NFP Editorial Style Guide
Updated June 2015
NFP Editorial Style Guide
The NFP Editorial Style Guide ensures that all written communications
developed for internal and external audiences are consistent and professional.
To search for a specific word or phrase, click the “Find” bar at the top of the
document. Type in the word or phrase you are looking for and hit “Enter” on
your keyboard. Terms matching your keyword will be highlighted throughout
the text. Click on the arrows to the right of the search bar to scroll through all
keyword matches.
Questions? Contact:
Emily Britt
Copy Editor
Marketing Communications
[email protected]
Ext. 6228
NFP Editorial Style Guide Sections
Editorial Voice............................................................................................ 3
Style and Usage ..................................................................................4
What to Capitalize/Not Capitalize in a Title ...................................... 13
Typography Rules and Punctuation .................................................. 14
Acronyms .......................................................................................... 16
Frequently Misused Words .................................................................... 17
Writing and Editing References ........................................................ 19
NFP Editorial Style Guide
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Updated April 2015
Editorial Voice
The NFP editorial voice (the tone and style of the written word) should be consistent with our brand positioning and visual
look and feel. When you write, consider:
Tone and Personality Attributes
Writing Checklist
• Objective and unbiased — Straightforward language;
no industry jargon
• Speak to the audience — Materials should speak “to”
rather than “at” the customer.
• Solution-oriented — Optimistic and forward-looking;
not encumbered by knowing too much
• Use second-person voice — When possible, use
second-person voice; that is, explain that “NFP can
help you do XYZ” rather than “NFP helps organizations
do XYZ.”
• Knowledgeable and smart — Confident in delivering
insight and advice
• Collaborative — Simple language and case examples
Core Messaging
• We are client advocates — Backed by the national
scale and resources of NFP, our advisors are objective
client advocates, without bias toward any one brand,
institution or type of solution. NFP advisors offer
clients objective advice and exclusive services, not
proprietary products.
• Make benefits clear, quickly — Customers need to
immediately understand why they should care.
• Be engaging and compelling — Help customers see
that NFP understands their business and that there is
value in taking the suggested action.
• Be logical — Text should have a logical flow, using
subheads that easily lead the reader through the material;
consider overviews and summaries for lengthy pieces;
make your main point at the top.
• Ours is an entrepreneurial focus — NFP provides
entrepreneurs the advantage of one coordinated
and comprehensive resource across their benefits,
insurance, wealth transfer, and business and investment
planning needs.
• We are held to a higher standard — NFP and its
businesses are held to the highest standards for
transparency and compliance.
• We deliver innovative strategies — NFP advisors
enjoy access to the latest technology and the leading
industry membership organizations, to bring clients
more innovative strategies and sophisticated,
effective planning.
• We are market leaders — NFP is a leader in delivering
benefits to mid-market companies and life insurance to
high net worth individuals, and we serve clients with one
of the country’s leading independent broker-dealers. This
leadership brings with it preferred market access that
directly benefits our clients.
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NFP Editorial Style Guide
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Updated April 2015
Style and Usage
academic degrees
Avoid abbreviations such as B.A., M.A., LL.D., J.D., Ph.D.
and MBA when possible, and use the complete phrase
instead. If space is an issue, abbreviations can be used.
Use appropriate periods between letters if you abbreviate.
Preferred: Jim Smith received his doctorate in business
administration in 1987.
Acceptable: Jim Smith received his Ph.D. in 1987.
Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, etc.
Correct: He has a bachelor’s degree.
Incorrect: He has a bachelor degree.
Don’t use an apostrophe in Bachelor of Arts or Master of
Science.
Correct: He has a Master of Science in finance from
Smith University.
Incorrect: He has a Master’s of Science in finance
from Smith University.
Don’t capitalize an academic subject area (unless it’s a
proper noun).
Correct: She has a Bachelor of Arts in finance.
Correct: She has a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Incorrect: She has a Bachelor of Arts in Finance.
Actuarial Guideline 38 (AG38)
abbreviations and acronyms
Write out a term at first mention. NFP is an exception.
Do not spell out National Financial Partners.
Place the acronym or abbreviation in parentheses directly
after the term. Use the acronym or abbreviation thereafter.
In general, don’t include the acronym or abbreviation if it
isn’t referred to again in the document.
Example: The Department of Labor (DOL) released
new rules. The DOL will release more in September.
When an acronym or abbreviation that doesn’t have
punctuation is plural, add an “s” without an apostrophe.
Correct: Hybrid VULs offer all of the benefits of
variable universal life products.
Incorrect: Hybrid VUL’s offer all of the benefits of
variable universal life products.
Exceptions: COBRA, ERISA, FINRA, HIPAA, IRS, NFP.
These terms do not need to be spelled out.
addresses
In general, use abbreviations for Road (Rd.), Avenue (Ave.),
Boulevard (Blvd.), etc., with a numbered address.
Preferred: 715 S. Alfred St.
Acceptable: 715 South Alfred Street
Don’t abbreviate road, street, etc., if it is not part of a
numbered address.
Correct: His office is just down the street.
Incorrect: His office is just down the St.
adjusted gross income
(Lowercase; abbreviate as AGI on second reference.)
Advanced Sales Resources
(when referring to the NFP team)
adviser
Adviser with an “e” refers to an entity. (See registered
investment adviser.)
advisor
Advisor with an “o” refers to a person.
Example: He is an investment advisor representative.
AdvisorComplete
(One word; use service marks (SM) on first use only, even in
newsletters with multiple articles.)
