 Stylebook © The Free Lance–Star Publishing Cos.
Abel Lake Water Treatment Plant abortion When we are doing the talking, the adjectives are anti-abortion and pro-abortion-rights. The people on either side are abortion opponents and abortion-rights supporters. In letters to the editor and in direct quotes, people can use any wording they want. about For times, use about rather than around. Example: He left about 4 p.m. accents Use accented letters if they appear in Webster’s first or second spelling of a word.
To insert an accented letter while working in Ted, place the cursor where you want the letter to appear in your text, press F10 to bring up a box of special characters, and double-click on the one you want. Here’s a list of accented words that we use with some frequency: Accokeek Creek Runs through central Stafford County and empties into Potomac Creek shortly before Potomac Creek empties into the Potomac River. (See the entries for Crow’s Nest, Indian Point and Marlborough Point.) Accokeek Furnace The remains of this 1726 iron blast furnace, owned by Augustine Washington (George’s father) and the Principio Co. of England, were donated to Stafford County by a developer in 1989. The property is on Accokeek Creek near Ramoth Church.
acre Spell out numbers of
acres under 10, use numerals for 10 and
above. Examples: They sought to rezone a two-acre lot. They
wanted to rezone eight acres for commercial use and 27 acres for
houses.
acronyms With few exceptions,
acronyms should not be used on first reference unless necessary to
avoid a cumbersome lead. In that case, give the organization’s full
name as soon as possible. DO NOT put the acronym in
parentheses after the full name on first reference. Don’t overwhelm
readers with capital letters; in later references, the
commission or the organization will do.
Uppercase an acronym such as FACRO. Names of companies, however, should have
initial capital letters with the remaining letters
lowercase—unless the letters are pronounced separately.
Examples: Pepco, Geico, but
CSX, IBM. See alphabetical listings in
this stylebook and the AP Stylebook for specific guidelines on
AARP, CIA, FBI, NAACP etc.
addresses Use complete
addresses to identify those accused of crimes. In other news
stories and obituaries, say what locality a person lives in, giving
a specific community or
subdivision name. Example: the Four-Mile Fork area of
Spotsylvania County.
Aegis Training and Readiness Center Not
“AEGIS.” At Naval Support Facility Dahlgren.
African–American The
preferred term is black. Use African–American
only in quotations, names of organizations or if individuals so
describe themselves (AP Stylebook). Also acceptable in columns or letters to the editor. We give it an en dash. See also the entry for race.
ages Always use numerals.
aging Acceptable in contexts
such as the aging process or research on
aging, but do not use as an adjective. Instead, choose a
more informative description: an elderly diplomat;
a fading
photograph; a dilapidated building.
air bag
aka No spaces; AP style, an
exception to Webster’s. It stands for also known as.
Albemarle County
Not “AlbeRmarle.”
Allman’s Bar–B–Q A restaurant on U.S.
1 in Fredericksburg; use en dashes.
All Saints’ Day
All Souls’ Day
al–Qaida Use an en dash.
Alum Spring Park A city park
off William Street in Fredericksburg. Spring is
singular.
Alum Spring Road Runs west off
Lafayette Boulevard just south of the Blue and Gray Parkway. Spring
is singular.
America
Online AOL on second
reference.
American Indian Not
“Native American”; see AP Stylebook entry for
Indians.
American Life League A national
anti-abortion group based in Stafford County. The term pro-
life is acceptable in direct quotes from representatives of
this organization.
American Red Cross
Has two main divisions, each with its own structure and local
offices: the Chapters Division, which handles
education and disaster relief, and the Biomedical
Division, which handles blood (and, to a lesser extent,
tissue and marrow) donations. Local offices of the two divisions
are called American Red Cross Rappahannock Area
Chapter and American Red Cross Blood
Services.
animal names see species, pet breeds
Antique Court of Shoppes A
complex of stores with entrances on William and Caroline streets in
Fredericksburg.
Aqua–Po Former name of a
Stafford County beach where Aquia Creek meets the Potomac River. It
was renamed Aquia Landing in 1994. Takes an en dash.
Aquia Creek In North Stafford.
Empties into the Potomac River.
Aquia Episcopal Church On U.S.
1 just north of Garrisonville Road in Stafford County.
Aquia Harbour A large, private
subdivision in North Stafford at the east end of Garrisonville
Road.
Aquia Landing A Stafford County
beach and boat ramp where Aquia Creek meets the Potomac River.
Formerly called Aqua–Po.
Aquia Movies 10 Owned by RC
Theatres.
Aquia Town Center A shopping
center on U.S. 1 in North Stafford.
Arc–R On second reference to Association for Retarded Citizens–Rappahannock Inc.
architectural
styles capitalize: Colonial
Revival, Federal, etc.
area code Separated from a
phone number by a slash, not parentheses.
Arlington County Ceded by
Fairfax County to the federal government in 1789 as part of
Alexandria County of the District of Columbia; retroceded to
Virginia in 1846; separated from the city of Alexandria in 1870;
name changed to Arlington County in 1920. Contains no cities or
towns; there is no city of Arlington in Virginia.
ARTSPACE All caps. A committee
formed in 1989 and dissolved in 1995 after submitting its proposals
for use of the old Maury School
buildings. In March 2001 the Maury Design Committee, an ad-hoc
group of Fredericksburg City Council members and city staff, looked
at potential city use of portions of the Maury buildings.
art styles capitalize: Impressionism/Impressionist, Art Nouveau, etc.
The Associated
Press Capitalize The
in the name of the wire service, but lowercase in the
AP.
associates Do not use this
word to refer to employees of Mary Washington Hospital,
Walmart, Leggett or any other corporation.
Associates is permissible in referring to members of
law firms and business partnerships.
Association for Retarded Citizens–Rappahannock Inc. Takes an en dash; Arc–R on second reference.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
Airport BWI on second reference.
Barkley Park apartments In
Fredericksburg, off U.S. 1 at its intersection with
Confederate Boulevard.
Barksdale Theatre A dinner
theater at Hanover Courthouse. Use the common noun
theater in later
references.
Barnesfield Park A King George
County park on U.S. 301.
Battleground Athletic
Complex University of Mary Washington’s
playing fields, on Hanover Street in Fredericksburg.
Bealeton A community in
eastern Fauquier County.
Beaverdam A community in Hanover County in the area where Hanover, Louisa, Spotsylvania and Caroline counties meet;
considered part of our coverage area for obituaries.
Beavis and Butt-head
bed-and-breakfast A private
home or small hotel in which breakfast is provided as part of the
price. The phrase takes hyphens. On second
reference, B&B is acceptable.
Belarus
Belle Harbor Marina On Potomac
Creek at the end of Belle Plains Road in Stafford County. Next to
Belle Plains Boat Club.
Belle Plains Road Runs from
State Route 218 in Stafford County to Potomac Creek.
Belle Plains Boat Club On
Potomac Creek at the end of Belle Plains Road in Stafford County.
Next to Belle Harbor Marina.
Belman's Plaza A shopping center
on Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg.
Belmont The home of the late
artist Gari Melchers and his wife, Corinne. It is in Falmouth in
Stafford County and is administered by the University of Mary Washington. The house and grounds are now referred to as Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont; on later references, Belmont alone is OK.
Bel Plains Drive Off Belle
Plains Road in Stafford County.
beltway Capital
Beltway on first reference, usually the
beltway
(lowercase)
thereafter.
Beth Sholom Temple At the corner of Lyons Boulevard and Plantation Drive, off U.S. 17 north in Stafford. The old temple is on Charlotte Street near Kenmore Avenue in Fredericksburg.
Big Lots A store in
Greenbrier Shopping Center on State Route 3.
BJ’s Wholesale Club On State
Route 3 in Spotsylvania County.
black Preferred usage for those
of the Negro race. (AP Stylebook)
Black History
Month February. Note initial caps.
Blades Corner The
intersection of State Routes 738 and 647 in southern Spotsylvania
County. Berkeley Elementary School is located there.
Blaydes Corner Road
Block House Road Not "Blockhouse" Road.
Blue and Gray Parkway
Fredericksburg’s portion of the East–West Connector.
board, council votes On an
issue that is the focus of a story, record the vote and make it
clear who voted which way. If a council or board member was absent,
say so. Votes are reported with numerals
and en dashes. Example: The board approved the measure on a
4–3 vote.
Borders Books Music &
Cafe In Central Park; no
apostrophe, no accent.
Botetourt A county in Southwest
Virginia; pronounced “BOT-a-tot.” The town of Fincastle
is the county seat.
Bowling Green The county seat
of Caroline County. It’s at the intersection of State Route 2,
State Route 207 and U.S. 301.
Bowman Center A subsidiary of
A. Smith Bowman Distillery that provides offices and staff for
local businesses. It’s in the Spotsylvania County Industrial Park, adjacent to
the distillery.
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
A company that makes and bottles
liquor. Headquarters is at the Spotsylvania County Industrial Park off
Routes 2 and 17 in Spotsylvania County.
boys sports No apostrophe in
such constructions as boys basketball or boys
track. In this sense, boys is an adjective, not a
possessive noun. But men’s basketball does have an
apostrophe, in keeping with AP style.
Boys State No apostrophe.
brackets When inserting
material into quotations, use brackets instead of parentheses.
These are brackets: [ ]. These are parentheses: ( ). The
Associated Press does not transmit brackets, so editors should
review wire copy carefully and change parentheses to brackets when
they appear in quotes, unless the parentheses appear in the
original written matter that is being quoted. Do not cram
expository material into brackets within quotes; bracketed
insertions should be used only to clarify references within quotes,
and they should not disrupt the flow of the words being quoted.
Example: “I told Duke coach [Mike] Krzyzewski his team
played a great game.”
Bragg Hill A private,
low-income townhouse development on the north side of Fall Hill
Avenue between Central Park and U.S. 1 in
Fredericksburg.
Bragg Road Extended The section
of Bragg Road between Spotsylvania Towne Centre and the Village Square
Shopping Center in Spotsylvania County.
Brandy Station The site of the
largest cavalry battle in the Civil War. In Culpeper County.
Bristoe Station The site of a
Civil War battle in western Prince William County. Now the area is
known as Bristow.
Brompton The antebellum home
of the president of the University of Mary Washington. Occupying a portion of
Marye’s Heights and anchoring the northern end of the
college’s Battleground Athletic Complex, it’s at Sunken Road and
Hanover Street in Fredericksburg.
