4 Style Guide Editorial

ED I T OR I A L S T Y L E G U I D E

4

4 Style Guide:editorial

In concert with other Style Guide components, our documents and

presentations project a consistent image – one of strength, quality,

and reliability.

Our writing style is first person (us) speaking to second person

(reader), using active voice, and present tense.

The tone is direct; language concise; structure simple; and flow

efficient.

Our message is evident and compelling. Focusing on our

audience’s needs, we write to be understood.

Overview of Table of Contents

4.1 General

4.2 Jacobs Style Issues

4.3 Common Style Issues

Appendix4.A Our Word-Treatment Conventions

4.B Examples of Displayed Lists

Our Style Guide modules describe

who we are, what we value, and how

we present ourselves as a company.

By putting them in your hands, we’re

putting the Jacobs® brand in your care.

It’s your responsibility to own.

This document is maintained by Corporate Communications.For more information, contact [email protected].

Ver. 7.0 06/10

JNet > About Jacobs > Our Identity

2

© Copyright 2010, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. All rights reserved. Jacobs®

and BeyondZero® are trademarks of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. 19310 06/10

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/JNet/About%20Jacobs/Our%20Identity

mailto:[email protected]

4.1 General

4.1.1 Editorial Style Hierarchy

4.1.2 Active Voice

4.1.3 First Person

4.1.4 Present Verb Tense

4.1.5 Tone

4.1.6 Language

Be Clear

Business Language

Word Choice

Appropriate Nomenclature

4.1.7 Structure

Sentences

Paragraphs

Transitions

4.1.8 International Style

4.1.9 Proofing Marks

4.2 Jacobs Style Issues

4.2.1 Company Name

4.2.2 Organizational Names

4.2.3 Job Titles

4.2.4 Proper Names

4.2.5 Specific Word Use

4.2.6 General Contact Information

4.2.7 Web Sites & General Inquiry E-Mail

4.2.8 Offices Worldwide

4.2.9 Minimum Service List

4.2.10 Minimum Market List

4.2.11 Standard Descriptor

4.2.12 Press Release Boilerplate

4.2.13 Stock Information

4.2.14 Intellectual Property

4.3 Common Style Issues

4.3.1 Abbreviations, Acronyms, & Initialisms

4.3.2 Capitalization

4.3.3 Dates & Time

4.3.4 Numbers & Measurements

4.3.5 Lists

Numbered Lists

Bulleted Lists

Sentence Structure in Lists

4.3.6 Punctuation

Commas

Hyphens

Quotation Marks

Apostrophes

Parentheses

Periods with Abbreviations

Quotation Marks with Other Punctuation

Em Dash, En Dash, & Hyphen

4.3.7 Symbols & Spacing

4.3.8 Summary

Appendix

4.A Our Word-Treatment Conventions

4.B Examples of Displayed Lists

table of contentS

3

General4.1in this first section, we introduce the basicbuilding blocks of our editorial style: thehierarchy of editorial style authority, activevoice, and verb tense.

> Back to Table of Contents 4

How to Use the Style Hierarchy

Start at the top and flow down the hierarchy to find guidance on

editorial style and usage. The goal is to speak in the language the

reader understands best. So if the client uses a particular term

differently than we do, adopt the client’s usage – that’s the language

the client can best understand. The same is true for cultural

expressions and phrases that don’t translate across languages: Use

the interpretation the audience understands the best.

5

editorial Style HierarcHy 4.1.1

> Back to Table of Contents

If an editorial style question comes up, below is a six-tier reference system.

1) Client Requirements

2) Jacobs Style Guide

3) Local Usage

4) The Associated Press Stylebook

5) Dictionary

6) Personal Preference

EDITORIAL STYLE HIERARCHY

Active vs. Passive Voice

Voice refers to the form in which you write verbs. Active voice yields

crisp, vigorous writing, so choose it over passive voice. In an active

sentence, the subject of the sentence does the action: The mouse ate

the cheese. Responsibility is clear. Verbs are strong and action is

direct. Active voice conveys a confident, capable manner.

In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action or is

acted upon: The cheese was eaten by the mouse. Passive voice dilutes

vigor, adds words, and obscures responsibility. The doer, action, or

message may be unclear, and the reader may perceive us as

uncertain or evasive.

6

active voice4.1.2


We write in first person, active voice, andpresent tense. Our tone is direct,conversational, positive, and alwayscourteous. We use plain language andsimple sentence structure. Paragraphs aretight, transitions are smooth, and ouroverall organization enhances readability.Together, these stylistic preferencescomprise “the Jacobs voice.”

Our Project Manager allocates resources to meet

your project’s staffing requirements.

Resourcing decisions are made based on the

project’s staffing requirements.

Active (Correct)

Passive (Incorrect)

“Action is eloquence.”– William Shakespeare

Avoid Third Person

We avoid third person because it is impersonal. Don’t use third-

person pronouns such as he, she, her, him, it or their. Also steer clear

of proper nouns like Mr. Jones, the Project Manager or Oil Co. The

only exceptions are when these terms are necessary for clarity.

How to Refer to Ourselves

Use first-person pronouns like we, our, and us rather than the third

person, Jacobs, when discussing our company, our work, and our

people, including teaming partners. Write “our team” rather than

“the Jacobs team,” “we provide” rather than “Jacobs provides.”

Take care to identify to whom “our” refers. Sometimes it’s our

company, sometimes our company plus teaming partners, and

sometimes it refers to our team plus the client. If the entity is

unclear, clarify. See Section 4.1.6, “Appropriate Nomenclature.”

7

firSt PerSon 4.1.3


In writing, person is indicated by personalpronouns: e.g., I, my, you, your, we, our,or their. In first person, the author (as firstperson I or we) speaks directly to thereader (as second person you).

Your project requirements align with our transferable

ethylene process technologies [where “Your” is

Exxon and “our” is Jacobs].

Jacobs brings Exxon proven ethylene process

expertise.

First Person (Correct)

Third Person (Incorrect)

continued

“Think like a wise man, but communicate inthe language of the people.”

– William Butler Yeats

Talk to the Audience

Use second-person pronouns (you, your) when addressing your

audience. They know you are writing to or presenting to them. Our

clients, including government entities, use first and second person

in their writing. We should do the same. By promoting natural, open

communication, we reinforce our relationship-based culture.

Advantages of First Person

By using first person, we can leverage several advantages to achieve

our objectives in writing.

• It’s Personal— First person establishes a relationship between

author and reader.

• It’s Credible— We use first person verbally to recount our own

stories and experiences. When we use first person in writing, you

expect us to do the same: It lends credibility to the author.

• It’s Conversational— We use first person naturally as we speak:

Using it in writing lends a conversational tone to what we’re

writing and can make the document feel more comfortable.

• It’s Comfortable— Third person carries an impersonal tone to it,

which makes it feel formal. Quite the opposite: First person feels

personal and comfortable, even if the topic itself is formal.

8

4.1.3 First Person–Second Person, continued


Past, Present & Future

Present tense keeps writing fresh.

Past tenses can make writing seem dated or detached.

Future tenses may lend a tentative or indefinite tone and indicate

something we say “will” happen, might not. Future tense also

implies a guarantee on our part, which we want to avoid making.

Keep it Basic

Your subject matter almost never requires past or future tenses; use

the most basic forms as possible.

Be Strong

Avoid weak verb phrases that contain the words “would” and “should.”

9

PreSent verb tenSe4.1.4


Present tense is the most straightforwardand understandable of the 12 possibletenses in the English language, so wewrite in “the now.”

Our Quality Manager maintains a corrective action

checklist to track project performance.

The Quality Manager maintained a corrective action

checklist that tracked project performance.

Present Tense (Correct)

Past Tense (Incorrect)

“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow isa promissory note; today is the only cashyou have — so spend it wisely”

– Kay Lyons

Consistent Tone

Along with a consistent voice, our writing has a consistent tone.

Each document or presentation is “an easy read,” conveying that we

know enough to make the subject matter look simple.

Write for the Audience

Above all, we extend a personal touch, showing awareness of and

respect for our audience. We consider their perspective and present

information tailored to their needs.

10

tone4.1.5


We are direct, conversational, andupbeat. Our delivery is confident—but not arrogant.

“We often refuse to accept an idea merely becausethe tone of voice in which it has been expressed isunsympathetic to us.”

– Friedrich Nietzsche

Be Clear

We use language to convey meaning. To do this effectively, our

writing must be to the point. A clearly worded message is easy to

understand and helps your reader make informed decisions. Keep it

simple. However, simple doesn’t mean simplistic. Make your words

easy to grasp without insulting your reader’s intelligence.

Business Language

English is the language of choice in written communication.

However, be sensitive to the client’s language of preference.

Since our headquarters are in the United States, adopt North

American English spellings for any document global in scope.