AdvisorEnterprise
(One word; use service marks (SM) on first use only, even
in newsletters with multiple articles.)
Advisory & Investments
Advisory & Investments Consulting
(when referring to the Advisory & Investments sales
team only)
afterward (not afterwards)
after-tax savings plan
AI Insight
aka (Lowercase; do not use periods.)
alternative minimum tax
(Lowercase; abbreviate as AMT on second reference.)
and vs. “&”
Use the ampersand (&) only when it’s part of a company’s
name (Procter & Gamble) or part of an official title.
Otherwise, do not use “&” in place of the word “and.”
Some exceptions can be made, e.g., using “&” to save
space in the title of an agenda.
applicable federal rate
(Lowercase; abbreviate as AFR
on second reference.)
apps, mobile
Titles of apps should be capitalized. Do not use quotation
marks.
auto plan (noun), auto-plan (adjective preceding a noun)
B trust (Bypass trust is preferred.)
baby boomers (lowercase)
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NFP Editorial Style Guide
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bank-owned life insurance
(Lowercase; abbreviate as BOLI on second reference.)
benefits
Lowercase unless part of a proper noun, such as
Benefits Partners.
Benefits Integration Group
(when referring to the NFP program)
charitable lead unitrust
check-in/check in
Use check-in as a noun or adjective, and check in as a verb.
(See checkout/check out.)
checkout/check out
Use checkout as a noun or adjective, and check out as a
verb. (See check in/check-in.)
Benefits, NFP
When referring to NFP Benefits firms, member firms should
be called Benefits Partners firms, and owned firms should
be called NFP offices.
Client Central
Benefits Partners
(Do not use “NFP” before Benefits Partners.)
coinsurance (no hyphen)
best-in-class/best-of-breed
Hyphenate when used as an adjective preceding a noun,
e.g., best-in-class programs.
board, board member, board of trustees|
Do not capitalize “board” or the phrase “board members.”
Capitalize “board” only when part of a formal title.
Example: They are members of the NFP Board of Directors.
Example: The board members met yesterday.
brochures
Use double quotation marks around brochure titles.
Example: For more information, read the MetLife
brochure titled “Building Financial Freedom.”
broker-dealer (lowercase)
No longer broker/dealer
book titles
Italicize book titles.
Example: He wrote How to Succeed in Business.
buy-sell agreement
buyback
buyout
bypass trust (lowercase)
C corporation (no hyphen)
Cadillac plan
Do not capitalize “plan.”
cafe
cannot
capital, capital gain, capital loss (lowercase)
carve-out plan (lowercase)
channel
closely held (no hyphen)
cloud, cloud computing, cloud server file
company, the
Do not capitalize company when referring to NFP.
Correct: NFP is pleased with the results. The company
said it expected the increase.
Incorrect: NFP is pleased with the results. The Company
said it expected the increase.
congressional
Lowercase unless part of a proper name.
Correct: His article was published in Congressional
Quarterly in January.
Correct: There will be a congressional hearing next week.
consumer driven health plans
(Abbreviate as CDHPs on second reference; lowercase
when spelled out.)
copay, copayment (no hyphen)
copyright symbol
See trademark symbols.
Core carrier, NFP
Corporate Benefits Training and Education
corporate-owned life insurance (Lowercase; abbreviate
as COLI on second reference.)
cost-sharing/cost sharing
Use cost-sharing as an adjective, and cost sharing
as a noun.
court cases
Italicize the name of the case, e.g., Hector v. Deere.
Use v., not vs.
credit shelter trust
(Lowercase; abbreviate as CST on second reference.)
cyberattack one word, noun and adjective
cybersecurity one word, noun and adjective
charitable lead trust
charitable lead annuity trust
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dates
Do not use numbers with st, nd, rd or th.
Correct: July 1
Incorrect: July 1st
Do not use a comma after a month when only month and
year are used.
Correct: The meeting is in April 2008.
Incorrect: The meeting is in April, 2008.
Use a comma before and after the year when a date
consists of a month, date and year.
Example: On Dec. 16, 2008, several firms met in Austin, TX.
tables when space is tight. In such cases, use uppercase K.
Example: $50K
drop-down menu
dynasty trust
e-learning (hyphenated and lowercase)
email (no hyphen)
Lowercase unless it is the start of a sentence.
email addresses (Lowercase all email addresses, even
when containing proper names.) Example: [email protected]
Use a comma after a day and date sequence.
Example: The meeting will be on Friday, Oct. 31,
in Austin, TX.
See also months.
employer mandate (lowercase)
death benefit only plan (lowercase)
exchange (as in state health insurance exchange)
Lowercase when not part of a formal title.
decades
Don’t use an apostrophe when referring to decades.
Correct: It was built in the 1990s.
Incorrect: It was built in the 1990’s.
decision-making process, decision-maker
(Hyphenate as adjective and noun.)
departments
Capitalize department names.
Example: the Compliance department.
When mentioning a department’s team, the department
name is capitalized, but the word “team” is not.
Example: Contact the Marketing Communications team.
designations
Should be trademarked.
Examples: CFP®, CIMA®, AEP®
Degree designations like B.A. and Ph.D. should not be
trademarked.
endnote
An endnote is a note of explanation or comment placed at
the end of a document. (See footnotes.)
family limited partnership
federal
Lowercase federal when used as an adjective, e.g., federal
taxes or federal government.
Uppercase federal when part of a formal name, e.g., the
Federal Trade Commission.
