Style Guide
Internal Style Guide
Commonly Used Terminology
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Reviewed Aug. 29, 2016
SEIU 775 Benefits Group – Organizational name to be used in almost all instances. However, shorthand can be referenced as “The Benefits Group.”
ACRONYMS
Only use acronyms internally. In all other uses use only on second reference and sparingly. All other uses spell out (acronym in parentheses)
AAA [Area Agency on Aging]
ABT [Accelerated Basic Training]
ALTSA [Aging and Long-Term Support Administration] Department of Social and Health Services department serving adults with chronic illnesses or conditions NEW
AP [Agency Provider] A Home Care Aide who works for an agency – agency provider
ARC [Acronym/name no longer used. See “The Arc”]
ARNP [Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner] Can be a Primary Care Provider.
AT [Advanced Training]
BT [Basic Training]
BHP [Basic Health Plan] of Washington
CE [Continuing Education Training]
CEU [Continuing Education Units]
CNA [Certified Nursing Assistant]
COBRA [A private-pay insurance that covers you if you have a lapse in coverage or you are between jobs]
DDA [Developmental Disabilities Administration] Department of Social and Health Services department serving persons with developmental disabilities NEW
DME [Durable Medical Equipment] Walkers, crutches, etc.
DSHS [Department of Social and Health Services]
HCS [Home Community Services] The Home Community Services (HCS) Division of DSHS promotes, plans, develops and provides long-term care services for persons with disabilities and older adults who may need state funds (Medicaid) to help pay for them
IP [Individual Provider] A Home Care Aide that provides care to a consumer living in his or her home and whose employer of record is the Department of Social and Health Services
RFOC [Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving]
MFOC [Modified Fundamentals of Caregiving]
LPN [Licensed Practical Nurse]
MFOC [Modified Fundamentals of Caregiving]
MRC [Member Resource Center]
NDC [Nurse Delegated Core]
NDD [Nurse Delegation Diabetes]
PCP [Primary Care Provider] The doctor or ARNP you choose to oversee your care
POS [Point of Service] Insurance pays percentage of doctor visit that is out-of-network
PPO [Preferred Provider Organization] A provider who is in-network
RN [Registered Nurse]
RNA [Registered Nurse’s Assistant]
S&O [Safety and Orientation]
TBI [Traumatic Brain Injury]
Academy
Acceptable term internally for Academy Network. Please use “Academy Network” for external audiences.
Academy Network
Term for the Training Partnership’s internal training network. May also be called “Training Partnership Academy Network.”
AIDS victim [Do not use]
Correct: people with AIDS, people living with AIDS
Note: HIV and AIDS are not synonymous and should be used with care and precision.
Advanced Training Instructor
Not: trainer
AT [Advanced Training]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
Basic Training Instructor
Not: trainer
bipolar disorder NEW
Not: bi-polar disorder
BT [Basic Training]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
Case Manager/Supervisor
Should be used together. This is so it will be inclusive of both agency Home Care Aides as well as Individual Providers. Agency workers have Supervisors, Independent Providers have consumers and Case Managers.
caregiver [Do not use]
Correct: Home Care Aide
Background: Caregiver can be someone who is an informal or family caregiver as well as a professional Home Care Aide. To use the term overall confuses the professional nature of the Home Care Aide’s work.
CE [Continuing Education]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
CEU [Continuing Education Units]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
client [Do not use]
Correct: consumer
CNA [Certified Nurse’s Aide]
company [Do not use]
Do not use in reference to the SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
Correct: organization
Consumer
Not: patient, client.
Background: Published literature and advocates for people with disabilities prefer this term because it changes the power dynamic between Consumers and Home Care Aides and other members of the Consumer’s care team. To be a consumer emphasizes that the Consumer is choosing to receive services. Always ask the Consumer how they would prefer to be addressed or described.
Continuing Education
Use CE on second reference only.
CPR
Acceptable in all references for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
credit hours [Do not use]
Correct: hours
deaf
Deaf community
diseases
Do not capitalize arthritis, emphysema, leukemia, pneumonia, etc.
