teams (n.), special-teams (adj.)Hyphen helps avoid confusion in phrases such as special-teams play. If youmust use it – i.e., it’s in a quote or the alternative phrasing seems moreawkward – special-teamer also would take a hyphen.spitball, spitballersplit-fingered fastballFirst popularized by Bruce Sutter in the late 1970s, hyphenated; also, incontext or second reference, a split-finger or a splitter.split infinitivesAvoid awkward constructions that split infinitive or compound forms ofverbs.SportingNews.comItalicize.Sports Illustrated, SI.comItalicize.spring training (baseball)All lower case; not Spring Training. Don’t hyphenate as a modifier.squeeze playTwo words, no hyphen.stadium(s)Capitalize only when part of proper name, e.g., Yankee Stadium; notstadia.stand-alone (adj.)Hyphenate.standard timeUse 1 p.m. ET, not 1 p.m. ESTstartup (adj.)spring breaksquare feetDo not abbreviate. When used as an adjective, hyphenate.Sr.Omit comma.state schoolsIn state university names, we hyphenate when the state is used(Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe), but not when the (school)abbreviation is used (UL Lafayette, UL Monroe).state abbreviationsSpell out the names of the 50 United States when they stand alone intext. Abbreviate, using AP, not postal rules, when citing a city and a statetogether. Some states must always be spelled out.Use Washington, D.C. Don’t abbreviate to D.C. or DC.Always spell out a state name if it’s part of a title or name.stationary, stationeryTo stand still is to remain stationary. The writing paper is stationery.statisticsUse lowercase words (value over replacement player, player efficiencyrating, runs batted in, etc.) when spelling out stats – traditional orotherwise.Also, generally err on the side of using numerals for statistics. Allstatistics must be tied to a time period; this does not mean sticking in“currently” but rather involves providing specifics: e.g., through Tuesday’sgames, he led the nation in scoring; entering June, he had 10 home runs.stiff-arm (n., v.)stopperCloser is preferred, for the relief pitcher who normally pitches in most ofhis team’s save situations.story lineTwo words.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 59