Federal Register (italicize)
fee-for-service
Hyphenate as an adjective preceding a noun.
firm, NFP
Do not capitalize the word “firm” unless part of an actual
title.
first in, first out
(When referring to the accounting method; abbreviate as
FIFO on second reference.)
dine arounds
fiscal year
When abbreviating: FY 2008 (not FY2008)
Do it Well
(Lowercase “it” in the title of the Benefits newsletter.)
fixed income market
dollars
Do not use the dollar sign ($) and the word “dollars”
together.
Correct: She had $500 to invest.
Incorrect: She had $500 dollars to invest.
Use commas in amounts with four numerals or higher.
Correct: She invested $1,000 in the stock.
Incorrect: She invested $1000 in the stock.
Do not use zeroes after dollar amounts.
Correct: The minimum investment is $200.
Incorrect: The minimum investment is $200.00.
flexible spending account
Abbreviate as FSA on second reference; lowercase when
spelled out.)
floors
Spell out first through ninth when referring to floors.
Example: His office is on the second floor.
Example: Her office is on the 11th floor
Hyphenate when used as an adjective.
Example: She has a fifth-floor office.
Avoid using K to express thousands of dollars, except in
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footnote
A footnote is a note of reference, explanation or comment
placed at the end of a page. Footnotes should be
numbered, unless there is only one in a document,
in which case, use an asterisk. (See endnotes.)
follow up/follow-up
Use follow up as a verb and follow-up as a noun or
adjective.
foreign terms
Unfamiliar foreign terms should be italicized at first use.
forms
Capitalize the title of the form, but not the word “form.”
Example: Included is the Replacement Disclosure form.
Fourth of July
401(k) (no space between the 1 and the k)
401(k) Compass
fully insured plan (no hyphen)
fundraising
generation-skipping transfer tax
(Lowercase; abbreviate as GSTT or GST tax on
second reference.)
grantor retained annuity trust
(Lowercase; abbreviate as GRAT on second reference.)
green card
health care
health reimbursement arrangements
(Abbreviate as HRAs on second reference; lowercase
when spelled out.)
health savings account
(Abbreviate as HSA on second reference; lowercase
when spelled out.)
HighCap
high-deductible health plan
(Abbreviate as HDHP on second reference.)
high net worth
high-quality (when used as an adjective preceding a noun)
Example: We offer high-quality services.
Example: We offer services of high quality.
high-yield bonds
Highland Capital Brokerage
When shortening the name, HCB is acceptable. Otherwise,
use Highland Capital Brokerage; do not shorten to Highland
Capital or Highland.
Highlighted carrier, NFP
highly compensated employees
homeowners insurance
home page
House bill (Abbreviate as HB at all times.)
Example: HB 657
human resources (Use the plural in all references.)
idea-sharing (Hyphenate in all uses.)
i.e. vs. e.g.
The Latin abbreviation i.e., stands for “in other words” or
“that is.” Use it to further define a statement.
Example: I am going to see the top financial firm, i.e.,
Smith Financial, for assistance.
The Latin abbreviation e.g. means “for example.” When
you use e.g., you are not offering a finite list, just a few
examples.
Example: Some policies, e.g., whole life and universal life,
offer substantial benefits.
Both i.e. and e.g. should be set off with commas. Do not
italicize. In general, these abbreviations can be avoided by
using “such as” or “for example.”
in-house (Hyphenate in all references.)
Inc. and Ltd.
Consult the company to find out whether it uses a comma
before Inc. or Ltd. You do not need to use Inc. or Ltd. on
second use. You do not need a comma following Inc. or Ltd.
Only the first letter should be capitalized.
Example: Time Warner Inc. is one company that provides
cable in Austin, TX. Time Warner is headquartered in
Alexandria, VA.
income-tax-free
Hyphenate as an adjective preceding a noun.
index, indexes, indices
in force/in-force
Example: The policy is in force. What in-force coverage
do you have?
Internal Revenue Code
Abbreviate as IRC on second use. In citations, write as
IRC § 212; within text, spell out the word “Section.” (See
section.) When listing multiple sections, use §§, with a
space before and after the symbols but not between.)
Example: See IRC §§ 401(a), 403(b) and 408.
international phone numbers
The NFP International Insurance Solutions preferred format
is 1.512.697.6250 (include 1 and use periods).
Internet (Capitalize in all uses.)
intranet (lowercase)
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insurance ratings
Preferred, Standard, Non-Standard (hyphenated)
investment advisor representative
(Do not capitalize.)
journals
Italicize journal titles. When making a title plural or
possessive, italicize only the title.
key man, key person (two words)
As in key man life insurance coverage.
keynote (one word)
As in keynote speaker.
last in, first out
(When referring to the accounting method; abbreviate as
LIFO on second reference.)
laws and bills
Italicize full titles of laws and bills.
Licensing & Registration
When refering to NFP Advisor Services.
life settlement(s)
(Lowercase unless part of a title or business.)
lists (vertical, as illustrated here)
• Begin each item in the list with the same verb tense and
part of speech. For example, “improved,” “modified,”
“solved.”
• Use all phrases or use all complete sentences. If a list
contains both, use periods after each bullet.
• Use an initial capital letter for the first word in each item
of a list.
• Use bullets instead of numbers when creating lists; use
numbers only if there is a priority or sequence to the list
items.
need financial guidance, too.
magazines
Italicize magazine titles. When making a title plural or
possessive, italicize only the title.
mergers-and-acquisitions
(Hyphenate when used as a modifier.)
midsize or midsized
M/B (uppercase)
M and B can be used to express million and billion,
respectively, in PowerPoints, charts and other graphical
materials (not in regular text).
modified endowment contract
(Lowercase; abbreviate as MEC on second reference.)