11

lanGuaGe

continued

4.1.6


A clearly worded message is easy to understand, and thus helps your reader makeinformed decisions. You say more with less—so the shorter, the better.

• Strip unnecessary words and shorten lengthy phrases

• Replace long words with short ones

• Choose strong action verbs

• Avoid nominalizations

Ways to Keep Your Message Short & Sweet

“As to the adjective, when in doubtstrike it out.”

– Mark Twain

Word Choice

You say more with less—so the shorter, the better. Use words familiar

to your audience; this maintains their attention. Using the right

words simplifies and amplifies your message.

Use Modifiers Sparingly

Modifiers might be adjectives, adverbs, superlatives—any word or

phrase that specifies another word or phrase. If they don’t clarify or

specify meaning, remove them. Especially avoid very, and watch for

extremely, quite, and the like.

Avoid Chest-Beating

Beware of “chest-beating” terms like industry leader or world class.

Always substantiate such claims; even then, such terms might come

across as arrogant.

12

4.1.6 Language, continued


Strip unnecessary words and shorten lengthy phrases

• a large number of becomes many

• are an example of becomes demonstrate

• is responsible for approving becomes approves

Replace long words with short ones; “million-dollar”

words with common ones.

• utilize becomes use

• endeavor becomes try

• cognizant becomes aware

Choose strong action verbs.

• Weak: helped to bring about

• Stronger: accomplished, managed

Vary verbs. While some repetition is intentional (as a

transitional device or to reinforce key concepts), a reader

tires of over-used verbs.

Avoid nominalizations (weakening a verb by turning it

into a noun), marked by the words, “the ___ of.”

• Weak: The Project Manager is responsible for the formal

approval of the baseline scope of work prior to the

commencement of Phase II.

• Stronger: Our Project Manager approves the baseline scope of

work before Phase II begins.

Follow These Word Usage Guidelines

Our world-class safety record means better

morale on your site.

With more than 2 million workhours and no

lost-time incidents on your site, we plan a

safe, productive plant expansion.

Empty (Incorrect)

Substantiated (Correct)

continued

Positive Over Negative

Choose positive words over negative ones.

Gender Neutral

Eliminate gender-based language. For example, don’t presume an

unnamed individual is male or female. Rewrite sentences to avoid the

awkward he/she, and replace gender-based words with gender

neutral ones.

13



There are no schedule slippages or budget

overruns on our active delivery orders.

Negative (Incorrect)

craftsman, manhour, etc.

Biased (Incorrect)

Cultural Sensitivity

Be sensitive to cultural differences. When writing to a potentially

international audience (which could in fact be any audience today),

be sure you recognize which words may have cultural significance,

and write accordingly.

Appropriate Nomenclature

Client vs. Customer

In general, refer to our client as a client—not a customer. Call our

clients’ business prospects customers.

Clients’ Proper Names

In Section 4.1.3, “First Person,” we discuss our preferred use of

second-person pronouns (you and your) when addressing our client

or other audience. Occasionally, we need to use proper names to

distinguish one external entity from another. Keep it brief when

possible. Use a shortened version of the entity’s name. This tag might

be a word, an acronym, or initials (See Section 4.3.1, “Abbreviations,

Acronyms, & Initialisms”). Some company names are brief to begin

with; in such cases, you needn’t use a second name.

Be sure that your chosen tag is acceptable to the client or other entity,

and then use it consistently. Clients may use a tag internally that they

prefer we didn’t use. To be safe, confirm appropriate nomenclature

with our client’s marketing, project, or operations management.

continued

We are achieving full schedule and budget

compliance on our active delivery orders.

Positive (Correct)

craftsperson, workhour, etc.

Neutral (Correct)

Our Proper Name

If you must use our company name, just use Jacobs. Our legal name—

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.—should be used on first reference in all

business documents, and on subsequent references only for legal or

contractual designation.

In some contexts, we may need to distinguish between us and other

related entities such as teaming arrangements, joint-venture partners,

or newly acquired firms. When using our name in such a context, use

one word: Jacobs.

Do Not Distinguish Between Our Subsidiaries

In both internal and external documentation, only distinguish

between our subsidiaries and divisions (JEMCI did this, JRT did that)

if necessary for legal reasons. Calling attention to our individual parts

splinters our identity, from an external perspective. Internally, it can

foster an “us vs. them” mentality. Ultimately, only use the name Jacobs

if “we” or “us” would confuse the reader.

For More Information About Our Name

See the Style Guide, “Name” module for more information about our

name, and see Section 4.2.1 “Company Name” for punctuation

guidelines. See the Style Guide, “Logo”module for information about

our affiliates and subsidiaries.

14



Keep It Lean

If unsure of structure, i.e., subject-verb agreement, revise your

sentence. Keep sentences and paragraphs concise. Present them in

logical order, using organizational flow to guide your reader.

Use Repetition

Use repetition to emphasize your main message (but don’t overdo

it). In the introduction, body, and conclusion of your text, tell your

reader what you’re going to tell them; then tell them; finally, tell

them what you just told them. In the body and conclusion, address

your key points in the same order as presented in the introduction.

15

Structure

continued

4.1.7


Along with concise language, consistentstyle, and clean format, lean structurecontributes to readable writing.

“Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

– Albert Einstein

Sentences

Simple

Our preferred sentence structure is simple. Use forthright

construction like subject-verb-object. Eliminate bulky clauses and

complex punctuation.

Short

Limit sentences to an average of 10–12 words and break up long-

winded ones. Longer sentences (20-plus words) may pack in a lot of

message, but you’ll probably lose your reader. Intersperse

compound sentences with shorter ones (3–6 words) to break up

monotony and balance your document.

Lean

In every sentence, eliminate unnecessary words. Sometimes this

means striking empty modifiers or stripping fleshy verb phrases.

Sometimes it means revising a sentence completely.

16

4.1.7 Structure, continued


The entire programming team is wholly

responsible for the development of…

Example 1: Wordy (Incorrect)

In order to avoid getting hung up in time-

consuming local government regulatory

obstacles, we have developed relationships

of a positive nature with virtually every

government agency that might affect the

client during past projects.

One long sentence; 34 words

Example 2: Wordy (Incorrect)

continued

The programming team develops…

Example 1: Tighter (Correct)

We developed solid working relationships

with the local government during previous

work at the site. Consequently, we can

easily clear regulatory hurdles, minimizing

project delays.

Two simpler sentences; 25 words combined

Example 2: Tighter (Correct)

Paragraphs

Logical Structure

Prioritize your key issues and arrange your paragraphs accordingly.

Construct each paragraph around one main point, and make that

point early in the paragraph. Anchor it with supporting statements,

then substantiate with examples. Create smooth transitions, and

trim any excess. If you can’t support a key statement, don’t use it.

Lengths

An average paragraph size is 5–10 sentences, but varying size keeps

readers interested. For example, use a 1–3 sentence paragraph (like

this one) to break up the flow. A one-sentence paragraph (below) is

especially effective when it highlights a key issue.

Include a Conclusion

Where possible, conclude each major section with a closing

paragraph that recaps key information.

Transitions

Smooth

Smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs guide your

reader through the document. Transitions might include words like

consequently, similarly, and for example. Between paragraphs, they

might be intentionally repeated key words or phrases, or obviously

related concepts.

Planning

In general, effective transitions reflect the logical progression of

related material. Smooth flow derives from careful planning. Grow

your written argument from a compact, compelling outline, and the

reader easily follows your lead.

17

4.1.7 Structure, continued


Writing for Readers with Limited Proficiency

Regardless of what language you write your document in, your intent

is for it to be read. Following these basic guidelines helps readers

with limited proficiency in the document’s language to read what

you write:

• Write in simple structures.

• Avoid idiomatic or colloquial expressions.

• Avoid shortcuts, symbols, and abbreviations that could easily be

spelled out.

• Disclose units of data and provide conversions as appropriate.

• Write with cultural sensitivity in mind.

Common Areas of Confusion

Pay special attention to common areas of confusion:

• Currency

• Dates and time

• Decimals

• Telephone numbers

• Units of measure

For More Information

For more information, see Section 4.3.3, “Dates & Time” and

Section 4.3.4, “Numbers & Measurements.”

18

international Style4.1.8


Write with an international style to helpreaders with limited proficiency in thedocument’s language. Write to be read.

“Remember the waterfront shack with the signFRESH FISH SOLD HERE. Of course it's fresh,we're on the ocean. Of course it's for sale, we're notgiving it away. Of course it's here, otherwise thesign would be someplace else. The final sign: FISH.”