Brooke An area of eastern
Stafford County where the Virginia Railway Express has a commuter
rail station.
Brooks Park A park on Butler
Road in Stafford County, run by the Fredericksburg–Stafford
Park Authority. The building is the Brooks Park Activity Center.
The park is named after the late St. Clair Brooks, a well-known Falmouth resident; its formal name is St. Clair Brooks Memorial Park.
’Burg Colloquial abbreviation for Fredericksburg: the ’Burg.
bypass Capitalize as part of
the name of a road, for example U.S. 17 Bypass. Lowercase bypass when
it stands alone. See also the entry for road names and numbers.
C–SPAN Takes an en dash.
CADRE Commonwealth Alliance for
Drug Rehabilitation Education
Cafaro Co. An Ohio-based
company that developed and owns Spotsylvania Towne Centre.
Caledon Natural Area A
state-operated park in King George County known
as a nesting area for bald eagles; located between State Route 218 and the Potomac River.
Camp 21 Former name for the
Stafford Correctional Unit, a state-operated correctional facility
on Eskimo Hill Road in Stafford County.
Capital Beltway On second
reference, the
beltway.
capitalization of
the See entry for "the."
Capitol Hill
Cards & Cones Formerly Fine
Lines. A business at William and Caroline streets in downtown
Fredericksburg.
Carl’s Not
“Carl’s Frozen Custard.” It’s on Princess Anne Street in
Fredericksburg. It can be called Carl’s ice cream
stand if explanation is needed for
clarity.
Caroline County Formed from
Essex, King William and King and Queen counties in 1728. The town
of Bowling Green is the county seat.
Caroline County Board of Supervisors See entry on boards, commissions and committees.
Caroline Library Has branches in Bowling Green, Ladysmith (Ruther Glen), Dawn and Port Royal. It is not part of the CRRL system.
carpool (noun, verb and adjective) One word in all uses. See also
Words.
cats see pet breeds
CBLAB Chesapeake Bay Local
Assistance Board
CBLAD Chesapeake Bay Local
Assistance Division
cement Do not say
cement when you mean concrete;
portland cement (lowercase p) is a gray powder made from limestone
and various additives. It is one ingredient of concrete. That big truck with a rotating drum
on the back is not a “cement truck,” it’s a
concrete truck.
cemeteries (active)
Centerport A proposed
residential, retail and industrial development in central Stafford
County. Formerly called Centreport.
Central Park A complex of
stores, restaurants and offices developed by the Silver
Cos. off State Route 3 west in Fredericksburg.
Area libraries that are not part of CRRL include Smoot Library (full name L.E. Smoot Memorial Library) in King George County, Caroline Library in Caroline County and Orange County Public Library (see individual entries). Central Virginia Battlefields Trust cha-cha Takes a hyphen. Chamber of Commerce Acceptable on second reference to the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. Lowercase the chamber when it stands alone. Chancellor Center A shopping center on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. Food Lion is the grocery store there. Chancellor House Union headquarters for Joseph Hooker’s forces during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Chancellor’s Village A retirement community at State Route 3 and Kilarney Drive in Spotsylvania County. Chatham An 18th-century Georgian mansion overlooking the Rappahannock River that was used as a Union hospital and headquarters of Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside during the Battle of Fredericksburg. It’s owned and operated by the National Park Service and is part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Referred to by the Park Service as "Chatham Manor." Chatham Bridge The State Route 3 bridge over the Rappahannock River. Chatham Heights An area of southern Stafford County near the Chatham Bridge, along State Route 218 between State Route 3 and Butler Road. Chatham Square A shopping center on Butler Road in Stafford County. Chatham Square Office Park On Butler road in Stafford County. Chesapeake Bay Lowercase bay when it stands alone in copy, but uppercase in headlines. Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel The toll bridge and tunnels connecting the Hampton Roads area with the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Takes an en dash. Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board Use the board on later references. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act the Bay Act on later references or in headlines. Chewning Park A Spotsylvania County park on Post Oak Road. Chick–fil–A Use en dashes; note capitalization. child care Two words in all uses. Chopawamsic Creek Forms part of the line between Stafford and Prince William counties. Chopawamsic Island A Potomac River island off Marine Corps Base Quantico in northeastern Stafford and southeastern Prince William counties. Christian right Lowercase r; use only in editorials and quotes. churches and synagogues See selected alphabetized listings. cinder block Cinders were once commonly used as aggregate in concrete masonry blocks, and the term is still in wide use—but not by us. Except in direct quotes, say concrete block (adjective: concrete-block). circuit court Initial caps only if it refers to a specific locality; see courts. city Do not use City of before the name of a city. If this construction is necessary, use city of, lowercase. Do not refer to towns as cities or vice versa. City Canal Now called the Rappahannock Canal. City Cemetery It’s at the corner of Washington Avenue and William Street, next to the Confederate Cemetery. City Council See Fredericksburg City Council. City Dock A public dock on Sophia Street in downtown Fredericksburg. city industrial park Informal name for the Fredericksburg Battlefield Industrial Park; acceptable only in direct quotes. City of Fredericksburg Refers to the paddle boat that takes tourists up and down the Rappahannock. Civil War Roundtable of Fredericksburg Clearview A Colonial-era house in Falmouth, overlooking the U.S. 1–Butler Road intersection from the northeast. Clearview Heights A subdivision off Butler Road in Stafford County, just east of the historic house. clerk of the Circuit Court Initial caps on Circuit Court if it refers to a specific locality; see courts. Lowercase clerk unless used as a title before a person’s name: Clerk of the King George Circuit Court Vic Mason. Clyde Beatty–Cole Bros. Circus The name takes an en dash. COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (federal, re: insurance coverage) colleges and universities Below is a complete list of four-year colleges and universities in Virginia. See also individual entries for some schools.
Four-year colleges and universities in Virginiacolon In headlines, capitalize the first word after a colon. In text, capitalize the first word after a colon only when that word starts a complete sentence. Colonial Beach A town in Westmoreland County. In headlines, it can be referred to as Beach, with an uppercase B to distinguish it from the common noun. Colonial Theatre On Caroline Street in Fredericksburg. Use the common noun theater on later references. commissioner of revenue Not “commissioner of the revenue.” Capitalize only as a title before a name. commonwealth Lowercase in referring to Virginia, either in the construction commonwealth of Virginia or standing alone. Commonwealth Governor’s School In subsequent references, governor’s school. Commonwealth Transportation Board commonwealth’s attorney Possessive; not “commonwealth attorney.” Capitalize only as a title before a name. commuter rail The informal name for the Virginia Railway Express. Commuter rail is a project of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission. concrete A building material made from portland cement (note lowercase p), aggregate (commonly sand and gravel) and water, used in the construction of highways, buildings, etc. Do not say cement when you mean concrete: a concrete sidewalk; a concrete wall. Ready-mixed concrete is delivered to the job site in a concrete truck. Confederate Cemetery It’s at the corner of Washington Avenue and William Street, next to the City Cemetery. conference room Uppercase in constructions such as: The meeting will be held in Conference Rooms A and B. Cool Spring Road In southern Stafford County between State Routes 3 and 218, east of Chatham Heights. Spring is singular. corps Capitalize in all references to the Marine Corps: the Corps. Lowercase on second reference to any other corps, including the Army Corps of Engineers. Cosner Park A Spotsylvania County park off Routes 2 and 17. Named after former Supervisor Hugh Cosner. council Use the council, not just “council” on later references to city and town councils. councilman, councilwoman Uppercase these designations in titles before names. Collectively, they are council members; use this term lowercase and only in the plural. county On first reference to a county, uppercase county after the name, even when the first reference is part of the name of a governing body. Use the name without county on all other references except in designations for legislators. It’s not necessary to use county in headlines or cutlines. Examples: Stafford County, the county. courtesy titles In general, don’t use them except in editorials, obituaries and wedding or engagement announcements. In other copy, use a courtesy title for a woman only if she specifically requests it or if we are certain she would prefer it. The Associated Press and some other wire services generally use courtesy titles for women; editors should apply Free Lance–Star style guidelines to wire copy. For guidance on courtesy titles in obituaries, see Obituaries Appendix. courts Capitalize the full names of courts. Some examples are:
Other guidance on federal courts is found in the AP Stylebook.
coverage area The Free Lance–Star’s coverage area is defined as Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, Culpeper, Orange, Fauquier and Westmoreland. Crime Solvers Two words. Crowninshield Museum On the grounds of Kenmore, it houses the Bissell Gallery and other facilities. Crow’s Nest Peninsula of Stafford County bounded by Accokeek Creek on the north and Potomac Creek on the south.
