Abbreviations and DNA (Do Not Abbreviate)

If the clarity of the listing or the identification of the customer is not impaired, Bell Atlantic can shorten any listing by using abbreviations.

• Last names are never altered or abbreviated.

• First names are normally spelled out on the service order and in the directory. If the customer requests that a name is abbreviated, it is entered on the order in abbreviated form. Names appear in the directory as entered.

Unless the customer requests a full spelling, the following finding words are abbreviated and will be alphabetized as if spelled in full.

NJ Example

• End, or terminal, words like "corporation" are normally abbreviated but may be spelled out if requested. Enter the word on the order in the desired form, that is, abbreviated or in full.

• Designations and directive text are normally abbreviated. If they are not to be abbreviated in the directory, spell out on the order. They are not edited, or changed, by Bell Atlantic Directory Services.

• Street names are not abbreviated on the order. When it is necessary to abbreviate street names in the directory, they are abbreviated by the Bell Atlantic Directory Services. When the customer wants the street name spelled in full, the abbrevoated form is sent.

Thoroughfares, such as ST, RD, HWY, etc., are abbreviated 
unless a word normally used to describe a thoroughfare is 
included as part of the street name, for example, KENNEDY 
SQUARE RD. If a customer requests that the 
thoroughfare designation (RD, CIR, HWY, etc.), be spelled 
out, enter the full word preceded by DNA):

Ampersand

The ampersand is always used in lieu of the word "and." If the customer requests the full spelling of "and," the word is preceded by (DNA).

Apostrophe

The apostrophe is used in listing name or address. Leave no space before or after it unless positioned at the beginning or end of a word, then leave a space before or after.

Approvals

• If the customer insists the business name is treated as a word or the name is a group of spaced or unspaced letters

These listings will be positioned at the beginning of the alphabetical sequence.
If the customer wants the listing to appear in the normal alphabetical sequence, the word position (in parentheses) must follow the listing.

Capitalization

The first letter of each word in a listing (name and address) is capitalized.

• Designations following a virgule are not capitalized.
• Directive text is capitalized.
• A letter following a virgule in the listed address is capitalized.
• Each letter immediately following an ampersand, space, hyphen, closed parentheses, and apostrophe is capitalized. All other letters are in lowercase.
• A terminal S following an apostrophe is printed in lower case.

When a customer requests that a full word or all words of a listing be capitalized, explain that bold face (heavy type and solid caps) is provided at a charge.

Hyphen

PA/DE: The hyphen (-) is used in the listing name or address. Leave no space before or after it.

When a hyphen appears as part of the finding name, the semicolon should be placed immediately before it. When a hyphen appears as part of a surname, the comma should be placed at the end of the second name of the surname.

Less than Three Characters

Listings of less than three characters are not to be accepted This includes cross reference listings. Bell Atlantic Directory Services will reject or query such listings.

NJ: The following listings will be rejected by Bell Atlantic Directory Services

If the listing is shown as...

• A
• A-B
• A&P
• B AND C
• B/O
• BD

NJ: The following listings will be accepted by Bell Atlantic Directory Services.
If approval is a preferential listing...

• A AA
• A-AA
• B&D CO
• A-2-Z
• ACI
• C-MC

Listing Criteria

• It leads to a positive and particular identification of a party.
• It is a name the party is legally authorized to use.
• It is a name used by the party in the community.
• It is a name that is not misleading, deceptive, or confusing to the public.

Proof of Name

Valid proof of name is required when:

• Customer has told Bell Atlantic that he/she does not currently have the right to operate the business under that name.
• Listing uses a well-known trademark name (for example, Hoover Sales, Panasonic Service Center).
• 800/RCF number uses a geographic location and generic product name (Wilmington Florist).
• Listing attempts preferential treatment (for example, AAAA Auto Sales).

Acceptable proof of name is:

• Business license under proposed listing name from the state or local municipality where the listing will be used
• Registration of name with state or local government
• Articles of Incorporation/Partnership Agreements
• Franchise agreements in which the owner grants the franchisee the right to use a particular name
• Certificate of Trademark Registration for trademark names from the U.S. Patent Trademark Office or a letter from the trademark owner or agent authorizing use in the business name

Unacceptable proof of name is:

• Customer letterhead
• Business cards
• Correspondence addressed to customer

Listings that do not serve to identify the customer or which appear to be designed to secure preferential position in the directory should be discouraged or in some cases refused.

A listing with the following requires approval:

• Capital A
• Small a

Followed by a:

• Asterisk (*)
• Space
• Symbol
• Number
• Capital letter
• Small a

A listing that begins with a letter "A" followed by a last name is not acceptable.

If the customer cannot supply documentation, the listing is refused. Proof is required that the customer is doing business under that name.