When a disease is known by the name of a person identified with it, capitalize only the individual’s name: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
Avoid such expressions as: He is battling cancer. She is a stroke victim. Use neutral, precise descriptions: He has stomach cancer. She is a stroke patient.
DDA [Developmental Disabilities Administration]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
disabled [Do not use]
Correct: person with a disability
disorder
Avoid describing medical conditions as “disorders.” Whenever possible, refer to the specific applicable medical condition. Avoid applying negative connotations to medical conditions.
Down syndome [not Down’s syndrome]
E-Learning or eLearning [Do not use]
Correct: Online Learning or Online CE
elderly [Do not use]
Correct: older adult
handicap [Do not use]
Pejorative term no longer in accepted use.
home care
Not: home health
Home Care Aide (HCA)
Preferred term for all references to Home Care Aides. This includes, Individual Providers, Parent Provider, Child Providers, students, caregivers, contractors
HCA (Home Care Aide)
Use acronym only on second reference. Use sparingly.
HIV/AIDS [Do not use]
UNAIDS sets standards for HIV-related terminology. Where used together, term should be HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS are different and AIDS should not be used as a default.
HIV and AIDS
UNAIDS sets standards for HIV-related terminology. Where used together, term should be HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS are different and AIDS should not be used as a default.
IP [Independent Provider]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
issue
Avoid describing medical conditions as “issues.” Whenever possible, refer to the specific applicable medical condition. Avoid applying negative connotations to medical conditions.
long-term care
long term health care [Do not use]
Correct: long-term care
MRC
Member Resource Center acronym. Acceptable on second reference. The Member Resource Center (MRC) is the support center for members of SEIU 775. It helps students with issues related to the union and the SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
Member Resource Center
See above
mental disability [Do not use]
Correct: mental disorder or mental illness
mental disorder or mental illness
Not: mental disability
mental retardation [Do not use]
Correct: developmental disability, intellectual disability
MFOC [Modified Fundamentals of Caregiving]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
nonprofit school
Correct term to describe the SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership as an organization.
NUMBERS [note commas]
Correct: 500
Correct: 5,000
Correct: 50,000
Correct: 3 million [not three million]
Correct: 17 million to 20 million
[difference of 3 million]
Not: 17 to 20 million [difference of 19,999,983]
Not: 5000, 20000
Except: I belong to SEIU Local 5000.
Correct: My ID number is 052455.
[Spell out numbers if less than 10 unless they involve values such as ages, percentages,
courts, congressional districts, etc. Check AP stylebook.]
Correct: We have seven local unions in Michigan.
Correct: We have 12 local unions in Wisconsin.
Correct: We received pay increases of 2 percent, 16 percent and 5 percent.
Correct: The car was only going 5 miles per hour.
Correct: She was elected from the 1st District.
Correct: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard his appeal.
Correct: He celebrated his 30th anniversary.
Correct: 4-month-old contract.
But: three-year contract.
[In contracts and other legal documents use both.]
Correct: Employees shall receive fifteen (15) days of vacation and five (5) sick days.
older adult
Preferred
Not: elderly
Online CE [Use on second reference]
Online Continuing Education [Use on first reference]
Online Learning
Not: Elearning or eLearning
Oriental [Do not use.]
Correct: Asian, Asian American
parent provider
patient [Do not use]
Correct: consumer
PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE
Use language that emphasizes dignity, self-directed care. Examples:
Give a Consumer a bath vs. Assist Consumer to bathe (preferred)
Autistic Consumer vs. Consumer with Autism (preferred)
percent
Use % or pct. only in charts, graphs or tables when necessary for space.
Hyphens are never used.
Correct: We earned our 5 percent increase.
Not: We earned our 5-percent increase.
Not: We earned our 5% increase.
Not: We earned our 5 per cent increase.
p.m.
Correct: The meeting began at 8 p.m.
Not: PM, P.M., pm, etc.
Not: The meeting began at 8:00 p.m.