– Peggy Noonan

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ProofinG markS4.1.9


DELETING & INSERTING

Delete

Close up

Delete and close up

Insert here

Disregard proof correction

SPACING

Insert a space

Indent

Begin a new paragraph

Break to next line

ALIGNMENT

Move text left

Move text right

Align horizontally

Align vertically

Center text

STYLE

Italicize

Bold

Plain

Wrong font

Underline

Change to small capitals

SPELLING & PUNCTUATION

Abbreviate (or spell out if abbreviated)

Capitalize

Lowercase

Insert parentheses into the text

Insert brackets into the text

Transpose

Apostrophe

Colon

Comma

Em dash

En dash

Hyphen

Period

Quotation marks

Semicolon

Use these common proofing marks when editing text or copy to reduce errorsmade in the revision process.

or

or

Download the Proofing Marks Quick Reference Sheet

JNet > About Jacobs > Our Identity > Editorial (Style Guide) > Proofing

Marks Quick Reference Sheet (PDF)

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/883A2B8300DF60E6E0430A4000AC60E6

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/883A2B8300DF60E6E0430A4000AC60E6

JacobS Style iSSueS4.2in this section, we discuss editorial style specificto us, such as proper names of units within thecompany and common industry terms.


21> Back to Table of Contents

a common voice

our style is evident in the words we use, and reflected in theconventions we follow — choices of which words we consistentlycapitalize, or how we use punctuation. individual conventions maystem from education or imitation, group consensus, or personalpreference. this creates a rich variety of writing styles, but poses achallenge when multiple authors try to write in a “common voice.”

to consistently convey this “common voice,” we all need to follow thesame style conventions. these are the final, distinguishing touches ofour overall style. We encourage all our employees to adopt theconventions presented in this section, except where explicit clientdirection or cultural conventions dictate otherwise.

No Comma After the Legal Name

• No comma after “Inc.” when used in a sentence.

Trademark Symbol on First Reference

• Follow the wordmark with the registered trademark symbol (®)

on the first, non-possessive use: Jacobs®.

• You may omit the registered trademark on subsequent uses.

Do Not Translate Our Name into Non-English Languages

Regardless of a document’s language, leave our name in English.

This avoids problems with consistent translations and with any

unintended cultural meanings.

Possessive Form

Because “Jacobs” ends in an ‘s,’ the possessive form simply follows

the name with an apostrophe (Jacobs’). If unsure whether the name

is possessive or not, try mentally substituting the word “Jacobs” with

a proper name and read the sentence.

• As possessive: Jacobs’ or Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.’s

• Try to keep the reference on one line

22

comPany name4.2.1


• Wordmark: Jacobs®

• Legal name: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is pleased to announce...


For information about our name including when to use the legal

name, wordmark, or logo, see the Style Guide, “Name.”See the

Style Guide, “Logo” module for information about our logo, and

affiliates and subsidiaries.

For Internal Use

Organizational names are typically reserved for internal use only.

We prefer to refer to ourselves in first person whenever possible and

as a unified body (Jacobs) when required. See Section 4.1.3, “First

Person” for more information.

23

orGanizational nameS 4.2.2


Finance & Administration

Global Human Resources

Global Sales

Health, Safety & Environment

Information Technology

Legal Department

Operations

Quality

Asia-Pacific

Eastern Region

Global Buildings NA

Global Construction Services

Global Maintenance Services

Jacobs Technology

Mainland Europe

Middle East

North America Infrastructure, East

North America Infrastructure, West

Northern Region

Southern Region

U.K. & Ireland

U.K. Infrastructure

Western Region

Example RegionsCorporate Departments

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of regions.

Capitalize for Clarity

• Capitalize formal titles only immediately before a name.

• In headlines, capitalize job titles before and after a name.

• Do not capitalize the job title when it is not part of an

individual’s name.

• Capitalize a job title when it refers to a specific position, but the

person who fills (or will fill) the position is unnamed.

24

Job titleS4.2.3


Capitalize job titles for clarity using the following guidelines.

Headline: Manchester Chemical Engineer Harry

Parker leads charity effort

Rajan Patel is our relationship lead as a transit

engineer in the Mumbai office.

Jacobs College has invited architect Lee Wu to

speak at the seminar.

Director of Environmental Science Pierre Luc

• Do not capitalize an occupational (generic or functional) title

when it immediately precedes an individual’s name.

• Do not capitalize common nouns that refer to a position in

general (e.g., an engineer) or to a pool of personnel (e.g.,

pipefitters or accountants).

See Section 4.3.2 “Capitalization” for more information.

Formal Title Before a Name Title in a Headline, Before or After a Name

Title Not Part of a Name Occupational Title Near a Name

Individuals, Entities, & Organizations

• Always capitalize an individual’s name.

• Always capitalize the proper name of an entity, department, or

other organization.

See Section 4.2.3, “Job Titles” for capitalization rules about titles.

• Do not capitalize common nouns that refer to a position in

general (e.g., an engineer) or to a pool of personnel (e.g., pipefitters

or accountants).

• Do capitalize the names of specific internal groups: e.g., the

Contracts Management Group, Human Resources or the Legal

Department.

Projects & Programs

• Capitalize all the main words of a project’s or program’s full title,

including the word project or program itself.

• When the title is partial or abbreviated, “project” or “program” is

not capitalized.

Comprehensive Long-term Environmental Action Navy

(CLEAN) Program

Pier 400 Dredging and Landfill Project for the Port

of Los Angeles

BASF’s expansion project

Chevron’s FCCU project

25

ProPer nameS4.2.4


Proper nouns go beyond people’s names toone-of-a-kind, named things — from titles ofdocuments and awards to designations forspecific buildings and work units.

Write in the Known

Most importantly, use words that your audience knows. Wherever

possible, use company-, industry-, or culturally standard terms

consistently throughout your documentation.

Alternative English Spellings

Consistent with writing to be relevant to your intended audience,

consider using alternative spellings as expected by your audience.

Since our headquarters are in the United States, adopt North

American English spellings for any global document or for a

document with a mixed English audience.

Avoid Inconsistencies

One of the most frequent problems in business writing is the

inconsistent use of certain words and abbreviations. Areas of

inconsistency include the use of periods, hyphens, and other

punctuation marks. Many inconsistencies concern compound

words — is it one word, two words or hyphenated?

To combat these inconsistencies, we maintain a list of word-

treatment conventions as in “Appendix 4.A.” Consult the list to

achieve greater consistency with other Jacobs writers who are

doing the same.

26

SPecific Word uSe

continued

4.2.5


The purpose of writing is to be understood, sochoose your words carefully. Each word shouldbe the one that best conveys your meaning.

Some conventions offer guidance on words that have more than one

correct usage — e.g., cleanup and clean up. Other conventions deal

with preferred spelling when more than one is correct — e.g., among

vs. amongst.

• University — Lowercase in text for general use

• Affect — Use as a verb meaning “to influence”

• Effect — Use as a noun meaning “the result of an action”

• Percent — Spell out in text: 60 percent to 70 percent

Prefix Rules

• When joining a prefix with a word, use a hyphen if the prefix ends

in a vowel and the word that follows begins in the same vowel:

re-election

• For situations where the word following the prefix does not begin

with a vowel, use a hyphen if the definition of the new word

means “to do again.”

re-design (to design again)

Match Client Expectations

If an external client requests specific word usage, make changes to fit

the client’s needs.

27

4.2.5 Specific Word Use, continued


Commonly Used Words

• design-build

• e-mail

• groundwater

• healthcare

• home builders

• Internet

• light-rail (adjective)

• light rail (noun)

• master plan (noun)

• online

• soundproof

• sulfur (North American English)

• sulphur (U.K. English)

• stormwater

• wastewater

• Web site or Web page

• World Wide Web or the Web

• Use professionals, specialists, etc., instead of experts.

See Appendix 4.A: “Our Word-Treatment Conventions” for an

expanded list of words.

28

4.2.6


General contact information

How to Answer the Phone

Individual greeting style is up to the discretion of each performance

unit manager. Preferred greeting is our wordmark – “Jacobs.”

Street 1111 South Arroyo Parkway

Pasadena, CA 91105, USA

PO Box P.O. Box 7084

Pasadena, CA 91109-7084, USA

HEADQUARTERS ADDRESSES

Phone + 1.626.578.3500

Fax + 1.626.568.7144

MAIN CORPORATE NUMBERS

Use the general contact information when more specific information is notavailable or desired.

29

4.2.7


One Web Site

Promoting one Web site — its address is called a Uniform Resource

Locator (URL) or a domain name — is less confusing for the viewer

and removes internal boundaries.

General Inquiry E-Mail

Corporate Communications staff monitors the general e-mail inbox

and forwards messages to appropriate parties as needed.

How to Use the Web Site URL & General Inquiry E-Mail

• Always include the “www” prefix as part of the URL:

“www.jacobs.com”

• Always set all URLs and e-mail addresses in lowercase letters.

