Latino/Latina, Hispanic, Mexican American, and Chicano/Chicana:
Usage in this area varies, but in general:
- Use “Latino” (or “Latina” for female individuals) to refer to people of Latin American descent who live in the U.S. (those living in Latin America are “Latin Americans”). Latin America includes Mexico, Central America, and South America; it also includes Brazil (where Portuguese is spoken). “Latino” is always capitalized.
- “Hispanic” generally refers to people who originated in Spanish-speaking countries (including Spain). It does not include people from Brazil. “Hispanic” is capitalized.
- “Mexican American” (or “Cuban American,” “Peruvian American,” etc.) can be used to refer to people from specific countries. These terms are not hyphenated when used as modifiers.
- “Chicano” (or “Chicana”) is a term preferred by some, but not all, Mexican Americans living in the U.S. It can be used carefully to refer to these people and groups (and can also be used in a historical context).
- Some prefer the recently coined gender-neutral terms Latinx or Chicanx, which should be confined to quotations, names of organizations, or descriptions of individuals who request it and should be accompanied by a short explanation. “Hernandez prefers the gender-neutral term Latinx.” For groups of females, use the plural Latinas; for groups of males or of mixed gender, use the plural Latinos.
legislature:
Lowercase only if generic (not referencing the California Legislature). If California is implied, then cap (“the Legislature;” “the state Legislature”).
John R. Lewis College:
UC Santa Cruz announced in October 2021 that College Ten would be named in honor of the late congressman and civil rights icon John R. Lewis. The formal name change took place in May 2022. Use the full name “John R. Lewis College” when referring to the college. Do not use shortened versions such as “John Lewis” or “Lewis.”
log in or log on (v.), login (n.), log-in (adj.):
- Be careful when you log in (or log on).
- Her login was unsuccessful
- She used an incorrect log-in code.