Confusing: The meeting began at 12 p.m.
Correct: The meeting began at noon.
Never: The meeting began at 12 noon (or 12 midnight).
RFOC [Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving]
Use acronym only on second reference and sparingly.
safer needles
Not: safe needles
Correct: safer needle technology
SEIU [Do not use as shorthand for SEIU 775 Benefits Group]
Correct: SEIU 775 Benefits Group or The Benefits Group
SEIU Healthcare NW [Do not use]
Do not use in shorthand reference to the SEIU 775 Training Partnership
Correct: SEIU 775 Benefits Group
SEIU 775 Benefits Group
Preferred term for umbrella name for Training Partnership, Health Benefits Trust and Secure Retirement Trust. Use in all references to the three organizations.
SEIU Healthcare NW Health Benefits Trust [Do not use]
Old name for the organization. May appear on occasion in legal documents only. The new name is SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
SEIU 775 Health Benefits Trust
Former name of the organization. Correct: SEIU 775 Benefits Group, or “The Benefits Group” on second reference or in shorthand.
SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership [Do not use]
Old name for the organization. May appear on occasion in legal documents only. The new name is SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
SEIU 775 Training Partnership
Former name of the organization. Now known as SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
Senior [Do not use]
Correct: older adult
Sexual Orientation
Not: sexual preference
Staff Union
Use in reference to the Benefits Group staff union.
State
Always lowercase. “Washington state” or “the state budget”
Student
In reference to those who take our classes.
Taft-Hartley [Do not use]
Do not use in reference to the SEIU 775 Benefits Group.
Correct: nonprofit school
The Arc
National organization serving consumers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. [Formerly known as “ARC” and before that “NARC,” both of which were acronyms. The name is no longer an acronym and is simply “The Arc.”]
TPAN
Training Partnership Academy Network. Do not use for external audiences. Use only internally when absolutely necessary.
Trainer [Do not use]
Correct: Basic Training Instructors, Advanced Training Instructors
Training Partnership
Former shorthand for SEIU 775 Training Partnership.
Correct: SEIU 775 Benefits Group, or The Benefits Group on second reference or as shorthand.
transgender [not transgendered]
Not sexual minority
Trust [Do not use]
Do not use in reference to the SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership.
Correct: nonprofit school
union [Do not use]
Do not use in reference to the SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership.
Do not use in reference to SEIU 775 or the staff union. Instead, use “staff union” or “SEIU 775”
Correct: nonprofit school
United States [Always spell out as a noun; abbreviate as an adjective.]
Correct: Our members live in the United States and Canada.
Correct: This is a U.S. government agency.
Never: Our members live in the U.S. and Canada.
Never: U.S.A. [except “Printed in U.S.A.” line in printed materials]
Veterans Affairs
Not: Veteran’s Affairs
Not: Veterans’ Affairs
Washington state [Washington State is a university.]
website
work-
workbook, workday, workforce, workhorse, workout, workplace, workstation, workweek
AUDIO STYLE GUIDE
Please follow this guidance when creating audio or video for the Training Partnership.
a, an Use the article a before consonant sounds: a Home Care Aide, a one-year term (sounds as if it begins with a w), a united stand (sounds like you). Use the article an before vowel sounds: an HCA, an energy crisis, an honorable man (the h is silent), an homage (the h is silent), an NBA record (sounds like it begins with the letter e), an 1890s celebration.
accents Use accents sparingly and intentionally. Accents should not be used simply because a subject or character is not white.
acronyms Use sparingly and only on second reference
diversity The best way to achieve diversity of voices is to have a diversity of people. It is best to match the age, ethnicity and gender expression with that of the character pictured.
Home Care Aide Use an even inflection throughout the phrase “Home Care Aide” not “Home CARE Aide” or “Home Care AIDE”
SEIU 775 Benefits Group Use an even inflection throughout the phrase
SEIU Healthcare NW Training Partnership Do not use; use SEIU 775 Benefits Group
Training Partnership Do not use; use SEIU 775 Benefits Group
TP Do not use