Pronounced “MECK”; therefore, should always be preceded
by the article “a.”
moneys (preferred plural for money)
months
Capitalize the name of months in all uses.
When a month is used with a specific date in text in a
complete sentence, abbreviate January (Jan.), February
(Feb.), August (Aug.), September (Sept.), October (Oct.),
November (Nov.) and December (Dec.).
Example: The meeting will be held on Nov. 6, 2010.
However, if month and date are used in text that is not
a complete sentence, the full month can be used. For
example, agendas, memos and newsletters may include
full dates in headers (September 13, 2011).
mortgage-backed securities
multicarrier
multidiscipline
multi-disability
lists (within paragraphs)
Use Arabic numerals, not Roman numerals or letters, with
closing parentheses.
Example: The plan must 1) render the advice as to the
value of securities, 2) do so on a regular basis and 3)
ensure that such person will render investment advice
based on the needs of the plan.
multiemployer
log in/login
Use log in as a verb, login as a noun or adjective.
Example: Log in to the site. Your login is 1234. Your login
information is attached.
mutual fund
long-term care
(Lowercase; abbreviate as LTC on second reference.)
low income/low-income
Use no hyphen when a noun. Hyphen when adjective.
Example: He has a very low income. Low-income earners
multigenerational
multi-life disability
multiple employer welfare arrangement
(Abbreviate as MEWA on second reference.)
names, in lists
Names should be in alphabetical order by last name (not
first name). In the case of compound or hyphenated
surnames, alphabetize by the first element.
Example: Jane Smith Jones would be listed under S.
NASD
NASD is now FINRA. Do not use NASD.
Nasdaq
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National Financial
National Financial Services is now National Financial.
Do not use the acronym NFS.
newsletters
Italicize newsletter names. When making a title plural or
possessive, italicize only the title.
Example: For more information, read Compliance Corner.
newspapers
Italicize newspaper names. When making a title plural or
possessive, italicize only the title.
Note: Some newspapers have “The” as an official part
of the name. For example, The New York Times. Keep
unless it must be dropped. For example: He shared a
New York Times article with us.
NFP
Use NFP in all text except legal/compliance
documents and statements. In those cases, use
the company's legal name, NFP Corp.
NFP Advisor Services
NFP Canada
Note: Drop the “Canada” for all collateral created for this
entity that will only be used in Canada; it should be referred
to as NFP. Some exceptions may apply.
NFP Corp.
The legal name of NFP. Use in legal/compliance
documents and statements only.
membership group.
Example: It is a PartnersFinancial membership firm.
Example: It is a Benefits Partners member firm.
NFP office (replaces “owned firm”)
NFP Print Center
NFP Property & Casualty (P&C)
Abbreviate as NFP P&C on second reference except after a
person’s title. NFP Property & Casualty should always be spell out
after a person’s title.
Example: Terrence Scali, CEO, NFP Property & Casualty
NFP Property & Casualty (P&C) Private Client Group
Refer to it as P&C Private Client Group after first mention.
NFP Talent Development
(Replaces NFP Education Development)
NFP Training & Education
no-lapse guarantee products
non-correlated
nondiscrimination (testing or policy)
non-exempt
non-grandfathered
non-medical
Non-standard (Hyphenate; see insurance ratings.)
nonprofit
NFP Advisor Services
nonqualified plans
NFP Disability
non-registered (hyphenated adjective)
NFP Education & Development
Do not use. Now NFP Talent Development.
nonresident
NFP Health and Welfare
nontraded REIT
nonresident alien
NFP HR Services
NFP IndeSuite (Include the SM mark at first reference.)
NFP International
NFP Insurance Services, Inc.
(Abbreviate as NFPISI on second reference.)
NFP Meetings and Event Strategy
NFP Life Insurance Training and Education
NFP logos
Logos should carry the ® sign rather than TM.
Note: On nfp.com, the circle R should appear on both the
“NFP” and the nexus. NFP Fusion Advisor Network is not
protected as a whole, but the nexus should carry the circle
R.
NFP member firm/NFP affiliate
Do not use the term “NFP member” or “NFP affiliate.” Do
not use the phrase “member of NFP.” Instead, refer to the
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numbers
Write out numbers zero to nine; use numerals for the
number 10 and above.
Correct: There are six companies that are members.
We hope to have 30 more join this year.
Incorrect: There are 6 companies that are members.
We hope to have thirty more join this year.
PartnersFlash (One word)
There are several exceptions to this rule:
Addresses: 6 Maple Street
Ages: Figures for people, animals and inanimate objects
Cents: 5 cents
Dollars: $5 (Don’t use extra zeros with sums of money.
$6, not $6.00)
Dates: June 6, 2008
Dimensions: He is 6 feet tall.
Fractions: Write out amounts less than one: two-thirds,
three-quarters.
Millions/billions: 3 million people
Percentages: 40 percent (Always spell out percent unless
in a chart or table.)
Speed: 7 miles per hour
Temperature: 50 degrees
pass-through entity percent
Write out the word percent in text, unless the text is a
non-marketing document with a heavy focus on conveying
a financial circumstance. Use the word “percent” when it
accompanies a specific number, and the word “percentage”
without a number.
Preferred: Taxes went up 20 percent.
Acceptable (in figure-heavy docs): Taxes went up 20%
Note: Use the % symbol in charts, graphs and tables.