Additional Web Sites

While we have numerous Web sites (many as project-specific Web sites

necessary for clients or joint ventures), we continue to consolidate Web

sites and promote the exclusive use of the official Web site URL. On

occasion, additional Web sites are necessary and a good business

decision. If you believe you need a Web site for such a purpose, please

notify [email protected] to begin the process of evaluating your

request. Corporate Communications, IT, and the Legal Department

work together to review each request. New Web sites require approval

from senior management and possibly the CEO.

Additional Web Sites

If you participate in the active upkeep of a Web site other than the

official Web site, please report the fact to [email protected].

Web Site & General inquiry e-mail

Only one Web site is authorizedfor external use. Web Site www.jacobs.com

General Inquiry E-Mail [email protected]

PREFERENCE URL


http://www.jacobs.com



30

4.2.8


Add to External Communications

Consider adding the phrase “Offices Worldwide” to any external

communication that includes contact information.

A List of Cities Wherein We Have an Office

For a list of cities and office locations, see the office lists on

www.jacobs.com and on JNet:

JNet > Work Locations

officeS WorldWide

With more than 160 offices around theworld, we truly are a global company.

Offices Worldwide

A List of Countries Wherein We Have a Presence

australiaaustriabelgiumcanadachinaczech republicenglandfinlandfranceGermanyGreeceindiairelanditaly

mexiconetherlandsnorthern irelandPolandPuerto ricoScotlandSingaporeSpainSwedenunited arab emiratesunited States of americaWales

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/JNet/Work_Locations


31

4.2.9


Use the Minimum Service List

Use at least this minimum service list on any communication. You

may augment the list with specialized services relevant to your

message and audience, but do not remove any services from the

minimum list.

minimum Service liSt

Use this minimum service list to describewhat services we offer our clients.

A Standard Service List You Can Use

Architecture

Construction

Engineering

General Consulting

Maintenance

Operations

Planning

Scientific

Technical Services

32

4.2.10


Use the Minimum Market List

Use this minimum market list on any communication. You may

augment with specialized markets relevant to your message and

audience, but do not remove any markets from the minimum list.

minimum market liSt

Use this minimum market list to describethe major markets in which we work. Aerospace & Defense

Automotive & Industrial

Buildings

Chemicals & Basic Resources

Environmental Programs

Food, Beverage, Forest & Consumer Products

Infrastructure

Oil & Gas

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

Power & Utilities

Refining

A Standard Market List You Can Use

33

4.2.11


Why a Descriptor?

We operate in a professional service industry that describes

participatory firms with standard descriptors such as “E/A” or

“E/A/C,” for example. Our breadth of services includes vastly more

than can be described using the standard industry abbreviations. So

while “T/P/S” is not a standard descriptor, it does capture the

majority of what we do and communicates to the reader that we are

a large, multifaceted company offering a wide range of services.

Standard deScriPtor

When a service list is not appropriate,use the descriptor (abbreviated orunabbreviated) to help convey thebreadth of our capabilities.

Abbreviated “T/P/S”

Unabbreviated “technical professional services company”

STANDARD DESCRIPTOR

34

4.2.12


PreSS releaSe boilerPlate

The Boilerplate

Always Include the Boilerplate

Include the boilerplate on all press releases intended for external

audiences.

Only on Press Releases

Press releases are the only place we use a boilerplate.

Authorization Required

All press releases must be authorized by the Vice President of

Marketing and Corporate Communications, and may require

additional approvals as needed.


See JNet for more information on Press Releases, including the press

release archive, tips on writing a release, templates for both local

and global releases, and training:

JNet > About Jacobs > Our Identity > Public Relations

The term “Boilerplate” dates back toprinting presses using movable type, butours summarizes who we are today. It isintended for use in news releases andrelated media relations vehicles.

Jacobs is one of the world's largest and

most diverse providers of technical,

professional, and construction services.

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/JNet/About%20Jacobs/Our%20Identity/Public%20Relations

35

4.2.13


‘JEC’ is the Name of Our Stock Symbol

The “JEC” abbreviation refers to our stock symbol, not the company

name. Never use “JEC” as a reference to the company.

To Learn More

For more information on Jacobs stock, see the Investor Relations

section of www.jacobs.com.

Stock information

We are traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under thecommon stock symbol “JEC.”

Example of Our Stock Symbol Usage


36

4.2.14


Three Types of Intellectual Property

Patents

Patents are protected ideas, innovations and designs that must be

filed with the appropriate patent office to gain protection. While not

discussed in any more detail in the Style Guide, we do own

numerous patents. Contact the Legal Department for information.

Trademarks

Trademarks are names or symbols that identify products and

services and must be filed with an appropriate trademark office to

gain protection. Continue reading for more information about some

of our trademarks.

Copyright

Copyright does not require filing to be protected. The act of creating

the expression is enough — such as writing an article or capturing a

photograph. The expression is immediately copyrighted.

For more information, see “Copyright” later in this section and in the

Style Guide, “Images & Photography” module.

intellectual ProPerty

continued

We have invented and invested insolutions and products to help us delivervalue to our clients while setting us apartfrom competitors in the marketplace.

These ideas are our intellectual property.They are legally protected and collectivelygive us an advantage.

® TMRegistered TrademarkSymbol

Pending Trademark Symbol


Trademarks: Staking Our Claim

To gain legal protection, we file products and innovations with the

appropriate trademark or patent office — usually starting with the

country of origin and progressing to other countries as necessary.

Trademarks: List of Specific Properties

This section is not exhaustive: Other pieces of intellectual property

may exist or may be in various stages of discovery or filing.

BeyondZero®

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office registered the trademark for the

BeyondZero® logo May 26, 2009, and the words “BeyondZero”

shortly thereafter. Canadian and European Commonwealth

registrations are pending. See Style Guide, “Logo” section for more

information about BeyondZero®.

SUPERCLAUS®& EUROCLAUS®

SUPERCLAUS® and EUROCLAUS® are both registered trademarks

and part of our intellectual property. For general information about

SUPERCLAUS® and EUROCLAUS®, see www.jacobs.com.

4.2.14 Intellectual Property, continued

continued

The Jacobs Wordmark

The Jacobs wordmark is considered intellectual property and should

always be marked with the circle-R (®) on first reference in text and

in all uses of the logo. All official logo files have the appropriate mark

built into the file — no alteration is required. Please do not crop off

the trademark when using the logo files.

Exception: Do not include the trademark symbol when fabricating

signage using the logo. See Style Guide, “Usage & Examples” for more

information on signage.

Logos for All Related Entities

Logos for all related entities are considered intellectual property and

should always be marked with a “TM” while registration is pending

and the circle-R (®) once registration has been approved. All official

logo files have the appropriate mark built into the file — no

alterations are required.



Trademark Laws & Using Other Entities’ Logos

Be careful in using a client or company’s logo in your proposals or

documents due to trademark law.

Companies are the trademark owners of their logo. They have the

sole right to control copying, reproduction, downloading,

distribution, and display of their logo. Permission for use of their

logo must be granted by the company in writing. Keep the

permission on file for documentation purposes.

Request Permission

Request permission to use a logo with a brief explanation of how

and why you intend to use the other entity’s logo. Use the Jacobs

Image/Photography Release form to ask for logo permission:

JNet > About Jacobs > Our Identity > Images & Photography

Look for a Media Library or Resource Page

Some companies may have a media library or resource page on their

Web site permitting their logo to be downloaded and to be used by

agreeing to their terms and conditions. Look first: Verify whether the

company has a permission page on its Web site before downloading

and using its logo.

How to Use Service Mark & Trademark Symbols

When using intellectual property for which no guidelines exist (for

example, a newly filed Jacobs invention or a teaming partner’s

innovation for which documentation does not exist), consider the

following general specifications.

Always

• Use the “SM” or “®” symbol on first reference of the intellectual

property. If the property is mentioned throughout your

document, you may omit the symbol on subsequent references.

• Set in Arial, Helvetica Neue or similar sans serif type.

• Set the “SM” or “®” in black. If black is not available, use the

darkest (or least-distracting) color available in the design.

• Set the “SM” or “®” to the same size as surrounding letters, then

apply: all caps, superscript and superior formatting.

• If using professional page layout software (e.g. Adobe InDesign,

QuarkXPress, etc.): For sizes 14 pt. and larger, set the “SM” or “®”

to 45 percent of the type size and adjust position so “SM” or “®”

is resting on the x-height.

Never

• Do not italicize the “SM” or “®” or place more emphasis on it

than on the trademarked word or phrase.

• Do not separate the “SM” or “®” from the protected word or

phrase by line breaks, spaces or punctuation.


continued

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/JNet/About%20Jacobs/Our%20Identity/Images%20%20Photography


Copyright

Copyright is also intellectual property. In most countries, an idea is

copyrighted the moment it is documented in a tangible form such as

e-mail, video, programming code, image, etc. While copyright

protects the expression of an idea, copyright does not cover the idea

itself — to do so requires a patent on the idea instead.