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEstreetAbbreviate only with numbered addresses.strikeIn baseball, spell out word and number (strike one, e.g.).strike out (v.), strikeout (n., adj.)Strikeouts being an efficient way to get through an inning, pitchers oftentry to strike out as many batters as possible.strike zoneTwo words.strong side (n.), strongside (adj.)The strongside linebacker lines up on the strong side of the defense.student-athletestudent classificationsDo not capitalize: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior.stutter-step (n., v.)Hyphenate.summa cum laudeGraduating with highest distinctionSummer GamesFine for reference to Olympic Summer Games (DON’T use Summer OlympicGames).Super BowlUse Roman numerals; Super Bowl XXXIV (34) took place on Jan. 30,2000.super regionalsUse uppercase when preceded by geographical name, but lowercaseotherwise. Baylor went to the super regional in Dallas, but The Bearswent to the Dallas Super Regional.supersedeNot supercede (super + sedere = “to sit above”)Sweet 16Fourth round is the only (pithy, alliterative) NCAA tournament nicknamethat uses a numeral. (NOTE: The NCAA does use this term for sports otherthan basketball.)switch-hitterA batter who can bat right-handed against lefties and left-handed againstrighties.TT-shirt(s), T’sStyle for the shirts.tailbackOne word.takeout (n., adj.), take out (v.)team nicknamesUse the plural, e.g., Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, not Yankee catcherJorge Posada.technical fouls, T’d up, T’sRasheed Wallace, who was notorious early in his career for getting T’d up,ranked up 40 T’s in the 2000-01 season.tee, tee offtelephone numbersAP style changed in May 2006 to drop the parentheses and use allhyphens, even with area codes, country codes, etc.; e.g., 860-766-7200.tendinitisMerriam-Webster prefers (and AP silent).tennisSee TENNIS in AP Sports Guidelines and Style for correct scoring andcompetition summaries.tenseUse tense consistently throughout a story. However, tenses may be mixedwhen needed to distinguish terminated from continuing action.thatUsed in restrictive, defining clauses (without a comma preceding); usewhich in other cases and with a comma. In references to people, alwaysuse who instead of that.theater, theatreThe preferred word in the United States is theater, unless the Britishspelling is part of a proper name.third base (n.), third baseman (n.), third-base (adj.)The third baseman covers the ground between the third-base line and theshortstop’s territory, takes almost all throws to third base, and, whenotherwise not occupied, often scuffs up the dirt around the third-base bag.3Basketball term for small forward, as in “Perry Jones III is a 3.” Do notoveruse.three-base hitIf someone feels the need to phrase it this way, hyphenate it.3-4 defense (and similar)Use numerals.three-peatHyphenate3-pointer, 3-point basket, 3-point shotHyphenated, a basket from beyond the 3-point line; after first reference,3 is acceptable. Regardless, always use the numeral. (NOTE: The plural ofthe short version is 3s with no apostrophe, per AP style.)three-point lineIn the NBA, the distance is 23 feet, 9 inches on the arc, 22 feet in thecorner. As of 2008-09, the distance in men’s college basektball increasedto 20 feet, 9 inches.60 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEthree-point playA 2-point basket and a free throw.three-second violationSpell out three in this basketball term.360, 360sUse figures for a move that involves turning all the way around and endingup facing the same way.throw down (v.), throwdown (n.)tiebreak, tiebreaker, tiebreakingtight endTwo words.‘tilShort for until. Don’t use “till”; do use apostrophe.timesUse 3 to 5 p.m., not 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Use 8:30 to 11 a.m., not 8:30 to11:00 a.m. When you have a crossover from morning to afternoon, usethe form 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Note that a.m. and p.m. are written with periodsand in lowercase. A :00 in a time reference is unnecessary and spaceconsuming. Use noon for 12 p.m. and midnight for 12 a.m.Do not be redundant by using a.m. with morning, etc.: We plan to leave at8 a.m. in the morning. We plan to return at 6 in the evening. Generally, itis more readable to put the time, then the date, when an event will occur(e.g., The train arrives at 3 a.m. Jan. 3; notThe train arrives on Jan. 3 at3 a.m.).time elementThe time element should be introduced in an article as soon as possiblewithout interrupting the flow of the lead.For upcoming events, the time element is prevailing Eastern Time (theabbreviation ET is acceptable on first reference) and the date in CoralGables; for reports of concluded events, the time reference is to the daythe event occurred where it occurred; for continuing stories or packageswith both advances and results, especially for events across the oceansand the international date line, it may be necessary to explain the timeelement, e.g., In Sydney, the preliminaries concluded at 10 p.m. Tuesdayand the semifinals will start at 1 p.m. Wednesday (10 p.m. ET Tuesday).For all days even or more days before or after the current day, use themonth and date; use the day of the week for dates six days or less beforeor after the current date, including the current day except in certain caseswhen today is acceptable; the verb tense and context should indicate pastor future.Today is acceptable in direct quotes and in high-traffic, short-lived blurbs,headlines and other text that will definitely be replaced later in the daybecause of changing events; however, there is no tomorrow, except indirect quotes and in context that does not indicate a specific day, suchas Tomorrow, the world will be a different place; likewise, do not useyesterday except in direct quotes and in context that does not indicate aspecific day, such as Yesterday, the world was a different place.Do not use the time of day as the routine time element; use only whenrequired to describe a sequence of events within a day; e.g. The Yankeesdenied the rumors in the morning, acknowledged in the afternoon that atrade was being discussed, and announced the transaction in the evening.Capitalize and spell out the months of the year, abbreviating only Jan.,Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec., and then only when used with aspecific date, and use commas only when using month, date, year (e.g.,The third day of January 2050 will be Jan. 3 and the day after that willbe Jan. 4, 2050, no matter what; capitalize and do not abbreviate thedays of the week.time lineTwo words.time of day (morning, afternoon, evening, night)Do not use the time of day as the routine time element; use only whenrequired to describe a sequence of events within a day.timeoutOne word.times at batHe was hitless in four times at bat, or, he was hitless in four at-bats.time spansSpell out three to four weeks for injury rehab estimates rather than usingnumerals. It is OK to use numerals for ranges that are more like stats, butbe extra careful of things with multipart elements, such as money and/ormillions.time zones, designatingDo not use the standard and daylight designations; e.g., use 1 p.m. ET.tip in (v.), tip-in (n.)He scored three times on tip-ins, jumping and reaching above his opponentto tip in the rebound.tip off (v.), tip-off (n.)They tipped off at precisiely 8 p.m., with Siena controlling the tip-off.titlesFollowing AP Style, where quotation marks are used to denote the titlesof books, magazines, plays, movies, etc. is preferred. However, italicizingsuch titles, where it is a whole made up of individual parts, such aschapters or articles, is acceptable. For formal titles, abbreviate andcapitalize Ms., Sen., Rep., Gov., Lt. Gov., Sgt., Gen. and Dr. before names.todayToday should not be used, except in direct quotes and in high-traffic,short-lived blurbs, headlines and other text that will definitely be replacedlater in the day because of moving elements.tomorrowThere is no tomorrow, except in direct quotes and in context that does notindicate a specific day, such as Tomorrow, the world will be a differentplace.touchbackOne word.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 61