Some types of acceptable proof are:

• Licenses
• Beauty salons
• Food handlers
• Plumbers
• Permits
• Exterminators
• Garbage and rubbish removers
• Certificates
• Truckers (ICC/PUC)

Misleading or Confusing Customer Requests

Review the following when a customer requests an unusual or irregular listing. Is the listing:

• Misleading
• Confusing
• A slogan
• A catch phrase
• Of excessive length
• Several adjectives

Unless it is definitely known that the customer is actually doing business under the name requested, the listing should be investigated. If the listing is determined acceptable, enter (QUES APPV followed by initials and title in the remarks of the Directory Listing Form)

Criteria for checking irregular listings may be:

• Canceled checks preprinted with name and address or letter from bank
• Certificate of incorporation validated by secretary of state
• Sales tax certificate of authority or certificate of exemption

If the listing is not acceptable, negotiate with the customer to vary the listing so it would be acceptable.

Names

Listings that specify a service or a commodity without indicating the customer's personal or trade name are undesirable. These listings do not identify the customer to a caller and may direct calls to one concern in preference to others in the same line of business.

Proof of Names

Listing names are normally accepted "in good faith" when the customer has a legal right to operate the business under that name and the name:

• Is not a geographic location or a generic product for an 800 or Remote Call Forwarding number
• Does not include a well-known trademark name

• Is not a preferential listing

If the listing falls into one of these categories, it should not be accepted until valid proof has been produced

Commodity Names

These listings indicate the product sold, rather than the business.

If the customer does not agree, the listing is accepted as requested.

NJ: Two or more commodity listings for the same customer require the approval.

Corporate Names

Corporate listings are acceptable as presented.

The law provides that the corporate name may contain:

• The last name of some or all of the shareholders
• A name descriptive of the type of professional service
• The initials P A (Professional Association)
• The initials PC (Professional Corporation)
• The word "chartered"

If the customer insists that P A follows an individual name, the title is shown with a space between the letters to obtain proper capitalization.

Trade Names

Ask the customer: "Are you licensed to operate under this name " If a recognized brand/trademark is part of the name, ask for proof in the form of a business license or incorporation papers. The fact that the customer is authorized by the trademark owner to service products does not mean the customer can use that product name in the listing.

Never use the following words in a listing unless the customer has a business license that includes those words:

• Accredited
• Approved
• Authorized
• Certified
• Factory, factory service, or factory repairs

The listing must read exactly like the business license.

With "The"

Except when essential to identify the customer, the word "the" is omitted as the first word in a listing. If the customer insists that the finding word should be "the," suggest an additional listing.

No Address

If the address in an additional listing is the same as the main listing, it is preferable to omit it.

In a caption or indented listing, one address is required.

Exceptions to the rule that most straight line listings should contain an address are:

• General announcement service
• Cross reference listings
• Alternate call numbers
• WATS
• Centralized information numbers, such as airline reservations

Area listings should be used for Foreign Exchange and Remote Call Forwarding service. The area should be either a locality or well-known area within the local calling area.

Numbers

A numeral used as a finding word or words of a name is spelled in full or shown in numeric form as desired by the customer.

The listing is alphabetized as if it were a word.

As Words

Requests to list a telephone number as a word are not accepted. The system used to process listings requires that telephone numbers must be numeric.

Fractions

To enter a fraction as a house number, enter the number followed by a dash and a virgule to separate the fraction.

To enter a fraction as part of location (LOC) data, use a virgule only for separation:

Requests for listings out of alphabetical sequence should be negotiated with the customer.

• Using a caption or an indent, or changing to or from initials to a full name will usually satisfy the customer.

Bell Atlantic cannot guarantee a request on a non-standard arrangement

 when the customer insists.

Periods

Periods are permitted as part of a business listing when used as a decimal point.

Plus Sign

A plus sign (+) separates a suffix from a name. No space is left before or after the plus sign.

Symbols

The only symbols allowed to be used in a customer's listing text are the dash (--), apostrophe ('), and hyphen (-).

D'Amato Scott

O'Brien's Bakery

Albany-Bohrer Inc

The ampersand, colon, and virgule may be used under special circumstances only.

Re/Max

Kingston Motors Inc

   Parts/Service

      Fax Orders

Titles and Designations

Designations

A designation is used to further identify the listing. It may indicate the type or part of the business.

• A virgule (/) precedes the designation.
• The designation is printed in lowercase in the directory.
• The designation is normally one word.

 JJ/Plumber

Two or more words may be used if one word is not an explicit description. 

• Trade names/trademarks are not permitted (e.g., Panasonic authorized dealer).
• Modifying words are not permitted, i.e., wholesale, retail, kosher, Italian.

Titles and Degrees

A title or degree may be included in the listing at the customer's request. Some degrees and titles are used with business listings only.

When a designation and a title denote the same information, only one should be used. Customers may list their service using different approved combinations of titles and degrees. The following are the most common.

The use of DR and MD together is not permitted. FACS (Fellow Associate College of Surgeons) can be used instead of DR or MD, never in addition.

Existing listings that do not conform to the above format are considered "grandfathered."

For medical degrees, only the name and the professional degree can be listed in the alphabetical directory.

Prefixes

Titles preceding the name in normal usage are "prefix" titles. Examples of prefixes are:

• MISS
• MRS
• MS
• REV
• DR

Titles, suffixes, and abbreviations that indicate a corporate listing such as "P A" or "PC" can be shown with another title or degree.