Sports writer looking for Grammar help

[MNgremlin]

Here's one that gets under my skin that I saw today:

canceled vs. postponed

If an event was rained out, et al, and will be rescheduled, it was postponed.

If the event will not be rescheduled, it was canceled.

And if an event began, but then was rained out, it was suspended.

They are not interchangeable.

Fact. Unfortunately, too many schools in my area don't realize the difference. So unless we follow up with them, often times, it will be reported however they announced it.

 

[MNgremlin]

Not really grammar, but I struggle with this....

First reference: Wade Baldwin IV
Second reference: Is it Baldwin IV or just Baldwin?

 

[HandsomeHarley]

Hmm ... I have never come upon that one.

Just a guess, but if it were me, if the story talks about more than one of the Baldwin clan, I would go with "Baldwin IV" on all of his references, but if this particular Baldwin was the only one in the story, I would stick with "Baldwin."

Jr. and Sr., of course, would fall along these same lines.

 

[Riptide]

Not really grammar, but I struggle with this....

First reference: Wade Baldwin IV
Second reference: Is it Baldwin IV or just Baldwin?

Baldwin.

 

[MNgremlin]

Punctuation question

Podunk scored 10 first inning runs
OR
Podunk scored 10 first-inning runs

 

[HandsomeHarley]

Follow the rule: If it's a noun, no hyphen. If it's an adjective, use a hyphen.

"first-inning" modifies the noun "runs," so it gets a hyphen.

 

[MNgremlin]

Follow the rule: If it's a noun, no hyphen. If it's an adjective, use a hyphen.

"first-inning" modifies the noun "runs," so it gets a hyphen.

Thought so, but wanted to be sure.

 

[MNgremlin]

This is more style than grammar, but...
How do you deal with numbers? Did John Doe score 7 points or did he score seven points? Stylebook just confuses me on this.

 

[cjericho]

This is more style than grammar, but...
How do you deal with numbers? Did John Doe score 7 points or did he score seven points? Stylebook just confuses me on this.

Isn't is spell out single digits?

 

[MNgremlin]

Isn't is spell out single digits?

Yes, I've been told that's the rule. But then I look at Stylebook and don't know if it meshes.

Taking an excerpt from Stylebook, here's the part I'm unsure about:
-In narrative, spell out nine and under except for yard lines in football and individual and team statistical performances.

Stylebook never actually gives a scoring example under 10 though, so I may be reading too far into that explanation.

 

[HandsomeHarley]

Numbers less than 10 are spelled out, with exceptions.

If you are using them for statistical purposes, they often should be numerals.

Smith hit 7 of 8 from the floor ... Jones finished 3 for 4 with two home runs.

If it refers to a marker on a field, use numerals.

The nine-yard run put the ball on the Pudunk 7.

 

[MNgremlin]

If you are using them for statistical purposes, they often should be numerals.

Smith hit 7 of 8 from the floor ... Jones finished 3 for 4 with two home runs.

So two home runs isn't a statistic? That's the inconsistency that makes it confusing.