the Crucifix A large crucifix
at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Telegraph Road in North Stafford,
placed by the Richmond Catholic Woman’s Club in the 1930s to
commemorate Margaret Brent, whose family settled in the Aquia area
in the early 1600s. The Brents are believed to have been
Virginia’s first Catholic family. C–SPAN Takes an en dash. CSX Corp. Parent company of CSX Transportation, which owns the rail line that runs through Fredericksburg. CSX Transportation The railroad subsidiary of the CSX Corp. CSXT on second reference. CSXT line The rail line through the area. In stories about commuter rail, it can be called the Fredericksburg line. CSX–RF&P line The rail line through the area. In stories about commuter rail, it can be called the Fredericksburg line. Culpeper County Formed from Orange County in 1748. The town of Culpeper is the county seat. CURB Control Unrestrained Residential Building Curtis Park A Stafford County park off U.S. 17 in the Hartwood area. CVS A drugstore chain with several area stores. DaimlerChrysler No space. Darbytown An area of lower Charles and Princess Anne streets in Fredericksburg. D.A.R.E. Drug Abuse Resistance Education; all caps, with periods. dash Also called em dash or “long dash.” No space before or after. In wire stories, spaces around dashes should be edited out to conform to our style. datelines Do not use Va. in datelines except for datelines from Virginia localities that could be confused with bigger, better-known localities designated by The Associated Press as standing alone in datelines. Examples: Cleveland, Washington and Paris. When such localities are referred to in copy, do not use Va. Instead, identify them by their location in the state. Example: Cleveland, a community in Russell County in Southwest Virginia. Use datelines for Virginia localities outside our coverage area. Dawn A community in southern Caroline County. day care Two words in all uses. daylight-saving time With a hyphen; no “s” on saving. daylily One word, an exception to Webster’s. D.C. Acceptable in headlines that refer to Washington. In text, the District of Columbia or the district is preferable. See Washington. DECA Distributive Education Clubs of America. Delco Chassis Now called GM Powertrain. Delmarva Peninsula Peninsula, bounded by Chesapeake Bay on the west and Delaware Bay on the east, comprising the state of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. Denny’s A restaurant chain. Department of Environmental Quality The state agency that oversees air, water, solid waste and other environmental issues; created to consolidate several agencies. Department of Motor Vehicles The name of this state agency has changed from Division of Motor Vehicles. Local branches are at Massaponax Center in Spotsylvania County and on Garrisonville Road in Stafford County. DMV is acceptable in headlines and on later references in copy. Department of Social Services Not “social services” alone. Department of Rehabilitative Services Di Peppe, Archer There is a space in Di Peppe. disAbility Resource Center A local organization to aid disabled people. Capitalize the d in disAbility when the word begins a sentence. Dixon Park A park on Dixon Street in Fredericksburg. doctoral degree, doctorate The terms are interchangeable. dogs see pet breeds Dominion The Richmond-based parent company of Dominion Virginia Power. Also owns a number of other companies, inclding Dominion Generation, which runs the North Anna and Surry nuclear plants, the Possum Point power plant in Prince William County and other facilities. Domino’s Pizza Donder, Donner One of Santa’s reindeer; spelling varies. “Donner” is more commonly used, but we prefer Donder. Dorothy Hart Community Center On Canal Street in Fredericksburg; formerly Fredericksburg Community Center. Named after the late Dorothy Hart, who worked at the community center for 48 years and became the assistant recreation director. dot-com (n. or adj.) Takes a hyphen. download downtown Avoid “Old Town.” See also Historic District. Dr. Use Dr. on first reference only for physicians, dentists, veterinarians or others who hold doctor of medicine degrees. Do not use the title on later references. In general, do not use Dr. for people who hold nonmedical doctoral degrees or for those who hold honorary degrees. Obituaries for college professors, however, may refer to them as Dr. driver’s license, driver’s licenses Dulles International Airport In Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. Duff Green Park On the Rappahannock River in southern Stafford County; formal name is Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park. duPont Hall At the University of Mary Washington; houses duPont Gallery and Klein Theatre. DVD Acceptable for all references to digital video disc. Earl’s True Value Hardware Store in Chatham Heights. Eastern Shore The portions of Maryland and Virginia lying east of Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia portion is divided into the counties of Northampton and Accomack (note that the county is spelled Accomack, but the town is Accomac). Part of the Delmarva Peninsula. East–West Connector Use an en dash in the name of the road that connects State Route 3 in Stafford County to Lafayette Boulevard and William Street in Fredericksburg; the portion within the city is called the Blue and Gray Parkway. Echols Scholar Student participating in U.Va.’s program for “avid learners” in the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. Eid al–Fitr Three-day festival marking the end of Ramadan. For current year's dates, click here. Eid al–Adha Three-day festival marking the end of the Hajj. For current year's dates, click here. ElderStudy No space; uppercase S. Meets at the University of Mary Washington. Eley’s Ford A shallow area of the Rapidan River, used as a troop crossing in the Civil War. The crossing, in western Spotsylvania County near the Orange County line, connects Spotsylvania and Culpeper counties. An exception to the ADC map book’s spelling. See below for variants: Eleys Ford, Elys Ford. Eleys Ford Baptist Church The church is on Elys Ford Road near Eley’s Ford. Ellwood A historic house owned by the National Park Service in Orange County off State Route 20. The amputated arm of Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson is buried in a family cemetery on the property. Elys Ford Road Crosses Eley’s Ford, passes Eleys Ford Baptist Church and ends at State Route 3 in the Chancellor area of Spotsylvania. The ADC map book uses the Elys spelling for the road, the church and the river ford; we spell each one differently. e–mail Takes an en dash. Embrey Dam The Fredericksburg water supply dam on the Rappahannock River, off Fall Hill Avenue. The dam was built about 1920. The dam was blasted in February 2004. Embrey Mill ”Old town”-style subdivision in Stafford County. Embrey Power Station A building, now abandoned, on Caroline Street near Old Mill Park. The station generated most of Fredericksburg’s electricity until the 1950s. Enchanted Castle The 18th-century home of Gov. Alexander Spotswood at Germanna was nicknamed the “enchanted castle” by William Byrd II of Westover, a contemporary of Spotswood’s. The home was destroyed by fire in 1750; its foundation was discovered in 1977. en dashes En dashes are a part of our style. In type, an en dash is longer than a hyphen and shorter than a dash. En dashes are used in reporting scores, votes and party affiliations; to link words in combined names; and in many store names. En dashes are used in place of and and or constructions that otherwise would be linked with a slash mark (/). An en dash is used in the name of this newspaper. En dashes are not used in compound modifiers. Examples: The Free Lance–Star; Del. Bobby Orrock, R–Spotsylvania County; the 1994–95 budget; I–95 (second reference to Interstate 95); 2–4 p.m.; June 5–7; a final score of 13–6; a 5–1 ratio (a 5-to-1 ratio is also correct, but takes hyphens). See alphabetized entries. Essex County Formed in 1692 from old Rappahannock County (not the same as present-day Rappahannock County). The town of Tappahannock is the county seat. extension agent Uppercase only before a name: Extension Agent Regina Prunty. See Virginia Cooperative Extension. extension office Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Stafford office, not “the Stafford extension office.” See Virginia Cooperative Extension. FACRO Fredericksburg Area Community Relations Organization Fairview Beach A community on the Potomac River in King George County. Fall Hill A historic home overlooking the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg. Fall Hill Avenue Begins in Fredericksburg at the Rappahannock Canal and becomes Bragg Road at the Spotsylvania County line. fall line The line where the piedmont meets the coastal plain, and rivers change from nontidal to tidal. Interstate 95 roughly follows the fall line; the Rappahannock River crosses the fall line at the Falmouth Bridge. See also the entry for Tidewater. Falmouth Originally a town in Stafford County at the fall line of the Rappahannock River, settled in Colonial days. Falmouth today also refers to a wider area surrounding Falmouth Bottom. Falmouth Beach Informal name for Historic Port of Falmouth, formerly Falmouth Waterfront Park, a county park on the Rappahannock River in southern Stafford, just below the Falmouth Bridge. Use "Falmouth Beach" only in quotes, letters, etc. NOTE: As of May 2009, the sign at the park entrance still read "Falmouth Waterfront Park." Falmouth Bottom Low-lying section of Falmouth, below Belmont on the west side of the Falmouth Bridge in Stafford County. Falmouth Bridge The U.S. 1 bridge across the Rappahannock River. Falmouth Waterfront Park Former name for Historic Port of Falmouth, a county park on the Rappahannock River in southern Stafford, just below the Falmouth Bridge. Use "Falmouth Beach" only in quotes, letters, etc. NOTE: As of May 2009, the sign at the park entrance still read "Falmouth Waterfront Park." FAMPO Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Farrakhan, Louis Fas Mart Fauquier County Formed from Prince William County in 1759. The town of Warrenton is the county seat. FedEx Field Formerly Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Redskins Stadium. Ferguson, Sarah Duchess of York Ferry Farm George Washington’s boyhood home in Stafford County, owned and operated by The George Washington Foundation, which refers to it as George Washington’s Ferry Farm. Also Ferry Farm Baptist Church and Ferry Farm Elementary School. The nearby subdivision is Ferry Farms (plural). Washington moved to Ferry Farm in 1738, when he was 6, and lived there until he was about 20. The property was later sold to Gen. Hugh Mercer. It became an artillery base and river crossing point for Union forces in the Battle of Fredericksburg. Ferry Farm–Mayfield Bridge The East–West Connector bridge across the Rappahannock River between Fredericksburg and Stafford County. The name uses an en dash. Ferry Farms A subdivision in southern Stafford County. fess up No apostrophe. fiancé (m.) fiancée (f.) first come, first served first lady Lowercase, even as a title before a name. fiscal year A fiscal year beginning in 2000 and ending in 2001 is referred to as fiscal 2001. It is not “fiscal year 2001,” nor is it “fiscal 2000–01.” In referring to a budget or other program that spans more than one calendar year, use an en dash and no apostrophe: the 2000–01 budget. Five-Mile Fork The area of Spotsylvania County where State Route 3 intersects with Old Plank Road. It is five miles west of downtown Fredericksburg. FMC plant This now-closed plant in Spotsylvania County, formerly owned by the Sylvania company and later by FMC Corp., made cellophane. The buildings are now part of the Spotsylvania County Industrial Park. Food Lion A grocery chain based in Salisbury, N.C., with stores in the Fredericksburg area. Ford’s Theatre In Washington. Note the possessive form. Use the common noun theater on later references. Fort A.P. Hill An Army training center in Caroline County and the home of the Virginia Military Academy. It can be referred to as an Army post, but do not call it a base. The National Scout Jamboree is held there every four years. Fort Belvoir An Army post in Fairfax County. Four-Mile Fork The area in Spotsylvania County at the intersection of Lafayette Boulevard (U.S. 1 Business), Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1) and State Route 208. It is four miles southwest of downtown Fredericksburg. A hyphen is used. 401(k) Lowercase k. four-wheel drive Use this form when drive is a noun and four-wheel is the modifier. Example: The car has four-wheel drive. four-wheel-drive Use this form when all three words are the modifier. Example: It is a four- wheel-drive vehicle. fractions In Ted, the fractions ¼, ½ and ¾ can be inserted as follows: Place the cursor where you want the fraction to appear in your text; press F10 to bring up a box of fractions, accented letters and other special characters; double-click on the one you want. For other fractions, hit F9 for the brackets and enter the fraction in this form: >fraction 1,2< Frederick Place Subsidized apartments on the south side of Fall Hill Avenue between Central Park and U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg Founded in 1728 in Spotsylvania County; incorporated as an independent town in 1782, but still part of the county; incorporated as a city in 1887, at which time it became completely independent of the county.
