O
OAPEC
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (Kuwait). Note the z in Organization. Set up in 1968. Aims to improve economic co-operation in the petroleum industry. Members are Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. The group does not as a rule make decisions on oil output or pricing. See www.oapecorg.org
OAS
Organization of American States (Washington). It has 35 active members representing all countries in the Americas except Cuba, which was effectively expelled in 1962 but is still listed as a non-active member. See http://www.oas.org
oasis, oases
OAU
Organisation of African Unity (Addis Ababa). Superseded by African Union.
obscenities
Use them only if they are in direct quotes and if the story would be seriously weakened by their omission. Obscenities, if retained, must not be euphemised or emasculated by the use of dots. In general we should not quote mindless obscenities from the person in the street or, say, an athlete or soldier but should consider using them if people prominent in public life use them in a context that gives their remarks great emphasis or throws in question their fitness to hold office.
obsolescent, obsolete
If something is obsolescent it is on the way to becoming obsolete.
occur, occurring, occurred
ocean
Lower case when used alone or in plurals, e.g. Indian and Pacific oceans. Upper case in Antarctic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean.
octopuses
Not octopi.
OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD itself uses a hyphen in its formal name) in Paris. Established in 1961 as the successor to Marshall Plan which brought aid to Europe after World War Two. Took on a global role promoting growth and trade in wealthy member states. It gives economic advice to members and non-members. See http://www.oecd.org
of/of the
Can often be excised. The centre of the town becomes the town centre.
Off-spinner
Hyphenated for bowler in cricket.
official titles
Be restrained in using idiomatic phrases to describe officials or official bodies rather than their official titles, e.g. planning overlord, watchdog commission. Such terms are often necessary in lead paragraphs where use of the full title would be clumsy, but the official title must be given in the body of the story. Do not use idioms with pejorative overtones like trade union boss.
officials
Do not describe government ministers as officials.
OIC
Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the principal world organisation of Muslim states, with 57 members. It is funded mainly by Saudi Arabia and based in Jeddah. Among OIC institutions is the Islamic Development Bank which provides soft loans for development projects in Islamic countries. See www.oic-oci.org
oil barrels
A barrel of oil is equivalent to 35 Imperial or 42 U.S. gallons or 159 litres or 0.159 cubic metres. To convert cubic metres or kilolitres (1,000 litres) to barrels multiply by 6.29. Japan often quotes oil statistics in terms of kilolitres. The conversion from barrels (volume) to metric tonnes (weight) depends on the specific gravity, or density, of the oil. The lighter the oil, the more barrels per tonne. To convert Brent crude from barrels to tonnes multiply by 7.57, to convert tonnes to barrels multiply by 0.132. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has 7.62 barrels per tonne. For Russian Urals crude, usually expressed in tonnes, multiply by 7.33. Refined petroleum product conversions also vary according to specific gravity. As a rule use 8.6 barrels to a tonne of gasoline, 7.9 barrels per tonne of jet/kerosene, 7.59 barrels per tonne of heating oil, 7.4 barrels per tonne of diesel and 6.4 barrels per tonne of residual fuel oil.
oilfield
One word.
oil statistics
Oil production and export figures are usually expressed in terms of barrels per day (bpd) although they are sometimes quoted also in tonnes per year. Standardise on bpd figures, normally giving them as a bracketed conversion after any figure expressed in tonnes per year. When converting from tonnes per year to bpd don’t forget to divide the barrel figure by 365 for the daily rate. As with all conversions, give an approximate conversion of an approximate figure and do not convert to more decimal places than are given in the original figure.
oil strikes
It is not correct to report the discovery of a new oil well. Nature does not provide ready-made oil wells awaiting discovery.
OK
Not okay. Try to avoid in alerts and headlines. Do not use in text of stories unless you are quoting someone.
old-time, old-timer, old times
oligopoly
A situation where a few firms selling an item control its supply and hence influence its price.