Spell out numbers that start a sentence.
Example: Ten years ago, NFP opened its doors.
Spell out first through ninth when they indicate sequence in
time or location. Starting with 10th, use figures.
Example: Register for the second annual Executive
Benefits Sales Summit.
PartnersVoice (One word)
party affiliations
Abbreviate states in politicians’ party affiliations, using ZIP
code abbreviations.
Example: Sen. Jim Jones, R-OK.
PeopleFirst NFP HR program; one word, capital P, capital F
phone numbers/fax numbers
The preferred format for phone numbers and fax numbers
is: 800-880-0080 (Do not use a “1” in front of a toll-free
number.)
Example: 512-697-5145
When referring to an extension follow this format:
Example: Contact Jill Smith at 512-697-6555, Ext. 6172.
Note: Periods are used instead of dashes in some design
elements as well as stationery. Periods should not be
used in general text.
on site/on-site
Use on site as an adverb, and on-site as an adjective.
Example: You can register on site.
Example: On-site registration is now available.
policyholder (one word)
one-on-one (Hyphenate in all uses.)
post-tax hyphenate adjective before and after nouns
online
PPACA use instead of ACA in all cases
Spell out on first use. Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (PPACA)
Online Print Center
This is the new name for the Marketing Bridge. There are
links to it on the PartnersFinancial, Insurance and Advisor
Services websites.
open architecture platform
Option/Options
Spell out and capitalize when referring to options in our
automated phone system.
Example: Contact Trading Support at 800-880-0080,
Options 1, 2.
policyowner
point of sale as a noun, point-of-sale as an adjective
pre-existing condition
Preferred (See insurance ratings.)
premium leveraging arrangement
pretax
principal, NFP (lowercase)
ProductExpert (one word)
out-of-pocket expenses
professional employer organization
owned firm should not be used; use instead “NFP office”
or “NFP employees”
property and casualty insurance
Note: Use ampersand (&) only when part of an
organization’s name, e.g., NFP Property & Casualty.
PartnersFinancial
(Do not shorten to Partners in formal communications.)
Example: He is a member of PartnersFinancial.
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quarters
Spell out fiscal quarters when they are expressed as nouns.
Hyphenate them when they modify nouns. Abbreviate to Q
plus the appropriate number in graphs/tables or when space
is extremely limited.
Example: The company experienced gains during the
first quarter of 2010.
Example: The speaker discussed the company’s
first-quarter profits.
Example: Q3 2012 earnings
Rabbi trust
recordkeeping/record keeping (One word as an adjective
preceding a noun)
Example: The recordkeeping program is useful. It’s very
good at record keeping.
Regions
Lowercase north, south, northeast, etc., when they indicate
compass direction.
Example: She drove west.
safe harbor (no hyphen)
School of Excellence
Note: Do not use SOE acronym.
Seasons
Lowercase “spring,” “summer,” “fall” and “winter,” as well
as derivatives such as “springtime.”
Capitalize if part of a formal name, e.g., “Winter Olympics.”
section
In textual references to specific sections of legal
documents, such as the Internal Revenue Code, spell out
and capitalize the word “section.”
Example: As background, Section 105(h)
nondiscrimination applies to self-insured plans.
Use the section symbol, §, when referring to sections within
a citation.
Example: PPACA § 9002(b)
Select carrier, NFP
self-insured health plan (Not self-funded)
Capitalize regions.
Example: Midwest, East Coast, the Western states
Senate bill (Abbreviate as SB at all times.)
Example: SB 657
Lowercase when describing a section of a city or state.
Example: western Texas
Senator
Use Sen. before a senator’s name on first use. The Sen. can
be dropped on second use.
Example: Sen. Olympia Snowe voted yesterday. Snowe is
a big supporter of public option health care.
registered investment adviser
(Lowercase; Abbreviate as RIA on second reference.)
An entity, not a person (See advisor.)
registered representative (Do not capitalize.)
reinsurance
reports
Use double quotation marks around titles of reports.
Example: More information can be found on the
company’s annual report, “Smith Company in Review.”
Do not capitalize the word “senator” if used without a name.
Example: The senators are meeting tomorrow.
service marks (SM) (Uppercase)
Note: The font size of the service marks should be slightly
smaller than the rest of the text, and service marks should
never be bolded, even when appearing in a heading or title.
Service marks should precede any and all punctuation.
representative
Use Rep. before a representative’s name on first use.
The Rep. can be dropped on second use.
Example: Rep. Jack Smith voted yesterday. Smith is a
supporter of public option health care.
7- pay target
Do not capitalize the word “representative” if used without
a name.
Example: The representatives are meeting tomorrow
single(k) plans
robo-advisor noun, hyphenated
smartphone
rollup/roll up
Use rollup as a noun and roll up as a verb.
Example: The rollup reduced costs and increased revenue.
Example: The board members decided the two
companies should roll up by end of year.
Social Security
Capitalize the phrase whenever referring to the U.S. system.
roundtable (one word)
S corporation (no hyphen)
ships
Italicize ship names.
short-term care, disability
small business owner (no hyphen)
speeches
Put speech titles in quotation marks.
split-dollar plan (arrangement, insurance, agreements, etc.)
Standard (See insurance ratings.)
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Updated April 2015
states
City and state names should be separated by commas and
the state separated from the sentence with another comma.