Fredericksburg and
Spotsylvania National Military
Park Established in 1927 and
operated by the National Park Service, the park comprises a number of
sites related to the Civil War: the Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Court House and Wilderness battlefields; Chatham; Ellwood; Fredericksburg National Cemetery; Salem Church; and Stonewall Jackson Shrine. Headquarters is at Chatham in
Stafford County. The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center is
at the corner of Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard in
Fredericksburg; the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center is
on State Route 3 west in Spotsylvania County. Fredericksburg area Hyphenate as a modifier before a noun; otherwise, do not hyphenate. Examples: The Fredericksburg area is growing. Fredericksburg-area businesses will be affected by the law. Fredericksburg Area Community Relations Organization FACRO is acceptable on first reference to avoid a cumbersome lead, but give the full name high in the story. The group was established in the late 1980s to improve race relations. Fredericksburg Area Food Bank formerly Fredericksburg Area Food Relief Clearinghouse Fredericksburg Area HIV/AIDS Support Services Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization FAMPO is acceptable on first reference to avoid a cumbersome lead, but give the full name high in the story. It is a regional transportation planning body with an office in Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center A city-owned museum at William and Princess Anne streets in Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg Battlefield Industrial Park Off the East–West Connector in Fredericksburg. Informally called the city industrial park. Fredericksburg City Council Use the full name on first reference; on second reference it’s the council, not just “council.” Fredericksburg Fairgrounds Off Routes 2 and 17 in Fredericksburg. A privately run facility. Fredericksburg Farmers Market It’s on Prince Edward Street by Hurkamp Park. Lowercase if just farmers market. Fredericksburg Gun Manufactory The first gun factory in America, built in 1775 by Charles Dick and Fielding Lewis on a site near Hazel Run. The site is behind the original Walker–Grant School on Gunnery Road. Fredericksburg’s Historic District Or the city’s Historic District. A 40-block section of downtown Fredericksburg and 11 mill sites along the Rappahannock River. The district was established to preserve history by limiting changes owners can make to their properties. Retain capitalization of Historic District on second reference. Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Department formerly Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation Department. Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce serving Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania. The office is on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania. Use Chamber of Commerce or the chamber on later references. FREDericksburg Regional Transit system FRED on second reference. Fredericksburg Savings and Loan Association Fredericksburg Shopping Center On U.S. 1 near Normandy Village subdivision. Food Lion is the grocery store there. Fredericksburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals On Olde William Street. SPCA is acceptable on second reference. Fredericksburg–Stafford Park Authority Operates four parks in Stafford County and Fredericksburg. In Stafford are Falmouth Waterfront Park and Pratt Park, both off River Road, and Brooks Park off Butler Road. In Fredericksburg is Old Mill Park off Caroline Street. Fredericksburg–TideLand Times A small advertising magazine. Fredericksburg Theatre Company A local community theater group. Fredericksburg Visitor Center On Caroline Street. It is run by the city Department of Tourism. The Free Lance–Star The is part of the newspaper’s name; it is dropped when the newspaper’s name is used as a modifier (a Free Lance–Star reporter) or in such constructions as “He saw the article in Tuesday’s Free Lance–Star.” The en dash is between Lance and Star. Fréjus Acute accent on the e. Fredericksburg’s sister city, on the French Riviera. Friends of the Rappahannock An environmental group formed to protect the Rappahannock River. Fright ’N Friday Frog Level A community on U.S. 301 in southern Caroline County. Front Porch Fredericksburg Fuddruckers No apostrophe in the name of this hamburger chain. FUNdaMENTALS A store on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg. fundraiser (n.) fundraising (n., adj.)
Caroline County: FunLand In Central Park; no space, uppercase L. Garnet of Virginia The company developing a commercial landfill in King George County. The facility will handle trash from the county and will charge other localities to accept trash and municipal ash. Garrison Woods Subsidized apartments off Garrisonville Road in Stafford County. Gateway Village Shopping Center On State Route 3 in Fredericksburg. GED Acceptable on all references to Virginia’s General Educational Development Certificate. Stories should explain that a GED is a high school equivalency diploma. Geico Acceptable on all references to Government Employees Insurance Co. Inc. The company’s regional office on U.S. 17 in Stafford County handles sales, service, claims and underwriting for car and property insurance. See also the entry on acronyms. General Assembly The General Assembly convenes the second Wednesday of each January. Sessions technically last 60 days in even years and 30 days in odd years, but they can be extended up to 30 days in any year. In practice, short sessions usually last 46 days. There are two houses, the House of Delegates and the Senate. There are 40 senators and 100 delegates. Senators serve four-year terms, and delegates serve two-year terms.
General Products A Spotsylvania County company that makes bi-fold doors and other products for use in the construction industry. George Washington Birthplace National Monument The site where Washington was born is in Westmoreland County, east of Oak Grove off State Route 3; it’s operated by the National Park Service. It was called Popes Creek Plantation when Washington lived there as a young boy, but an uncle later named it Wakefield Plantation, which was the name when the home on the property burned. Some people in the area still refer to the site as Wakefield, but we should do so only in direct quotations and explain the reference. George Washington Boyhood Home Foundation A private, nonprofit foundation founded to raise funds for the restoration of Ferry Farm. George Washington Foundation, The Nonprofit organization that oversees Ferry Farm, Kenmore and the Mary Washington Monument. George Washington Regional Commission The regional planning agency for Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford (Virginia Planning District 16); GWRC on second reference. Formerly called the Rappahannock Area Development Commission (RADCO). Germanna An 18th-century German settlement on the Rapidan River. Once the Spotsylvania County seat, the area is now part of eastern Orange County. Germanna Community College The main campus is on State Route 3 near Locust Grove in Orange County. The Fredericksburg campus is in Spotsylvania County near Four-Mile Fork. Giant A grocery store chain based in Landover, Md. The parent company is Giant Food Inc. girls sports No apostrophe in such constructions as girls basketball or girls track. In this sense, girls is an adjective, not a possessive noun. But women’s basketball does take an apostrophe, in keeping with AP style. Girls State No apostrophe. Gloucester County Formed from York County in 1651. The town of Gloucester is the county seat. GM Powertrain A division of General Motors that makes torque converter clutches for GM cars and trucks with automatic transmissions; formerly Delco Chassis. In Spotsylvania County on Routes 2 and 17. go-kart Takes a hyphen. Goldvein A community in eastern Fauquier County where gold was once mined. Goodwill Industries Provides manufacturing jobs and training so disabled people can do paid work. Goolrick’s Modern Pharmacy On Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg. Gordonsville A community in Orange County. Government Island A Stafford County island in Aquia Creek where sandstone was quarried for use in many of Washington’s government buildings, including the White House and the U.S. Capitol. Governor’s Mansion Uppercase as the name of the Virginia governor’s residence. Lowercase the mansion on later references. governor’s school, governor’s schools Lowercase except as part of a proper noun; e.g., Commonwealth Governor’s School. GPA On second reference for grade-point average. GPS On second reference for global positioning system (not “satellite”). Greenbrier Shopping Center A shopping center on State Route 3 in Fredericksburg. Burlington Coat Factory is one main store there. Greene County Formed from Orange County in 1838. Stanardsville is the county seat. groundwater One word, an exception to Webster’s. Ground Zero Capitalize references to the site of the former World Trade Center in New York City. Guinea Station Site of the Stonewall Jackson Shrine in Caroline County. halftime Haight Ashbury Two words, no hyphen. Hampton Roads A geographical area comprising Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg and the counties of James City, York and Isle of Wight. The Hampton Roads designation is preferred over “Tidewater” when referring to this area. See Tidewater. Anne Hamrick Community House A Fredericksburg preschool for underprivileged children; the school is named after the Rev. Anne Hamrick, founder of Falmouth United Methodist Church. Hanover County Formed from New Kent County in 1720. The town of Hanover is the county seat. Harambee 360° Experimental Theater A Fredericksburg experimental theater group. Hardee’s Note the apostrophe in the name of this restaurant chain. Harrison Road Community Center Hartwood Airport A private airport off U.S. 17 in Stafford County. Haymount A proposed planned community in Caroline County. Hazel Hill A subsidized townhouse complex at the south end of Princess Anne Street. Also the name of the estate of Brig. Gen. John Minor, the first legislative advocate of freedom for slaves in America; in 1782, he introduced a bill for the freedom of slaves in Virginia. Hazel Run The creek that runs behind Spotsylvania Towne Centre through Alum Spring Park and into the Rappahannock River near the Ferry Farm–Mayfield Bridge. Head Start Fredericksburg Regional Head Start health care (two words in all uses) Heartfields Assisted Living of Fredericksburg in Stafford County Heathsville The county seat of Northumberland County. Hechinger A hardware store chain. Not “Hechinger’s.” Hecht’s A department store chain with a store at Spotsylvania Towne Centre. Sally Hemings The Heritage Foundation Uppercase T. Heritage Hall Health Care A nursing home in King George County. Center is not part of the name. highway designations See road names. high occupancy vehicle "HOV" is acceptable on second reference to the lanes set aside for carpools. Hilldrup Moving & Storage hip–hop Takes an en dash. Historic Falmouth Towne and Stafford County A Stafford County preservation group. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc. Use HFFI only in headlines; in text, it’s the foundation on second reference. Historic Port of Falmouth A county park on the Rappahannock River in southern Stafford, just below the Falmouth Bridge; formerly called Falmouth Waterfront Park, then Falmouth Beach Park. Use “Falmouth Beach” only in letters, quotes, etc. NOTE: As of May 2009, the sign at the park entrance still read "Falmouth Waterfront Park." historic sites See alphabetical listings. Holbert Building The Spotsylvania County administration building, named after the late Richard Holbert, a county supervisor. homeless shelters In the city, they are the Thurman Brisben Center in the Battlefield Industrial Park and Hope House on Lafayette Boulevard. home page Two words. The “front” page of a particular Web site. homeowners association No apostrophe. Hope House A residential homeless shelter on Lafayette Boulevard for women and their children. Operated by Rappahannock Refuge Inc. Hopyard Farm In King George County. Hospice Support Care A Fredericksburg-area group to help terminally ill people and their families.
hospitals
hot line Two words. Local examples are Telehelp and Teen Hot Line. House of Delegates The lower house of the General Assembly. The form for first references to delegates is: Del. Bobby Orrock, R–Spotsylvania County. House of Representatives The lower house of Congress. The form for first reference to members of Congress is: Rep. Common Man, R–Neb. For Virginia members, give the district: Rep. Herbert H. Bateman, R–1st District. When relevant to the story, describe the district and say where the member is from. HOV Acceptable on second reference to high occupancy vehicle lanes. Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop An 18th-century building restored as a museum offering a look at Colonial medical practices. At Caroline and Amelia streets. Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church Note the apostrophe in the name of this Stafford County church. Humvee From the acronym HMMWV, which stands for high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle. Hunting Run Reservoir In northern Spotsylvania County near the Orange County line. Hunting Run is a tributary of the Rapidan River. Hurkamp Park The Fredericksburg park bounded by William, Prince Edward and George streets and the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad building. It’s named after 19th-century Fredericksburg businessman John Hurkamp, who donated a wrought-iron fence to keep hogs from rooting up the bones of Civil War soldiers buried there. Hyperion Espresso A coffee shop at the corner of William and Princess Anne streets in Fredericksburg. “In a telephone interview from...” This phrase or a similar one is necessary in stories based on telephone interviews of people outside our coverage area. It is not necessary in stories based on sources in our coverage area, even if we did our interviews by phone. Indian Acres A recreational mobile home community off Morris Road in Spotsylvania County, between the communities of Thornburg and Snell. Indian Point A point of land where Accokeek and Potomac creeks meet; part of the Marlborough Point peninsula. Industrial Development Authority IDA is acceptable in headlines; the IDA or the authority on second reference. Inova Fairfax Hospital Not “INOVA.”
