Tanach

Often incorrectly referred to as the Hebrew Bible, the Tanach is Torah (Chumash or the Five Books of Moses), the Nevi’im (Prophets) and the Ketuvim (Psalms, Lamentations and Proverbs) used by those of Jewish faith.

On first reference, define the term Tanach as the Jewish holy scriptures. After that, use the term Tanach. Do not use the terms Old Testament or Hebrew bible when , referring to the Tanach, Judaism, or the Jewish faith.

The correct spelling is T-a-n-a-c-h, not T-a-n-a-c-k.

Also see Torah.

← Return to Chapter T

TTD

Stands for Telecommunication Device for the Deaf.

In the U.S., TDD is governed by Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act. All telephone companies are required to provide telecommunication relay services by dialing 7-1-1 to reach a telecommunications relay service, abbreviated as TRS, after which an assistant can place a call using the 10-digit number on the caller’s behalf. The caller can then use a TDD to speak to the party on the other end of the call and read the response.

For more information on the laws governing TDD, see the FCC.

TDD is a commonly used abbreviation. On first reference in news stories use TDD, which is short for Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. On all subsequent references and outside of news stories, use TDD.

The <abbr> code for TDD is:

<abbr title="Telecommunication Device for the Deaf">TDD</abbr>

← Return to Chapter T

telemedicine, telehealth

A healthcare or medical appointment or service offered by video meeting over computer, tablet or smartphone using a video meeting service such as Teledoc or Zoom. In some cases, services may be offered over telephone.

The service was significantly restricted in use by payors such as insurance, Medicare and Medicaid prior to the CoVid pandemic. It became widely used during the pandemic when, under emergency provisions, the regulation expanded available use, especially for Medicare.

← Return to Chapter T

this, that, these

As pronouns, vague words used to indicate a person, persons, a thing, or things nearby, just mentioned, about to be mentioned, or proximity. As an adjective, vague words used to indicate being just mentioned, being nearer, being in proximity, being about to be stated, or as a substitute for an indefinite article.

Most often used as a substitute for an indefinite article.

Avoid being vague by either following up this, that, or these with the article to which it refers, or simply replace it with the article to which it refers.

Examples:

Vague: This is closer than the park.
Better: The coffee shop is closer than the park.

Vague: I was looking for this.
Better: I was looking for this book.

Vague: Did she really say that?
Better: Did she really say you won the grant?

Vague: What are all these?
Better: What are all the index cards?

Vague: Who is that?
Better: Who is the person in the blue sweater?

← Return to Chapter T

Title 42

Broadly defined as Public Health and Welfare, this section of the U.S. Federal Code includes the Americans with Disabilities Act in Section 126; the establishment and provisions for NASA in Section 26; the establishment and provision for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Section 44; and many other well-known departments and initiatives.

The term Title 42 is often used as shorthand for the Trump Administration’s use of the public health, disaster, pandemic, quarantine, and emergency response provision of Title 42 in the early days of the CoVid pandemic to begin restricting the flow of immigrants across the U.S.-Mexican border, as well as to detain those who crossed the border. While the term is used as shorthand, it is not an accurate term, and OAJ suggests not using the term as shorthand for the detention policies during the first Trump Administration.

When discussing the U.S. national code, write Public Health and Welfare (Title 42 of the U.S. Code) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (Section 126) for clarity if or when the formal code is required.

Also see U.S. Code.

← Return to Chapter T

Title 47

Shorthand for the portion of the U.S. Code dealing with telecommunications.

Telecommunications services for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals laws are found under U.S. Code Title 47, Section 225 and are part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This portion includes rules about telecommunications people who may use closed captioning or telephonic relays services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. See TDD and TTY.

← Return to Chapter T

titles applied to names

The following rules apply to:

• Academic titles
• Honorific titles
• Honorary titles
• Formal titles
• Academic titles
• Royal titles
• Military titles
• Work titles
• Government/elected titles

Titles before a name are only capitalized when:

1. the title is a formal title, a royal/nobility title, an academic title, a military rank, or a legislative title
2. AND used before a person’s name

Always capitalize at least the first word of any title if it’s the first word in the sentence or at the beginning of a line.

Example:

• Professor Thurston Green, president of the Royal Society of Canine Breeders at Oxford University, met with King Charles III Thursday for tea.
• Sincerely,
  Dr. Lindsey Lewis
  Secretary
  Society of Podiatry
• Today, we remember Sen. Dianne Feinstein and movie star John Wayne.
• Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to sit on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Otherwise, titles — including work titles, courtesy titles, and other titles — are not capitalized. Do not use honorifics in news such as Mr., Mrs., Mx. or Ms.

Example:

• Although president of the board Robin Rex was new, they were determined to see change.
• Sandra Day O’Connor, a justice for 25 years, was the first female on the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president, is the first woman to hold the office.

← Return to Chapter T

tone deaf

Phrases such as tone-deaf to the situation or deaf to our needs are ableist. OAJ suggests writing around or using alternative language such as:

• Inconsiderate
• Insensitive
• Rude
• Tactless
• Faux pas
• Obtuse
• Annoying
• Thoughtless
• Careless
• Heartless
• Gauche
• Gaffe
• Unfeeling
• Uncaring

See amusia and deaf, hard of hearing.

← Return to Chapter T

Torah

The word Torah holds dual meaning in the Jewish faith:

The Five Books of Moses of the Tanach, also called the Torah Chumash. The Torah is copied by specialized scribes onto parchment scrolls and is treated with great care and respect by Jewish congregations. It is kept in special cabinets in the sanctuary. The term Torah is sometimes also used to describe the larger body of Jewish law and Scripture.

The Oral Torah, also called the Torah Sheba’al Peh. This is often thought of as an oral tradition or an oral history that is endless. It includes reading of text, debate of additional writings such as the Talmud or the Kabbalah, the stories or lessons from additional works, other teachings and emerging opinions.

Do not substitute terms such as Old Testament or Bible for Torah when discussing Judaism. See also Tanach.

← Return to Chapter T

tort law

An area of civil law in the U.S. that deals with wrongful actions of an individual or entity, which cause injury to another individual’s or entity’s person, property, or reputation. Tort law includes defamation laws, under which a person or entity can sue for libel or slander.

See defamation, New York Times v. Sullivan and Hustler Magazine, Inc., v. Fallwell.

← Return to Chapter T