Added on May 12, 2011
Word List
The Yahoo! Word List
The Yahoo! word list covers terms related to communications, technology, branding, and other topics that our U.S. editors have encountered frequently. Following is a healthy sampling of the full Yahoo! word list. (We update the online list quarterly—see what’s new.)
These are the decisions that Yahoo! has come to after years of writing and editing for the Web. You may naturally make different choices and have different entries, but our word list can be useful as a springboard or as an additional reference.
-
racecar
-
RAM
Abbreviation for random access memory. Abbreviation is always OK.
-
re-
Generally, close up this prefix with root words unless the root word starts with an e or a capital letter—if it does, insert a hyphen. Exceptions: re-create, re-cover, and re-sent (to avoid confusion with recreate, recover, and resent). Examples: re-elect, reunify, resubscribe, re-FTP.
-
readme file
Informational text file that is often included with software.
-
real time (n.), real-time (adj.)
Two words when used as a noun, hyphenated when used as an adjective. Examples: Watch the file stream in real time. Get real-time updates delivered to your phone.
-
reality TV (n., adj.)
Added on May 12, 2011
-
representative
For members of Congress, use Rep. or Reps. before a name: Rep. John Smith; Reps. Smith and Jones. Otherwise lowercase and don’t abbreviate: The representative from Illinois. Representative is also a good gender-neutral alternative to salesman or saleswoman: Call your sales representative.
-
Republican (n., adj.)
Capitalize when referring to the party, a member of the party, or the committee: Republican Party, Republican National Committee, Republican John McCain. Lowercase only when referring to something or someone characterized by republicanism in a general sense, but not necessarily affiliated with the Republican Party.
-
resubscribe (v.)
-
resumé
Accent on the last e only. OK to use accented character in webpage copy and HTML emails, but use resume (with no accent) in plain-text emails, in copy that may appear in an RSS feed, and in other places where special characters are not always supported (in comment systems and certain content management systems, for example)—such characters may become garbled.
Updated on May 12, 2011 -
retweet (n., v.)
A message re-sent via Twitter or the resending of such a message. Often abbreviated as RT. Past tense: retweeted.
Added on October 22, 2010 -
Rev.
Abbreviation for Reverend. When used before a person’s name, precede with the.
-
Reverend
An honorific. The abbreviation Rev. is always OK. When used before a person’s name, Reverend and Rev. are preceded by the. Examples: The Reverend Ralph David Abernathy was an associate of Martin Luther King Jr. Last week the Rev. Miller presided over the service.
-
right-click (n., v.)
Note hyphen.
-
right-hand side
Don’t use. Use right side instead. -
ringtone
-
rock 'n' roll
Note apostrophes. The variant rock-and-roll (hyphenated) is also acceptable, although rock ’n’ roll is preferred.
-
roundup (n.)
-
RSS
Acronym for Really Simple Syndication. All capitals. Abbreviation is always OK—but avoid using RSS on its own, since few people know what it means. Use news feed, RSS news feed, or RSS newsreader as appropriate.
Build your own word list
A word list is an important part of a site’s style guide. It tracks your decisions, helps you enforce them to maintain your site’s voice and editorial standards, and keeps editors from having to make the same kinds of decisions over and over again—possibly coming to contradictory conclusions each time.
Build your own word list
