Style questions in general - thread

Not necessarily AP style or any other. Just looking for a consensus.

Got one for you to start off: is it "mach speed" or "Mach speed?"

(Certainly not "mock speed" which was turned in.)

 

Mach is a proper noun, so it should be capitalized.

 

Mach - Capitalize for the speed of sound. Mach is 750 mph at sea level, approximately 660 mph at 30,000 feet. Examples: Mach 1, Mach 2

 

JC Penney or J.C. Penney? AP style is the latter, of course, but every picture of their storefront is JC without the periods. I'm tired of arguing about it.

Almost enough to make me glad they're going bankrupt!

 

Why do you care about whether Mach speed is capitalized or not? The suits don’t care all they want is to fire you and

oh sorry this is Fredrick’s burner account, carry on

 

Named for Ersnt Mach, an Austrian physicist. Is capitalized.

Use the periods. North Carolina State University has been on this kick to use "NC State" and it should still be "N.C. State."

 

The old rule was, don't use periods unless it spells a word. NHL, not N.H.L.
However, it got confusing because NL shouldn't use periods, but A.L. should.
UCLA, USC, UNLV no periods. U.C.L.A looks and is ridiculous.
But now there are so many of these: WHO, CDC. Going back and forth also seems ridiculous.

 

How about the abbreviation for microphone?

 

I'm a Kraut-Mick, friend, so the abbreviation for a microphone is "talkie thing."

 

Or anglophone ... or francophone? Sorry.

 

With 33 years a journalist after 20 as professional musician and producer (yes, you've heard my songs on the radio), the verbal and written shorthand for microphone is "mic." (Not "mike," though pronounced the same) However, there is some discussion around the verb form. NBC Sports and Fox Sports (not "FOX" Sports, as they demand it be written) go with "mic'd up," while the hip-hop universe prefers "miked up." I've used both, depending on which outlet I'm writing for.