A Standard Copyright Statement You Can Use

Use this statement on all external communications and documents.

Adjust the statement to include local customs as needed:

For more information about copyright, see the Style Guide, “Images

& Photography” module.

Using Other Entities’ Copyrighted Materials

Be careful using another entity’s copyrighted materials in your

presentations, proposals, or documents — whether intended for

external or for internal circulation — without express permission

from the copyright holder due to copyright laws.

Copyrighted materials are the property of the copyright holder, and

the holder has the sole right to control copying, reproduction,

downloading, distribution, and display of its materials. Examples of

common copyrighted materials include magazine and newspaper

articles, e-mails, Web sites, movies, music, and photographs.

Request Permission

Permission to use the materials must be granted by the copyright

holder in writing. Keep the permission on file for documentation

purposes. Request permission to use the materials with a brief

explanation of how and why you intend to use the materials and an

estimate of your intended distribution (number of recipients).

Credit the Source

Always cite the original source and provide enough information for

the reader to be able to obtain access to the original materials if

desired. When possible, include a URL for online materials.

Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not

substitute for obtaining permission.


To learn more about U.S. copyright law, see the U.S. government’s

Web site at:

www.copyright.gov


© Copyright [year], Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. All rights reserved.

©Copyright Symbol

http://www.copyright.gov

common Style iSSueS4.3in this section we address commonly askededitorial style issues, such as date formatting,measurements, and punctuation. ourguidelines presented here are in agreementwith associated Press (aP) style.


Master Acronym List

Corporate Communications maintains a master acronym list, which

we update periodically.

Download the List

Download the master acronym list from JNet:

JNet > About Jacobs > Our Identity > Editorial (Style Guide) > Master

Acronym List (MS Word)

41

abbreviationS, acronymS, & initialiSmS

continued

4.3.1


An acronym is an abbreviation that can be pronounced as a word;an initialism is an abbreviation that is pronounced letter by letter.Both are convenient shorthand for longer phrases repeated often intext. However, limit your use of such abbreviations. Abbreviationsyou are familiar with may mean nothing to your audience. Every timeyou send them from text to an acronym list, you disrupt theirconcentration — and jeopardize your message.

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/8879E8CBB0BD50EAE0430A4000AC50EA

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/8879E8CBB0BD50EAE0430A4000AC50EA

First Appearance

Spell out acronyms and initialisms at their first appearance in the

main body text, followed by the acronym or initialism in

parentheses. Then, consistently use the acronym or initialism from

that point forward; don’t switch between the full phrase and the

shortened version.

If the phrase first appears outside the main body text (e.g., in a

heading, caption, or visual), you may include the parenthetical

shortened version there. However, define again on the first mention

in the text. Finally, only capitalize the major words in the full phrase

if it is a proper noun.

Spell Out Inconsequential Abbreviations

If using an abbreviation that is inconsequential (e.g., the

abbreviation does not save much space compared to its full phrase

or the abbreviation is only used a few times), or if using an

abbreviation is confusing (e.g., similar abbreviations back-to-back),

consider spelling out the full phrase instead. Doing so enhances

your document’s readability and helps readers who are not

proficient in the document’s language.

Examples:

• Operable Units (OUs) 1 and 2

• Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA)

• methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)

• material safety data sheets (MSDS)

Specific Scenarios

Junior or Senior After a Name

• Use Jr. or Sr.

• Do not precede with a comma

Academic Degrees

• Use bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, Bachelor of Arts,

Master of Arts.

• Abbreviate to B.A., M.A., LL.D. and Ph.D. only with multiple

names and degrees.

Avenue, Boulevard, & Street

• Abbreviate when paired with a numbered address:

111 Main St.

979 Kings Rd.

Al Slam Street (not abbreviated since no numbered address)

Expressways, Highways, & Motorways

• When paired with a number, use the following abbreviations:

M8, A290, G3, U.S. 1, State Route 34

Route 1 or Route 1A

China National Highway 109, Interstate 95.

• On second reference, abbreviate if possible: I-95

‘United Kingdom’ & ‘United States’ in Text

• Use the abbreviation U.K. and U.S. when used as an adjective

before a noun:

U.K. rugby team

U.S. hockey team

42

4.3.1 Abbreviations, Acronyms, & Initialisms, continued


continued

Celsius & Fahrenheit

• Representation of Celsius in text: Use C

• Representation of Fahrenheit in text: Use F

Provinces, States, & Territories in Text

• When used alone, spell out entire region name.

• When used with a city, county, or military base name, follow AP

style: Abbreviate all regions except regions with fewer than five

letters. In referring to U.S. states, exceptions are Idaho, Iowa, Maine,

Ohio, Texas, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii.

• Spell out entire region name when used in contact information

that is not part of an address block:

Pasadena, California

+ 1.626.578.3500

• Only in an address block, use postal abbreviations and include

ZIP/postal codes:

1111 South Arroyo Parkway,

Pasadena, CA 91105 USA

43

4.3.1 Abbreviations, Acronyms, & Initialisms, continued


Download Quick Reference Sheets

For information about common abbreviations for provinces, states

and territories, download the quick reference guides from JNet:

JNet > About Jacobs > Our Identity > Editorial (Style Guide)

http://jnet.jacobs.com/portal/page/portal/JNet/About%20Jacobs/Our%20Identity/Editorial%20(Style%20Guide)

Titles

In addition to the first and main words, always capitalize the last word

of a title, regardless of word type or length. However, do not capitalize

articles (like a or the), conjunctions (like and, but or or), and short

prepositions (like to and on) — unless they are the first or last word.

Examples:

• One Company Around the Globe

• Jacobs Values: Building on the Core

44

caPitalization

continued

4.3.2


In a capitalized phrase, capitalize the firstword as well as the initial letters of mainwords (nouns, pronouns, verbs, modifiers)that follow. This is called “initial caps.”

Some formats call for "all caps," meaningevery letter of a word or phrase is capitalized.

Capitalization in Text

• Capitalize individual names of regions, units and

groups: Northern Region

• Capitalize proper and common nouns when they

become part of the name for a person, place or

thing: the English Channel

• Capitalize specific geographic regions: Central Italy

• Capitalize “room” when used with a specific name

or number: Green Room, Room 101

• Lowercase common nouns when they stand alone.

• Lowercase seasons (spring, summer) except when

used with a formal name.

• Capitalize the first letter and all words four letters

or longer in composition titles. Do not capitalize

“a,” “an” or “the.”

Additional Emphasis

Beyond capitalization, it is unnecessary to further emphasize titles

with italics or quotation marks, with two exceptions:

• Book or periodical titles, chapters, and articles

• Titles of awards and certificates

Titles: Books, Periodicals, Chapters, & Articles

Book and periodical titles are italicized, while chapters and articles

are set within quotation marks (no italics).

Titles: Awards & Certificates

Capitalize and italicize (no quotation marks) titles of awards,

certificates, and other honorary designations, including the word

award or certificate. In the following examples, note that the issuing

agency is not italicized, nor is further categorization of the award:

Examples:

• The New Delhi, India office’s Jacobs Office Safety Award for

commitment to a culture of caring

• The Houston Business Roundtable’s Customer Satisfaction Award

in the Large Industrial Maintenance Contractor category

Common Nouns Followed by Identifiers

If a common noun is followed by an alpha or numeric identifier,

capitalize the resulting proper noun.

Examples:

• Phase II

• Building 18

• Well 3A

• Operable Unit 2

• Level C

• Schedule 40

When the numbers are absent, the common nouns are not

capitalized, e.g., project phases, site buildings, and operable units.

First Words After Colons

Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the

start of a complete sentence.

Examples:

• Future plans: A new 34-megawatt gas turbine is planned to come

on line in 2010.

• The two systems interact: JSTEPS (Jacobs System to Ensure

Project Success) and Jacobs’ Sustainable Development

Methodology.

45

4.3.2 Capitalization, continued


Dates Expressed as Numbers: Year-Month-Day

Numeric date formats are expressed left-to-right starting with the

largest unit — year, month, and day — separated by hyphens. This

format solves ambiguities in formats used among the United States,

Canada, United Kingdom, and others, and is used in many Asian

languages. Add leading zeros to months earlier than October.

2008-08-18

2010-10-31

Time Expressed as Numbers: 12-Hour versus 24-Hour

Our preference is to express time in a 12-hour format starting with the

largest unit — hour, minute, and second — separated by colons. If

your audience is spread across disparate, multiple time zones,

expressing time in a 24-hour format might be clearer.

• Be consistent in your document with the format you choose.

• Include enough information for the reader to understand the time

(e.g., including ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.,’ time zones, etc.).

• Include leading zeros for hours earlier than 10:00 when using the

24-hour format.

