Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Design System

Writing for communication channels

MnDOT public affairs coordinators and project consultants are required to use Associated Press Style for ALL news releases, as well as Gov Delivery email updates and website content. However, there will be a few exceptions for email updates, website content and other communications materials, as noted below.

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
Interstate 94 on first reference; use I-94 for all subsequent references I-94 I94
Highway 62 Hwy 62 Hwy 62
County Road B Co. Rd. B Co Rd B
Dale Street Dale St. Dale St
St. Clair Avenue St. Clair Ave. St Clair Ave
Dodd Road Dodd Rd. Dodd Rd
Lexington Parkway Lexington Pkwy. Lexington Pkwy
Kellogg Boulevard Kellogg Blvd. Kellogg Blvd
Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound, Westbound (spell out) Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound, Westbound (spell out) Northbound, Southbound, Eastbound, Westbound (always spell out if room allows. Never use “I-94 East”)

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
Snelling Avenue/Highway 51 on first reference; use the most common name for all subsequent references (e.g., use Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Highway 51 in Arden Hills) Snelling Ave./Hwy 51 on first reference; use whatever the most common name for all subsequent references Snelling Ave

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
St. Paul St. Paul St Paul
Minneapolis Minneapolis Mpls
City with direction in name (e.g., West St. Paul) West St. Paul W St Paul
Cities with Heights in name (e.g., Mendota Heights) Mendota Heights Mendota Hts
Cities with Grove in name (e.g., Inver Grove Heights) Inver Grove Heights Inver Grv Hts
Cities with Park in the name (e.g., Brooklyn Park) Brooklyn Park Brooklyn Pk
Cities with Lake in the name (e.g., Spring Lake Park) Spring Lake Park Spring Lk Pk
Cities with Rapids in the name (e.g., Coon Rapids) Coon Rapids Coon Rpds
Cities with Valley in the name (e.g., Golden Valley) Golden Valley Golden Vly
Cities with Hills in the name (e.g., Arden Hills) Arden Hills Arden Hls
Cities with Center in the name (e.g., Brooklyn Center) Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Ctr
Cities/places with Fort in the name (e.g., Fort Snelling) Fort Snelling Ft Snelling

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
432 Dale St., St. Paul 432 Dale St., St. Paul 432 Dale St, St Paul

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
Monday Mon Mon
Tuesday Tue Tue
Wednesday Wed Wed
Thursday Thu Thu
Friday Fri Fri
Saturday Sat Sat
Sunday Sun Sun

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
January January Jan
February February Feb
March March Mar
April April Apr
May May May
June June Jun
July July Jul
August August Aug
September September Sep
October October Oct
November November Nov
December December Dec

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
7 a.m. 7 a.m. 7am
6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6pm

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
Oct. 21 Oct. 21 (10/21)
Sunday, Oct. 21 Sun, Oct. 21 Sun (10/21)
7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 7 a.m. Sun, Oct. 21 7am Sun (10/21)
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun, Oct. 21 7am-6pm Sun (10/21)
7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22 7 a.m. Sun, Oct. 21 to 6 p.m. Mon, Oct. 22 7am Sun (10/21) to 6pm Mon (10/22)
Do not use “today” or “tomorrow” without including a date … [e.g., ramp closing at 7am tomorrow (10/21)]

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
Use “mndot.gov/” instead of “dot.state.mn.us/”
Do not include “www” at beginning of URL
Use “mndot.gov/” instead of “dot.state.mn.us/”
Do not include “www” at beginning of URL
Use “mndot.gov/” instead of “dot.state.mn.us/”
Do not include “www” at beginning of URL

News Release Gov Delivery, website, other materials (e.g., factsheets, brochures, postcards, etc…) Tweet
Between Between Between
Do not use “btwn”
Through Through Through
Do not use “thru”