Page:NARA Style Guide.pdf/25

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Titles of military rank are abbreviated when they precede a full name (Lt. George Armstrong Custer) but not when only the last name is used (Lieutenant Custer).
4.1.4 Citations
When citing a particular law, statute, regulation, or Executive order, use the abbreviated form. When referring to these items in general, spell out the names. For more specialized guidance on citations, see the Federal Register's Document Drafting Handbook (www.archives.gov/federal-register/write/handbook/).
Citation
Spelled-out description
E.O. 12226
Executive Order 12226; an Executive order
Pub. L. 89-1
Public Law 89-1; public laws
80 Stat. 1423
Statutes at Large
15 U.S.C. 311
United States Code
36 CFR part 1200
Code of Federal Regulations citation to a group of regulations
36 CFR 1200.1
Code of Federal Regulations citation to a specific Regulation (Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations, part 1200, section 1
4.1.5 Typographic symbols
The only symbol considered formal is the dollar sign ($). Other symbols (for example, @, %, # +, >) appear in text only on fairly informal occasions. Use them freely in charts, tables, and graphs.
The symbol @ is used when indicating an email address.
4.2 Acronyms and initials
Be judicious in your use of acronyms and initials. When an acronym is familiar to your primary audience, as NARA is to employees of NARA, then introducing it and explaining it is as unnecessary as explaining an ordinary word. However, when you believe that an abbreviation might not be instantly understood, spell out the full name and introduce the acronym or initials in parentheses. NARA's regulations are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Discretion is important. Never introduce an acronym or initials unless you plan to use it at least once more (and fairly soon) in the document. Common sense argues
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