ADOT Editorial Style Guide - Arizona Department of Transportation

3. Editorial Style Guide | Editorial Style
deaf and dumb, deaf-mute. Do not use.
debond. One word.
decision making (n.), decision-making (adj.). Preferred constructions: Decision making can be fun. The decision-making process is
simple.
deice, deicing. One word.
delaminate. One word.
desilverize. One word.
detensioning. One word.
descendant. Preferred spelling as both a noun and an adjective.
despite, in spite of. They mean the same thing. Prefer former.
different from. Not different than.
disabled, handicapped, impaired. In general, do not describe an individual as disabled or handicapped unless it’s pertinent to the
story. If a description must be used, try to be specific. Avoid descriptions that connote pity, such as afflicted with or suffers from. Words
to avoid: cripple, handicap, deaf and dumb, deaf-mute, mentally retarded. Words to use with caution: disabled, blind (for total loss of
sight only; visually impaired elsewhere), deaf (for total loss of hearing only; partially deaf or partial hearing loss elsewhere) and mute
(for physical inability to speak only; speech impaired elsewhere). Use wheelchair user for people who use wheelchairs for independent
mobility. Do not use confined to a wheelchair or wheelchair-bound.
disc, disk. Use disc for phonographic records and related terms (disc jockey), optical and laser-based devices (Blu-ray Disc) and for disc
brake. Use disk for computer-related references and medical references, such as a slipped disk.
discernible. Preferred spelling.
document. Use this term to refer to files created in Microsoft Office Word only, not Excel or PowerPoint.
do’s and don’ts. Preferred construction.
double-click. Hyphenate.
double-ply. Hyphenate.
driver license. Preferred construction.
dust storm. Preferred construction.
E
earth, Earth. Generally lowercase. Capitalize when used as the proper name of the planet. The tractor turns the earth. The astronauts
returned to Earth.
e-book. Preferred spelling.
edgebeam. One word.
effect, impact. Use effect where the meaning is closer to result; only use impact if the effect is a major one: Environmental Impact
Statement. Impact as a noun refers to the striking of one body against another: The impact of the meteor destroyed the surrounding
plant and animal life.
ADOT Guide to editorial standards