** Spell out some titles before names in direct quotes. Here is an example from page 3A Tuesday: "Agribusiness hog operations, such as the nine owned by Senator Faircloth, are only part of the problem," Martin said. [not Sen. Faircloth] Here are fanciful examples: Lewinsky said, "I am here to serve at Governor Fussbudget's pleasure." "General Custer really messed up this time," Sitting Bull said. "Send Sergeant York to take that hill!" the captain shouted. Do not spell out Dr., Mr. or Mrs. in direct quotes. This rule is mentioned in several places in the AP stylebook: ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS, LEGISLATIVE TITLES, MILITARY TITLES and TITLES. ** A person who has a law degree and/or is licensed to practice law is a lawyer. A person who is empowered to act for another, usually in court, is an attorney. An attorney might not be a lawyer. So, if you are writing about someone's profession use lawyer. John Edwards and D.G. Martin, for example, are lawyers who are running for the Senate. They are not attorneys by profession. [Here is good advice and a great analogy from Bill Walsh, a Washington Post copy editor who has a Web site called "The Slot": [... A lawyer can be John Smith's attorney or the attorney for John Smith or even an attorney in the Smith case, but nobody is "a Richmond attorney" or "a New York attorney" or "a patent attorney" or simply "an attorney." When in doubt, use lawyer. [Helpful hint: Attorney is to lawyer as rescuer is to lifeguard (hope you got that one right on the SATs). Lawyers and lifeguards fill those roles as an occupation, but lawyers don't necessarily have clients and lifeguards don't necessarily perform any rescues. Once a lawyer signs on to represent someone, that lawyer becomes someone's attorney; once a lifeguard rescues someone, that lifeguard becomes someone's rescuer.] -- Pam Nelson Day news editor The News & Observer 215 S. McDowell St. Raleigh, NC 27602 (919) 829-4619 toll free: (800) 365-6115 fax: (919) 829-4529