Interstate 95 I–95
is acceptable on second reference. An en dash is used.
98—Doswell (Kings Dominion/State Fair) If you need others, the best site is probably http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_95_in_Virginia. Islamic holidays For current year's dates, click here. Jabberwocky A children’s bookstore on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg. Jackson Shrine See Stonewall Jackson Shrine. jamboree Lowercase this word as a second reference to the National Scout Jamboree, held every four years at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County. James Monroe Center for Graduate and Professional Studies See the entry for University of Mary Washinton’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies. James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library James Monroe, the nation’s fifth president, practiced law in Fredericksburg, but not in this building at 908 Charles St. The museum, which contains personal possessions, furnishings and papers of Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth, is owned by the state and administered by Mary Washington College through the Center for Historic Preservation. Jarrell’s Truck Plaza Doswell Jepson Alumni Executive Center & Kalnen Inn on Trench Hill The alumni office for the University of Mary Washington on Hanover Street in Fredericksburg. Formerly Trench Hill. JCPenney No spaces or periods. Not “Penney’s.” The area store is at Spotsylvania Towne Centre. Jefferson Davis Highway Use this designation only in numbered addresses; do not abbreviate highway. Otherwise, it’s U.S. 1. Juilliard The Juilliard School, a school of music, drama and dance at Lincoln Center in New York City; the Juilliard String Quartet. k It's a 5K race, but a 401(k). Kenmore The home of Fielding Lewis and his wife, Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington’s sister. On Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg, it is owned and operated by The George Washington Foundation, which refers to it as Historic Kenmore. Kenmore Club A daytime retreat for mentally ill people. Kenmore Inn A bed-and-breakfast on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg. King and Queen County Formed from New Kent County in 1691. The town of King and Queen is the county seat. King George County Formed from Richmond and Westmoreland counties in 1721. The town of King George is the county seat. King George County Board of Supervisors See entry on boards, commissions and committees. Kings Dominion A theme park at Doswell in Hanover County. Not “King’s Dominion.” Formerly Paramount’s Kings Dominion. Richard Kirkland Memorial In the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg, 19-year-old Confederate Sgt. Richard Kirkland risked his life to carry water to wounded Union soldiers shot en masse as they approached the Sunken Road. Kirkland, known for his actions as the “Angel of Marye’s Heights,” fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg but was killed at Chickamauga, Ga. The Kirkland Memorial on Sunken Road was sculpted by Felix de Weldon, who sculpted the Iwo Jima monument in Arlington, and placed in 1965. See also Civil War appendix.
Klein Theatre In University of Mary
Washington’s duPont Hall. Use the common noun
theater in later references. Kmart No space, no hyphen, lowercase m, in accordance with AP style. Lake Anna A lake that abuts Spotsylvania, Louisa and Orange counties. Created to provide cooling water for Dominion Generation’s North Anna nuclear power plant, which supplies electricity to Dominion Virginia Power. Lake Anna State Park A state park in Spotsylvania County. Lake Arrowhead A subdivision off Garrisonville Road in North Stafford. Lake Caroline A large, private subdivision off U.S. 1 south of Ladysmith in Caroline County. Lake Land’Or A large, private subdivision off State Route 639 west of Ladysmith in Caroline County. Lake of the Woods A large, private subdivision in Orange County off State Route 3 near the Spotsylvania County line. On second reference, it’s the subdivision, not “LOW,” which is unfamiliar to many of our readers. Lake Wilderness A subdivision off Orange Plank Road in Spotsylvania County. Lancaster County Formed from York and Northumberland counties in 1651. The town of Lancaster is the county seat. Lansdowne Road Note spelling, which may differ from ADC map book. Lauck’s Island A privately owned island in the Rappahannock River west of the Falmouth Bridge. Leavells Road No apostrophe in the name of this road in Spotsylvania County. Leedstown A community on the Rappahannock River in Westmoreland County. It was the site of the signing of the Leedstown Resolutions, a precursor to the Declaration of Independence. Lee Hill District Lee Hill Industrial Park Off Routes 2 and 17 in Spotsylvania County. Leeland An area of southern Stafford County where the Virginia Railway Express has a commuter station. Leesburg The county seat of Loudoun County. Lee’s Hill A large subdivision in Spotsylvania County between Mine Road and the U.S. 17 Bypass. Lee’s Hill Golfers’ Club Leggett Not Leggett’s. A family-owned department store chain formerly in Spotsylvania Towne Centre. There is no headquarters; the family members who run the company work in Danville, Lynchburg and South Boston and in Henderson, N.C.
legislative designations For
members of the General Assembly: On first reference, the standard
form for a member of the Senate is Sen. I.M. Somebody,
D–Alexandria. The standard form for a member of the
House of Delegates is Del. Laws R. Us, R–Northumberland
County. LibertyTown Arts Workshop Art gallery and studio on Liberty Street. No space between “Liberty” and “Town”. libraries see the entry for Central Rappahannock Regional Library literacy passport test Lowercase in all uses. Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic A clinic in Fredericksburg for uninsured working people not covered by Medicaid. It is named after Dr. Lloyd F. “Jeppy” Moss, a retired family practitioner, and operates in the old Mary Washington Hospital off Fall Hill Avenue. local government districts Don’t specify the district represented by a board member or supervisor unless districts themselves become the issue or the information is otherwise germane to the story. Locust Grove An area of eastern Orange County. Loriella Park A Spotsylvania County park on Leavells Road. Lorton Correctional Center Formerly Lorton Reformatory. A correctional center in Fairfax County run by the District of Columbia Corrections Department. Loudoun County Formed from Fairfax County in 1757. The town of Leesburg is the county seat. Louisa County Formed from Hanover County in 1742. The town of Louisa is the county seat. Lowe’s A hardware chain, based in North Wilkesboro, N.C., with stores in the Fredericksburg area. Made In Virginia Store This store, on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg, capitalizes each word of its name. Major League Baseball The name of the organization takes initial caps, but: It was his first major-league game. Male, female, man, woman Male and female are adjectives. Man and woman are nouns. Manassas The county seat of Prince William County. Marine Barracks in Washington; not Marine Corps Barracks Marine Corps Base Quantico A Marine Corps base in Stafford and Prince William counties. It is the home of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command and The Basic School. Other facilities on the base include the FBI Academy; HMX–1, the president’s helicopter squadron; and the Marine Corps University. Market Square A historic marketplace behind the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. Marlborough Point In Stafford County, the point where Potomac Creek enters the Potomac River. More generally, the peninsula bounded by the Potomac River on the east, Potomac Creek on the south and Accokeek Creek on the west. The point of land where Accokeek Creek joins Potomac Creek is called Indian Point. Marshall Center Marshall Park Mary Washington College see the entry for the University of Mary Washington. Mary Washington Healthcare [Name changed from Medicorp Health System at beginning of 2010; still updating this entry.] This medical services holding corporation is the parent company of:
Mary Washington Hospital Melchers Drive Not "Melcher" as the Stafford map book would have us believe. Mary Washington Hospital Off U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg. Call it the hospital after the first reference. MWH is acceptable in headlines. It is a not-for-profit hospital whose parent company is Mary Washington Healthcare. Mary Washington House George Washington bought this home for his mother in 1772, and she lived there the last 17 years of her life. Now operated as a museum, it’s on Prince Edward Street in Fredericksburg. Mary Washington Monument A monument to George Washington’s mother. On Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg, it is owned and operated by The George Washington Foundation. Marye’s Heights A ridge above Sunken Road in Fredericksburg that the Confederates defended in the Civil War. See Civil War appendix. Masonic Cemetery A historic cemetery on Charles Street in Fredericksburg, owned by Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 AF&AM and administered by the James Monroe Museum. In 1992 the Center for Historic Preservation at then Mary Washington College completed an assessment of the site. Graves date to the late 1700s. Masonic Lodge No. 4 AF&AM George Washington became a Mason in this lodge in 1752. Its museum today contains memorabilia relating to his membership, including an original Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington. The lodge is on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg. Massaponax The area of U.S. 1 in Spotsylvania County from the Massaponax interchange south to Massaponax Baptist Church. Massaponax Creek Runs through northern Spotsylvania County, beginning near State Route 3 west of Fredericksburg and emptying into the Rappahannock River via Ruffins Pond near New Post. Massaponax Outlet Center An outlet mall off U.S. 1 in Spotsylvania County, near the Massaponax exit off Interstate 95. Master Gardener Master Gardener Association Mathews County Formed from Gloucester County in 1791. The town of Mathews is the county seat. Mattaponi River Cuts through central Caroline County; the Matta, the Po and the Ni join in Caroline. Maury field In Maury Stadium. Lowercase field.
