Style Secrets Slides Style Secrets
Mastering Accuracy & Consistency
EDITION: 6TH GRADE NEWSROOM
Why Have a "Style"?
Consistency is Key
Imagine if one page wrote "October 12" and the next page wrote "10/12/26". It looks messy and unprofessional.
Building Trust
When a paper looks organized and follows rules, readers trust the information more.
"If it looks right, readers focus on the story. If it looks wrong, they focus on the mistakes."
01 The Number Game
The General Rule
Spell out zero through nine .
Use digits for 10 and above .
Examples
Incorrect:
There were 5 students in line.
Correct:
There were five students in line.
02 Clocks & Calendars
Months
Only abbreviate months with 6+ letters (Jan., Oct., etc.) with a specific date.
Ex: Oct. 12 (Yes)
Times
Use lowercase a.m. and p.m. with periods.
Ex: 8:30 a.m.
Places
Spell out state names. Use a comma to separate the city and state.
Ex: Syracuse, New York
The Truth Test
Fact-Checking Essentials
1 Check Names: Even "Smith" can be spelled "Smyth". Verify every letter.
2 Verify Dates: Does the day match the date? Is the year correct?
3 Confirm Numbers: Did the event start at 5:00 or 6:00? Double-check source notes.
4 When in doubt: CUT IT OUT. If you can't prove it, don't print it.
Spot the Errors
FIND 4 MISTAKES!
The meeting will begin on Jan. 12th in Syracuse, NY. There will be 4 guest speakers. We expect everyone to arrive by 9:00 AM sharp.
Can you find all four? Discuss with your editor partner.
The Reveal
The meeting will begin on Jan. 12 in Syracuse, New York. There will be four guest speakers. We expect everyone to arrive by 9 a.m. sharp.
No "th" on dates. Just the number.
Always spell out state names completely.
Spell out numbers 0-9.
Lowercase a.m./p.m. with periods.
Ready to Edit?
Grab your Newsroom Style Manual and the Polish Protocol Worksheet . It's time to make these stories bulletproof.
Style Check
Fact Check
Newsroom Style Manual Official Newsroom Resource Updated: April 2026
The Newsroom Style Manual
Style Reference Guide for Editors
"Consistency is the difference between a school flyer and a professional newspaper. Use this guide to ensure every story speaks the same language."
01. Numbers
Small Numbers (0-9): Always spell them out.six players.
Large Numbers (10+): Use numerals (digits).14 witnesses.
Sentence Rule: No: 20 kids went.
02. Dates & Months
Abbreviating Months: Only abbreviate months with 6+ letters (Jan., Oct., etc.) when used with a specific date .
Ordinal Dates: Never use "th", "st", or "rd" with a number.
Year: Only include the year if it is NOT the current year.
03. Times & Places
Time of Day: Use a.m. or p.m. (lowercase with periods). No colon for top-of-hour.
Noon/Midnight: Use these words instead of 12 p.m. or 12 a.m.
States: Always spell out the state name completely.
04. Titles & Names
Formal Titles: Capitalize titles ONLY if they come directly before the name.
First vs. Last: Full name on first mention. Last name only for every mention after that.
The Accuracy Checklist
Names
Check every letter. Even "Smith" can be "Smyth".
Dates
Check the calendar. Verify that days match dates.
Numbers
Re-check times, prices, and stats against your notes.
Rule #0: When in doubt, look it up.
Polish Protocol Worksheet Polish Protocol
Assignment: Second Edit & Fact-Check
Editor:
Date:
1
The Style Hunt
Find and correct FIVE house style errors in the draft below. Use your Newsroom Style Manual for reference.
DRAFT v2.1
Basketball Team Wins Big
The Westside Wolves won their game on October 14th against the Eastview Eagles. 7 players scored points in the match. Coach Sarah Miller said she was proud. "I've never seen such hustle," Miller added. The next game is in Syracuse, NY. It starts at 6:00 PM. Admission is 3 dollars.
2
The Fact-Check Challenge
Compare the "Source Notes" to the "Final Sentence". Find and fix the two factual errors.
Source Notes
• Event: Science Fair
• Date: Tuesday, March 12
• Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Guest Judge: Dr. Helena Rodriguez
Final Sentence
"The annual Science Fair will take place on Monday, March 12, featuring guest judge Dr. Elena Rodriguez starting at 5:30 p.m."
Error 1:
Error 2:
3
The Editor's Motto
Why is it important for a journalist to be both consistent with style and accurate with facts?
Polish Protocol Key Answer Key
Teacher Resource
Precision Press // Polish Protocol Worksheet
Part 1: The Style Hunt Solutions
"The Westside Wolves won their game on October 14th against the Eastview Eagles. 7 players scored points in the match. Coach Sarah Miller said she was proud. "I've never seen such hustle," Miller added. The next game is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 5, in Portland, OR. It starts at 6:00 PM. Admission is 3 dollars."
1. October 14th → Oct. 14
Rule: Abbreviate months 6+ letters with date; no "th" on dates.
2. 7 players → Seven players
Rule: Spell out 0-9; also, never start sentence with digit.
3. Friday, Nov. 5 → Nov. 5
Rule: (Style specific) Usually avoid days of week unless necessary for clarity.
4. Portland, OR → Portland, Oregon
Rule: Spell out state names completely.
5. 6:00 PM → 6 p.m.
Rule: No :00 for top of the hour; use lowercase p.m.
6. 3 dollars → $3
Rule: Use $ sign for monetary amounts (standard journalism convention).
Part 2: Fact-Check Solutions
Error 1: The Day
Draft says Monday, but source notes say Tuesday.
Error 2: The Name
Draft says Elena, but source notes say Helena.
Part 3: Reflection Scoring
Proficient: Student explains that style creates professionalism/trust and accuracy prevents misinformation.Exemplary: Student mentions that if a reader sees a style mistake (like 8:00 AM), they might stop trusting the "big" facts in the story.
