pan-disability

An adjective referring to all forms of human disability, both apparent and unapparent, those addressed by all theories and no matter how people identify. It is an expansive and inclusive conceptual term. Pan- is hyphenated before disability.

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pandemic

An outbreak that crosses populations and geographical boundaries, generally occurring in regions around the world. Although severity, length of outbreak, or number of people affected are not a factor in declaring pandemics, the widespread nature is. This can cause large-scale socioeconomic disruption.

An epidemic can progress into a pandemic. Similarly, a disease that is a pandemic can become endemic. For example, AIDS was first reported June 5, 1981. However, it was more than a decade before it was recognized as a leading cause of death globally despite being pandemic for much of that time. As treatments and preventative medications have developed, AIDS is an epidemic still in some regions of the world, but endemic in others.

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parody

A satirical or ironic imitation of a celebrity; politician; famous piece of art, literature, film, or other creative work; or the style of the creative person is exaggerated for comic effect or satire.

If a piece using parody is published under opinion or as a creative work of fiction, it should be clearly marked as a parody or satire, or both, for the sake of those audience members who may not be able to easily parse tone, exaggeration, or fiction.

Also see Hustler Magazine v. Falwell.

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partly sunny, partly cloudy

The terms partly sunny and partly cloudy during daylight hours are both applicable for a forecast or situation when the sky has between 30 percent and 60 percent cloud cover in the sky.

At night, when there is no visible daylight or sunlight, only the term partly cloudy is applicable when the sky has between 30 percent and 60 percent cloud cover.

See weather terminology.

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Pascal case

Used in coding and in hashtags. The first word and each word that follows is capitalized. This is the preferred way to write hashtags as it works best with most screen readers, allowing screen readers to differentiate words in the hashtags.

Examples:

• BreastCancerAwareness
• #EverydayHustle
• #CatVideos
• #GoodTrouble
• #JusticeForAlex
• PrimeMortgageRate

Also see how to write hashtags.

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passive voice

A sentence construction in which the object being acted upon becomes the subject of the sentence. Active verbs are often replaced with to be verbs.

The style is considered weak and inefficient.

Examples:

• The room was cleaned by him.
• The bill was introduced by the senator.
• The protesters were hit with tear gas.

Reconstructing each sentence in active voice places the subject at the front of the sentence followed by an active verb followed by the object.

• He cleaned the room.
• The senator introduced the bill.
• Tear gas hit the protesters.

When in doubt, use active voice.

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patriotism

A sense of pride, loyalty, or devotion to the people, land, or ideals of a country. This can be shown through simple acts of flying a flag or singing a national anthem; serving in the government, the civil service, or the military; volunteering in the community; or any other number of ways.

Do not confuse patriotism with nationalism or jingoism.

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person-first language

A style of describing a person first, followed by their status, situation, or another descriptor.

OAJ suggests using person-first language in instances of such things as medical diagnoses, criminal charges and incarceration status, etc. For a person’s identity, use identity-first language.

An example of the difference between a medical diagnosis versus a disability is as follows:

Person-first: The study looks at children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Identity-first: The new school is specifically set up for autistic children.

Person-first: He was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Identity-first: Though he considers himself “a newly disabled man,” he is now working as an MS-awareness activist.

Person-first: She started working at the Ford plant and joined the union.
Identity-first: Now, union leader Sherry Jones is leading the action.

In the first example for each, it discusses a diagnosis or situation; in the second example discusses an identity.

Other examples of person-first language:

• A man who is incarcerated
• A woman who is diagnosed with a genetic disease
• A person who uses an assistive device
• A person who works at a factory

If a source asks you to use identity-first language instead of person-first language in a situation where you would normally use person-first language, honor the source’s wishes.

Also see identity-first language.

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personal pronouns

A word that replaces a proper in name.

First-person personal pronouns are self-referring: I, me, and we.

The second-person personal pronoun refers to the person or people being spoken to: you.

Third person personal pronouns refer to the person or people being spoken or written about: he, she, they, him, her, them, etc.

OAJ suggests respecting a person’s personal and to use the pronouns of their use and to follow the policy of the Trans Journalists Association with reference to personal pronouns in all cases.

Someone’s pronouns are not a preference, but rather the only appropriate way to refer to that person. … The term preferred pronouns is only appropriate when someone uses more than one set of pronouns and has a preference for one over the other, explains TJA.

In other words, simply use the person’s pronouns. Sources should be asked for their pronouns, but do not write the phrase noting a person’s preferred pronouns following first use.

Examples:

• Using she/her pronouns:
  It was a great event, Jamie Jones said. We’ll hold this fundraiser again next year.
  She said the organization raised more than $50,000, and that such a it was a great surprise to her.
• Using he/him pronouns:
  It was a great event, Jamie Jones said. We’ll hold this fundraiser again next year.
  He said the organization raised more than $50,000, and that such a it was a great surprise to him.
• Using they/them pronouns:
  It was a great event, Jamie Jones said. We’ll hold this fundraiser again next year.
  They said the organization raised more than $50,000, and that such a it was a great surprise to them.

Be aware: they/them/theirs as a singular pronoun uses a plural verb.

If someone uses multiple pronouns, such as masculine and gender-neutral pronouns or feminine and gender-neutral pronouns or indicates they use any or all pronouns, ask what pronouns that person would like to use in publication.

From the TJA, There is never a reason to explain the use of standard they/them, he/him, or she/her in a story. When a source uses less common pronouns, it’s acceptable to have a quick, appositive phrase explaining them: Taylor, who uses ze/hir pronouns, attended the event.

For further explanation see the Trans Journalists’ Association Style Guide.

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phase

As a noun, phase refers to a specific appearance or state within a regularly recurring cycle of changes, a particular and distinguishable part of development or course, or an aspect of a problem, theory, thesis, thought, concept, etc. As a verb, it means to adjust in order to synchronize, to execute a planned process in stages, or to introduce in stages when used with the word in. Do not confuse it with faze.

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