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEtouchdownOne word.towardNot towards.track and fieldSee TRACK AND FIELD in AP Sports Guidelines and Style for correctscoring and competition summary.tradableNo e in the middle.training campTwo words; no hyphen even as a modifier.treyThis is the style for the alternative reference to a 3-pointer, but usesparingly.trifectaThis is the style for an alternative reference to a 3-pointer, but use evenmore sparingly (than trey).triple-bogey (n., v.)Hyphenated, likewise double-bogey, etc.triple-doubleHyphenated, likewise double-double.tripleheaderOne word, likewise doubleheader.triple play (n.), triple-play (adj.)The middle infielders pinched toward the middle hoping for a triple-playopportunity, and sure enough, Jim Rice hit into a triple play.trophyKeep cap T with plurals of the official name, but not across multiple typesof trophies.true freshmanOutside a football context, perference is just to say freshman (or redshirtfreshman when that’s the case), but this phrase is OK to use when talkingabout football if redshirt freshmen and true freshmen are both mentionedor it otherwise might be unclear without it.try out (v.), tryout (n., adj.)He tried out after walking into the tryout camp and being granted a tryout.turfRefers to artificial grass; use grass when referring to natural turf.turnaround (n., adj.)turnover (n.), turn over (v.)2 (2-guard)Basketball term for shooting guard, as in He’s a 2 or He’s a 2-guard. Donot overuse.two-a-daystwo-base hitIf someone feels the need to phrase it this way, hyphenate it.two-way playerAny team player who is proficient at both offense and defense.Uunder wayTwo words.uniqueCommonly overused, this word literally means one of a kind. “Unique”should never be modified by “truly,” “rather” or “very.”United States (U.S.)AP style has changed to allow the use of the abbreviation as a noun aswell as an adjective.universityWhen referring to The University of Miami as the university, notcapitalizing university is preferred, although capitalizing University isacceptable.un- words (unblockable, unhittable, unsignable,untradable)Examples here are all jargon but OK. In AP, un- is one of those prefixesthat generally don’t get hyphens; err on the side of not hyphenating,especially for anything that has become a standard sports term.uppercaseOne word, no hyphen.United States (U.S.)Use United States on first reference, but be consistent on your secondreference usage (we suggest U.S.). AP style has changed to allow the useof the abbreviation as a noun as well as an adjective.USA TODAYWrite out in all caps for publication, italicized.U.S. national teamsDo not capitalize, not even with name of country and gender (i.e., U.S.men’s national team), perhaps mostly because the truly official nametends to include even more qualifiers (e.g., age/senior).use, usage, utilizeAvoid the last two; usage implies habitual use, as in word usage; utilizesuggests the discovery of a use.24/7Use a slash.62 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEVversus, vs.Our default is to spell this out. Restrict vs. to heads, extreme shorthandfor games, etc. For court cases, use v., as in New York Times vs. Sullivan.vice versavideoconferencingOne word.visitors benchSee APOSTROPHE entry in AP punctuative guide; this is more descriptivethan possessive; a bench for the visitors versus a bench of the visitors’.volley(s)One volley, two volleys.volleyballSee VOLLEYBALL in AP Sports Guidelines and Style for correct scoringand competition summary.Wwalk-off (adj.)In references to people, always use who instead of that.walk on (v.), walk-on (n., adj.)To walk on, and try out for the team without having an athleticscholarship then win a spot as a walk-on member of the team, as a truewalk-on, is an admirable accomplishment.walk-through (n., possibly adj.)warm up (v.); warm-up(s) (n., adj.)When the starting point guard got in too late to warm up very well, shegot an earful from the coach about the importance of warm-ups.weak side (n.), weakside (adj.)The weakside linebacker lines up on the weak side of the defense.Web site namesCBSSports.com, ESPN.com, FOXSports.com, HurricaneSports.com, Rivals.com, SI.com, SportingNews.com, Yahoo! Sportsweeklongweight and heightUse figures, hyphenate when used as a preceding modifier: He is 6 foot2, 223 pounds; he is a 6-foot-2, 221-pound quarterback; he is 6 feet, 3inches tall; do not use ‘ and “ to indicate feet and inches or abbreviatefoot, feet, inches, pound or pounds. See NUMBERS.weight liftingwell-beingwhoIn references to people, always use who instead of that.who, whomWe rarely see the word “whom” in writing. The word “who” substitutesfor the subjective pronouns he, she or they; “whom” must be used in thesense of him, her of him.wide-eyed, wide-openHyphenate prefixeswideout, wide receiverOne word for the nickname, two words for the more formal title.wild pitchTwo words, no hyphen.wind up (v.), windup (n., adj.)No hyphen is AP style.win streak, winning streakEither is fine; use whenever sounds better in the rhythm of the sentence.wishUse want instead.women’s, men’s national teamsDo not capitalize, not even with name of country and gender (i.e., U.S.men’s national team), perhaps mostly because the truly official nametends to include even more qualifiers (e.g., age/senior).workdaywork forceworkhorseOne word in all uses.workplacework-study programworkweekworld championshipAs with player of the year awards, this should be lowercase unless usingthe official name (including the organizing body); alsom a concluding sgenerally should be avoided if talking about one year’s event in one sport.world-record holderworld-renownedThe proper adjectival form, not “world-renown.”World Wide WebUppercase. A better term is the Internet. Also capitalize the Web. Use Website (not “website”), Web designer.whichSee thatUniversity of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 63

