Parents and Family Weekend

people, persons People is a collective noun that takes a plural verb when used to refer to a single race or nation: The American people are united. In this sense, the plural is peoples: The peoples of Africa speak many languages.

Persons should be used only when it is in a direct quote or is part of a title as in Bureau of Missing Persons.

people of color, POC Acceptable when necessary in broad references to multiple races other than white. Includes anyone who identifies as Asian, multiracial, American Indian, Black/African American, and [non-white] Hispanic. We will hire more people of color. Nine playwrights of color collaborated on the script.

Do not use the shorthand POC unless necessary in a direct quotation; when used, explain it.

In some cases, other wording may be appropriate. Examples: people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds; diverse groups; various heritages; different cultures. See ethnic and racial designations.

percent One word. It takes a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an of construction: The teacher said that 60 percent was a failing grade. He said 50 percent of the membership was there.

It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an of construction: He said 50 percent of the members were there.

Spell out the word in running text and use the percent sign (%) in scientific and statistical copy.

percentages Use figures: 1 percent, 2.5 percent (use decimals, not fractions).

For amounts less than 1 percent, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6 percent.

Repeat percent with each individual figure: He said 10 percent to 30 percent of the electorate may not vote.

PhD, PhDs The preferred form is to say a person holds a doctorate and name the individual’s area of specialty. The form PhD degree(s) is also acceptable. Oberlin style generally reserves the use of the honorary title Dr. for medical doctors.

PI Oberlin’s Performance and Improvisation Program —“PI” for short—serves as a bridge between the conservatory’s classically trained students and its jazz students. It’s an innovative combination of classroom study and ensemble performance that draws heavily on the music of disparate cultures and the exaltation of improv. Throughout the year, visiting artists from a broad spectrum of world music styles offer additional learning opportunities including master classes, workshops, and performances.

podcast See titles of works.

plurals, Latin Listed here are the singular and plural forms of some commonly used Latin phrases. If a word does not appear below, refer to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, current edition, for usage.

Singular

• addendum
• analysis
• colloquium
• consortium
• criterion
• datum
• medium
• millennium
• phenomenon
• syllabus
• symposium
• thesis

Plural

• addenda
• analyses
• colloquia
• consortia
• criteria
• data
• media
• millennia
• phenomena
• syllabi
• symposia
• theses

p.m., a.m. In running text, time designations are lowercase and punctuated with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning. In tabular material and advertisements, caps without periods are acceptable. 11 AM, 10 PM. See time of day.

possessives Follow these guidelines. For questions not addressed here, consult the Chicago Manual of Style.

• Plural nouns not ending in s: Add ’s: the alumni’s contributions, women’s rights.

• Plural nouns ending in s: Add only an apostrophe: the churches’ needs, the girls’ toys.

• Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning: Add only an apostrophe: mathematics’ rules.

• Nouns the same in singular and plural: Treat them the same as plurals, even if the meaning is singular: one corps’ location, two deer’s tracks.

• Singular nouns not ending in s: Add ’s: the church’s needs, the girl’s toy.

  Some style guides say that singular nouns ending in s sounds (such as ce, x, and z) may take either the apostrophe alone or ’s. For consistency, Oberlin style is always to use ’s if the word does not end in the letter s: the prince’s life, Marx’s theories, the fox’s den, Butz’s policies.

• Singular common nouns ending in s: Add ’s unless the next word begins with s: the hostess’s invitation, the hostess’ seat.

• Singular proper names ending in s: **Use only an apostrophe: Dickens’ novels, Hercules’ labors, Moses’ law, Agnes’ book.

• Special expressions: The following exceptions to the general rule for words not ending in s apply to words that end in an s sound and are followed by a word that begins with s: for appearance’ sake, for conscience’ sake, for goodness’ sake.