Maury School The former Maury
School in Fredericksburg stands on a tract bounded by George,
Kenmore, William and Barton streets. There are two main buildings,
connected by an open walkway: The one facing George Street was
built in 1919 as Fredericksburg High School (auditorium added in
1929); the other was built in 1935 as Maury Elementary. The high
school’s name was changed at some point to James Monroe High
School, and it moved to the present JMHS site around 1952. Maury
Elementary took over both buildings until Hugh Mercer Elementary
opened about 1980 [information from Scott Howson]. The athletic
field is still the home football field for James Monroe High
School. Maury Stadium At Maury School. Mayfield A neighborhood off Dixon Street in southeastern Fredericksburg. McDonald’s Note the apostrophe in the name of the restaurant chain. McLane Foods A McLane Co. subsidiary that packages convenience store foods. It’s next to the McLane Mid-Atlantic distribution center off U.S. 17 in Stafford County. McLane Mid-Atlantic A facility off U.S. 17 in Stafford County that distributes products to area convenience stores and Walmarts. McLane Co., a subsidiary of Walmart, is the parent company in Temple, Texas. Formerly Southland Distribution Center. McLaws Drive No apostrophe in the name of the street or of the band. Media General Cable of Fredericksburg Serves Fredericksburg and parts of southern Stafford County. Melchers, Gari The artist who lived at Belmont in Falmouth. Memorial Park A park on Kenmore Avenue in Fredericksburg. men’s and women’s sports Use the apostrophe. Merchants Plaza A deck between buildings on Caroline Street. Middle Peninsula The peninsula bounded by the Rappahannock, York and Mattaponi rivers. It comprises the counties of Essex, Middlesex, Mathews, Gloucester, and King and Queen. See entries for individual counties. Middlesex County Formed from Lancaster County in 1673. The town of Saluda is the county seat.
miles Use figures in
dimensions, formulas and speeds. Milford A community in Caroline County southwest of Bowling Green. military installations Marine Corps Base Quantico is in Stafford and Prince William counties. Naval Support Facility Dahlgren is in King George County. Fort A.P. Hill is in Caroline County. Fort Belvoir is in Fairfax County. See alphabetized listings. MJ Designs Monroe Museum See James Monroe Museum. Montpelier The home of James Madison in Orange County, off State Route 20. Also, a community in Hanover County that is the site of the annual Camptown Races. Montross The county seat of Westmoreland County. Motts Run No apostrophe. Motts Run Reservoir In Spotsylvania County off River Road. Motts Run Water Treatment Plant In Spotsylvania County off River Road. Mozzarella Cafe Not “Mozzarella’s.” MyLine No space. MySpace No space but the Web site is all lowercase myspace.com. An online networking forum. NAACP In headlines or on second reference to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
names in stories On every
story, reporters are to ask their subjects how they want to be
referred to in the paper, and we will follow their preference. The
exception will be in crime stories or injury lists, where full
names, with middle initials, are necessary to avoid confusion. Nasdaq National Guard Armory On U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg. Lowercase armory in later references. National Historic Landmark National Mall In Washington; the Mall on second reference. National Park Service NPS is acceptable in headlines. National Scout Jamboree An international gathering of Boy Scouts, held every four years at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County. National Register of Historic Places A listing kept by the federal Department of the Interior of properties considered of historical significance. See also Virginia Landmarks Register. National Trust for Historic Preservation NationsBank Native American Acceptable only in letters, editorials and names of organizations; we say American Indian, following AP style. Naval Support Facility Dahlgren A Navy base in King George County. Most employees are civilians. When referring to the base as a location or as an installation in its entirety, our first-reference style is Naval Support Facility Dahlgren. That’s the name for the base as of November 2005. It's OK on second reference to refer to it as “the Navy base (or naval base--note lowercase) at Dahlgren.” The largest command on the base is the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. That used to be the name for the base as a whole, before the NSWCDD became a tenant. When referring to this particular command, use its full name on first reference and the acronym on later references. Other commands on the base are the Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC); the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS); Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense; the Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC); and the U.S. Air Force 20th Space Control Squadron, Detachment 1. New Post A community in Spotsylvania County near the Caroline County line. newspaper names Several newspapers use The in their names. They include The Free Lance–Star; The Washington Post; The New York Times; The (Newport News) Daily Press; The Roanoke Times; and The (Norfolk) Virginian–Pilot. “The” is not part of the name of the Richmond Times–Dispatch. For other newspaper names, refer to the Editor & Publisher International YearBook or to the newspapers’ flags. A newspaper with a combined name, such as The Free Lance–Star, uses an en dash. nicknames Nicknames, when used with full names, appear in quotes after the first name and middle initial. Example: Theodore A. “Boots” Banker. Ni River Reservoir Off Gordon Road in Spotsylvania County. North Anna nuclear power plant One of two nuclear-powered plants that supply electricity to Dominion Virginia Power. It’s on Lake Anna, which was created to provide water to cool the facility. The other plant is in Surry County. They are run by Dominion Generation, a separate subsidiary of Dominion. North Central Virginia Regional Task Force A group of investigators from Fredericksburg and surrounding localities that works exclusively on drug cases.
Northern Neck The peninsula
bounded by the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and ending at the
Chesapeake Bay. It comprises Westmoreland, Northumberland,
Lancaster and Richmond counties. King George County is sometimes
considered part of this area. See entries for individual counties.
Northern Virginia Do not
abbreviate to “No. Va.” Northern Virginia Business Roundtable Northern Virginia Community College Campuses are in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun County, Manassas and Woodbridge. North Stafford If this area of Stafford County appears in a lead, the next reference to the county must be to Stafford County, not just Stafford. Where possible, use Stafford County first and North Stafford later. North Stafford Industrial Park On Ramoth Church Road, adjacent to the site of the planned Stafford Regional Airport. North Stafford Plaza A shopping center on Garrisonville Road. Northumberland County Formed from the Chickacoan Indian District about 1645. The town of Heathsville is the county seat. numerals Always use numerals for ages, dimensions (as distinct from distances—see entry for miles), ratios, percentages, votes, scores, formulas, speed. obituaries See Obituaries appendix. Olde Forge townhouses Off U.S. 17 in Stafford County. Olde Greenwich Shopping Center A shopping center on Lafayette Boulevard in Spotsylvania County. Old Mill Park A park along the Rappahannock River, off Caroline Street in Fredericksburg. Operated by the Fredericksburg–Stafford Park Authority. Old Stone Warehouse On William and Caroline Streets at the Chatham Bridge. Old Town Avoid using this term in reference to Fredericksburg. Say downtown or the Historic District, as appropriate. See Historic District. Orange County Formed from Spotsylvania County in 1734. The town of Orange is the county seat. Orange County Airport On State Route 20 in Orange County. Orange County Board of Supervisors See entry on boards, commissions and committees. Orange County Public Library Has three branches: in the towns of Orange and Gordonsville and at Wilderness (Locust Grove). original Walker–Grant School Now used as a community center and for some Fredericksburg school programs, including Head Start. On Gunnery Road. Park & Shop The shopping center on U.S. 1 near the University of Mary Washington. Giant is the grocery store there. parks See alphabetized listings. Partlow A community in far southeastern Spotsylvania County. Passapatanzy An area of King George County off State Route 218 near Stafford County. Peoples Former name of CVS, a drugstore chain with stores in the Fredericksburg area. Penney See J.C. Penney. pet breeds Follow the list below for capitalization and spelling. For other breeds, consult Webster’s and the American Kennel Club and Cat Fanciers Web sites. Note, however, that these organizations capitalize the names of all breeds; we do so only in certain cases.
Akita Petro A large truck service station off Interstate 95 in Caroline County. PetSmart Pfiesteria piscicida A fish-killing organism. As with all species names, do not italicize in news stories. Pharmhouse A drugstore chain. phone numbers Write phone numbers with area codes this way: 202/555-1212. An exception to AP style. See area codes. Picker’s Supply Music store on Caroline Street that specializes in stringed instruments. Pier 1 imports A home furnishings store off State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. plant names see species P.O. Box In an address we drop the “P.O.” and say simply Box 123. Pokémon Note the accent. Popes Creek No apostrophe. Po River Runs through Spotsylvania County. Porter Library Acceptable in all references to John Musante Porter Memorial Library, part of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Portobago Creek In Caroline County. Portobago Bay A subdivision on the Rappahannock River in Caroline County. Also, a body of water at the juncture of of Portobago Creek and the Rappahannock. Port Royal A town on U.S. 301 and U.S. 17 in Caroline County on the Rappahannock River. John Wilkes Booth died at the Garrett Farm just south of the town. Port Royal Town Council It’s the council on later references. Post Oak A community off State Route 208 in Spotsylvania County. postseason Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission PRTC is acceptable in headlines and on later references. The commission operates the Virginia Railway Express and coordinates other regional transportation projects. Potomac Creek Generally considered the dividing line between southern Stafford County and North Stafford. The creek empties into the Potomac River. Potomac Mills A large outlet mall in eastern Prince William County, along Interstate 95 in Woodbridge, near Dale City. Potomac River Forms much of the state line between Maryland and West Virginia, and then between Maryland and Virginia, before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay at the end of the Northern Neck. Legally considered a part of Maryland. PPO On second reference to preferred provider organization. Pratt Medical Center A large, private group practice with branches in Spotsylvania and Stafford counties; the main office is on Fall Hill Avenue in Fredericksburg. Pratt Park A park operated by the Fredericksburg–Stafford Park Authority, off River Road in Stafford. Its formal name is John Lee Pratt Memorial Park, after the late General Motors executive who lived at Chatham and donated Chatham and miles of riverfront land between Chatham and Falmouth to the Park Authority. pre-born child A phrase coined by the anti-abortion movement and used to describe a fetus. Acceptable only in direct quotes or letters to the editor. See abortion. Presbyterian Church It's on George Street, not Princess Anne Street. It's called The Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg, not "Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church"; note uppercase The. preseason Prestige Cable TV Serves Spotsylvania County, parts of Stafford County and the Lake of the Woods subdivision in Orange County. Prestige CV3 is the local origination channel. Prince George’s County, Md. Prince William County Formed from King George and Stafford counties in 1730. Its governing body is the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (NOT the Prince William County Board of Supervisors). The town of Manassas is the county seat. pro-life Acceptable only in direct quotes or letters to the editor. When we’re doing the talking, it’s anti-abortion. See abortion. Public Defenders Office A regional office, based in Fredericksburg, for the defense of people accused in criminal matters. public defender Capitalize as a title before the name of an attorney for the Public Defenders Office. Quantico A town in Prince William County, within the boundaries of Marine Corps Base Quantico. quotation marks For pullout quotes, in cutlines and in skyboxes, use single quotation marks around quotes. For quotes within those quotes, use double quotation marks. Pullout quote example:
‘I have always agreed with Shakespeare’s Polonius, who said, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”>thin<’ See AP Stylebook’s punctuation chapter for complete guidance on using quotation marks. The Quotidian The former newsroom newsletter, so-named because of a reference in Time magazine to The Free Lance–Star’s excellence in “chronicling the quotidian.” Ceased circulation in 2004 when Jim Mann retired.
race, how to describe
African American or African–American is acceptable in direct quotes, in letters to the editor and in special contexts such as cultural events or names of organizations. (Use an en dash if the original is hyphenated, or in verbal quotes.) Otherwise, we follow AP style and use black. race, when to mention Don’t mention a person’s race unless it’s germane to the story. Examples might include stories alleging discrimination or stories about cultural events. In police matters, specify race only if it is part of a very specific description of a suspect. RaceTrac One word.
radio and television stations
Fredericksburg-area radio stations
* WBQB and WFVA are jointly owned and operated.