46

dateS & time4.3.3


Write about dates and times so the reader is clear aboutexactly what time period you are referring to. Choose a formatthat is most helpful to your audience – especially critical forreaders who may not be proficient in your document’slanguage. In all cases, be consistent.

continued

Time Zones & Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

If writing for an audience across multiple time zones or in a different

time zone, be sure to include time zone information following time.

If your audience is spread across multiple countries, consider using

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) expressed as “Z” and local time

zones in parentheses expressed as the number of hours from UTC.

The renderings post at 15:00Z.

The renderings post at 15:00-0800 (PST)

Noon & Midnight

• Use noon for 12 p.m. (or 12:00)

• Use midnight for 12 a.m. (or 00:00)

‘a.m.’ & ‘p.m.’

• Lowercase with periods separating letters: 6 p.m. or 6 a.m.

Time as an Adjective

• Use numerals; hyphenate when combined with word(s) as an

adjective: 24-hour

Dates with Only Month & Year in Text

October 2010

No Endings on Days of Month in Text

• Do not use “nd,” “rd,” or “th” as ending: August 2

Full Date in Text

Jan. 2, 2010 or July 4, 2010

Abbreviate Months When Used With a Date

Always

• January Jan.

• February Feb.

• August Aug.

• September Sept.

• October Oct.

• November Nov.

• December Dec.

Years as Decades

• Never use an apostrophe before the “s”: ’60s or 1960s

Years & Dates with Words Preceding

• Use numerals and hyphenate: Late-1990s, pre-9/11

47

4.3.3 Dates & Times, continued


Never

• March

• April

• May

• June

• July

Spell Out Numbers Smaller than 10

Spell out all numbers smaller than 10.

Exceptions (if not beginning a sentence)

• Addresses: 7 Victor St.

• Ages, even for inanimate objects: The 9-year-old car

• Cents: 6 cents

• Dates: Jan. 1, 2003

• Dimensions: 4 m tall

• Currency: $3

• Expressways, Highways, and Motorways: M8, U.S. Route 6

• Percentages: 4 percent

• Proportions: 5 parts water

• Speed: 9 km per hour

• Temperatures: 6°

• Times: 6 p.m.

Amounts Less than One

• Spell out all amounts less than one:

three-fourths

two-thirds

48

numberS & meaSurementS

continued

4.3.4


Write about numbers and measurements so the reader isclear about the amount or dimension you are referring to.Choose a format that is most helpful to your audience –especially critical for readers who may not be proficient inyour document’s language. Provide conversions andequivalents, and, in all cases, be consistent.

Million & Billion Sums

• Use figures with million or billion:

3 million people

256 billion

• Consider using decimals, but no more than two decimal places:

£5.1 million

7.51 million people

• Exceptions: financial reports (e.g., annual/quarterly reports)

Digit Groups & Decimals (Comma vs. Period)

Use the appropriate punctuation for your audience to mark digit

groups (e.g., thousands) and decimals: typically the comma or

period. You may omit punctuation in visuals, if space is tight.

• Set off each group of three numerals with a comma or period:

20,227 in the United States

20.227 in Spain

• Exceptions: years (e.g., 2004), addresses, and telephone numbers

• Use punctuation to mark decimals:

5.25 in Singapore

5,25 in Argentina

Be Consistent Across Your Document

Choose a format depending upon your audience, and be consistent

in implementing your choice across your document.

Use North American English for Global Documents

Adopt North American English formats for global documents: Use

commas to indicate digit groups and a period to mark a decimal.

Currency

Express all amounts in these three currencies: U.S. dollars, British

pounds sterling, and euros. Either lead with the currency most relevant

to your audience or the amount’s original currency followed by the

other two in parentheses and separated by a comma or semicolon.

Symbols or Currency Codes

Use the appropriate currency symbol or the International

Organization for Standardization (ISO) currency code:

• U.S. dollar: $ or USD

• British pound sterling: £ or GBP

• Euro: € or EUR

Punctuating Currencies

• If using a currency symbol, lead with the symbol and do not insert

a space between the symbol and the amount:

£6.2 million ($9.5 million, €7.2 million)

€1,900 ($2,500; £1,640)

• If using the currency code, lead with the amount and insert a

non-breaking space between the amount and the currency code.

Set the code in capital letters.

25,000 USD (18,900 EUR; 16,300 GBP)

Disclose Conversion Rate

Indicate which conversion rate you use with a disclosure statement

somewhere in your document, such as the text or fine print:

All currency conversions in this document based upon

exchange rates from April 30, 2010, except where noted.

49

4.3.4 Numbers & Measurements, continued


continued

Rounding

• When rounding very large numbers, combine the number with an

appropriate quantifying word, as below:

€4.3 billion

5 million workhours

Numbers with Endings

• Do not use superscript: 11th, 21st century

Plural Numbers

• Attach an “s” but not an apostrophe: 1920s

Numbers at Beginning of Sentence

• Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence:

Six brown foxes jumped over the lazy dog.

• Exception: years, e.g., 1990 was a very good year.

Two or More Quantities

When two or more quantified items appear in a sentence and at least

one of them is 10 or above, use a numeral for each item:

The area of study contains 2 underground storage tanks,

4 discolored areas, and 13 reported spill sites.

50



Specific Combinations

• A dimension less than 10 as an adjective:

9-by-12 rug

• A compound adjective less than 10:

three-story atrium

Telephone Numbers

Begin telephone numbers with a plus sign (+) to represent any

numbers a caller must dial to place a call. Follow the plus sign with a

space, the country code, city code and number. Represent breaks in

national numbering plans with a period or a non-breaking space.

Freephone & Toll-free Numbers

Format freephone and toll-free numbers according to your

audience’s expectations.

Toll Numbers

When available, include a toll number. Freephone and toll-free

numbers are difficult to dial globally: Providing a toll number allows

the caller to contact us no matter where they are calling from.

Examples:

The phone number for our headquarters is + 1.626.578.3500.

The phone number for our Calgary office is + 1.403.258.6411.

The phone number for our Hong Kong office is + 852.2880.9788.

The phone number for our Warsaw office is + 48.22.564.06.00.

continued

Metric & U.S. Customary Units of Measurement

Use the measurement system most appropriate for the audience. If

writing for a global audience or a mixed audience, use both

International System of Units (SI) — also called metric — and U.S.

customary units. Follow the measurement with the converted

equivalent in parentheses. For a global document, lead with U.S.

customary units.

Punctuating Units of Measurement

Use a non-breaking space between measurements and their units

unless the measurement is used as an adjective (in which case, use a

hyphen instead).

• Never follow a metric unit symbol with a period unless at the end

of a sentence.

• Metric unit symbols are unaltered in the plural.

• Never hyphenate a metric unit symbol, even when used as an

adjective.

• Always spell out U.S. customary units when used as an adjective.

Examples:

Use the 150 L drum.

The beam weighs 375 kg.

20-mile road

Symbols for Select Metric Units

• gram g

• kilogram kg

• metric ton t

• millimeter mm

• centimeter cm

• meter m

• kilometer km

• milliliter mL

• liter L

Abbreviations for Select U.S. Customary Units

• pound lbs.

• ton tn.

• inch in.

• foot ft.

• yard yd.

• mile mi.

• gallon gal.

51



continued

Numbers Used in Measurements

• Use Arabic numerals for numbers preceding units of measure —

whether of time, distance, or volume — and to denote

percentage. This applies to numbers less than 10, as well, unless

used as an adjective:

2 minutes, 3 kilograms

• However, the numerals used with units of measure do not affect

treatment of other numerical expressions within the sentence:

Site 12 is a 6-by-50-foot oval area adjacent to three underground

storage tanks that were installed 2 years ago.

In the example above, note that “12” is part of a proper noun. Like

units of measure (e.g., “2 years”), this does not affect the treatment of

other numerals in the sentence, so the “three” is spelled out.

Distance & Area

Distance as an Adjective

• Spell out distances less than 10: eight-kilometer pipeline

Area as an Adjective

• Hyphenate when used as an adjective modifying a noun:

24-acre

2,400-square-foot building

• Do not hyphenate when the measurement comes after the noun:

The building was 1.100 square meters.

• Always spell out U.S. customary units when used as an adjective:

50-foot pole

10-ton truck

52



Parallel Construction

Use parallel construction in displayed lists. This means all items are

alike, whether each is a word, a phrase, or a complete sentence. If

they are complete sentences, they should have similar purpose —

e.g., instructional or descriptive. Displayed lists are strongest when

they begin with the same type of word — whether it is an action verb

or an article or any other part of speech.

Use Numbers or Bullets

Within a list, numbers or bullets introduce the individual items.

Capitalize the First Word

Capitalize the first word of every item, even if it’s not a complete

sentence or a proper noun.

53

liStS

continued

4.3.5


A “displayed list” is a stacked grouping of items that belongtogether. Use lists to contribute to readable writing.

