What's new in PATH style

NEW: Board of Directors, Executive Team

PATH uses title case for Board of Directors and Executive Team. The shortened forms are board and ET.

UPDATED: Job titles

Use title case for official job titles. Use lowercase for occupational descriptions. Use a comma only when the job title or description comes after the name:

• Official job title before name: Chief Programs & Innovation Officer Kammerle Schneider.
• Name, then official job title: Kammerle Schneider, Chief Programs & Innovation Officer.
• Occupational description before name: head of programs and innovation Kammerle Schneider.
• Name, then occupational description: Kammerle Schneider, head of programs and innovation.

UPDATED: Phase/phase

Use an uppercase P in Phase when describing a clinical trial (e.g., Phase 3 clinical trial).

UPDATED: Place names

(new information on plurals)

Capitalize directional adjectives when they are part of a proper name—for example, South Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. Do not capitalize terms such as northern Africa, eastern Asia, and central Asia. Capitalize the words district, province, region, and state when they are part of the formal name—for example, Sunsari District and Washington State (but note: district of Sunsari, state of Washington). Retain the capital letter when referring to two or more political divisions of the same type (e.g., Monduli and Hai Districts).

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NEW

The virus

The virus that causes COVID-19 is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. In nontechnical contexts, the virus responsible for COVID-19 or the COVID-19 virus is acceptable. Similarly, the novel coronavirus, the coronavirus, and the virus can be used as long as it is clear which virus you are referring to.

The disease

The disease is COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. For external communications, do not use COVID without -19 and do not style it with an initial capital letter only (i.e., Covid-19) or all lowercase letters (i.e., covid-19).

The abbreviations

As with other well-known abbreviations (e.g., HIV and AIDS), PATH does not require COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 to be defined at first use.

COVID-19 in combination with other words

When combining COVID-19 with other words, use a second hyphen (e.g., COVID-19-related symptoms). The disease, the pandemic, and similar expressions can be used as long as it is clear what you are referring to.

long COVID

New, recurring, or ongoing health problems that can last for weeks or months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 are called long COVID.

Coronaviruses

Be careful in your writing as there are multiple coronaviruses; for example, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or SARS-CoV.

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UPDATED: Italics

Staff are advised to use italics rather than quotation marks for words referred to as words. Here is an example:

• PATH tries to avoid using at-risk to describe people and communities.

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UPDATED: Reference examples

We have aligned more closely with AMA; see the following examples:

Blog post or op-ed

Gates B. This doctor/novelist is tackling malnutrition. Gates Notes blog. February 25, 2020. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/Heroes-in-the-Field-Dr-Kopano-Matlwa-Mabaso

Note: for an op-ed, type op-ed instead of blog.

Book

Jackson S. Take Me With You. SelectBooks; 2017.

Book chapter

Van de Wijgert J, Elias C. Defining reproductive tract infections and other gynaecological morbidities. In: Jejeebhoy S, Koenig M, Elias C, eds. Reproductive Tract Infections and Other Gynaecological Disorders: A Multidisciplinary Research Approach. Cambridge University Press; 2003:11–29.

ClinicalTrials.gov

A Phase 1 dose escalating study of double mutant heat-labile toxin LTR192G/L211A (dmLT) from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) by sublingual or oral immunization to determine safety and immunogenicity of a multi-dose regimen in adult humans. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02052934. Accessed September 10, 2018. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02052934

Database

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; 2018. Accessed April 24, 2018. https://www.omim.org/

Journal article accepted but not yet published

Last I. Rather than cite an actual title, we will use a placeholder. Journal Name. Forthcoming 2023.

Journal article with DOI

Omwoyo WN, Ogutu B, Oloo F, et al. Preparation, characterization, and optimization of primaquine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 2014;9(1):3865–3874. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S62630

Note: the exact format of the DOI can vary; in formats such as doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1515257, PATH prefers no space after the colon.

Journal article with URL

Bhutta ZA, Chopra M, Axelson H, et al. Countdown to 2015 decade report (2000–10): taking stock of maternal, newborn, and child survival. The Lancet. 2010;375(9730):2032–2044. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)60678-2/fulltext

Note: in journal article titles, do not capitalize the first letter following a colon unless it is a proper noun.

Newspaper article

Zimmer C. Inside Johnson & Johnson’s nonstop hunt for a coronavirus vaccine. The New York Times. July 17, 2020. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/health/coronavirus-vaccine-johnson-janssen.html

Occasional paper or paper in a series

Castro W, Gage J, Gaffikin L, et al. Effectiveness, Safety, and Acceptability of Cryotherapy: A Systematic Literature Review. PATH; 2003. Cervical Cancer Prevention Issues in Depth, No. 1.

