gantlet (run the), gauntlet (throw down the) These are traditional idioms: the gantlet is a path between two tormentors; the gauntlet is a knight’s glove. The first idiom refers to a means of punishment, the second to a dare (which the challenger accepts by picking up the gauntlet). Do not use the phrase run the gauntlet.

gay (adj.) Used to describe men and women attracted to the same sex, though lesbian is the more common term for women. Preferred over homosexual except in clinical contexts or references to sexual activity. (AP style)

GDP Acceptable in second references for gross domestic product.

geo- In general, no hyphen when used as a prefix: geomagnetic, geophysics, geosynchronous. See Words Formed with Prefixes under General Style Preferences.

good (adj.), well (adj., adv.) Good is an adjective that means something is as it should be or better than average. Good should not be used as an adverb. (It does not lose its status as an adjective in a sentence such as I feel good, which is the idiomatic equivalent of I am in good health.)

When used as an adjective, well means suitable, proper, healthy: a well-placed source. When used as an adverb, well means in a good or proper manner or skillfully: He performed well on the test.

GOP This initialism for Grand Old Party is acceptable in second references for Republican Party.

government Always lowercase, never abbreviate: the federal government, the state government, the U.S. government.

governor Capitalize and abbreviate as Gov. or Govs. when used as a formal title before one or more names.

GPA Acceptable in all references for grade-point average.

grade, grader Hyphenate in combining forms: a fourth-grade student, a 12th-grade student, first-grader, 10th-grader.

grand jury Always lowercase (AP style).

gray Not grey. But: greyhound (name of a breed).

group Takes singular verbs and pronouns: The group reviewed its progress last month.

guerrilla Double r, double l.

Updated March 23, 2014