Example: They went to Austin, TX, on their vacation.
stepparents
stop-loss (Hyphenate in all uses.)
studies
Use double quotation marks around titles of published
studies.
sub-account
summary plan description
Sure Start (when referring to the NFP program)
takeaways
target-date fund
tax deductible/tax-deductible
Examples: Is that plan tax deductible? There is a
tax-deductible plan.
television shows
Use quotation marks around television shows.
the workplace HELPLINE
(Always write HELPLINE in all caps; lowercase the workplace
in text, but leave it
capitalized in logos.)
third-party administrator
(Lowercase; abbreviate as TPA on second reference.)
toward (not towards)
trademark symbols
In NFP products, use the appropriate trademark symbol on
first use only. No trademark symbols are necessary for nonNFP products. Some exceptions may apply. The NFP logo
should have an ® instead of a TM mark.
Training On Demand (when referring to the NFP program)
TRICARE
24/7
Use a slash to represent a time period that continues
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
trust owned health insurance (lowercase)
turnkey (one word)
tweet
Twitter
Type 1/Type 2 diabetes
UConnect (when referring to the NFP program)
ultra high net worth (No hyphens, even when used as
adjective.)
UnderwritingExpert (when referring to the NFP program)
United States/U.S.
For U.S. and U.K., use periods except in press release boiler
plate, where it’s US and UK.
universal life (lowercase)
time
Use a.m. and p.m. (In sentences, do not use the “:00.”)
Correct: The boat leaves at 6 a.m.
Incorrect: The boat leaves at 6 am.
Incorrect: The boat leaves at 6 AM.
URLs
Do not use “http://” at the beginning of a URL that
starts with “www.”
Agenda times should be listed with the “:00.”
Example: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (Abbreviate to VoIP.)
Always use numerals for time except for noon and midnight.
Lowercase noon unless it starts the time sequence.
Examples: Noon – 2:00 p.m.; 11:00 a.m. – noon
Washington, D.C.
In sentences, use a.m. / p.m. only once.
Correct: The meeting is scheduled for 9 – 11 a.m.
Incorrect: The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
WebEx
time zones
The abbreviations, such as ET, CT and PT, are acceptable.
Do not use a comma to set off a time zone.
Example: The meeting is at 2 p.m. CT at the Hyatt.
Note: NFP style accepts the dropping of the indication
of daylight saving time. So, for example, if it’s CST, CT
is acceptable.
titles
Titles like “manager” are not capitalized in text except in
press releases.
username (one word)
wall (As in Facebook wall; do not capitalize.)
webcast, webcam, webmaster (lowercase)
Web page (uppercase “W” and two words)
Use caps with no italics or quotation marks.
Note: If you’re discussing several capitalized segments
of a website (separate pages within the site, sections,
etc.), it may be necessary to use quotation marks or other
treatment to make distinctions between these separate
elements.
website
website tabs
Capitalize and place in quotation marks.
Example: Click on the “Information” tab for details.
top hat plan
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NFP Editorial Style Guide
Updated April 2015
website titles
Use caps with no italics or quotation marks. This rule should
be followed even if the website name is also the name of a
publication. (See note on Web page.)
white papers
Use double quotation marks around titles of white papers.
Example: The independent research firm produced a white
paper called “RIA Technology Integration: The
True Opportunity Cost of Inefficiency,” which was
commissioned by NFP Advisor Services.
whole life (lowercase)
Wi-Fi
WinFlex Web (when referring to the program)
wirehouse
workers’ compensation
work-life balance
wrapup/wrap-up
When used as a verb – It is time to wrap up the conference.
When used as a noun – He did a short wrap-up at the end of
the call.
www
Do not use “http://” at the beginning of a URL that starts with
“www.”
year-end
Hyphenate as an adjective or noun.
Example: The year-end figures looked good.
Example: We will figure out the numbers at year-end.
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Updated April 2015
What to Capitalize in a Title
• The first and last words of a headline title. Note: If the
word is trademarked in the lowercase (e.g., iPhone,
eBay), do not capitalize it when it begins a title.
• Any word of five letters or more.
• Nouns — People, places, things.
• Pronouns — Replace nouns or other pronouns, e.g., I,
you, he, she, it, we, they, who, me, you, him, her, it, us,
them, whom, my, mine, your, yours, his, her, our, their,
this, that.
• Verbs — Express actions, events or states of being;
capitalize short verbs including: is, was, do, are, be.
• Adverbs — Add information to verbs, adjectives or
adverbs. Answer questions such as how, when, where,
and how much, e.g., so, very, quickly, beautifully, slowly.
• Adjectives — Modify/describe nouns or pronouns, e.g.,
yellow, round, warm.
• All types of conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs of
four or more letters, e.g., once, when, that, then, what.
Don’t Capitalize
• Articles — the, a, an
• Prepositions of four letters or fewer, e.g., at, by, but, for,
in, into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, out, over, past, to, up,
upon, with
• All types of conjunctions three letters or fewer, e.g.,
and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet, as, if
• Some words that are usually propositions sometimes
function as adverbs. Capitalize or don’t capitalize in a
title according to the word’s function.
Examples: Meet at the Monument (prepositional).
Schedule At a Glance (adverbial)
Somewhere over the Rainbow (prepositional).
Rolling Over Your IRA (adverbial)
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Typography Rules and Punctuation
Typography
• Insert only a single space after all punctuation.
• Don’t use more than one exclamation mark after a word.
• Don’t underline text for emphasis.
Don’t underline hyperlinks.
• Don’t use all capital letters for emphasis.
• Use boldface and italics text sparingly.
• Use numbers for footnotes and endnotes, not Roman
numerals. If there is only one, use an asterisk.
• Avoid heavy use of exclamation marks.