RAG Acceptable on second reference to Rappahannock Area Grassroots. Rapidan River The largest tributary of the Rappahannock River. Runs through Orange County and forms part of the northern boundary of Spotsylvania County before joining the Rappahannock. Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging Rappahannock Area Chapter of the American Red Cross Rappahannock Area Community Services Board Rappahannock Area Development Commission (RADCO) Former name of the George Washington Regional Commission. Rappahannock Area Grassroots RAG on second reference. Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block A group that aims to educate children about disabilities and social concerns using puppet performances. Rappahannock Area YMCA Indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, on Butler Road in Stafford County. Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters Rappahannock Canal Formerly called City Canal or Vepco Canal.
Rappahannock County Formed from Culpeper County in 1833. The town of Washington, Va.—sometimes referred to as “Little Washington”—is the county seat. Rappahannock Falls Academy A regional school for emotionally disturbed students. The school, based in Stafford County, accepts students from Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties and Fredericksburg. Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center In Stafford, off of Courthouse Road. Rappahannock Refuge Inc. Operates Hope House shelter for women and their children. Rappahannock Region Small Business Development Center Provides assistance for small businesses in the Fredericksburg area and southeast through the Northern Neck. Administered by University of Mary Washington’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies, where it is based. Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy A regional police training facility in Spotsylvania County’s Lee Hill Industrial Park. Rappahannock Regional Disability Services Board Rappahannock Regional Jail A jail off Lafayette Boulevard housing inmates from the city, King George County and Spotsylvania County. Formerly the Rappahannock Security Center. Rappahannock Regional Soap Box Derby Rappahannock River Begins at Chester Gap in Rappahannock County, runs past Fredericksburg, separates the Northern Neck from the Middle Peninsula and empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Rappahannock River Basin Study Commission Rappahannock Self Help for Hard of Hearing People RaSHHH on second reference. Rappahannock Solid Waste Management Board See R–Board. Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table R–Board Acceptable in all references to the Rappahannock Solid Waste Management Board, which administers the Stafford County and Fredericksburg landfill. This name uses an en dash. Stories should explain what this agency does. RC Movies 10 Theater complex off State Route 3 across from Spotsylvania Towne Centre. RC Theaters A movie chain based in Reistertown, Md., that owns every movie theater in the area except for those at Spotsylvania Mall. Reagan National Airport In Arlington County on the Potomac River. Formerly National Airport. Redskins See Washington Redskins. Regal Cinema’s Movies 15 Off State Route 3 across from Spotsylvania Towne Centre. Regional Jail Authority Runs the Rappahannock Regional Jail. Formerly called the jail board. Lowercase the jail authority or the authority on later references. Religious Right Remington A community in Fauquier County. Renaissance Faire On second reference, the fair. Reva A community in Culpeper County. Revercomb building King George County’s administration center, named for the late General District Court Judge Horace A. Revercomb. The building is behind the courthouse, off State Route 3. RF&P Corp. Formerly a railroad, now a real estate development and investment company owned by the Virginia Retirement System. It owns the Fredericksburg train station and other land along the CSX tracks. Rhondels Richmond County Formed in 1692 from old Rappahannock County (not the same as present-day Rappahannock County). The town of Warsaw is the county seat. Richmond International Airport In Henrico County. Richmond’s Landmark Theater Use the full name. Formerly called the Mosque. Ridderhof Martin Gallery At the University of Mary Washington. Rising Sun Tavern Built by Charles Washington in 1760 as his home, later operated as a tavern. The building, on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, now is a tourist site offering a look at 18th-century tavern life. Rite Aid Two words. Riverside Business Park A large office complex off U.S. 17 in Stafford County that houses Signet Banking Corp.’s bank-card operations and previously housed Geico offices. Riverside Center Dinner Theater road names and numbers Use numerical designations for interstates, U.S. highways and state roads that pass through two or more localities. Use names for state or private roads that begin and end in the same locality, unless the number is needed to avoid confusion with another road of the same name. (In police matters, however, report road names the way law enforcement agencies report them to us.) Examples:
Interstate 95 (I–95 on second reference) Rock Hill Two words in the name of this area in northwestern Stafford County off Garrisonville Road and in the name of the electoral district. The school, however, is Rockhill Elementary School. Rod & Gun Club A sportsmen’s club in Spotsylvania County.
room Uppercase in constructions such as: The group will meet in Room A of the Holbert Building. Roses No apostrophe in the name of this discount store chain. Ruby A community in northwestern Stafford County. Rude Mechanicals Theatre Company A local community theater group. Use the common noun theater in later references. Russell Stover A candy company that packages and distributes chocolates from a facility in Caroline County. Safeway A grocery chain with a store at Four Mile Fork shopping center. Saffire—The Uppity Blues Women Use a long dash. Safford Dodge Not “Stafford.” A car dealership in Spotsylvania County. St. John’s Catholic Church In Orange; possessive. St. Mary Catholic Church In Fredericksburg; not possessive.. Salem Church A historic church at the intersection of State Route 3 and Salem Church Road in Spotsylvania County. It was the site of a May 1863 Civil War battle. Salem Church Library On Salem Church Road in Spotsylvania County. Part of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Saluda The county seat of Middlesex County. Sammy T’s A restaurant on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg. Scholastic Assessment Test The new name of the Scholastic Achievement Test. SAT remains acceptable on second reference.
schools, private
schools, public scientific names see species Scripture(s) Sealston A community in western King George County that is the site of a coal-burning power plant (SEI–Birchwood) and a proposed private landfill that would take in trash and municipal ash. SEI–Birchwood power plant Acceptable in all references to Southern Electric International’s coal-burning power plant in Sealston in King George County. Sena Foundation A nonprofit organization in Fredericksburg that provides grief counseling. Senate The upper house of the General Assembly or Congress. Unless the context makes it clear that we’re referring to the Virginia state Senate, use state Senate on first reference to that body. In most instances, use U.S. Senate on first reference to the upper house of Congress. See legislative designations. Sentry Box A privately owned historic home on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg. Serenity Home Provides counseling for recovering substance abusers. Sergeant Kirkland’s Museum & Historical Society A privately owned U.S. history and Civil War museum, formerly on Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg near the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center. SERVE Stafford Emergency Relief Through Volunteer Efforts Inc. Spell out on first reference to the local nonprofit organization. Servicetown Truck Plaza A service station and rest area for truckers, at the intersection of Interstate 95 and U.S. 17. 7–Eleven Note the en dash in the name of this convenience-store chain, owned by the Dallas- based Southland Corp. Shannon Airport An airport in Spotsylvania County off Routes 2 and 17. Sheraton The Fredericksburg Sheraton is acceptable in all references to the Sheraton Inn and Conference Center off State Route 3 in Fredericksburg. sheriff’s office Area sheriff’s agencies are called offices, not departments. Capitalize both words when used with locality names. Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site) On Princess Anne Street. Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) On Sophia Street. Shopper’s Food Warehouse A grocery chain with a store in Aquia Towne Center in Stafford County. Silver Cos. Not Silver Companies. The possessive form is Silver Cos.'; use a singular verb: The Silver Cos. has requested a rezoning. ’Skins Nickname for the Washington Redskins. slash mark Usually replaced by an en dash in Free Lance–Star style. See en dashes. Smith Lake A drinking-water reservoir in North Stafford. Smoot Library Located in the town of King George; it is not part of the CRRL system. Its full name is L.E. Smoot Memorial Library. Snell A community in Spotsylvania County, west of Thornburg. Snowden Alliance A Fredericksburg-based environmental association. Snowden at Fredericksburg A psychiatric hospital and addiction treatment center that provides inpatient and outpatient services. Off U.S. 1. SOL Acronym for Standards of Learning, Virginia’s standardized tests required for graduation. If construction requires it use “SOL tests,” not “SOLs.” Somerset A community in Orange county. source names See names in stories. southern Stafford Not “South Stafford” except in South Stafford Sanitary District. On first reference, it’s southern Stafford County. Sparky the Fire Dog SPCA Acceptable on second reference to the Fredericksburg Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
species Lowercase the common names of plant and animal species, unless the word would ordinarily be uppercase: bald eagle, English sparrow. SPF On second reference for sun protection factor. sportswriter One word, lowercase except in bylines, where it is two words and uppercase. Not a formal title. Spotswood, Alexander Governed Virginia from 1710 to 1722 as deputy to George Hamilton, Earl of Orkney. Though Spotswood was technically lieutenant governor, Gov. Alexander Spotswood is the preferred first reference. Spotswood built a home at Germanna, then the seat of Spotsylvania County, which is named for him. He died in 1740. Spotsylvania County Industrial Park A business and industrial center off Routes 2 and 17 in Spotsylvania County. The A. Smith Bowman distillery is one main business there. Spotsylvania County Formed from Essex, King William and King and Queen counties in 1721. Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors See entry on boards, commissions and committees. Spotsylvania County Parks and Recreation Department Spotsylvania County Planning Commission Spotsylvania County Planning Department Spotsylvania County Visitor Center On Southpoint Parkway near the Massaponax Outlet Center. Spotsylvania County Woman’s Club Spotsylvania Courthouse Spotsylvania Court House Historic District Includes the courthouse; the Spotsylvania County Museum in the Old Berea Church; the restored Spotswood Inn; Christ Episcopal Church; the county’s Confederate Cemetery; and the old jail, built in 1781 and transferred to its present site in 1839. Spotsylvania Crossing A shopping center on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. Giant is the grocery store there. Spotsylvania Emergency Concerns Association SECA on second reference. Spotsylvania Mall Cinemas Owned by Neighborhood Entertainment Inc. of Richmond. Spotsylvania Office and Cultural Center SOCC on second reference. Former Spotsylvania Middle School. Now the Marshall Center. Spotsylvania Towne Centre On State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. Spotsylvania Visitors Center Off U.S. 1 in front of the Massaponax Outlet Center. Stafford Airport Commission Stafford Correctional Unit A state-operated correctional facility on Eskimo Hill Road in Stafford County. Formerly Camp 21. Stafford County Formed from Westmoreland County in 1664. Stafford County Board of Supervisors See entry on boards, commissions and committees. Stafford County Department of Parks and Recreation Stafford Courthouse Stafford Emergency Relief Through Volunteer Effort Inc. SERVE on second reference. Stafford–Fredericksburg Regional Landfill Stafford Sheriff’s Office They do not refer to themselves as the Sheriff’s Department. Stafford Wayside The forested median between the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 1 between Stafford courthouse and Aquia. staff reporter Not a formal title; uppercase in bylines only. The form for a credit line is, in italics: Staff reporter Lucia Anderson contributed to this story. Stanardsville The county seat of Greene County. Not “StanDardsville.” state police Lowercase unless used with Virginia: The Virginia State Police, the state police. state trooper Lowercase unless it precedes a name. Stevensburg A community in Culpeper County. Stonewall Jackson Shrine The home and grounds at Guinea Station in Caroline County where Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson died on May 10, 1863, after having been shot accidentally by his own men at Chancellorsville. It is operated by the National Park Service and is part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Stratford Hall A historic plantation off State Route 3 in Westmoreland County, completed in 1738 by Thomas Lee. It was home of the Revolutionary War hero Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee and of the only brothers to sign the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee. It is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. Since 1929 it has been owned and administered by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, which operates it as a private museum and 1,700-acre working plantation. It is the home of the Jessie Ball duPont Library, a collection of Lee pictures, manuscripts and books. Sumerduck A community in Fauquier County. Only one “m.” Sylvania plant Defunct cellophane plant off Routes 2 and 17 in Spotsylvania County; later was owned by the FMC Corp. The buildings are now part of the Spotsylvania County Industrial Park. Sylvania Heights Church Sylvannah Baptist Church Tappahannock The county seat of Essex County. temperature Use the degree symbol (hit F10 for the symbols table). The temperature last night was 10° Fahrenheit.
