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dobleremolque

(1,121 posts)
48. Excellent request but I wouldn't hold my breath for it to happen. If Democratic Underground (DU) were
Wed Mar 11, 2026, 05:26 PM
Mar 11

written by professional journalists, stories and postings would adhere to a "style guide." The Associated Press (AP) Style Guide is the most prominently used, but the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) gives the AP guide a run for its money among journalism professionals. Style guides try to enforce clarity in writing. Using a style guide helps eliminate ambiguity. Proper style eliminates guesswork over which "Springfield."

Same goes for organizations, programs, and policies, even those commonly referred to by initials or acronyms. Style guide says: "Spell out the entire organization's formal name, enclose the abbreviation/short reference in parenthesis. On subsequent reference, using the abbreviation/short reference is okay. Example: "North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)." Same goes for local organizations: does TCC mean Tucson City Council? or Tucson Convention Center?

The same also goes for references to programs and policies. The original poster (OP) types: "Springfield Cuts SNAP Grants!"
Which Springfield? Which SNAP? Is that the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?" or the "Student Nervousness Amelioration Program" at Springfield College?

But the majority of posts here are not written by professional journalists and that is the way Democratic Underground (DU) was designed. We're amateurs who share the goal of electing more and better Democrats. We do that by sharing links and references to factual information in support getting more Democrats into elective office at all levels.

And on the bright side, being forced to research whatever the original poster (OP) meant, drives engagement on the site as readers stay logged in and open another tab to try to figure it out. Perhaps Earl G appreciates the extended stays on the site because it helps the DU attract advertisers. If you don't want to see the ads, any a contribution of any amount lets you become a Star Member. Star Members don't see ads at all on the site.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Yes, and about time ! nt eppur_se_muova Mar 11 #1
Totally agree! Delphinus Mar 11 #2
I've found that true. Old Crank Mar 11 #30
Wholeheartedly agree! GreenWave Mar 11 #3
Thank you. Time and again I read here something that happens and there is no clarification for me where it is. efhmc Mar 11 #4
Springfield destroyed in nuclear attack mahatmakanejeeves Mar 11 #5
Which Springfield indeed edhopper Mar 11 #6
And has it's own Matterhorn! IrishAfricanAmerican Mar 11 #13
Don't get me started MustLoveBeagles Mar 11 #33
Early DU LBN headlines could have city state addeedd TexLaProgressive Mar 11 #7
I can't imagine the addition would generate any complaints. mahatmakanejeeves Mar 11 #12
This Springfield? Botany Mar 11 #14
So sad his singing career ended that way. It was a real blast. GreenWave Mar 11 #28
yes! And if you are talking about a 'tri-state area' it is helpful to mention which 3 states. ClaudetteCC Mar 11 #8
Oh Yes. Even the media sometimes seems to think the populace knows everything. chouchou Mar 11 #9
AMEN!!! Bo Zarts Mar 11 #10
I appreciate this. calimary Mar 11 #11
THANK YOU. So often, on the Internet, a post mentions a city or county, and the reader has raccoon Mar 11 #15
I often find myself wondering, "Where is this place?" and it's cited as if Everyone knows where This Place is! NBachers Mar 11 #16
Or the sarcastic reply that says "Google is your friend"... llmart Mar 11 #20
And Google is NOT your friend. Wednesdays Mar 11 #32
Tornado heading East!! yorkster Mar 11 #17
Omg! ybbor Mar 11 #19
A bad batch of croissants baked in Paris, Ilsa Mar 11 #18
Is that Georgia in the U.S. or the country Georgia? llmart Mar 11 #21
Yeah, sometimes news hosts mention Georgia, and Ilsa Mar 11 #23
I was born in Alexandria, for example. DFW Mar 11 #31
I was wondering, when you said "library," Ilsa Mar 11 #34
Be careful, there DFW Mar 11 #40
I was first year at high school in History class, Zackzzzz Mar 11 #41
Ditto for names of counties Seinan Sensei Mar 11 #22
Details are for the weak Renew Deal Mar 11 #24
Completely agree with you! MuirHero Mar 11 #25
Can I add - one can edit! If a thread title is garbled, it is fixable NewHendoLib Mar 11 #26
Triple K&R PoliWrangler Mar 11 #27
Most common city names. CrispyQ Mar 11 #29
Pennsylvania has three Springfield Townships and three unincorporated villages of Springfield BobsYourUncle Mar 11 #47
Lol. If I were clever, I'd write a "who's on first" type of skit. CrispyQ Mar 11 #49
Great idea! I'm not really that clever, myself. BobsYourUncle Mar 12 #51
LOL. My eyes were spinning by the end. CrispyQ Mar 12 #53
By the way... BobsYourUncle Mar 12 #52
Thanks for posting this MustLoveBeagles Mar 11 #35
Excellent suggestion. Martin68 Mar 11 #36
If referring to "Washington," please identify as the state or as D.C. Thank you. fierywoman Mar 11 #37
I promise that whenever I discuss "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" I will never spell it like the other "Pittsburgs" FakeNoose Mar 11 #38
I wish all media outlets would do as you ask. phxjurist Mar 11 #39
K&R canetoad Mar 11 #42
Rec X 1,000,000 !!! Sogo Mar 11 #43
You left out Portland malaise Mar 11 #44
Lol, I learned something new today! mwmisses4289 Mar 11 #45
LOL😂 malaise Mar 11 #46
Excellent request but I wouldn't hold my breath for it to happen. If Democratic Underground (DU) were dobleremolque Mar 11 #48
The unannotated Springfield refers specifically to Bart Simpson's hometown. carpetbagger Mar 11 #50
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