Punctuation
Apostrophes
Use an apostrophe and no additional “s” for possessive
formal names (singular or plural) ending in “s.”
Correct: Mr. Jones’ company opened in March.
Correct: The Joneses’ company is expanding.
Incorrect: Mr. Jones’s company is expanding.
Commas, but
Use a comma before but if the word is separating two
sentences that can stand alone.
Example: She was glad he was there, but she had to
make a decision on her own.
Example: There was nothing out of place but a notebook.
Brackets
Use brackets to indicate that you have added a word into
a direct quote.
Commas, including/such as
These phrases typically have a comma in front of them.
Example: This account offers many benefits, including
flexibility and personalization.
Colons
Colons are used most frequently to introduce lists or texts,
or to give emphasis to a statement.
Capitalize the first word after a colon if it’s a proper noun
or the start of a complete sentence.
Contractions
If you choose to use contractions (you’re, they’re, isn’t), which
are considered “informal,” make sure that you are consistent
in using them throughout the document.
Example: She promised this: The stock price would
rise again.
Colons go outside quotation marks unless part of
quoted material.
Commas
Do not use the serial comma, which is a comma before
a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for) in a series, unless the
series is complex and the comma is needed for clarification.
Correct: The company’s logo is green, red and blue.
Incorrect: The company’s logo is green, red, and blue.
Correct: Smith Financial sells life, disability, and
property and casualty insurance to individuals.
Commas, adjectives
Use commas to separate adjectives of equal rank (if you
reversed their order, the sentence would still work).
Dashes
Use spaces on both sides of a dash.
Use an em dash (—) to signal an emphatic phrase.
Example: We can make this company great — if we work
together.
Use an en dash (–) to set off a phrase or thought in the middle
of a sentence.
Example: He listed the qualities – intelligence, honesty,
independence – that he wants in his employees.
Ellipses ( … )
Ellipses indicate the deletion of words. They consist of three
periods and a space on either side of the first and last period.
Correct: I wanted to go … but we stayed.
Incorrect: I wanted to go…but we stayed.
Example: The program is quick, easy and cost-effective.
Example: She wore a cheap fur coat.
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Hyphens
Don’t hyphenate adverbs that end in –ly or start with very.
Examples: A carefully planned project; a fully automated
system; a very good job. (Note that the -ly adverbs are
moveable or switchable: e.g., a project planned carefully, a
virus discovered recently, a system that is automated fully.)
When a compound modifier – two or more words that express
a single thought or concept – precedes a noun, use hyphens
to link all the words in the compound modifier (with the
exception of the adverb very and all adverbs that end in –ly).
However, follow industry standards for well-known industry
terms (small business owner). See individual entries in this
style guide and AP. If not listed, consult Merriam-Webster’s
Dictionary.
Example: pass-through entity
Period
Insert only one space after a period and all other punctuation.
Quotation Marks
Place periods and commas inside quotation marks.
Place semicolons and colons outside of quotation marks.
In most cases, double quotation marks, not single, should be
used. Double quotation marks can be used to indicate a word
is unique or special in some way. Only put the word in quotes
on first use. Double quotation marks are also used when you
are quoting someone. Single quotation marks are used when
the person you are quoting is quoting someone else.
Example: “John gave me the best advice when he said,
‘Put your money in a Roth IRA,’” said Mark.
Single quotation marks can be used when there’s a quote in a
headline: Manager Alleges ‘Dirty Players’ on Baseball Team
Semicolons
Use a semicolon when items in a series are long or contain
internal commas. Use a semicolon before the final conjunction.
Example: He has a son, Ted Jones, of Chicago; a
daughter, Jane Smith, of Alabama; and a wife, Sue Jones,
from Portland.
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Updated April 2015
Acronyms
Need to write out an acronym but aren’t sure what it means? This list may help.
AGI – adjusted gross income
HR – human resources
ALU – The Academy of Life Underwriting
HRA – health reimbursement arrangements
AUM – assets under management
HSA – health savings account
BGA – brokerage general agency
ILIT – irrevocable life insurance trust
BOLI – bank-owned life insurance
IRAs – individual retirement accounts
CAGR – compounded annual growth rate
IRC – Internal Revenue Code
CDHP – consumer driven health plan
IPS – investment policy statement
CIMA – Certified Investment Management Analyst
J.D. – Juris Doctor
CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter
LIFO – last in, first out (an accounting method)
CLT – charitable lead trust
LLC – limited liability corporation
CLAT – charitable lead annuity trust
LL.M. – Master of Laws
CLUT – charitable lead unitrust
L.P. – limited partnership
CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
LTC – long-term care
COLI – corporate-owned life insurance
MEC – modified endowment contract
CRM – content relationship management
MEWA – multiple employer welfare arrangement
CSO – Commissioner’s Standard Ordinary mortality table
NASDAQ – National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotient
DI – disability insurance
DRIPs – dividend reinvestment plans
E&O Coverage – errors and omissions coverage
EAP – employee assistance program
ERISA – Employee Retirement Income Security Act
ETFs – exchange-traded funds
FIFO – first in, first out (an accounting method)
FINRA – Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
FLMI – Fellow, Life Management Institute
FLP – family limited partnership
FLSA – Fair Labor Standards Act
FMLA – Family Medical Leave Act
FSA – flexible spending account
NPCI – net payment cost index
NYSE – New York Stock Exchange
OPEB – other post employment benefits
P&C – property and casualty
PEO – professional employer organization
PPLI – private placement life insurance
RIA – registered investment adviser
RRE – responsible reporting entity
SCI – surrender cost index
SEC – U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SEP IRA – simplified employee pension
SERP – supplemental executive retirement plan
GAAP – generally accepted accounting principles
SIMPLE IRA – savings incentive match plan for employees
GDP – gross domestic product
SSA – Social Security Administration
GST or GSTT – generation-skipping transfer tax
SOLI – stranger owned life insurance
HCEs – highly compensated employees
TOHI – trust owned health insurance
TPA – third-party administrator
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Updated April 2015
Frequently Misused Words
affect/effect
Affect is a verb meaning to influence: His decision will
affect the board members.