Podcast

Correal A. The Daily. This Covid surge feels different. January 11, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/11/podcasts/the-daily/omicron-surge-hospitals.html

Poster presentation

Alvarado MR, Cowling K, Lozano R, Gakidou E. Reduction of inequalities in child mortality through maternal education: An individual-level analysis. Poster presented at: Global Health Metrics and Evaluation conference; March 15, 2011; Seattle, WA.

PowerPoint presentation

Primo Braga CA. The future of information and communication technologies for development. Presented at: ICT Development Forum; May 21, 2003; Petersberg, Germany.

Press release

Dramatic fall in cases of meningitis A in three West African nations after new vaccine introduction. Press release. PATH; June 9, 2011. http://www.path.org/news/press-room/246/

Print publication (including PDFs uploaded to the web)

PATH. Tackling Micronutrient Malnutrition: Rice Fortification Fights Hidden Hunger in Myanmar. PATH; 2014. http://www.path.org/publications/detail.php?i=2475

Web article

Deelstra J. Meet the health workers who will co-create solutions for vaccine delivery. PATH. August 22, 2019. Accessed September 30, 2021. https://www.path.org/articles/meet-health-workers-who-will-co-create-solutions-vaccine-delivery/

Web page

Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Vaccine development. Accessed April 20, 2018. http://www.malariavaccine.org/malaria-and-vaccines/vaccine-development

Website

Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Accessed April 20, 2018. http://www.malariavaccine.org/

UPDATED: Special cases

Generic

If none of the above apply, here are two basic templates:

Author. Title in sentence case. Publisher; Year of copyright. URL or DOI

Author. Title in Title Case, Italics. Publisher; Year of copyright. URL or DOI

Personal communication

Do not include personal communications in a reference list. Instead, cite the source in the text, providing the date and indicating whether the communication was oral or written. Be sure to obtain written permission from the person whose communication is cited:

• In a conversation with John Smith (October 2022) …
• According to a letter from John Smith in October 2022 …
• Similar views were expressed by John Smith (written communication, October 2022).

NEW: Non-English titles

For non-English-language titles, you have a few options:

• Include the title in the original language, but use English for all other elements (e.g., author name[s], publisher or journal name, and accessed date, if applicable).
• Use only the English-translated title. Specify the original language after the English translation (e.g., Article in Vietnamese). All other elements are in English.
• Provide the English-translated title and the original title, in that order and separated by a period (full stop). All other elements are in English.

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NEW: Apostrophe

Add an apostrophe plus s to form the possessive of singular and plural words and abbreviations that do not end in s:

• We support Zambia’s goal of ending malaria.
• The study analyzed the children’s height and weight.
• The team contributed to WHO's updated guidance.

For singular and plural words and abbreviations ending in s, add an apostrophe but no additional s:

• PVS’ board of directors.
• PAMO Plus’ legacy.
• The virus’ impact.
• The midwives’ feedback.

UPDATED: Quotation marks

When using quotation marks, American-style punctuation calls for commas and periods (full stops) to be placed within the quoted material. All other punctuation should be placed outside the quoted material unless it is part of the quoted material:

• “The pandemic has shifted multiple paradigms for vaccine development,” said Dr. Bhat. “We must ensure that rapid inclusion of pregnant people is one of them.”
• The moderator asked the panelists, “What can we do to improve the supply chain?”
• Did you read the article where Dr. Mahmood noted that “global demand for IPV is growing”?

PATH style calls for italics to be used for words referred to as words (see "Italics" in Formatting PATH documents); however, when quotation marks are used, commas and periods (full stops) are set within the quotation marks:

• The Uniject™ injection system is described as "autodisable," "prefilled," and "single-dose."

All other punctuation is set outside the quotation marks:

• The Uniject™ injection system is described as “autodisable”; the SoloShot™ syringe is also in this category.

For use of quotation marks in British English, see British style.

UPDATED: Semicolon

To avoid confusion, it is highly recommended (but not required) to use semicolons between items in a list of three or more when one or more contains an internal comma(s):

• COVID-19 has introduced a new set of challenges: essential health services have slowed; some health workers, equipment, and supplies have been redistributed; people are reluctant to seek care because of fear of infection; and school closures have contributed to a rise in gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies.

