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Style Guide for DanceUSA By Emma Hoggan November 6, 2013 \f\t\S? :11 ,nt. DanceUSA ~www.danceusa.org) is an organizationlries to increase appreciation and support for the arts in the United States. It wants to be the unifying voice of all dancers in the country. Since it only began in 2008, DanceUSA is constantly searching for more dance companies and theaters, dancers and choreographers to join its members~he company reaches out to artists of all ages, styles and levels. Then it talks to congress, publishes news articles, starts petitions, and runs studies and surv~s. This organization believes that dance inspires people to reach their full potential and?r~ss 1h~lves. Because this organization is trying to gather membersjt needs to have a clear and concise ~~~\~\\CP . is 1 . t\u; O'lrlQ~~C"'S 'V\ ~-\e. ThIS m-hJ)use~le guide rules to Improve *-'- c anty. The house i..\' ~ -.Lon .. ~~~~~. A A-a A<'; -?""'v\~' style~slxteent edition of The Chicago Manual a/Style and incorporates Edmund H. e.tc.. Weiss's The Elements a/International English Style. International English is important in order to reach out to all members of the dance community. Because dance in universal and requires no language, many dancers speak English as their second language or setnltfn\e~httIdl~at all. By paying attention to the complexity of the language for nonnative speakers DanceUSA can reach a A wider audience, both to solicit members and to gather sympathy for the issu~ they are trY.JWlo!:~_ solve. For any issues not mentioned in the in-house style guid~ Chicago ~ be used. c.e'\.~lJI,.\,-te&'?

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Table of Contents
5 Grammar and Usage 5.1 SenteIice Length.:) $'he.+5.2 Redundancies 5.3 Nominalizations 5.4 Repetition in Parallelism 5.5 Simple vs. Rich Language 5.6 Terminology 5.7 Phrasal Verbs 5.8 Pronouns 5.9 Disconnected Modifiers 5.10 Optional Words 6 Punctuation 6.1 Commas 6.2 Commas with dates 6.3 Serial Comma 8 Names and Terms 8.1 DanceUSA 8.2 Possessive 8.3 Titles of Shows 8.4 Hyphenation of Numbers 8.5 Acronyms 8.6 Executive Directors

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8.8 Individuals, Affiliates,"'Organizations 9 Numbers 9.1 General Rule 9.2 Phone Numbers 9.3 Dates 9.4 Money and other Large Numbers 13 Quotations :. 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Editing Quotations Member-submitted Biographies ::I Questions Formatting First Person Numbers

5 Grammar and Usage ~

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t-o ~~~t.N'\tfoct".t..-. 5.1 Short sentences Short sentences improve ~ari.!{and help reach to a wider audience. For more informationl' see Weiss Tactic 33. ~ ~-~ Original: We believe that dance is essential to a healthy society, demonstrating the infinite ~ ~ possibilities for human expression and potential, and facilitating communication within and ~l~a..across cultures. Rewrite: We believe that dance is essential to a healthy society. Dance demonstrates the infinite possibilities for human expression and potential. It also facilitates communication within and across cultures. 5.2 Redundancies For both non-technical and non-native speakers, long lists can be distracting in the midst of already long sentences. Cutting out the unnecessary lists of redundant participants will help create the shorter sentences mentioned in 5.1. For more information see Weiss /t Tactic 11. Original: executive directors, general managers, and operations staff of dance companies Rewrite: staff of dance companies 5.3 Nominalizations For clarity, long strings of verbs and nouns should be avoided in places where a simple verb could carry the intended meaning. For more information on nominalizations see Weiss Tactic 12. f' Original: DanceUSA offers face-to-face conferences, where participants form peer-groupscalled Councils-have many hours of casual conversation, information sharing and problem solving discussions behind closed doors. Rewrite: DanceUSA offers face-to-face conferences, where participants converse, share information and discuss problems facing their peer-groups behind closed doors.
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Original: They provide an opportunity to spend quality time together, share learning, and to engage in in-depth discussion about the theme of the year. Rewrite: They provide an opportunity to spend quality time together, to share learning and to discuss the theme of the year. 5.4 Repetition in Parallelism , After a to or a bYl!<do~keep adding ands and more verb~~estate the preposition or piece of the infinitive for clarity, especially in long sentences and lists. For more ormatio~see Weiss Tactic 36.