Effect as a verb means to cause: We hope our new
president will effect change in the company.
Effect as a noun means result: The effect of his actions on
the company was minor.
allude/elude
Allude is to make an indirect reference: I heard him allude
to the matter.
Elude is to avoid or evade: The perpetrator managed to
elude authorities.
appraise/apprise
Appraise is to evaluate or estimate: He appraised the ring
at $5,000.
Apprise is to inform: Keep the firms apprised of your
progress.
between/among
Among refers to more than two parties: The estate was
divided among four heirs.
Between is used to refer to two parties: An agreement
was struck between the two firms.
can/may
Can denotes the ability to do something.
May denotes permission or possibility.
complement/compliment
Complement indicates something that completes or goes
with something else: The graphs complement the text well.
Compliment indicates an expression of admiration or flattery.
Complimentary means something is given free of charge.
compared to/compared with
Use compared to when the intention is to assert that two
or more things are similar or have resemblances even
though they are of a different order: Life has been compared
to a battle.
Use compared with when juxtaposing two or more items to
illustrate differences or similarities of a similar order: Revenue
rose 12 percent compared with the prior year period.
ensure/insure/assure
Ensure means to make certain: The company took steps to
ensure its continued growth.
farther/further
Farther refers to distance: Jack ran farther than Jill. Further
refers to time or quantity: I need to look further into the
matter.
fewer/less
Use fewer when referring to a number or an amount that can
be counted: Fewer people than ever voted this year.
Use less when the amount cannot be counted: There is less
sand on the beach this year.
Note: In some cases, when referring to time or money, less
is correct: Please spend less than $100.
Into/in to
Use into when referring to a physical place one can enter: The
man walked into the cave.
Use in to when “to” has its own object: She turned her paper
in to the teacher.
Note: If it does not answer the question “Where?” in to is
probably the correct choice.
Its and It’s
Its is the possessive form of “it”: Its tail was very big.
It’s is a contraction of “it is”: It’s nice to meet you.
Lend/loan
Lend is a verb: Jack asked Jill to lend him $100.
Loan is a noun: The bank gave her a loan.
principle/principal
A principle is a law, doctrine or code of conduct: The board of
directors acted in accordance with the company’s principles.
A principal can mean capital or a person who has authority or
influence: The principal investor provided the majority of the
startup’s principal.
stationary/stationery
Stationary means immobile, fixed.
Stationery is writing paper.
than/then
Than is a conjunction used in comparisons: Jack is taller
than Jill.
Then has several meanings that refer to description of times:
We’ll meet then. First I opened the account; then I moved
my funds.
Insure means to give, take or procure insurance on.
Assure means to give confidence to.
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that/which
That is a restrictive clause, which means it is part of a
sentence that you can’t get rid of because it would change
the meaning of the sentence. For example: The life insurance
that she purchased may help her children pay for college.
Which is a nonrestrictive clause. If you eliminated the
clause, the rest of the sentence would not lose its meaning.
For example: Her life insurance, which she purchased last
year, may help her children pay for college. There was a
drop in the market, which is bad news.
that/who
Always use who to refer to people.
Use that to refer to things.
who/whom
Who always refers to the subject of the sentence: Stan is a
person who gives his all. Who is there?
Whom refers to the object of the verb or preposition: The
woman to whom the car was given parked in the driveway.
Maggie didn’t ask for whom the bell tolls.
Note: When in doubt about whether to use who or whom,
turn the sentence into a question and ask yourself if the
answer to the question would be he or him. If you can
answer the question with him, then use whom, It’s easy
to remember because they both end with m.
Example: If the sentence is “Who/whom is attending the
conference?” the answer would be “He is attending the conference.” He does not end with an m, so you know to use
who. But if the sentence is “Who/whom should I send the
document to?” the answer would be “Send it to him.” Him
ends with an m, so you know to use whom.
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Writing and Editing References
The Associated Press Stylebook
This site provides answers to frequently asked questions about Associated Press style, which NFP editorial style is based on.
www.apstylebook.com
Copyediting newsletter
This newsletter covers language-use issues and offers practical editorial advice.
www.copyediting.com
Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Grammar Girl offers searchable and easy-to-understand explanations for writing and editing questions.
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/
Merriam-Webster Online
This is an online dictionary and thesaurus.
www.merriam-webster.com/
Purdue Online Writing Lab
The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University provides hundreds of writing/grammar resources.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
continues >
About NFP
At NFP Corp., our solutions and expertise are
matched only by our personal commitment to each
client’s goals. We are a leading insurance broker and
consultant that provides employee benefits, property
& casualty, retirement, and individual insurance
and wealth management solutions. Our registered
investment adviser and broker-dealer empowers
independent financial advisors with integrated
technology, subject matter expertise and a suite of
customized services.
INS-13219-10 [Design Resources/ NFP Guidelines]
For internal use only. Copyright © 2014 NFP. All rights reserved.