It’s about time
With daylight saving time starting next month, I thought it would be a great time to go over some time-related questions that pop up often, such as: When do you include the time zone in stories about events? What’s the difference between EDT and EST? Do we need to specify years?
Eagle-eyed readers will note that I wrote daylight saving time above, not savings—and that the term is all lowercase. Because it’s a federal law, most areas of the United States observe it. This year, we “spring forward,” or lose an hour, at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, March 10, when daylight saving time goes into effect.
So, come 3:00 a.m. that Sunday, campus will be on Eastern daylight time, or EDT. We won’t go back to Eastern standard time, or EST, until November 3.
Generally speaking, it’s not necessary to include the time zone when writing about an event. For any event on campus, it’s a given that it will be in local time. The exceptions are when the event is in a different time zone—say, at a Global Gateway—or the event is accessible to a wide audience outside our region, such as a Zoom conference. In cases like those, it’s best to be more specific about the time, to avoid any confusion from readers.
If you need to include the time zone in a story and you don’t know whether we’re on standard time or daylight time, the best option is to just write ET—Eastern time. A lot of writers use EDT and EST interchangeably, even though they don’t actually mean the same thing. If you’re not sure, feel free to simplify with just ET.
When should I include the year in a date?
Many style guides, ours included, recommend omitting the year after a date if the date falls within one year of the publication date. If the date is outside of one year, then the year should be specified for clarity. In some contexts the year should still be included for clarity if omitting it, although technically “correct,” would be confusing or misleading for the reader.
What about on posters and other signage?
For these kinds of materials, the same rules stand. If the poster is advertising an event happening in only a few weeks, for example, no year is needed. And if the event is on campus, no time zone is needed.
Clarity is key
As with all writing, we should put clarity above all else. If following these guidelines to the letter could lead to confusion for your readers in some contexts, it’s better to be clear.
Click here for a refresher on the University Style Guide’s time entry.
Generative AI survey
Do you use generative AI—services like ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly, Bard, etc.—in your communications work at the University? Do you love it? Would you not touch it with a 10-foot pole?
OPAC is working on developing guidelines for campus communicators around generative AI use. To that end, I invite you to fill out the survey linked to below to tell us about your thoughts and experiences. We want to create the most helpful resources we can, and knowing how these tools are already being used will help us in our goal.
Access the survey by clicking here. The survey will close on Friday, March 29.
Pop quiz
Following University style, what’s the preferred spelling for this word?
Click on your answer to submit your response. If you have the correct response, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free treat!
A note about the pop quiz
Please think of these monthly quizzes as open-book! I don’t expect you to know the answer off the top of your head. I designed these quizzes, in fact, to get readers more comfortable using the University Style Guide to find the answer. You are encouraged to consult that before submitting your answer.
January pop quiz winner
Congrats to Isabell Gilfoil, interactive media specialist for the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, the winner of the January pop quiz!
Which name is preferred for this upcoming holiday? Lunar New Year
Although calling it Chinese New Year is common, the holiday is celebrated in several East Asian countries and not just China. Lunar New Year is a more inclusive term. If you’re writing about a new year celebration specific to one culture, feel free to use their name for it.
What we’re reading
These are stories that we found to be interesting, fun, or thought-provoking. The views are not necessarily endorsed. Want to share a story you found? Feel free to send it to me.
Tortured Poets’ or Poets? Taylor Swift Meets the Apostrophe Police.
The New York Times
Hyphens and Dashes: A Refresher
CMOS Shop Talk blog
The Objectively Objectionable Grammatical Pet Peeve
The New Yorker
The Term “Global South” Is Surging. It Should Be Retired.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Latest style guide updates
There are no updates to report this month. Is there anything you’d like to see added to the style guide? Please email me at bcollin8@nd.edu.
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