TMY Style Guide

Abbreviations

Abbreviations are allowed if used five times in an article. Define at first use.

Avoid abbreviating in text (allow in tables)

  • High Flyer
  • Traditional

Standard Abbreviations (no need to define)

  • aka
  • am
  • AMYA
  • disp.
  • LOA
  • LOD
  • LWL
  • NOR – ok to write out
  • pm
  • R/C – never RC
  • US VMYG – always has a space
  • vs
  • e.g.
  • i.e.

Formatting

Italics

  • Italicize boat names (Tritonia, Madcap, Lady Katy) but not general types (Skipjack, Sharpie, Marblehead).
  • Italicize non-English terms: vs, a priori, ipso facto

Boldface

  • Use boldface for emphasis – sparingly.

Links

Issue Labels

  • Issue 1: Winter/Spring
  • Issue 2: Summer
  • Issue 3: Fall

Numbers

  • Do not start a sentence with a numeral.
  • Use numerals for all measurements: 3 in, 47 lb.
  • Write out numbers one to nine in text. Use numerals for 10 or more.
  • Use comma for thousands separator.
  • Use decimals rather than fractions except for: ⅛, ¼, ⅓, ⅜, ½, ⅝,⅔, ¾, ⅞. Always use 0 before decimal for values less than 1.
  • Use superscripts: 1st, 2nd, 3rd … 28th
  • 1940s not 1940’s
  • 10:00 pm
  • Close up modifying operators: ≤12, 250%, ±0.5 in

Hardware

  • #10-32
  • 1/4-20 carriage bolt

Punctuation

  • Use serial comma.
  • Use apostrophe only for possession and contractions.
  • Use hyphen for unit modifiers:
    • The mast was made of 1⁄2-in hardwood dowels.
    • … are approximately 3- by 6- by 9-in blocks.

Units

  • English units preferred.
  • Use abbreviations rather than symbols: in, ft, s, min, h, lb, oz,  in2
  • Use symbols for stock dimensions – especially when mixed with sizes.
  • Fig. 2 shows all the parts for the vang body: 2 ¾ in of 3/16” tube, 2 ⅜ in of 5/32” tube, ½ in of left-hand …
  • Write out: yard, mile, days, knots
  • Define not usual units at first use:
    • V – volt(s)
    • A – amps
    • mAhr – milliamps per hour

Currency

  • Don’t use “US” to modify $
  • Close up $:   $1.00
  • Always use decimal and cent places

Usage

  • 3D printer
  • 10-Rater
  • 2⨉6s – dimensional lumber
  • aftmost or aftermost (be consistent in article)
  • America’s Cup
  • Barbie®
  • Bakelite
  • Bermuda rig
  • boatbuilding
  • backstay
  • bowsprit
  • Braine gear
  • centerline
  • chainplate
  • Chris-Craft
  • close-hauled
  • Conservatory Water
  • countersunk
  • counterweight
  • Dacron®
  • deadwood
  • downwind
  • Douglas fir
  • Dremel
  • Duratec®
  • EC12
  • Evapo-Rust®
  • fore-and-aft rig
  • foresail
  • foresheet
  • forestay
  • forwardmost
  • freesailed boat (one word per SFMYC Style)
  • freesailing (one word per SFMYC Style)
  • gaff rig (but gaff-rigged schooner)
  • “GIT”-ROT
  • geopositioning
  • grandchild
  • great-uncle
  • gunport
  • gybe (prefer jibe)
  • hacksaw
  • handmade (adj)
  • handmade (v)
  • headsail
  • jigsaw
  • jobber-length drill bit
  • Kerbs Boathouse
  • Kevlar®
  • Layline (the TMY Editor Column)
  • leech
  • Lexan
  • lighthouse
  • Lucite
  • Earl Boebert Craftsmanship Award
  • L. Francis Herreshoff
  • Marshall Croft Sportsmanship Award
  • mainsail
  • mainsheet
  • Marblehead (50/800)
  • mid-Atlantic
  • motorboat
  • Mylar®
  • Nathanael Herreshoff
  • nonprofit, 501(c)3
  • nylon
  • online – one word
  • outreach
  • Press’n Seal® cling film
  • Popsicle® stick
  • powerboat
  • Race Committee
  • Race Director
  • Redd’s Pond
  • “Radio-controlled sailboat”  vs “boat is radio controlled”
  • Rust-Oleum®
  • saber saw
  • sailboat
  • sailcloth
  • sailmaker
  • Scorekeeper
  • screenshot – one word
  • Semicircular, semicircle
  • shoreline – one word
  • sidestay
  • source (v) – prefer find or acquire/get/collect
  • stand off (v)
  • standoff (n, adj)
  • staysail
  • sternwheeler
  • Table of offsets
  • taffrail
  • Traditional Watercraft
  • toe rail
  • topsail
  • try square
  • upwind
  • US VMYG
  • V36 (36/600)
  • vice versa
  • Vinylite™
  • warship
  • watercraft
  • waterline
  • watertight
  • X-ACTO®
  • Ziploc®

Battery terms

  • Nickel–cadmium – NiCd
  • Nickel–metal hydride – NiMH
  • Lithium-ion
  • Lithium-ion polymer / Lithium polymer – LiPo
  • Lithium iron phosphate – LiFePO4

Direction

Write out.

  • north
  • south
  • east
  • west
  • northeast
  • northwest
  • southeast
  • southwest
  • north-northeast
  • east-northeast
  • east-southeast

US VMYG Classes

International A Class
  •  can be referred to as A Class
  • do not hyphenate A Class boat
  • no need to use quotation marks – “A” Class boat, prefer A Class boat
Schooner Class
  • can be referred to as Schooner or Schooners
Skipjack 48 Class
  • can be referred to as Skipjack Class or Skipjacks
Unrestricted Models Racing Class
  • can be referred to as Unrestricted Class, Unrestricted Model Class, or simply Unrestricted
Vintage 10-Rater
  • always with a hyphen
  • can be referred to as V10R or simply 10-Rater once the class has been identified
  • subclasses: Traditional, High Flyer
Vintage 36 Class
  • can be referred to as V36, V36 (36/600), or simply 36/600 once the class has been identified
  • subclasses: Traditional, High Flyer
Vintage Marblehead
  • can be referred to as VM, VM (50/800), or simply 50/800 or Marblehead once the class has been identified
  • subclasses: Traditional, High Flyer, Classic M