NAACP

The NAACP is the official name of the U.S. civil rights organization that began in 1909. Use NAACP on all references with the <abbr> tag:

<abbr title="N A A C P">NAACP</abbr>

The NAACP is considered the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the U.S. It consists of state and area conferences, branches, and chapters. Always use NAACP before the name of a conference, branch, or chapter such as:

• NAACP Black Hawk Country Branch
• NAACP University of Delaware Chapter
• NAACP South Carolina Conference

Although once connected to the NAACP, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund is a separate organization. Do not conflate the two organizations.

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NAACP Legal Defense Fund

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is a civil and human rights law firm, originally founded as part of the NAACP in 1940 by Thurgood Marshall. It is now a separate entity headquartered in New York, N.Y., with an office in Washington, D.C. On first reference, use NAACP Legal Defense Fund. On subsequent references, use LDF with the <abbr> tag:

<abbr title="N A A C P Legal Defense Fund">LDF</abbr>

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names

A name is an expression of a person’s identity and should be treated with care.

On first reference, use a person’s first name or given name and surname (last name). On second reference, only a surname is used. Be aware that in some cultures, the practice is to put the surname first followed by the given name.

If necessary, in a news item to distinguish between two people with the same or similar surnames, then use both the given and surnames throughout. In longer news items, it may be necessary to reintroduce the person using both the given and surname. For children, it is okay to use only a first name or given name.

When to use a first name or given name instead of surnames:

• In lighthearted stories or columns, given names (first names) may be more appropriate, especially for children under the age of 18.

When to withhold a name:

• As a general rule, do not name people who have been raped or sexually assaulted, unless that person advises us otherwise themselves.
• Names of children under the age of 18 are withheld when they have been the victim of a crime or when they are charged with a crime in the juvenile court system.
• When an anonymous source is in physical danger by publishing their name and has been verified by both the reporter and is known by at least one editor. See pseudonyms.

Also see deadnames.

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NASA

Stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, but NASA may be used in all references as it is best known by its acronym.

Although NASA may be used in all references, it still requires an <abbr> tag. In this case, consider these options:

• on first reference: <abbr title="National Aeronautics and Space Administration">NASA</abbr>
• on subsequent references, which spells out the acronym the way it is done in American Sign Language and by screen readers: <abbr title="N A S A">NASA</abbr>

The U.S. government agency was established by a congressional act on Oct. 1, 1958. It studies and explores earth science, climate, the solar system, and the universe.

NASA operates centers and facilities across the U.S.

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nationalism

An ideology in which a deep devotion to one’s country or nation and its sovereignty is intertwined with identity. This identity is built around religion, language, ethnicity, or other shared characteristics or values. Nationalists see their nation and those identified as part of it as separate and above all others.

Do not confuse nationalism with patriotism or jingoism.

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native

As a noun, native means a person who is local to a certain place. For example, a native of Philadelphia. As an adjective or adverb, native is used to describe from a particular place.

The Indigenous Journalists Association notes native should be capitalized in cases of describing art or styles from tribal nations. Examples:

• Native baskets
• Native art
• Native clothing

IJA also notes that caution should be warranted as the word is often used as slang.

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Native American

A term used to describe the collective tribes across the continental United States and Alaska.

The Indigenous Journalists Association explains the term gained traction in the 1960s, and may be used to describe two or more individuals of different tribal affiliations. It is used interchangeably with American Indian, as people of different tribal affiliations and ages have different preferences.

However, the preference is always to be as specific as possible and to use tribal names over terms such as Native American or American Indiana.

OAJ suggests following the style of IJA. It suggests asking individuals their tribal affiliation and using individual tribal affiliation for identification rather than using Native American and identifying tribes by their names whenever possible.

From IJA:

While many Indigenous people share a common history of oppression and colonialism, tribal nations are tribal nations are diverse and different. Failing to use the actual name of the tribe you are reporting on is neither accurate, fair, nor thorough and undermines the diversity by erasing the tribe’s identity.

Journalists should identify indigenous people by their specific tribes, nations, or communities. Headlines and text should also refer to tribes by their proper name, not catch-all phrases like Oklahoma Native American Tribe or Native American Group.

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nauseated, nauseous

Nauseated and nauseous are not interchangeable.

Nauseated is an intransitive verb that means to be affected by nausea or to feel ill or disgust.

Nauseous is an adjective that means causing nausea or the feeling of disgust.

The difference in usage is part of speech.

Examples:

• I’m nauseated from that horrible smell.
• Those were some nauseous chili dogs.
• I ate too many chili dogs and now I’m nauseated.
• That is a nauseous smell!

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need, needs

The word need is both a noun and a verb, but it is often misused in its verb form.

As a noun, it means lacking a requirement; a necessity for fulfillment, well-being, supply, or relief; or a lack of something desirable or useful.

Examples:

• My needs are simple.
• The historical building has more than $3,000,000 in repair needs before restoration can begin.
• The program feeds those in need of a hot meal.

As a verb, the word need means to be in want, to be necessary, or to be a requisite. However, it takes several forms: as a main verb — an either intransitive verb or a transitive verb. It can also be an auxiliary verb and modal verb.

As a main transitive verb, sentence structure will be: subjectneedobject.

Examples:

• Senator Larame needs the bill on his desk today.
• We need more money!
• She needs funds for treatment, so she started a GoFundMe.

As a main intransitive verb, sentence structure will be: subjectneedto (be)….

Examples:

• The causes of the bridge failure need to be examined.
• The board needs to be discussing the proposal.
• The house needs to be cleaned well before my mother comes to visit.

More informally, need can be used with a gerund (a verb that takes the -ing on the end). The sentence structure is similar to use with intransitive verbs, but instead looks like subjectneedverb-ing….

Examples:

• The causes of the bridge failure need examining.
• The board proposal needs discussing.
• The house needs cleaning well before my mother comes to visit.

As an auxiliary verb, a verb that helps or emphasizes other verbs in the sentence, need only takes its singular form. The auxiliary use is formal and not commonly used in conversation.

Examples:

• We need only travel to one conference this year.
• She need only pay $5 for the sandwich; I’ll cover the coffee.
• They need not copy that stack of papers.

Need is actually a semi-modal verb, indicating a obligation, possibility, or probability, and functions much like can or should. Just like need as an auxiliary verb, it remains unconjugated. It is mostly used in the negative form.

Examples:

• No one need stay inside on a beautiful day like this!
• You needn’t worry about that.
• We needn’t try the new cafe. I’ve heard awful things.

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negligence

Conduct that falls below the standard of society.

In a law, negligence is a foundation of tort law. It is the failure to behave with the same care that a reasonable person would have used in the same circumstance. It contains five elements: harm to the plaintiff; the existence of a legal duty the defendant owed to the plaintiff; the defendant’s breach of that duty; the defendant’s actions are the proximate cause of the harm; and the defendant’s actions the cause-in-fact of the harm.

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