Olympiad
Use only to mean the period of four years between two Olympic Games.
on behalf of
Use by unless you really do mean acting as a representative of or in the interests of.
on to
Two words. Into – one word.
one word or two
Contemporary usage is to prefer one word, with hyphenated words becoming increasingly rare. However, common sense applies. Use a hyphen if it helps to clarify. We should avoid double consonants, double vowels or using double letters if they detract from clarity or are difficult to read eg. Profit-taking is more readable than profittaking. As a general rule, words with "pre-" and "post-" prefixes should be one word. Click here for further guidance on hyphenation and prefixes.
ongoing
Usually tautological as in the ongoing crisis. If you need such a word use continuing.
online
One word for computer connections and the Internet.
only
As a rule only should go immediately before the word or phrase it qualifies. Only SAS flies to the Faroes on Sunday means that on a Sunday SAS is the only airline operating to the islands. SAS flies only to the Faroes on Sunday means that on Sunday the only SAS flight operating is to the islands. SAS flies to the Faroes only on Sunday means that the airline has only one flight a week to the islands.
OPEC
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (note definite article and z in Organization). The acronym OPEC can be used at first reference if desired, preferably with a descriptive tag. The title should be given in full at the second reference. Do not use the acronym in brackets immediately after the full reference because it is self-explanatory. It is permissible to refer to OPEC as a cartel because it controls more than 50 percent of world crude trade. OPEC’s self-imposed output limit is made up of individual member country supply quotas. Do not say “the OPEC quota” (singular) to describe the cartel’s overall output limit. Use output (or supply or production) ceiling or limit. OPEC members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. See www.opec.org
opera titles
See capitalisation.
opinion polls
A story based on the results of an opinion poll should include, as a minimum, the name of the organiser, who published it, the size of the sample, and how and where it was carried out. If available, the margin of error should be given, as well as the survey’s history – is it carried out on a regular basis? Do not write stories based on Internet polls, unless they are conducted by a reputable polling organisation. These can be easily manipulated and may be unreliable. For technical reasons, avoid the word poll in the headline, which should be reserved for polls commissioned by Reuters itself.
optimum
Optimum is not a simple superlative which can replace biggest, best or largest. It means the best for the achievement of an aim or result, or the point when any condition is most favourable.
ordnance, ordinance
ordnance is artillery, ordinance a decree.
organisations and institutions
Use the name style that appears on their official websites.
orient
Prefer to orientate. When using to refer to the Far East, capitalise: Oriental cuisine.
Orthodox Church
Eastern Rite Churches returned to communion with Rome after the 1054 East-West split between Rome and Orthodoxy but worship in an Eastern, usually Orthodox rite. Each returned to unity with Rome at a different time in the past 900 years or so.
Osama bin Laden
Use bin Laden at second reference. He has sbeen stripped of Saudi citizenship so refer to as Saudi-born.
Oscars
The statuettes presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Also known as the Academy Awards.
others
Beware of this word when reporting such things as casualties. It is usually unnecessary, as in 50 people were killed and 200 others injured.
Ottawa
ounce
To convert to grams roughly multiply by 30, precisely multiply by 28.35. Dry ounce = 28.35 grams, ounce troy = 31.10 grams. Liquid or fluid ounce: UK = 28.4millilitres (20 fluid ounces = 1 pint); US = 29.6 millilitres (16 liquid ounces = 1 liquid pint).
ouster
Except in a legal context the word is ousting. Dismissal or overthrow is better.
out of court, out-of-court
They reached an out-of-court settlement and she was paid out of court.
outpatient
One word.
outside
Never outside of.
Oval Office
White House office of the president.
over
Use 'more than' with numbers. More than 100 rather than over 100. This is often used instead of 'because of' or 'about': Workers are striking over pay. Keep 'over' for place -- over the moon.
overweening
oxford blue
As a colour, lower case. But if an athlete has represented the University, then Oxford Blue.
oxymoron
A figure of speech which deliberately combines opposites, such as bitter-sweet, living dead.
Category: The Reuters General Style Guide