Style & Usage

This section outlines how we write and refer to things. It brings consistency to names, terms, and formatting across IAFF communications.

NAMING THE UNION

First reference: International Association of Fire Fighters

  1. Use the full name on first reference in all external communications
  2. Capitalize “The” when the name stands alone: "The International Association of Fire Fighters"


Subsequent references: IAFF

  1. Use IAFF on second reference
  2. In highly formal materials, “the International” may be used

FIRE FIGHTER TERMINOLOGY

NAMES & TITLES

Capitalize titles when they appear before a name:

  1. General President Edward A. Kelly
  2. General Secretary-Treasurer Frank V. Líma
  3. Chicago, IL Local 2 President John Doe


Do not capitalize when used after a name or when used generically:

  1. Edward Kelly, general president of the IAFF
  2. The president said


For IAFF Leadership:

  1. Use full title and name on first reference
  2. Use last name only on subsequent references


Example:

  1. General President Edward Kelly said…
  2. Kelly added…


Do not use "GP Kelly" or "GST Líma" in official communications

LOCALS

Format IAFF locals as:


City, State / Province abbreviation Local ####


Examples:

  1. Fairfax County, VA Local 2068
  2. Chicago, IL Local 2


Capitalize “Local” when referring to an IAFF affiliate:

  1. The Local is advocating for safer staffing

NUMBERS

Spell out one through nine. Use numerals for 10 and above.

  1. five stations
  2. 12 fire fighters


Use numerals for measurements, percentages, and money

  1. 3 miles
  2. 4 percent
  3. $50 million


Use figures with million and billion

  1. $25 million
  2. $1 billion

DATES

Spell out months unless used with a specific date

  1. March 2026
  2. June 5, 2026


Abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. with dates


Do not use ordinals

  1. March 3 (not March 3rd)


Place commas after the day and year

  1. June 5, 2026, the bill was passed

TIME

Use lowercase a.m. and p.m., with periods

  1. 6:30 a.m.
  2. 4 p.m.


Do not use :00 for exact hours

  1. 6 p.m.


Use a.m. or p.m. once in a range if consistent

  1. 6–10 p.m.


Use both if the range crosses morning and evening

  1. 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

ABBREVIATIONS

Spell out on first reference, followed by the acronym

  1. International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)

Use the acronym IAFF on subsequent references


Do not introduce acronyms that are not used again


Do not use periods in acronyms

  1. IAFF (not I.A.F.F.)


Use periods for:

  1. U.S.
  2. a.m. / p.m.


Spell out state names in running text. Use two-letter abbreviations with cities.

  1. Chicago, IL

PUNCTUATION & FORMATTING

AMPERSAND (&)

Use for IAFF Divisions


Example:

  1. Technical Assistance & Information Resources


Use only when part of a formal name

  1. Procter & Gamble


Do not use in place of “and"

APOSTROPHE & POSSESIVES

Singular: add apostrophe + s

  1. the fire fighter’s gear


Plural ending in s: add apostrophe only

  1. the fire fighters’ union


Names ending in s: use apostrophe only

  1. James’ report

COMMA

Use a comma in a series of three or more items

  1. The engine carries hoses, ladders, and tools.

HYPHENATION

Hyphenate compound adjectives before a noun

  1. line-of-duty death
  2. dual-role fire fighter


Do not hyphenate when the phrase follows the noun

  1. The fire fighter died in the line of duty


Do not hyphenate:

  1. onsite
  2. online
  3. ongoing
  4. adverbs ending in “ly”

PERIODS & BULLETS

Use one space after a period, not two


Use consistent formatting for bullet points:

  1. Full sentences use periods
  2. Fragments do not

QUOTATION MARKS

Use quotation marks for direct quotes or titles of works


Do not use quotation marks for emphasis


Commas and periods go inside quotation marks

TITLE OF WORKS

Use quotation marks for:

  1. articles
  2. reports
  3. speeches
  4. videos


Do not use quotation marks for:

  1. newspapers
  2. magazines
  3. The New York Times
  4. Time magazine
  5. “Lives on the line”

POLITICAL TERMINOLOGY

Use standard formatting for legislation:

  1. H.R. 165
  2. S. 460
  3. H.B. 1145
  4. Bill C-14
  5. Bill S-233


Capitalize formal names of legislation

  1. Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act


Lowercase general references

  1. the bill
  2. the legislation

GOVERNMENT

Lowercase when used generally

  1. federal funding
  2. state or provincial law
  3. local or municipal government


Capitalize when part of a formal name

  1. U.S. Capitol
  2. Canadian Parliament
  3. Miami City Council

© 2026 International Association of Fire Fighters. All rights reserved.