Letter policy is explained

We love letters to the editor. Even when we disagree, we cherish the right of free speech.

It's an election year and time again to explain our policies:

•Your name, street address and phone number are essential. We print only your name and city. Your address and phone number are kept confidential, but they are required.

•We don't accept anonymous letters or those that were written under false names. If you write a letter to a newspaper, you must "own" your words.

•Never let another person write a letter in your name. Some people apparently ask to write letters in other people's names, usually to criticize an elected official or political issue. This isn't fair. You will be asked if you wrote the letter, and we expect an honest answer.

•Please write original letters and send them to us exclusively. We don't play "me too" on letters that were sent to other publications or to elected officials or government agencies.

•No more than one letter per month, per writer. The time allowed between letters from the same writer is four weeks.

•Our word limit is 350 words. Please remember that Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address in 287 words. We rarely allow slightly longer guest opinions, but letters must stay within the limit. We reserve the right to edit or reject anything sent to us, including letters.

What kinds of letters are declined? If the writer is on an unending vendetta to disgrace or belittle somebody else or a particular entity, we'll stop printing their letters. Freedom of the press shouldn't be abused by people who are obsessed and on a mission to incessantly insult another person or group of people. All of us are, after all, citizens, not politicians who are running for public office.

Finally we ask that you resist involvement in so-called "letter writing campaigns." Write a letter because you're personally motivated, not because you're being used as a tool by a political action committee or any similar organization.

Letters can be faxed, mailed or e-mailed. Please see our letters policy elsewhere on this page.

Thanks for paying attention and abiding by our rules.