For print and online style guide, click here.
ABBREVIATING
Abbreviations are fine, but the full spelling should be included in first-time reference. For example:
The Dallas Film Festival (DFF) is an organization for filmmakers across the country. The main goal of the DFF is to help filmmakers promote their works.
APOSTROPHES
Apostrophes should be placed as follows based on whether the subject is singular or plural:
The filmmakers’ goal was to educate the community.
Mr. Jones’s goal was to educate the community.
DASHES
Use long dashes not double dashes:
Several films screened – although no filmmakers attended.
DATES & TIMES
If writing a single date: August 24, 2021
If writing several dates: August 24-30, 2001
If writing a decade date that is not in this century: 1960s
If writing a decade date that is in this century (probably won’t be all that applicable just yet): ’30s
When writing time of day: 8 pm
Dallas Weekly REFERENCES
When referencing our publication, use DW.
INTERNET TERMS
Always capitalize Internet.
Use website.
Use e-mail not email.
When an URL comes at the end of a sentence, put a period after it.
Provide complete urls for as many relevant links as possible.
For online, hyperlink to a film or organization when it is first mentioned then type as regular text from that point on.
INTERVIEWS
Always use the DW for the interviewer and the initials of the interviewee, and bold:
DW: Why do you make films?
TF: Because I like them.
For one word pseudonyms or stage names, use the full name. When referring to an interviewee, refer to their last name.
Since 1990, Wiseman has produced several films.
NUMBERS
The numbers 1 – 9 should be written out:
There were three cats in the room.
Numbers above nine should be numbers:
There were 11 cats, 100 dogs, and 1,000 birds.
Numbers in a series should be written as follows:
Competitors 1-8 will be first; competitors 152 – 160 will be next.
Numbers starting a sentence will always be spelled out:
Five hundred movies were at the festival.
Awards:
The first place winner
The 14th place rider
Write out percents:
5 percent
100 percent
QUOTES
Always put periods and commas inside quotation marks.
“It’s a great film,” said Wiseman.
Put question marks and exclamation points inside quotation marks unless they apply to the sentence as a whole. For example:
He wondered, “Will this film be a success?”
Has anyone heard him say, “Don’t watch that film”?
TITLES
Movie titles, book titles, television programs, and episode titles should be in italics.
Exhibits and programs should be in title case:
The Wiseman Retrospective
Screenwriting for Dummies
Individual pieces within an exhibit should be in italics:
The Scream was on exhibit at the MFA.