COMMUNICATIONS STYLE GUIDEXX factorNo hyphen; cap X, lower fX’s and O’sWith apostrophes.X-rayIn all uses.YYahoo! SportsItalicizeyardThe yard refers to the ballpark; going yard refers to hitting a home run; donot overuse either. See also METRIC SYSTEM in The AP Stylebook andLibel Manual for conversion tables concerning measurements.yardage, yard lineYardage – whether indicating a given yard line or indicating yards gained– is always given in figures; use hyphens when the down is included (e.g.,fourth-and-1, third-and-goal from the 2, the 6-yard line).year vs. seasonAvoid using the word “year” to refer to a season in any sport with aregular season that crosses the New Year’s line (NBA, NHL, college hoops,etc.).yearlongAvoid using the word “year” to refer to a season in any sport with aregular season that crosses the New Year’s line (NBA, NHL, college hoops,etc.).yesterdayDo not use, except in direct quotes and in context that does not indicate aspecific day, such as Yesterday, the world was a different place.Also see TIME ELEMENT, TODAY, TOMORROW.you’re, yourYou’re = “you are”. Your is possessive.ZzeroUse 0 (zero), or choose a typeface that clearly distinguishes the capital ofrom the digit “zero.” Spelled-out plural is zeros, not zeroes.zigzagZIP codeUse all caps for ZIP (Zoning Improvement Plan). Do not put a commabetween the state name and the ZIP code.zone blitztwo words64 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