By stretching out information with a displayed lists, you addwhite space to a page and relieve the monotony ofuninterrupted paragraphs.

Mixed List Types

Any document may have several different kinds of lists. What’s

important is treating each type of list consistently within a single

document. “Appendix 4.B, Examples of Displayed Lists” contains

examples of common displayed lists. (In the following paragraphs,

the alpha-numeric references in parentheses — e.g., “4.B.1.” —

reference an example of the type of list described.) While the

examples are punctuated differently, they are all appropriate — and

correct.

Numbered Lists

Use numbers in a displayed list when ranking or sequencing items,

as in weight of importance or order of occurrence (4.B.1). Also use

them when describing a stepped process, where “1.” means “do this

first” and “2.” means “do this second.”

Numbers are also appropriate as reference points when one, some,

or all of the items are referred to elsewhere in the text.

Example of a Numbered List (Same list as 4.B.1)

The lead-in to this list is a complete sentence, punctuated with a

colon because of the direct transition “following.” The items are

numbered because this is a ranking — the numbers mean

something. Periods are unnecessary after the individual items

because they are not sentences nor is a period necessary after the

last item, because the lead-in was already a complete sentence.

(A complete sentence can end in a colon as well as a period, if the

sentence sets up what immediately follows.)

Fortune magazine’s March 1, 1999, issue places us at the

top of the list of “Most Admired Companies” in the

Engineering, Construction category. The ranking follows:

1. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

2. Halliburton

3. Pulte

4. Turner Corp.

5. Centex

6. Emcor

7. Fluor

8. Kaufman & Broad Home

54

4.3.5 Lists, continued


continued

Bulleted Lists

If numbers are meaningless, use bullets instead. You may imply

importance by placing the most significant items early in the list, but

this ranking is subtler than outright numbering.

Bulleted lists are especially appropriate when all items are of equal

importance (and no item requires a reference point from elsewhere

in the text).

In such cases, items are arranged in random order; if the items begin

with words and not numbers, the order may be alphabetical.

Punctuating a Bulleted List

When the introduction to the list is a complete sentence punctuated

by a period or a colon, and the bulleted items are incomplete

phrases or simply a string of words, none of the bullets end with a

period.

See “Appendix 4.B, Examples of Displayed Lists.”

Example of a Bulleted List (Same list as 4.B.5)

The lead-in to this list is not a complete sentence so it requires no

punctuation. Rather, the entire list is one complete sentence; the

individual items are punctuated consistent with how a long sentence

would be punctuated (e.g., semicolons separating the long

individual phrases, one of which already contains commas). Also

note the conjunction “and” in the second-to-last item.

The training center’s mission is to

• Foster excellence throughout the company;

• Perpetuate our unique culture, core values, and operating

philosophy;

• Institutionalize success by passing on best practices and

lessons learned;

• Prepare key project staff to meet upcoming client

requirements; and

• Stimulate open communication and proactive problem

solving.

55



continued

Sentence Structure in Lists

Your audience expects to encounter full, complete thoughts. When

reading, the inner voice should be speaking the same words as

though you were reading aloud.

As you develop lists, be sure you don’t omit words, leaving the

reader to fill in the blanks. That makes for a choppy read.

For example, if you introduce a bulleted list with an incomplete

sentence, make the entire list a complete thought by leading directly

into the first item without punctuation (i.e., no colon); including any

conjunctions necessary to make the entire list a complete sentence;

and placing a period after the final bulleted item. You may end each

item with the appropriate punctuation (e.g., a comma or a

semicolon) or leave blank (4.B.5, 4.B.7). Just remember to apply that

style—for that type of list—consistently throughout your document.

When the introduction to the list is a complete sentence punctuated

by a period or a colon, and the bulleted items are incomplete

phrases or simply a string of words, none of the bullets end with a

period—including the last one (4.B.2). If the reader sees a “laundry

list,” the inner voice expects to read one; so the closing punctuation

is unnecessary.

When each listed item is a complete sentence (remember that if one

is, they all are), each ends with a period (4.B.3, 4.B.4). This is true,

too, if the items each contain more than one complete sentence

(4.B.6, 4.B.8). In either case, the introductory sentence ends with a

colon or a period, depending on the presence or absence of direct

transition words like “follow” or “appear below.”

56



A Place to Start

We do not intend this guide to be a comprehensive overview of

established rules or a bulletin on changing rules. Our intent is to

serve as a start-off point for consistent — and correct — usage.

Consequently, we devote this section strictly to those punctuation

situations we know to be trouble spots.

Commas

Use a comma after each item within a series of three or more words,

phrases, or clauses, in series linked with “and” or “or.” This avoids

ambiguity caused by unintentionally merging the last two items.

Maintenance personnel replaced the rocker arm bracket, the hinge

pin, and the wheel assembly.

We use site trailers for data management, personnel orientation

and sanitation, and equipment storage.

57

Punctuation

continued

4.3.6


Punctuation rules are countless, and depending on thesource, sometimes contradictory. They also change, asour language changes.

Hyphens

• Use hyphens to link two or more adjectives in a phrase when the

adjectives appear before the word they are modifying.

six-year study

• Do not use hyphens if proper nouns and / or adjectives are

included in the phrase.

• Do not use a hyphen when “very” is part of the concept.

• Do not use a hyphen to link adverbs ending in -ly.

Quotation Marks

Use with direct quotes, titles of books, movies, plays, operas, poems,

songs, speeches, lectures, works of art, television programs, and

software titles.

Apostrophes

• With single letters, use an apostrophe before the “s.”

K’s

• With multiple letters, do not use an apostrophe.

ABCs

Parentheses

Fragments

Place a period outside a closing parenthesis if the material inside is

not a sentence (such as this fragment).

Complete Sentences

Place the period inside the closing parenthesis to end the sentence it

punctuates if the material is a complete sentence (or several).

(An independent parenthetical sentence such as this one takes a

period before the closing parenthesis.)

Dependent Clauses

When a phrase is placed in parentheses (this one is an example) that

would normally qualify as a complete sentence but is dependent

upon the surrounding material, do not capitalize the first word or

end with a period.

Expressive Clauses

If a parenthetical phrase at the end of a sentence ends with an

exclamation point or question mark, still place a period after the

closing parenthesis.

Each client wants customized service (who wouldn’t?).

58

4.3.6 Punctuation, continued


continued

Periods with Abbreviations

Use periods in abbreviations, as indicated below:

• Academic: B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., Ph.D., J.D.

• Registrations and certifications: P.E., R.P.G., C.I.H., C.P.G.

• Geographic: U.S., U.S.A., and U.K., but CA, WA, etc. (no periods in

U.S. state postal abbreviations)

• Time of day (ante meridiem and post meridiem): a.m., p.m. (note

space between clock time and abbreviation: 3:15 p.m.)

Quotation Marks with Other Punctuation

The following examples illustrate appropriate placement of

quotation marks with other punctuation.

• A colon follows the closing “quotation mark”: The preceding

sentence demonstrates this rule.

• A semicolon also follows the closing “quotation mark”; this

example demonstrates the rule.

• “A comma always falls inside the closing quotation mark,” the style

guide notes.

• The guide also notes, “So does a period.”

The latter is true, even when the material within the marks is only a

word or two—even a letter or number or symbol, as below:

Be careful when forming the possessive of a company name that

ends with an “s.”

Em Dash, En Dash, & Hyphen

Em Dash

A dash the width of a lowercase “m,” the em dash (—) is the longest

dash. Em dashes emphasize the material set off (as opposed to

parentheses, which de-emphasize their contents).

• Use two em dashes — one on each side — to mark an abrupt break

in sentence flow.

• Use one em dash to set off a clause, for emphasis, at the end of a

sentence.

• Put a space on both sides of an em dash in all uses except the start

of a paragraph.

En Dash

A dash the width of a lowercase “n,” the en dash (–) is a medium

dash.

• Use an en dash to denote a range, in place of the word “to”:

3–5 years

1908–1998

59



continued

• Use en dashes (not hyphens) to create the next subdivision under

a bullet, in presentations and displayed lists.

• Use an en dash rather than a hyphen when creating a unit

modifier (two or more words that describe another word or

phrase) in which some words are not hyphenated:

Green Bay, Wisconsin–based subsidiary

• Do not leave spaces on either side of an en dash; rather, run it

together with adjacent words.

Hyphen

The hyphen (-) is the smallest dash.

• Use for line-end hyphenation between syllables in ragged right

text.

• Use for compound words and unit modifiers in which all words

are hyphenated:

24-hour

60



General Use of Symbols: Spell Out

Spell out percent, pound, inches, and feet in text. The symbols and

abbreviations %, #, ", ' are acceptable only in visuals.

Degrees

• Use the symbol ° to denote degrees in both text and visuals:

Water freezes at 32°F.

