General Terminology

Media & Public Information

Preferred term Avoid
News release Media release or Press release
News conference Press conference
Request for coverage Press advisory
Media briefing Press briefing
Media availability Press availability
Statement Press statement
Reporter Journalist (when referring to a specific assignment)
Media outlet News source
Interview request Media ask
Coverage Press hits
Open Records Request or Public Information Request

Digital & Social Media

Preferred term Avoid
Social media channels Platforms (unless referring to infrastructure)
Post Blast
Share Push out
Follow Subscribe (unless email-based)
Livestream (noun) Live stream (noun form)
Direct message DM (in formal writing)
Social media account Page (unless platform-specific)
Website Web site
Web page Webpage
Wi-Fi Wifi
Homepage Home page

Engagement

Preferred term Avoid
Community engagement Outreach (when referring to two-way dialogue)
Public meeting or town hall Depending on purpose of meeting
Open house Public forum (unless structured for testimony)
Feedback Input (in public-facing copy)
Survey Questionnaire
Resident Citizen (unless referring to legal status)
Community members Stakeholders (in public-facing copy)
Participate Engage with
Provide comments Submit testimony (unless legally required)

Government & Organizational

Preferred term Avoid
Department (capitalize when official) department (when referencing a specific City department)
City Council council (when referring to official body)
City Manager city manager (when used as formal title)
Staff Staff members (unless emphasizing individuals)
Leadership team Executive leadership (unless formal title)
Program Initiative (unless formally designated)
Project Effort (in formal copy)
Policy Rule (unless legally defined)
Ordinance (capitalize with number) ordinance (when referencing a specific ordinance number)
River Walk Two words, capitalized
Hemisfair Hemisphere
See [Councilmember] for more information.

Plain Language

Preferred term Avoid
Use Utilize
Help Facilitate (unless technical context requires it)
Start Commence
End Terminate (unless legal context)
Buy Purchase (in general-audience writing)
About Regarding
Because Due to the fact that
Now Currently (unless emphasizing timeframe)
More than Over (when referring to numbers)

Accessibility & Inclusive

Refer to [age] and [gender] for more information.

Preferred term Avoid / Do Not Use
People with disabilities The disabled or handicap
Unhoused or unsheltered neighbor(s), person experiencing homelessness Homeless
Older adult Elderly
People who use wheelchairs Wheelchair-bound
Translation services available Foreign language help
LGBTQ+ LGBTQIA+
Bilingual information Spanish materials (unless specifying language)

Formatting & Style Consistency

Preferred term Avoid / Do Not Use
Email E-mail
Online On-line
Sign up (verb) Signup (verb form)
Signup (noun) Sign-up
Log in (verb) Login (verb form)
Login (noun) Log-in
Public-facing (modifier) Public facing
Decision-making (modifier) Decision making
Data is (general writing) Data are (unless technical context requires plural)

Emergency Operations

Preferred term Avoid / Do Not Use
Places to Stay Cool Cooling Centers
Places to Stay Warm Warming Centers
Crash Accident
Mass Shelter Evacuation Center or Emergency Shelter
Resilience Hubs Overnight Shelters or Resiliency Hubs
Temporary Shelters Homeless Shelters
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