Management Strategies Language Guide
A quick-and-easy set of style and grammar tips
Introduction
Management Strategies outline the steps we will take to accomplish the Goals and Outcomes in the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed Agreement. These documents also describe how we will monitor, assess and report our progress
and coordinate actions among partners and stakeholders.
For consistency between these Management Strategies and the Watershed Agreement—and among the
Management Strategies themselves—we ask authors and editors to follow the style and grammar tips below.
Style and Grammar Tips
In general, we use U.S. English according to the Associated Press Stylebook.
Page and article titles, headlines and subheads
Title case page titles. Sentence case article titles. Neither take terminal punctuation, unless a question mark is
required.
Lists
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If any item in a list forms a complete sentence, all items must begin with a capital letter and end with a
terminal punctuation mark.
If no items in a list form a complete sentence, retain the beginning capitalization and skip the terminal
punctuation.
If the items in the list complete an unfinished introductory sentence, end all but the last item with a
semicolon, add an “and” before the final item, and finish off with terminal punctuation.
Punctuation
 Commas: Never use the serial comma (the comma preceding the “and” before the last element in a list).
 Em dashes: Do not leave a space on either side of the em dash.
Capitalization details
When using title case, capitalize the first, last and all other major words. Lowercase “and,” “but,” “for,” “or” and
“nor.” When using sentence case, capitalize only the first word and proper names.
Specific Terms
Agencies and organizations: Use full name (with appropriate acronym in parenthesis) on first reference. On
second reference, use appropriate acronym.
 For example: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Agreement: lowercase when referring to past agreements as nouns. Capitalize when using the full or shortened
title of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
 For example: Past agreements or the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
Chesapeake Bay: use full title on first reference. On second reference, use the Bay.
Chesapeake Bay Program: use full title on first reference. On second reference, use Bay Program. Do not use
Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership, but do use Chesapeake Bay Program partners or the partnership.
Chesapeake Bay watershed: use full title on first reference. On second reference, use watershed.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement: use full title on first reference. On second reference, use Watershed
Agreement
Chesapeake Executive Council: use full title on first reference. On second reference, use Executive Council.
Document titles: use full names on first reference.
 For example: the 1983 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, Chesapeake
2000, Executive Order 13508 or Executive Order on Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration, the
Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
Goals: use title case when referring to general or specific goals.
 For example: the Goals in the Watershed Agreement or the Sustainable Fisheries Goal
Jurisdictions: when referring to Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, use
states. When referring to these and the District of Columbia, use jurisdictions.
Management Strategies: use title case when referring to general or specific management strategies.
 For example: the Management Strategies related to the Watershed Agreement or the Forage Fish
Management Strategy
More than versus over: More than is preferred with numbers.
 For example: the Watershed Agreement contains more than 30 outcomes
Numerals: spell out a numeral at the beginning of a sentence. If necessary, recast the sentence. There is one
exception—a numeral that identifies a calendar year. Spell out whole numbers below 10 and use figures for 10
and above.
 For example: Thirty-three miles of fish passage were restored in 2013. This brings the total to 2,576
miles. More than six migratory fish species will benefit from reopened fish passage.
Outcomes: title case when referring to general or specific outcomes.
 For example: the Outcomes in the Watershed Agreement or the Environmental Literacy Outcome
States: when referring to Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, use states.
When referring to these and the District of Columbia, use jurisdictions.
Watershed jurisdictions: use full name in list of participating partners.
 For example: the State of Delaware, the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, the State of New
York, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Virginia or the State of West Virginia
Factors Influencing Trends: Top-Level Tags
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Climate Change
Invasive Species
Land Use
Water Quality
Nutrient Pollution
Sediment Pollution
Stormwater
Toxic Contaminants
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)
Wetlands
Riparian Buffers
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Funding
Policy, Regulation and Enforcement
Outreach and Education