the Unless the
is the first word of a book, play or movie title, or of the name of
a newspaper or magazine, it’s lowercase. Some exceptions are The
Associated Press; The Basic School at Marine
Corps Base Quantico; and The
Citadel. See entry for
newspaper names.
TheatreVirginia No space.
The Free
Lance–Star The
is part of our name and is capitalized. Use an en dash
between Lance and Star. Stories about the paper should mention
that it is owned by The Free Lance–Star Publishing Cos.
Thornburg A community in
east–central
Spotsylvania County. Not "ThornSburg."
3–D With an en dash. But three-dimensional takes a hyphen.
Thurman Brisben Center
The area’s primary homeless
shelter, in the Battlefield Industrial Park in Fredericksburg. It is named after the
late Anna Thurman Brisben, one of the founders of the original
shelter at the old Maury School.
Tickers Coffee Located in the Westwood Shopping Center.
Tidewater The
Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Hampton area is known as Hampton Roads; Tidewater
traditionally has been applied to any area of Virginia east of the
fall line (roughly, east of Interstate 95).
time element In news and
feature stories, use yesterday, today
and
tomorrow; this is an exception to AP style. For
meeting notices, event notices and obituaries, use today but specify the day of
the week instead of saying “yesterday” or “tomorrow.”
Tinky Winky
Todds Tavern A community in
west–central Spotsylvania County. No apostrophe.
Tompkins–Martin Medical Plaza
A doctors’ office building
connected to Mary Washington Hospital; it’s owned by MediCorp
Properties Inc.
Tour DuPont An international
bicycle race that comes through Fredericksburg. (The spelling
differs from that of the company, which is Du Pont, with a space;
Du Pont is acceptable in all references to E.I du Pont de Nemours
& Co.)
townhouse One word, an
exception to Webster’s.
towns Towns in our coverage
area are: Bowling Green; Colonial Beach; Culpeper; Dumfries; Montross; Orange; Port Royal; and Quantico. The following places are often referred to as towns, but aren’t: Chancellor; Dahlgren; Dawn; Falmouth; Hartwood; the
Spotsylvania Courthouse area; and Todds Tavern.
Toys “R” Us Use
double quotation marks and a regular uppercase R in
the name of this toy-store chain.
Tri-County/City Soil and Water Conservation District Use a hyphen.
Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg
Tubal Furnace Believed to be
the oldest iron blast furnace in the state, built by Gov. Alexander
Spotswood in 1715. The remains are in Spotsylvania County.
Tysons Corner No apostrophe in
the name of this highly developed business and retail section of
Fairfax County.
Ukrop’s
Ulman’s Jewelry A jewelry store
on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg
University of Mary Washington UMW is
acceptable after the first reference. Someone is a UMW student,
not “an” UMW student. Buildings at UMW include: George
Washington Hall, Lee Hall, Seacobeck Hall and the Phyllis Ridderhof
Martin Gallery. Outside sports events are at Battleground Athletic
Complex on Hanover Street. “The” is not part of its official name.
University of Mary Washington’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies
University of Virginia U.Va.,
no spaces, is
acceptable in headlines and on second reference in copy.
URL Acceptable in all references to universal resource locator, the address of a particular Web page. For proper formatting, see the entry for Web page.
U.S. Use this designation for
six highways in our coverage area: U.S. 1; U.S. 17; U.S. 301; U.S.
15; U.S. 29; and U.S. 522. See road names.
U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service
U–turn Takes an en dash.
vacation Bible school
v–chip Use a lowercase v and an en dash.
V–8 engine Use an uppercase V and an en dash.
Village Square Shopping
Center The shopping center across
Bragg Road Extended from Spotsylvania Towne Centre. The Leggett Outlet
Center is the main store there.
Vint Hill A military
intelligence facility in Fauquier County, set to be closed.
Virginia Aviation Board
Virginia Barbeque On Jefferson Davis Highway in Fredericksburg. Not BBQ or Barbecue
Virginia Cooperative Extension Uppercase extension agent or extension specialist only before a name: Extension Agent Regina Prunty. It’s Virginia
Cooperative Extension’s Stafford office, not “the
Stafford extension office.”
Virginia Department of
Transportation VDOT
or the Transportation Department is acceptable on
later references. Do not call it the “highway
department,” as its scope has broadened.
Virginia Landmarks Register
The state Department of Historic
Resources’ listing of Virginia’s historic homes, farms or
communities. Property owners apply for inclusion on the list; in
exchange, they give up some rights to make changes to their
properties.
Virginia Lottery
Lotto
is the pick-six lottery game. Lowercase lottery as
a common noun.
Virginia Power Former name of Dominion Virginia Power.
Virginia Railway Express VRE is
acceptable in headlines or on second reference. It’s also called
commuter rail or the Express. The
system is operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock
Transportation Commission.
Virginia regions We uppercase
the following:
Virginia Register of Historic Places
Virginians Theater On
Lafayette Boulevard in Spotsylvania County. It’s owned by RC
Theaters.
visitors center No apostrophe,
lowercase when referring to a visitors center without using its
formal name. The plural is visitors centers, also no apostrophe.
See alphabetized listings.
Volunteer & Information
Services A United Way program that
matches volunteers with community needs.
Walker–Grant Middle
School Use an en dash in the name
of this Fredericksburg school.
Walmart Use this form in most references.
Use the parent company's full name -- Wal–Mart [with an en dash] Stores Inc. -- only if
necessary, for example in a story about corporate profits, legal action, etc.
Walnut Farms A proposed housing
development in southern Stafford County.
Warrenton The county seat of
Fauquier County.
Warsaw The county seat of
Richmond County.
Washington Use
Washington alone in most references to the city. Use
Washington, D.C., only when Washington state or the
town of Washington, Va., is also being
mentioned and there’s a chance of confusion. Spell out
District of Columbia when it stands alone.
D.C. is acceptable in headlines and informal uses.
Washington–Baltimore Consolidated Metropolitan
Statistical Area From Spotsylvania
and King George counties north to the Pennsylvania line and west
into West Virginia. The designation links the area based on
commuting and development patterns.
Washington Redskins, Redskins, ’Skins
A player is a
Redskin, but as an adjective it’s
Redskins: Redskins tickets, Redskins game, Redskins
coach. However, the team practices at Redskin
Park in the Loudoun County village of Ashburn.
Washington, Va. Sometimes
referred to as “Little Washington”; the county seat of Rappahannock County.
Web page A full URL has the following form (elements in square brackets may or may not be present):
We trim it to:
Weichert, Realtors Note the
comma.
Weldon Cooper Center for Public
Service New name for the
University of Virginia’s local government institute. Formerly
called the Center for Public Service, and, before that, the Tayloe
Murphy Institute.
Westmoreland County Formed from
Northumberland county in 1653. The town of Montross is the county seat.
Westmoreland State Park Off
State Route 3 in Westmoreland County.
Westwood Center On State Route
3 in Fredericksburg. Staples is one main store there.
Wheat, First
White Oak A community in
southern Stafford
County.
Widewater A peninsula of
Stafford County bounded by Aquia Creek on the west and the Potomac
River on the east.
Wi-Fi
Wilderness An area of Orange
County, west of Chancellor, that was the site of the Wilderness
battles of the Civil War.
Wilderness Campground
Windows 95
wing–T A football
formation.
wishbone A football formation.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts A performing-arts park in Fairfax County operated by the National Park Service. Two
facilities are the Filene Center and the Barns of Wolf Trap.
Woman’s Club of Fredericksburg
women’s and men’s sports
Use the apostrophe.
Woodford A community in
northwestern Caroline County.
Woodmont Center Not “Nursing Home.”
World Wide Web
YMCA
York County One of the original
“shires” of 1634. Originally called Charles River County;
renamed York County in 1643. Yorktown is the county seat.
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