Original: They provide an opportunity to spend quality time together, share learning, and to engage in discussions. Rewrite: They provide an opportunity to spend quality time together, to share learning and to engage in discussions. 5.5 Simple v Rich Language 1\ Figures of speech should be avoided. By keeping the language simpler and using less Q~JUt Of-~le,.. TrD1"'" VV\a.n~ _ . figures of speech~he site will be able to reach a wider audience ~~ cultures ~d \N~ ~\*fe~s of literacy in English. For more information see Weiss page 9. "' .. ,. -7j' Original: DanceUSA will create value for members through strong core services of convening, advocacy and research that have a national focus and ~ frequently evaluated Rewrite: DanceUSA helps its members by convenin!advocating and researching issues that affect the nation. f\ 5.6 Terminology In order to reach out to a wider audience of dancers and choreographers DanceUSA will cut back on political terminology. Dance terminology is to be expected ~fthis audience ~\~.~ For more information see Weiss Tactic 3. ~ Original: DanceUSA enhanc~s the infrastructure for dance creation and distribution, education, t"~V\\~, .. fi f . \"; ~\.o an d di issemination 0 in ormation. Rewrite: DanceUSA creates an environment that supports dance and sets up an organization for education about the arts. Original: its implications on our sector Rewrite: its effect on our members 5.7 Phrasal Verbs Phrasal verbs are somewhat idiomatic and often confusin~hey also increase the length and complexity of a sentence. They should be avoided ~ possible. For more information.see Weiss Tactic 5. I Original: based on timely needs Rewrite: at appropriate times ~ 5.8 Pronouns The use of they' and theseJ--and this can be confusing when the referent is abstract or 1"-._(}:" , unclear. Original: They provide an opportunity to spend quality time together, share learning, and to engage in discussions. Rewrite: These meetings provide an opportunity to spend quality time together~hare learning, and to engage in discussions. '"

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5.9 Disconnected Modifiers ~ -, Readers can ~ w~h too many modifiers, especially when they are not closely connected to the"words the are supposed to be modifying. For more informatiolksee Weiss Tactic 13. ::t:nc.A~ "'-' Ch.,'c~ f"e.K.eK0"\.U'\I\)ul I Original: DanceUSA will create value for members through strong core services of convening, advocacy and research that have a national focus and are frequently evaluated. Rewrite: DanceUSA will help its members convene, find advocates and perform nationally'/' focused research. 5.10 Optional Words While native speakers often reduce the number of thats and tos in their writinz these are . ~'...V\ 'r-- Ot.,~ MMcM. ,~<; '""Tr good cues for non-native speakers and should lJVI~ aflYw~ possIble. For more information,..see Weiss Tactic 36. A Original: from experienced executive directors, marketing and development personnel to young professionals recently entering the field Rewrite: from experienced executive directors, and marketing and development personnel, to young professionals recently entering the field

6 Punctuation
6.1 Commas .~ Oyc.\~ Commas should be used where grammatically helpful to improve clarity for non-native 1\ readers. Commas should only be used for one purpose at a time. In lists commas should not be used to break off an appositive. This makes the sentence harder read. Original: DanceUSA offers face-to-face conferences, where participants form peer-groups-called Councils-have many hours of casual conversation, information sharing and problem solving discussions behind closed doors. Rewrite: DanceUSA offers face-to-face conferences where participants converse, share information and solve problems facing their peer groups.

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6.2 Commas with dates In running text, commas should proceed and follow a datV Original: On June 17,2010 we will hold a meeting. Rewrite: On June 17,2010, we will hold a meeting. 6.3 Serial Comma As stated in Chicago the serial comma will be used on this website. The serial comma is both more formal and reese clear~or more information.see Chicago chapter 6.
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Original: DanceUSA will create value for members through strong core services of convening, advocacy and research that have a national focus and are frequently evaluated.

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Rewrite: DanceUSA will create value for members through strong core services advocacy, and research that have a national focus and are frequently evaluated.

