Terms and Style Items - "M"

magazine titles
Italicize titles of magazines. Lowercase the word "magazine" unless it is part of the publication's formal title: Boys' Life magazine; Harper's Magazine. Also see "composition titles."

man, mankind
Try to use a term that is gender-neutral: human, humanity, humankind.

manager
See "program manager."

manpower
Try to use a term that is gender-neutral: workforce, personnel, staff.

Marketing & Communications Division
The arm of the National Council Development & Strategic Initiatives Group that oversees communication between the Boy Scouts of America and the public. See "division."

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Do not use a comma before or after "Jr."

mate
The Sea Scouting equivalent of associate Advisor. See "boatswain's mate" and "Skipper."

Medal of Merit
May be awarded by the National Court of Honor to a registered youth member or adult leader who has performed an act of service of a rare or exceptional character. Such action need not necessarily be a rescue or involve risk to self. See "Heroism Award," "Honor Medal," and "National Certificate of Merit."

Meher Baba
A spiritual leader born in India in 1894. He established a spiritual center in South Carolina in the 1950s.

member
See "local council," "National Council," and "registered member."

member at large
(1) Elected voting member of a council or district who is not a chartered organization representative. (2) Voting member of the National Council other than a local council representative.

Members of Churches of Christ for Scouting
This advisory committee promotes and guides cooperative efforts between the United Church of Christ and the Boy Scouts of America.

membership inventory
Part of a unit's annual charter renewal process when the activity of the unit during the past year is reviewed. Usually held in conjunction with a uniform inspection.

merit badge
A recognition given to a Boy Scout for completing the requirements for the badge. There are more than a hundred subjects in life skills, hobby, and career fields, with requirements and supporting pamphlets to help Scouts broaden their outlook. Capitalize the name but not the words "merit badge." Example: "earn the Lifesaving and Swimming merit badges." When referring to the merit badge pamphlet, italicize the title. Example: "Journalism merit badge pamphlet."

merit badge counselor
A registered adult volunteer at least age 18 who is expert in a merit badge field and shares enthusiasm for that field with Scouts and who certifies that requirements have been met.

merit badge show
A demonstration of merit badge skills from booths. Spectators walk around and participate in the merit badge features that interest them.

meritorious action awards
See "Medal of Merit" and "National Certificate of Merit."

Methodist churches
The principal Methodist body in the United States is the United Methodist Church. It was formed in 1968 by the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Methodism in the United States also includes three major African American denominations: the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

methods of Scouting
The eight methods are the ideals (Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan), patrol method, outdoors, advancement, association with adults, personal growth, leadership development, and the uniform.

Mile Swim BSA
A recognition given to Scouts and Venturers to encourage the development of physical fitness and stamina through swimming.

military academies
Capitalize "U.S. Air Force Academy," "U.S. Coast Guard Academy," "U.S. Military Academy," "U.S. Naval Academy." Retain capitalization if the "U.S." is dropped: "the Air Force Academy," etc. Lowercase "academy" whenever it stands alone.

military titles
Capitalize and abbreviate a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's full name: Gen. John J. Pershing, but General Pershing.

millions, billions
Use figures with "million" or "billion" in all except casual uses: "I'd like to make a billion dollars." But: "The nation has 1 million citizens"; "I need $7 billion." Do not go beyond two decimals: "7.51 million people," "$256 billion," "7,542,500 people," "$2,565,750,000." Decimals are preferred where practical: "1.5 million"; not "1 1/2 million."

Do not drop the word "million" or "billion" in the first figure of a range: "He is worth from $2 million to $4 million"; not "He is worth $2 to $4 million," unless you really mean $2.

months
Spell out and capitalize months of the year.

Moravian
A member of a Protestant denomination that arose from a 15th-century religious reform movement in Bohemia and Moravia.

Mormon
See "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

motto
See "Cub Scout motto" or "Scout motto."

mount
Spell out in all uses, including the names of communities and mountains: "Mount Prospect, Illinois"; "Mount Everest."

movement
See "Scouting movement."

museums
See "Kit Carson Museum," "Seton Memorial Library and Philmont Museum," and "National Scouting Museum."

MyBSA
www.mybsa.org is a centralized intranet location where BSA and local council employees can, from any Internet-connected computer, access their BSA e-mail accounts, Scouting news, network support, software training, links to BSA information, and many other resources.

MyScouting
An Internet portal for our members that provides access to their account data, automated tour permit applications, the E-Learning Course Management System, and more.