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WRITING RELEASESContact: Chris Yandle, Director of CommunicationsEmail: c.yandle@miami.edu, Phone: 305-284-3248/786-877-9368www.HurricaneSports.comTwitter: @HurricaneSports/@ChrisYandle, Facebook: Miami HurricanesStory Link: http://gocan.es/UCXvnBFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETue., Jan. 8, 2013Miami Hires David Case as Head Equipment ManagerCase was previously at Florida Atlantic, BaylorCORAL GABLES, Fla. – David Case has been named as the University of Miami’s Head Equipment Manager, as announced Tuesday byInterim Director of Athletics Blake James.Case comes to Coral Gables from Boca Raton, where he had served as the Director of Equipment Operations at Florida Atlantic Universitysince March 2011. At FAU, Case oversaw and maintained equipment, apparel and field preparations for all 19 Division I varsity sports.“We are excited to have David Case join in the University of Miami family,” Miami Deputy AD Tony Hernandez said. “David will managethe equipment operations with a great deal of motivation and hard work. He comes to ‘The U’ with a wide array of collegiate andprofessional sports experience.”Prior to Florida Atlantic, he was the Assistant Equipment Manager for nearly four years (June 2007-March 2011) at Baylor Universityin Waco, Texas. While at Baylor, he supervised the student managers, prepared all fields for practice and games, assisted in all footballcamps and coordinated visiting locker room operations for all opponents.His start in college athletics came as a student equipment manager at NC State, where he spent four seasons working with Wolfpackfootball. He was the head student equipment manager during the 2002-03 season. He graduated from NC State in 2004 with a bachelor’sdegree in mass communication.Case has also spent in time as an assistant equipment manager for the Carolina Cobras (2000-02), visiting clubhouse manager for theCarolina Mudcats (2003-04) of the Class A Carolina League and the Mississippi Braves (2005-06) of the Double-A Southern League andwas an equipment manager intern at UCF (August 2006-June 2007).He and his wife Erin have one daughter, Hayley.For the latest information on Miami Hurricanes Football, follow @HurricaneSports on Twitter and the official blog for Hurricanes Football,www.theufootball.com.-www.HurricaneSports.com-66 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

EMAILEMAIL PHILOSOPHYResponse time: if possible, please respond to an email within five minutes. Sometimes, that may not be possible, but a quickresponse time makes the recipient feel special and that could go a long way.Also when sending out releases, please use the BCC line to paste your email recipients.National media receivers thousands of e-mails throughout the day. What makes ours different from College A or University X? When yousend an e-mail, your subject needs to specify the school and sport. They won’t always recognize our names in their inboxes.FOR GAME PREVIEWS/NOTES:MIAMI FOOTBALL NOTES: Game 12 at DukeMIAMI WBB NOTES: Canes Hit Road, Face MarylandMIAMI MBB NOTES: Canes Close Homestand vs. VirginiaMIAMI BASEBALL NOTES: Canes Open Season vs. RutgersFOR RELEASES:Miami Athletics Hires David Case as Head Equipment ManagerMiami’s Duke Johnson Named FWAA Freshman All-AmericanEMAIL SIGNATUREMake sure that your e-mail signature includes your office and cell phone numbers, in addition to your email address and Twitter handle. Besure to also include @HurricaneSports, your sport Twitter handle and Facebook links in your signature.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 67

PROOFREADINGProofreading means examining your text carefully to find and correct typographical errors and mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling.Here are some tips:Before You Proofread• Be sure you’ve revised the larger aspects of your text. Don’t make corrections at the sentence and word level if you still need towork on the focus, organization, and development of the whole paper, of sections, or of paragraphs.• Set your text aside for a while (15 minutes, a day, a week) between writing and proofing. Some distance from the text will help yousee mistakes more easily.• Eliminate unnecessary words before looking for mistakes. See the writing center handout how to write clear, concise, directsentences.• Know what to look for. From the comments of your professors or a writing center instructor on past papers, make a list of mistakesyou need to watch for.When You Proofread• Work from a printout, not the computer screen. (But see below for computer functions that can help you find some kinds ofmistakes.)• Read out loud. This is especially helpful for spotting run-on sentences, but you’ll also hear other problems that you may not seewhen reading silently.• Use a blank sheet of paper to cover up the lines below the one you’re reading. This technique keeps you from skipping ahead ofpossible mistakes.• Use the search function of the computer to find mistakes you’re likely to make. Search for “it,” for instance, if you confuse “its” and“it’s;” for “-ing” if dangling modifiers are a problem; for opening parentheses or quote marks if you tend to leave out the closing ones.• If you tend to make many mistakes, check separately for each kind of error, moving from the most to the least important, andfollowing whatever technique works best for you to identify that kind of mistake.• For instance, read through once (backwards, sentence by sentence) to check for fragments; read through again (forward) to be suresubjects and verbs agree, and again (perhaps using a computer search for “this,” “it,” and “they”) to trace pronouns to antecedents.• End with a spelling check, using a computer spelling checker or reading backwards word by word.• But remember that a spelling checker won’t catch mistakes with homonyms (e.g., “they’re,” “their,” “there”) or certain typos (like“he” for “the”).Information Source: The Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin68 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