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8 Names and Terms

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8.1 DanceUSA ~U;;(!tVc.-h This organization will refer to itself as DanceUSA not DancelUSA. The slash is confusing, especially for non-native speakers. Slashes are usually used to indicate alternatives. All branches of DanceUSA will follow this pattern of capitalization and leave out the slash. Organizations outside of DanceUSA will be referred to~ the way ih Wl'\i'ch they refer to themselves. For more information.see Chicago 6.104. 1 Original: DancelUSA gathers and analyzes data about the not-for-profit, professional dance field and focuses on areas that are of greatest importance. Rewrite: DanceUSA gathers and analyzes data about the not-for-profit, professional dance field and focuses on areas that are of greatest importance. 8.2 Possessive The organization's name can have a possessive from which would be DanceUSA's. 8.3 Titles of Shows Shows will be referred to by proper titles and formatted in italics in articles, spotlights or 1elsewhere on the site. Ex: Nutcracker 8.4 Hyphenation of Numbers Unlike Chicago style, ranges of numbers on this site use hyphens rather than en dashes. This is to be consistent throughout. Ex: October 12-14 8.5 Acronyms USA and DC are both written in capital letters with no periods or spaces. Other acronym" -------should be used in context within individual articles or spotlights and should follow the preferred formatting of the organizations that use them. 8.6 Executive Directors . oJ! The heads OfD~USA will be referred to as the executive directors through the site. This will which groups are being referred to throughout. I\.

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8.7 Members Members will always be referred to as such, not constituents, dancer~or any other title. If those terms are useVhey should be clearly defined by the context and refer to a group other than the membership of the organization. Original: DanceUSA focuses on the needs of its constituents. Rewrite: DanceUSA focuses on the needs of its members. 8.8 Individuals, Affiliates,"Organizations Members will be called by these three designations or the members as a whole will be included. No other descriptions will be used, for clarity and conciseness. Original: Research will focus on company members. Rewrite: Research will focus on organizational members

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9 Numbers
9.1 General rule \~S t\'t&\,V\ As stated in Chicago, numbers ~ 101 will be spelled out in running text. For consistency some larger numbers can be spelled out to match corresponding numbers previously in the sentence. See Chicago chapter 9 for more details. Original: Thousands of moving bodies, ages one and a half to well over 80, pass through the Center each year. Rewrite: Thousands of moving bodies, ages one and a half to well over eighty, pass through the Center each year. 9.2 Phone Numbers Phone numbers will be written with periods between the sections, as shown in the example below. Ex: 345.643.4359 9.3 Dates Dates are always to be written out for clarity and consistency. They should never be abbreviated. Original: 3/4111 Rewrite: March 4,2011 , 9.4 Money and .9ther large numbers Numbers=undeta million are written out with all their zeros. After a million, numbers will be written with numerals and million. Money signs will always go at the beginning of the number. Dollars will not be written out unless the number itself is spelled out.

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13 Quotations
13.1 Editing Make pronunciation credibility as Ex: Quotations sure to edit quotations for errors in formatting. In one member spotlight a ~ guide was copied over poorly. Checking for these details improves the sites clarity. Wo?d'-bfu-?
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13.2 Member-submitted Biographies ;!: Member spotlights will be.edited for spelling and formatting, Leaving spellin~istakes ""'~t-DT r(X;)<Vj 01"\ ~ . wU\ not only ~es ths,.members l~, but :feflects poor!, e~he organizatior;. heir words will not be changed but ~unctuation, heading~ and spelling are to be modified to fit with the site's house style. 'I 13.3 Questions Formatting Prompt questions are included in the spotlights, written out in full and formatted in italics. Original: Where do you see dance in the future and how do you think your work fits ... ? Rewrite: Where do you see dance in the future and how does your organization fit within that vision? 13.4 First person First person is appropr~'ate i individual member spotlights. For anywhere else on the site" . 5htil>\.it:;i (;.~ I third person I~ Original: We provide many helpful services to members. Rewrite: DanceUSA provides many helpful services to members. 13.5 Numbers In quotation~it is appropriate to spell out numbers according to the house style. See section 9.1 i~ this guide or Chicago chapter ~for more details. Original: Thousands of moving bodies, ages one and a half to well over 80, pass through the Center each year. Rewrite: Thousands of moving bodies, ages one and a half to well over eighty, pass through the Center each year.

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