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Style guide

Latvians Online faces a particular challenge because it is partially bilingual and because of its international audience. While the vast majority of material published here is in English, articles in Latvian do appear, as does frequent use of Latvian within English-language articles. In all cases, Latvians Online attempts to respect the specific cultural setting of the author. Thus, in English-language articles, both American and British use are acceptable (flavor or flavour, skeptic or sceptic, etc.), so long as consistency is maintained within the article. With the Latvian language, both pre-World War II and post-World War II use are generally acceptable (we'll allow both archīvs and arhīvs, for example).

Authors of English-language articles are advised to use the The Associated Press Stylebook for most questions regarding journalistic usage. A dictionary should be used to answer most questions regarding spelling and specific language usage. Beyond that, the following items must be observed in English-language articles.

abbreviations: In general, use abbreviations in subsequent references to organizations with particularly long titles. Immediately after the first reference to the organization, indicate the abbreviation, without periods, in parentheses. It is acceptable to use the Latvian abbreviation for well-known organizations. However, avoid the "alphabet soup" that results when too many abbreviations are peppered throughout an article. Example: the World Federation of Free Latvians (PBLA).
addresses: Use specific addresses to identify locations in calendar items or in other references where a reader might need to know exactly where something may be found. Abbreviate avenue (Ave.), boulevard (Blvd.) and street (St.) when used with an address, but not when standing alone. Examples: 123 Smilšu St.; Brīvības Boulevard.
a.m., p.m.: Not AM and PM, not am and pm. See time.
compact disc: Spell out compact disc on first reference. CD is acceptable in subsequent references. Album and record may also be used, keeping in mind that some albums or records are available in multiple formats, such as CD, cassette or vinyl.
Daugavas Vanagi: When referring to this World War II veterans group's branches in the United States, use Latvian Welfare Association "Daugavas Vanagi" on first reference. Daugavas Vanagi or DV is acceptable on subsequent references.
datelines: Datelines are the identification at the beginning of a story (for example, "RĪGA, Latvia"), that indicate where a journalist physically was when they reported a story. However, the average reader might assume instead that the dateline merely means that a story occurred in that location. To avoid the confusion, do not use datelines. It is better to make clear in the text of the story where an event occurred or where an interviewee was when an interview took place.
dome: In references to the cathedral in Old Rīga, it's dome, not dom. Example: the Rīga Dome Boys Choir.
European Union: Spell out on first reference, but EU may be used in subsequent references. EEC (the European Economic Community) is an antiquated term and should not be used unless for historical purposes. In Latvian-language text, the first reference should be to Eiropas Savienība, after which ES may be used.
Gaŗezers: The Latvian center in south central Michigan is spelled with the soft "r", not without it (and even if the soft "r" has fallen out of use today). The center takes its name from the adjoining body of water, Long Lake. To spell the name of the center without the soft "r" might suggest that the English name is Spirit Lake. It is not.
Internet and related terms: It's Internet, not internet. The Internet is a network of computer networks employing various communication standards. The Internet includes such elements as e-mail, FTP and the World Wide Web, but the terms are not synonymous. On first reference, the Web is acceptable as a reference for the World Wide Web. It's Web site, not website. In Latvian, it is internets (lower case i), except, of course, at the beginning of a sentence. The word for Web is tīmeklis.
Latvian: The word Latvian may be both a noun and an adjective. Its use may be confusing if a clear distinction is not made between a reference to the ethnic group and a reference to the nation. A person may be a resident or a citizen of Latvia, he or she may not necessarily be of Latvian ethnicity. Likewise, a person might be from Latvia, but not necessarily of Latvian ancestry. In most articles it may be assumed that references to Latvian refer to membership in the ethnic group, but care should be taken in cases where confusion might arise. The same holds for articles in the Latvian language and the use of words such as latvieši and latviešu.
Latvians Online: Latvians Online is the only acceptable usage. It's not Latviansonline. LOL is sometimes used as shorthand by readers submitting to forum discussions, but is not to be used in articles because confusion may result with accepted Internet shorthand (LOL means "laughing out loud") or with other Latvian Web sites (the former Laiks Online, for example, would refer to itself as LOL).
NATO: The abbreviation NATO is acceptable on first reference. It stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. For clarity, it's useful to write "the NATO defense alliance" on first reference. NATO also may be used in Latvian-language text, even though it's not the true acronym for the alliance's full name in Latvian: Ziemeļatlantijas līguma organizācija.
numbers: Spell out numbers zero to nine. Use numerals for 10 and greater. However, do not start a sentence with a numeral. Either rewrite the sentence, or spell out the number. Exceptions: Use numerals when citing dimensions, such as 3 inches, 9 meters, etc.
punctuation: Rules for punctuation differ between English and Latvian, as well as between American English and British English. For Latvian, follow proper form as stipulated in any good grammar guide. For English punctuation, follow the form of American English. Remember that punctuation is meant to provide natural pauses and stops in language; it is not meant to confuse a reader. If nothing else, we frown on excessive use of exclamation marks!
Russian transliteration: If Russian text (the Cyrillic alphabet) needs to be used in a story, it should be transliterated using the system approved by the U.S. Library of Congress and the American Library Association. A copy in Adobe Acrobat format may be downloaded here.
Saeima: Note the correct spelling! Parliament or Latvian parliament may be used in place of Saeima.
Soviet Union: Use this rather than U.S.S.R. The abbreviation may be lost on some readers, particularly younger ones. If you must use the abbreviation, spell it out on first reference -- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
surnames: Use the proper Latvian form for writing the last names of men and women of Latvian origin (Ozoliņš for the man, Ozoliņa for the woman, etc.). The exception is when a woman prefers to use the masculine form of her surname or when she is better known that way outside Latvian society.
time: Particularly in U.S. and Canadian calendar listings, but also in all articles, references to time are to be presented in 12-hour format with a.m. and p.m. denoting morning and afternoon or evening, respectively. Proper use: 3 a.m., 5:03 a.m., 7:30 p.m. The midday hour is noon, not 12 noon. Midnight is midnight, not 12 midnight. For European calendar listings, use 24-hour format. For example, 4 p.m. is the same as 16:00 hours.
titles: Official titles appearing immediately before a person's name are capitalized. Appearing alone, or following the person's name, the title is not capitalized. Generic titles are not capitalized. Examples: President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga; Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, president; Latvian head of state Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga.
United States: Spell out the name of the country when used as a noun, but use the abbreviation U.S. when used as a modifier. Examples: The president is to visit the United States; The U.S. government supports NATO.
Web, Web site: Never use the lowercase form "web" unless referring to what a spider weaves. The compound noun "Website" or "website" is incorrect.