Emory Globe's Editorial Style Guide

Editorial Style Guide Welcome to the Emory Globe, Emory’s premiere international review. Whether you are a seasoned op-ed writer or new to writing editorials, our brief op-ed style guide will explain the style and content expected for this organization and help you to avoid common editorial-writing pitfalls. We look forward to reading your submissions!

STRUCTURE/ CONTENT: Articles should be 2-4 pages; Times New Roman 12 pt font; double spaced.

Your editorial should clearly demonstrate the international significance of your topic. Although timely articles are appreciated, it is encouraged to write on topics that are not incredibly time sensitive/ quickly developing. We do not want your article to be out of date/irrelevant before it is published. The ultimate topic will always be up to you pending approval from the editorial board and we encourage you to pursue research and writing on topics that you are passionate about.

Editorials have focused in the past on topics from Democracy in Myanmar, to Bollywood cinema.

A successful opinion article should clearly address the following questions: - What is the general topic you will be writing about?

- What is your argument or point of view?

- If criticism is offered, is a suggested solution; step for improvement; or prediction provided?

Please include at least 3–5 pieces of evidence that support your argument, with credible sources (credible sources do not include Wikipedia, blogs, etc., but do include BBC, Reuters, the UN, etc.).

For examples of good titles for op-eds, see our website.

If you would like to write an article that is not in editorial style as a highlight piece, please speak with one of the editors. Ex) Highlight piece on a study abroad experience.

CITATIONS: If you had to look up a fact supporting your editorial, if a piece of information is not common knowledge, or if you quote another article or person…. CITE IT. Provide citations by linking the internet source to a key word or phrase that it informs in the article. To create a hyperlink to the source:

Mac- Highlight the word or phrase with your mouse, press “Command + K” keys, paste website URL into address box, press “enter.”

PC- Highlight the word or phrase with your mouse, press “Ctrl + K” keys, paste website URL into address box, press “enter.”

Ex) This is an example of what your hyperlinked citations should look like.

ARTICLE PICTURES: All of the editorials for our website are paired with pictures. Staff writers have the option to include a picture(s) that they would like paired with their article. If a picture is not included during the editorial submission and editing process, the digital editor will choose a picture that they believe pairs well with the editorial topic.

Guidelines for picture submission:  

Choose a picture that relates to your article topic. These can be funny if appropriate, but not crude or offensive.

To search for pictures which can be included- Search the subject in google images; click “search tools” to the far right from the images tab; click “usage rights;” click “labeled for noncommercial reuse with modification.”

EDITING PROCESS: Following editorial submission, the editors of the Globe will aid staff writers to improve articles through multiple rounds of edits.   

Submission dates are not flexible unless a pressing reason is given for a late submission. Late articles will not be published until the next submission date.

Edits by the editors should be responded to within three days.

In the end, edits provided by the editors are suggestions. The author can choose to take the edits, or reject them. However, some reason must be provided as to why the edits were not taken.

COMMON MISTAKES: 

These are opinion pieces there should be commentary, not just summary.

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Use paragraph breaks appropriately. Paragraphs should be tight, making a single point.

The article shouldn’t be one long paragraph.

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Be relatively consistent with writing out numbers. Most people spell out numbers that can be expressed in one or two words and use figures for other numbers. If you are still unsure when to use numerical numbers, follow this link for specific examples.

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Write out abbreviations/acronyms the first time you use them if they are not common knowledge. Ex) Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

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Do not use time-dependent language i.e. “Last September” or “Last year.” You do not want readers to have to go back and look at the date the article was published in order for an article to be placed in time. Instead, say “In September, 2015” or “In 2015.”

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If you make a claim or statement in your article that is at all up for debate (even a passing claim not central to your argument), provide some evidence or basis for your opinion.

EXAMPLE EDITORIALS: These examples are not perfect, but are good examples of effective editorials. https://nationsandstates.com/2016/05/14/nato-russia-and-the-gerasimov-doctrine/ http://grieboski.com/tiers-of-abolition-challenges-and-efficacy-of-the-trafficking-in-personsreport/ http://www.emoryglobe.com/blog/2016/03/25/myanmars-shaky-path-towards-democracy