61

SymbolS & SPacinG4.3.7


Generally, spell out symbols in text for readability unless doing so threatens legibilityor if conserving space is a priority.

continued

$ € £Dollar Sign Euro Sign Pound Sign

Examples of Currency Symbols

Ampersands

Do Not Use In Text

Generally, we do not use ampersands (&) as shorthand for “and” in

text, but certain exceptions apply:

• In some of our lines of business (see Appendix 4.A)

• In the phrase engineering & construction (E&C)

• In the phrase health & safety (H&S) or safety & health (S&H)

• In the phrase black & white (b&w) (as in printing)

Note that, in each abbreviation, there are no spaces between the

ampersand symbol and the adjoining letters.

OK to Use In Display, Agate, & Visuals

Generally, we do use ampersands (&) as shorthand for “and” in

display (e.g., headlines and subheads), in agate (charts, graphics and

tables), and in other visuals where conserving space is a priority.

• Use spaces on either side of the ampersand unless using one of

the specific exceptions listed above.

• Do not leave an ampersand hanging at the end of a line break;

instead, bring it down to the beginning of the next line.

Spacing

• One space between sentences

Consult The Associated Press Stylebook for additional guidance.

Non-Breaking Space

Use a non-breaking space character anytime you do not want your

application to automatically insert a line break at a space. Example

uses include: between measurements and units; between amounts

and currency codes; and to align data in charts or visuals.

Currency Symbols

Generally, we do use currency symbols in text, especially: $, €, and £.

For more information about currencies, see Section 4.3.4, “Numbers

& Measurements.”

62

4.3.7 Symbols, continued


Share Solutions

Do follow the conventions we recommend, but don’t stop there. As

you encounter other areas of inconsistencies in your writing and

document production, select the most appropriate — and correct —

convention for the situation. Share that convention with others in

your circle of influence.

Create a Style Sheet

Wherever possible, create a style sheet that builds on these

conventions for each core client or major document. When

developing style sheets, consider client preference and audience

usability above all.


If you’re stumped on a particular point of style that isn’t covered

here, e-mail us at [email protected]. We’ll respond to your

individual request, if you have an immediate need; or we’ll log it for

future consideration in the Style Guide (as demand warrants).

63

Summary4.3.8


Use this guide as a single, central reference source thatoffers general guidance on known trouble spots. It is not acomprehensive review of grammar rules, nor is it a rigiddirective on style conventions.


aPPendix44.a our Word-treatment conventions4.b examples of displayed lists


A&E

aboveground

among (not Amongst)

assure (avoid — use be sure instead)

B.A.

baseline

belowground

black & white or b&w

B.S.

checklist

C.I.H.

citywide

cleanroom

clean up (verb)

cleanup (noun or adjective)

collocate

companywide

constructability

C.P.G.

data are /datum is

database

design-build

DoD (lowercase “o”)

DOE (uppercase “O”)

e-mail

earthwork

engineering & construction

E&C

ensure (avoid — use be sure instead)

environmental graphics (or wayfinding)

ex situ (no hyphen or italics)

expert (avoid — use professional or

specialist instead)

fast-track

field work

FY 99, FY 00

groundwater

hand out (verb)

handout (noun)

hard copy

Health & Safety (H&S)

healthcare

home builders

in-house

in situ (no hyphen or italics)

insure (avoid unless you are writing

about insurance)

Internet or the Net

J.D.

judgment (not judgement)

jumpsuit

kick-off (adjective)

kickoff (noun)

65

aPPendix 4.a: our Word-treatment conventionS4.A

continued


66

4.A, continued


life cycle

light-rail (adjective)

light rail (noun)

long-standing

M.A.

mainframe

M.S.

master plan (noun)

nationwide

online

outsource

overrun

P.E.

percent

Ph.D.

recordkeeping

R.P.G.

Safety & Health (S&H)

shut down (verb)

shutdown (noun or adjective)

site work

sitewide

soundproof

spreadsheet

standalone

start up (verb)

startup (noun or adjective)

stormwater

sulfur (North American English)

sulphur (U.K. English)

team building

timeframe

timesheet

toward (not towards)

U.K. (not UK)

underground

underrun

U.S. (not US)

wastewater

Web site or Web page

work area

work force

workhour

work site

workbook

workload

workplace

worksheet

workstation

World Wide Web or the Web

worldwide

4.B.1


colon because of the direct transition “following.” The items are

numbered because this is a ranking — the numbers mean

something. Periods are unnecessary after the individual items

because they are not sentences nor is a period necessary after the

last item, because the lead-in was already a complete sentence.

(A complete sentence can end in a colon as well as a period, if the

sentence sets up what immediately follows.)

Fortune magazine’s March 1, 1999, issue places us at the

top of the list of “Most Admired Companies” in the

Engineering, Construction category. The ranking follows:

1. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

2. Halliburton

3. Pulte

4. Turner Corp.

5. Centex

6. Emcor

7. Fluor

8. Kaufman & Broad Home

4.B.2


colon. (As the sentence lacks a direct transition like “follows,” it

could also end with a period.) Periods are unnecessary after the

individual items because they are not sentences.

The company’s backlog reflects steady growth over the

past few years:

• $1.0 billion in 1997



67

aPPendix 4.b: examPleS of diSPlayed liStS4.B

continued

> Back to Table of Contents > Back to 4.3.5, Lists

4.B.3


colon. The individual items each end with a period because they are

all complete sentences. (Remember that if one item is a complete

sentence, all must be.)

Our mentor-protégé agreement helps meet this challenge,

and all parties benefit:

• AFCEE and other federal clients have access to an

enhanced talent pool.

• CAPE draws on our strength, experience, and industrial

diversity.

• Alabama A&M enjoys expanded curricula and funding.

4.B.4

The lead-in to this list is a complete sentence. It ends with a period

because it lacks a direct transition like “follows.” (It could also end

with a colon.) The individual items each end with a period because

they are all complete sentences (the subject is implied).

Several of the habits from Covey’s principle-centered

paradigm match our culture and our vision of what we

hope to accomplish.

• Be proactive.

• Begin with the end in mind.

• Put first things first.

• Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

68

4.B, continued


continued

> Back to 4.3.5, Lists

4.B.5

The lead-in to this list is not a complete sentence so it requires no

punctuation. Rather, the entire list is one complete sentence; the

individual items are punctuated consistent with how a long sentence

would be punctuated (e.g., semicolons separating the long

individual phrases, one of which already contains commas). Also

note the conjunction “and” in the second-to-last item.

The training center’s mission is to

• Foster excellence throughout the company;

• Perpetuate our unique culture, core values, and operating

philosophy;

• Institutionalize success by passing on best practices and

lessons learned;

• Prepare key project staff to meet upcoming client

requirements; and

• Stimulate open communication and proactive problem

solving.

4.B.6

The lead-in to this list is a complete sentence, lacking a direct

transition like “follows.” The individual items are short paragraphs,

each with a short title punctuated with a period. In addition to the

titles (set in italics for contrast), every complete sentence ends with a

period.

Different strategies, applied individually or in

combination, can lead to increased market share.

• Quality Improvement. Most companies concentrate on

improving the quality of their work processes to exceed

client expectations and increase market share.

• Concentration on Core Business. Many companies focus

on their core business. This allows them to perfect their

services while expending money and energy where it

counts: on their core competencies.

• Acquisition. Some companies simply “buy” market share

by acquiring their competition. Acquisition also expands

global reach and increases the breadth of available

products or services.

69

4.B, continued


continued

> Back to 4.3.5, Lists

4.B.7

The lead-in to this list is not a complete sentence so requires no

punctuation. The individual items complete the sentence. The first

item ends with a comma; the second item ends with a comma and

the conjunction “and”; and the last item ends with a period.

Consistent project execution enables us to

• Trim schedules by working on a single project from

multiple locations,

• Produce high-quality work in a safe work environment,

and

• Reduce your operating costs.

4.B.8

The lead-in to this sentence is a complete sentence punctuated with

a colon. (It could also end in a period, lacking a direct transition like

“follows.”) The individual items are short paragraphs. Note the

parallelism in all items: Each consists of two sentences and contains

the “Then” and “Now” construction.

The changes we’ve undergone are illustrated by the stark

contrasts between then and now:

• Then, we were called Jacobs Engineering Co., working out

of one office in Los Angeles. Now, Jacobs Engineering

Group Inc. is one of the largest engineering and

construction (E&C) firms worldwide.

• Then, our yearly revenues were measured in K, for

thousands of dollars. Now, we measure annual revenues in

B, for billions.

• Then, our business dealings were confined to Southern

California. Now, we are a decentralized, global entity.

70

4.B, continued

> Back to Table of Contents > Back to 4.3.5, Lists

1111 South Arroyo Parkway 91105Post Office Box 7084Pasadena, CA 91109-7084 USA

+ 1.626.578.3500 | www.jacobs.com
