Comments on: “Bylaws” or “By-laws”?

By: Peter Gulia

Peter Gulia — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:14:13 +0000

Here’s a style rule that I often apply to resolve a choice of spellings. If the writing uses a word in the same sense that the relevant statute uses it, spell it the way the statute does.

For example, in a writing that refers to an SEC-registered investment adviser, I spell it “adviser” (not “advisor”) because that’s how the U.S. statute spells it.

Using a rule of this kind sometimes results in a spelling that’s now out of favor. But there’s a little value in falling in with the statute. And if a writing includes goes back and forth between original text and quotations, using one spelling might avoid an unnecessary distraction.

By: Ken Adams

Ken Adams — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:34:40 +0000

Steve: You make an interesting point that requires two answers. First, as a general matter don't capitalize textual references to bylaws—they're simply a kind of document, not a title. See MSCD 13.31. Second, if you were stating by-laws (with a hyphen) in a title, according to the Chicago Manual of Style you shouldn't capitalize the l in laws. See CMOS 8.168–170. For one thing, the by is a prefix that couldn't stand by itself as a word. But more to the point, I wouldn't use the hyphen. Ken

By: steven pappas

steven pappas — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:58:29 +0000

Ken: I often see By-Laws, with a capital L after the hyphen. Is there any support for that usage? I would dare say that the majority of drafters capitalize laws when they use the hypen approach but I have never understood why. Steve