Missouri State University follows the Associated Press Stylebook for guidance on writing for print or electronic publication. AP Style recently added several new entries and updated some sections.

Missouri State has a limited membership to the online AP Stylebook. More information on each of these entries is available in the online guide. If you create content for the university, contact Andrea Mostyn to request access.

A local style guide with exceptions and entries specific to the university is available on the Brand website.

Updates and additions

race

Consider carefully when deciding whether to identify people by race. There are, however, occasions when race is pertinent:

• In stories that involve significant, groundbreaking or historic events: Barack Obama was the first black U.S. president. Sonia Sotomayor is the first Hispanic justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
• In cases where suspects or missing persons are being sought, and the descriptions provided are detailed and not solely racial.
• When reporting a demonstration, disturbance or other conflict involving race (including verbal conflicts), or issues like civil rights.

racist, racism

The terms racism and racist can be used in broad references or in quotations to describe the hatred of a race, or assertion of the superiority of one race over others. The townspeople saw their votes as a rejection of racism.

In general, avoid using racist or any other label as a noun for a person. Be specific in describing the person’s words or actions.

Always use specifics to describe the words or actions in question. But do not use a derogatory term except in rare circumstances when it is crucial to the story.

If racist is not the appropriate term, give careful thought to how best to describe the situation. Alternatives include racially divisive, racially sensitive, or in some cases, simply racial.

racially charged, racially motivated, racially tinged

Generally avoid using these vague phrases.

As alternatives, racially divisive or racially sensitive may be clearer, depending on the context. In some cases, the term racial is appropriate: racial arguments, racial tensions. Always give specifics about what was done, said or alleged.

black(s), white(s)

Do not use either term as a singular noun. For plurals, phrasing such as black people, white people, black teachers, white students is often preferable when clearly relevant.

black (adj.)

Acceptable as an adjective. African American is acceptable for an American black person of African descent. (Use Negro or colored only in names of organizations or in rare quotations when essential.)

dual heritage

No hyphen for terms such as African American, Asian American and Filipino American.

people of color, racial minority

The terms people of color and racial minority/minorities are generally acceptable terms to describe people of races other than white in the United States. Avoid using POC or minority. When talking about just one group, be specific: Chinese Americans or members of the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida, for example.

biracial, multiracial

Acceptable, when clearly relevant, to describe people with more than one racial heritage. Usually more useful when describing large, diverse groups of people than individuals: The study of biracial people showed a split in support along gender lines. Multiracial can encompass people of any combination of races.

Latino, Latina, Latinx

Latino is often the preferred noun or adjective for a person from, or whose ancestors were from, a Spanish-speaking land or culture or from Latin America. Latina is the feminine form. Some prefer the recently coined gender-neutral term Latinx.

Hispanic

A person from — or whose ancestors were from — a Spanish-speaking land or culture. Latino, Latina or Latinx are sometimes preferred. Follow the person’s preference. Use a more specific identification when possible, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican or Mexican American.

American Indians, Native Americans

Both are acceptable terms in general references for those in the U.S. when referring to two or more people of different tribal affiliations. For individuals, use the name of the tribe; if that information is not immediately available, try to obtain it. He is a Navajo commissioner. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Some tribes and tribal nations use member; others use citizen. If in doubt, use citizen.

In Alaska, the indigenous groups are collectively known as Alaska Natives.

First Nation is the preferred term for native tribes in Canada.

Indian is used to describe the peoples and cultures of the South Asian nation of India. Do not use the term as a shorthand for American Indians.

To see all the entries, contact Andrea Mostyn to request access.