For a list that includes organization names that have commas, consider your intended audience when selecting a style. Either of the following is acceptable:

• PATH partnered with UNICEF; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and the World Health Organization.
• PATH partnered with UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the World Health Organization.

See also Partner and funder names.

Commas are always acceptable when only the last item contains an internal comma(s):

• PATH’s work includes advocacy to improve public health policies, digital solutions to strengthen health systems, and targeted interventions to improve the health of women, children, and other populations.

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This section was previously known as "Words commonly used at PATH."

• NEW: animal-source foods, app, bacillus Calmette-Guérin, co-create, co-develop, co-lead, COVID-19, eLearning, Eswatini, firsthand, first-line, long COVID, One Health, on-site, pre-exposure prophylaxis, primary health care, standalone, subnational, time point, universal health coverage (or care).
• UPDATED: Administration (e.g., the Biden Administration) is now initial capped, longstanding (now closed), roadmap (now closed).

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NEW: Special mention

The name SILCS (i.e., SILCS diaphragm) is never spelled out.

NIFTY (in all caps, an acronym for Neonatal Intuitive Feeding Technology) was PATH’s prototype. Nifty (with only the first letter capped; formally the Nifty Feeding Cup) is Laerdal’s product. Neither is trademarked, so neither needs a ™.

Similarly, the Woman’s Condom is PATH's prototype. It does not need a ™. Female condom is acceptable for general use.

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NEW: Word choice for diversity, equity, and inclusion

Black, brown, white

Capitalize Black when used as an adjective in a racial, ethnic, or cultural sense:

• Black people, Black culture, Black literature

African American (no hyphen) is also acceptable for those in the United States, though the terms are not necessarily interchangeable.

Lowercase brown and white when used as an adjective in a racial, ethnic, or cultural sense:

• brown people, white culture

developing country

Do not describe a country as developing. If a generalization must be used, PATH prefers low-income, lower-middle-income, or low-resource. These broad categorizations are imperfect and evolving and should be avoided if possible.

female, woman, women

PATH prefers woman or women not female for both adjective and noun:

• Zambia's all-woman laboratory team produced the results.
• A woman-owned business; a woman president.

Use female when sex rather than gender is necessary for accuracy—for example, to describe participants in a clinical trial.

gender neutrality

Whenever possible and appropriate, use gender-neutral words and phrases to make your writing as inclusive as possible. Examples include omitting a pronoun, using an article in place of a pronoun, dropping gendered suffixes such as -ette and -ess, and using terms such as chair not chairman. Learn more about editing for gender neutrality.

personal pronouns

When writing about a specific, known person, use that person’s identified pronouns. Here's an example:

• Dr. ABC leads our XYZ team. They got their medical degree from Harvard Medical School.

If the audience might be unfamiliar with the pronoun (e.g., ze, zir), consider adding a note for clarification.

When writing about a nonspecific person, use the gender-neutral third-person pronoun they. This pronoun and its related forms (their, themselves, and so on) have traditionally and without controversy been used to refer to a plural antecedent of any gender. (Antecedent: the word that will be replaced by another word—usually a pronoun—later in the sentence.)

More recently, however, they and their are accepted in formal writing to refer to a singular antecedent of unknown gender. These pronouns are known collectively as the singular they:

• The participant brought their own laptop.

Note: The singular they was and remains widely used in spoken English but has traditionally been discouraged in formal writing. This has changed.

APA provides excellent guidance (https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/gender); excerpts are quoted below:

• When referring to individuals whose identified pronouns are not known or when the gender of a generic or hypothetical person is irrelevant within the context, use the singular “they” to avoid making assumptions about an individual's gender. Use the forms “they,” “them,” “theirs,” and so forth. Sexist bias can occur when pronouns are used carelessly, as when the pronoun “he” is used to refer to all people, when a gendered pronoun is used exclusively to define roles by sex (e.g., “the nurse ... she”), or when “he” and “she” are alternated as though these terms are generic.
• Avoid using combinations such as “he or she,” “she or he,” “he/she,” and “(s)he” as alternatives to the singular “they” because such constructions imply an exclusively binary nature of gender and exclude individuals who do not use these pronouns. These forms can also appear awkward and distracting, especially with repetition.

UPDATED: Word choice for accuracy

This section was previously known as "Language issues." The following has been added:

• digitize, digitalize

These words are not interchangeable. To digitize is to convert analog data into digital form. To digitalize is to use digital technology to improve business processes and workflows.

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