Information on submitting letters to the editor, opinion columns to the Gainesville Sun

The Sun publishes letters to the editor and a limited number of longer guest opinion columns submitted by readers.

Letters to the editor should be 200 words or fewer. Letters must include the writer's full name, address and telephone number for verification purposes (only the writer's name and city of residence are printed). Send letters in the text of an email message to letters@gainesville.com.

Only original letters will be considered. Letters about local and state news topics are given priority for publication. Generally, only one letter per writer will be published each month. They may be edited for clarity, length, taste and libel. We discourage letter submissions sent through the postal service or by fax.

The Sun also accepts a limited number of longer guest columns from readers. There is a 750-word limit for guest columns, but columns of 600 words or fewer are preferred. Contact opinion editor Nathan Crabbe at letters@gainesville.com with inquiries about available space for columns and other questions.

Guest columns are published in The Sun’s Issues section on Sundays and are due at least five days in advance. Columns about local and state news topics are given priority for publication.

Columns from candidates for office are limited to one per candidate in the period before the election. We accept letters to the editor (of up to 200 words) from readers endorsing candidates until early voting begins for possible publication, but do not publish longer columns making such endorsements.