Sometimes there aren't firm rules to cover everything, yet we want to be consistent in our usage of terms. That's where "house style" comes into play. Here are some guidelines that we've developed; if they don't answer your question, try Merriam-Webster online or consult the MARCOM department.
Hyphenate or not? See the Hyphens section and follow Merriam-Webster
lifesaving
healthcare
nonprofit
Periods: Omit them with most abbreviations. See the Punctuation and Abbreviations sections.
Person-first language: Say "person [or patient or individual] with lung cancer," not "lung cancer patient." Read more »
Jargon: Jargon refers to special words or expressions used by a particular profession or group that may be difficult for others to understand. That includes words often used in the medical, public health, fundraising and development, and social work fields.
When writing for a general audience, be on the lookout for words that you may take for granted but others may not understand or find off-putting.
utilize = use
administer [a drug or test] = give
ensure = make sure
leverage [as a verb] = use, build on, take advantage of, use to influence
Race: Capitalize all racial designations. Use them only in contexts where relevant.
Black
White
Asian American
African American
Native American
First Nation
Hispanic
Latino, Latina, Latinx
That or who? Use who as the relative pronoun for people and use that for things.
a woman who writes books
a book that she wrote
Time of day: Lowercase am and pm, use a space before them. Omit :00 for times that are on the hour.
3 pm
8:15 am
12 pm or noon
12 am or midnight
3:30-5:30 pm
11 am-1 pm
10:30 am-2 pm