In general, the oceanexplorer.noaa.gov website follows the AP Stylebook ; the most notable exception is that writing on the website always uses the serial (Oxford) comma.
academic degrees - Preferred form is to avoid abbreviations and write out degree names in text. When needed, use abbreviations B.S., M.A., MBA, Ph.D. (with punctuation as noted). Capitalize formal degree names (e.g., Master of Science) but don't capitalize informal degree names (e.g., master's degree) or the subject the degree is in (e.g., geology).
acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) - Unless part of a proper name, only “Doppler” is capitalized.
acronyms - In general, limit the use of these shortened text forms, especially when they are only used a few times. When using an acronymn, always write out in first instance and define in parentheses; e.g., remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
Exception is NOAA, which does not need to be defined (can use NOAA at all times)
anchors aweigh - Not “anchors away.”
approximation symbol (~) - Don’t use this symbol when describing a range in text, use a word (e.g., approximately), instead.
archaeology NOT archeology
Blue Economy NOT blue economy
brittle star NOT brittlestar
century NOT Century - Example: we are in the 21st century.
commas - Always use the serial (Oxford) comma, meaning a comma placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction (usually "and" or "or") in a series of three or more terms; e.g., one, two, and three (comma before "and").
data - The word "data" is plural; datum is singular.
database - One word.
dates - In general, use the U.S. convention: month day, year. Don’t use st, nd, rd, or th. When a phrase refers to a month and day within the current year, the year is not necessary. If the reference is to a past or future year, include the year and set it off with commas. Use an “s” without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries (e.g., 1980s, not 1980's). It is okay to start a sentence with a year in numeric form. Do not abbreviate days or months in text.
Deep Discoverer versus D2 - Use Deep Discoverer in first reference; okay to use D2 after being defined; D2 is not italicized.
deep-sea versus deep sea (or deep-ocean versus deep ocean) - Hyphenate (deep-sea or deep-ocean) when being used as an adjective modifying another noun (e.g., deep-ocean exploration); no hyphen (e.g., deep sea - two words) when deep is the adjective modifying sea (i.e., exploration of the deep sea).
deepwater versus deep water - Deepwater (one word) when being used as an adjective modifying another noun (i.e., deepwater exploration); deep water (two words) when deep is the adjective modifying water (i.e., exploration of deep water).
Dr. - In general, don’t use “Dr.” before the names of individuals who hold nonmedical/dental doctoral degrees in text. If appropriate, use “Ph.D.” after first mention of full name.
e.g., - Means "for example" and is always lowercase and followed by a comma.
email - One word, not capitalized.
federal NOT Federal - Don’t capitalize unless part of proper name (e.g., a federal agency versus the U.S. Federal Government).
gray - Not grey.
i.e., - Means "that is" and is always followed with a comma.
internet NOT Internet
in situ - Always italicized.
military titles/job titles - For enlisted personnel, spell out the rank and rating on first reference; in cutlines, abbreviate ranks and ratings at all times; use OMAO/military style for rank abbreviations:
admiral - ADM
vice admiral - VADM
rear admiral - RADM
rear admiral lower half - RDML
captain - CAPT
commander - CDR
lieutenant commander - LCDR
lieutenant - LT
lieutenant junior grade - LTJG
ensign - ENS
multibeam - One word.
NOAA - do not need to write out/define; okay to start with acronym
NOAA Ocean Exploration - Refer to the office as NOAA Ocean Exploration in all public and partner communicaons. Do not use any acronymn, including “OE,” "NOAA OE," or "OER." Do not use only "Ocean Exploration" in place of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
NOAA vessels - For first reference, always include “NOAA Ship” (capital S) and the ship's name and italicize the name of the ship. Okay to drop "NOAA Ship" after the first reference. Never include “the” before “NOAA Ship [name]” or just the ship's name. For example, we sailed on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.
Note on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Never use just Okeanos.
numbers - One digit numbers should always be spelled out; numbers of two or more digits should be expressed as numerals, e.g., three experiments or 13 experiments. Use commas in numbers with four or more digits. Always use numerals for ages, measurements (distance and dimensions), percent, time (noon and midnight are okay to write out), money, sequential designations, and when referring to millions, billions, and trillions.
Exception - When a sentence contains a series of numbers, where at least one is of more than one digit, then all of the numbers should be expressed as numerals, e.g., We saw 3 fish, 7 sea stars, and 15 corals
ocean - Singular; there is only one ocean on Earth, there are multiple ocean basins.
percent - Use the % sign and pair with numerals with no space. For amounts less than 1%, precede the decimal with a zero.
principle versus principal - Principle is a rule, a law, etc.; principal is a person, such as principal investigator.
real-time vs. real time - Hyphenate when used to modify a noun, but don’t if it stands alone (real-time data versus the data were collected in real time).
remotely operated vehicle - Lowercase.
seafloor NOT sea floor - One word.
sea star NOT seastar - Two words.
scientific nomenclature - Both genus and species names are always italicized, genus name always capitalized while species name never is; other scientific names are capitalized but not italicized.
scientific units - Write out at all times (no abbreviations); metric first with U.S. in parentheses; i.e., 100 meters (328 feet).
Exception - Okay to abbreviate temperature (Celsius/Fahrenheit to °C/°F) units.
ship, ROV/AUV names - Italicize.
side scan - Two words, hyphenated; as in side-scan sonar.
underway - One word.
United States - Spell out when used as a noun; use U.S. only as an adjective (and include the periods).
use vs. utilize - Use “use” instead of “utilize” unless you are describing how something is being used in a way different from how it is intended.
website - one word, not capitalized