Question

First/last name references in journalistic writing

Asked by: Galisteo8

This isn't a technology question, but just looking for a bit of writing guidance on this one point.

Typically, in journalistic writing, your first reference to a person is first/last name (Bob Smith), and then subsequent references are last name only (Smith).  But after that, if I don't refer to Bob for a while in the article, and I've mentioned a lot of other people in the meantime, isn't it usually recommended to go back to first/last name on the next reference?  And if so, then is there a rule of thumb on how much text must go by before I should use that first/last reference again?

A URL to an online guide that includes this particular point would be helpful.  I haven't found anything yet that discusses more than just the first and second reference.

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Asked On
2009-10-08 at 10:57:59ID24796916
Tags

writing

,

AP Style

,

technical writing

Topic

Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
2
Points
75
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: marine7275Posted on 2009-10-08 at 11:11:08ID: 25528323

Always use a persons first and last name the first time they are mentioned in a story. Only use last names on second reference. Do not use courtesy titles such as Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms. unless they are part of a direct quotation or are needed to differentiate between people who have the same last name.

ref:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/735/02

 

by: ericpetePosted on 2009-10-08 at 11:37:34ID: 25528614

"...But after that, if I don't refer to Bob for a while in the article, and I've mentioned a lot of other people in the meantime, isn't it usually recommended to go back to first/last name on the next reference?..."

The New Yorker doesn't, nor does the NY Times. I wouldn't, and I've been writing news stories for close to 40 years.

The best references on style that are on line are
http://www.apstylebook.com/ (but it's paid, and it's not a bad idea to buy one and keep it handy)
http://www.bartleby.com/141/ (William Strunk's classic work on style, a lot of which has been tossed out, but a lot of which still makes sense -- and it's free)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_guide has a list of various style guides.

Most newspapers and news magazines use the AP book. The notable difference between it and the NYT book are the use of the honorific; for example, when referring to Joe Brown, who is the CEO of BlowFish, Inc, the Times will refer to him throughout as Mr. Brown, while everyone else will call him Brown.

There are also exceptions. Many news outlets will refer to President Obama, instead of President Barack Obama, on the assumption you know who he is. Some will then either continue by calling him President Obama or Mr. Obama; others will just say Obama.

ep

 

by: Galisteo8Posted on 2009-10-08 at 12:10:30ID: 25528986

EricPete,

Thanks.  I didn't find my answer in the AP Style Guide (2006 edition). Perhaps I was looking in the wrong place.

Anyhow... if the isolated later references are still last name only, might it be okay to sort of "remind" the reader who that person is by adding their organization name, like this: "BlowFish's Brown agrees that something must be done to boost consumer confidence. 'It's a tough sell," he says, "but buyers must be made aware that they are as much a part of the solution as are fiscal policies.'"

 

by: ericpetePosted on 2009-10-08 at 12:17:16ID: 25529053

Galisteo8,

In fairness, marine7275's link shows the AP stylebook, and I don't think it says one way or the other.

The mission of a writer is to clarify and explain. I suspect that if you, as the writer, think your audience might need a reminder about who someone is, then there would be no compelling reason to NOT use the first name (or the connection you cite) again -- but I've never seen any hard and fast rule about it, and I've written some pretty long stories in my day.

ep

 

by: Galisteo8Posted on 2009-10-13 at 23:40:55ID: 25567801

Boy, it's getting to where a guy can't take a long weekend without getting an "Abandoned Question" email!

In my prior post, I meant I had referred to my hardcopy AP Style Guide before I ever started this question, since (as ericpete points out) it doesn't say one way or the other.  I had also looked at Purdue's OWL beforehand, but it also only provides the same high-level first-second-reference guideline.  But then, maybe that's because there ARE no more guidelines beyond that!  :)

I appreciate ericpete's voice of journalistic experience; that helped a bunch.  I think we'll just be following the same approach as the NYT, et al., and not treat subsequent isolated references any differently.

 

by: Galisteo8Posted on 2009-10-13 at 23:42:22ID: 31638881

I appreciate ericpete's voice of journalistic experience; that helped a bunch.  I think we'll just be following the same approach as the NYT, et al., and not treat subsequent isolated references any differently.

 

by: ericpetePosted on 2009-10-14 at 14:06:26ID: 25575274

Thanks for both the kind words and the points.

ep

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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