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Capitilization question

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Gomer, Sep 23, 2010.

  1. Gomer

    Gomer Active Member

    So I'm doing a story on the Canadian ringette national team and they're asking me to spell the names of the club teams they play on in ALL CAPS. Is proper style the Edmonton Wam, or the Edmonton WAM! (yes, with the exclamation point) as they use in everything from official league standings to their marketing? It seems really lame but if that's their name, aren't I obligated to print it that way?
     
  2. RickStain

    RickStain Well-Known Member

    I always found Bill Walsh's advice to be definitive on this subject, though others may disagree:

    http://www.theslot.com/caps.html

    WAM! is their logo. Their name is Wam.
     
  3. Gomer

    Gomer Active Member

    Thanks, I know I prefer that anyhow. The problem I had was when I went to the league site...

    http://www.nationalringetteleague.ca/article-120380-Home-Page-en

    Team W L T GP PTS
    Edmonton WAM! 23 4 0 30 49
    Calgary RATH 17 9 1 30 38
    Prairie Fire 17 11 1 30 36
    Saskatoon Wild 12 15 0 30 27
    Manitoba Jets 11 18 0 30 23
    Fraser Valley Avalanche 9 17 0 30 22
     
  4. bydesign77

    bydesign77 Active Member

    Unless WAM is an acronym for whiners and morons, just use Wam.

    Walsh also talks about using special characters in company names. Like e*trade. The * is just a stlyized hyphen.
     
  5. Gomer

    Gomer Active Member

    It will be when I see them tomorrow, I suspect. They were even insistent on the exclamation point. At least I have some logic I can come back to them with.
     
  6. Stitch

    Stitch Active Member

    I really don't care what a team official says I should call a team.
     
  7. HandsomeHarley

    HandsomeHarley Well-Known Member

    I would guess an exception could be made for the

    Springfield BOMBARDMENT! BOMBARDMENT!

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Gomer

    Gomer Active Member

    I REALLY DON'T THINK USING ALL CAPS FOR A TEAM NAME IS A BIG DEAL! REALLY! I MEAN, YOU SHOUT THE NAME WHEN YOU SAY IT, RIGHT? YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COFFEE SHOP AND IT COMES UP IN CONVERSATION, YOU'RE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO SHOUT IT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR NAME!

    I might use this as part of my explanation if it comes up...
     
  9. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    The "real" name is PETCO Park. You don't see it capped. Wam is the correct approach.
     
  10. zebracoy

    zebracoy Guest

    The BIG EAST is particularly anal about this issue, I do recall...
     
  11. buckweaver

    buckweaver Active Member

    PGA TOUR is, too.
     
  12. azom

    azom Member

    Or just say Edmonton and avoid the nickname altogether. Of course, it's passive-aggressive and it doesn't solve the problem.
     
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