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MULTIMEDIA GUIDELINESTUMBLR VS. HURRICANESPORTS.COMNot every release or piece of content is HurricaneSports.com worthy, but we do have the opportunity to cross-reference traffice betweenour official athletics web site and our Tumblr blogs. For instance, if your head coach is featured in an interview on WQAM or ESPN Radio,then you upload the audio through Titan and promote it through your Tumblr blog.Tumblr allows for only one audio file upload per day. This way, you can upload to HurricaneSports.com, but link to it from a Tumblr blogpost. That way, you get eyeballs on the ball and you are still pushing traffic to the official site.Our Tumblr blogs should have at least ONE post per day during the respective seasons. This is another opportunity to getmore views for our content.ACC AND TV HIGHLIGHTSOur You Tube channel, Canes All Access, houses unique content produced by HurricaneSports.com or 3Penny Films. We post post-gamepress conferences, pre-practice interviews, Raising Canes and other exclusive content videos here. We should have no ESPN ornetwork TV content living on Canes All Access.70 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

MULTIMEDIA GUIDELINESSCHEDULE POSTINGS ON HURRICANESPORTS.COMFor football, basketball and baseball, your sport schedule page should look something like this:For all other sports, your sport schedule page should look something like this:University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 71

IQMEDIAIQMEDIAIn February 2013, we reached an agreement with IQMedia, which is leading the most important technology transformation in the historyof broadcast TV, online news, and social media monitoring. It is the transformation from traditional media monitoring services to MediaIntelligence Platforms. Our product, cliQ, empowers our customers to move beyond media monitoring to proactively leverage mediacontent to drive topline revenue and further their strategic communications goals (iqmediacorp.com).Leveraged Media to Support Athletic ProgramsCollege athletic departments now have tools for leveraging broadcast TV video, online news, social media, and in-house video. With cliQ, theycan do more than monitor coverage – they can leverage media in key outbound communications programs.Communications and Sports Information Directors• Monitor the college team brand, players, coaches, and the conference in real time• Promote good PR and get out ahead of bad PR• Share video clips and integrate them into outbound communications programs.• Post video clips to social media sites and blogs• Upload your own video content – such as press conferences, pep rallies, events, and community service initiatives – into cliQ’sOptimized• Media Cloud, where you can clip it and share it using cliQ’s tools.Athletic DepartmentMonitor coverage of the institution’s teams, players, and coaches.Create video highlights of highlights, press conferences, or any relevant content, and share it with boosters.Create video documentation of the positive PR to the institution provided by Athletics to keep institution officials aware of the contributionbeing madeTicket Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, and FundraisingAttract new corporate sponsors and retain existing onesEnhance communications with season ticket holders and fansBoost ticket sales, merchandising revenue, and promote new business development by integrating high quality video into outboundcommunicationsIntegrate video clips into donor outreach and include a donation link right on the video pageIndividual Athletic ProgramsBoost recruiting efforts by including well-packaged videos into outbound communications.Stay in front of key recruits with short video communications on timely subjects delivered to their smartphones, tablets, and laptops.Upload post-game film, highlights, and player/coach interviews to cliQ, where they can be clipped and stored in an organized video clip library72 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition

IQMEDIAHOW TO USE IQMEDIAiQMedia allows you to search for a player or coach mentioned on any TV program since November 2010. Using the iQ Basic Search, typein a name using quotes.The search will yield the number of total programs found, followed a listing of the search results. The results will be sorted by the mostrecent date/time and will give you the station, program and market (local/national). Click play on the search result you want to view anda video player will open with closed captioning below. Your search term will be highlighted in the closed captioning text.University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition 73

IQMEDIAOnce you click the highlighted text in the closed captioning, the video will immediately jump to the portioning of the programming wherethe player/coach is mentioned. In order to clip the video, click the arrow icon in the bottom right corner of the video screen, then click thefirst icon (scissors).Once you’ve clipped the video (no more than 3 minutes), hit save and this window will pop up. Insert the title, keywords, category, start/end time and description for the video, then click ‘Save’. Once finished, the saved clip will be listed under your My iQ tab. From the My iQsection, you can download or email selected clips. For additional questions, please refer to Brian Bowsher or Chris Yandle.74 University of Miami Athletics Communication Standards, Second Edition