Wayne State University

AIM HIGHER

1.1 Editorial Style Guide

The members of the Wayne State University Office of Marketing and Communications (MAC) would like you to stay in style.

Style, as it is used here, does not mean literary style. It refers to the guides that editors and writers follow when they refer to people, places and things or when they capitalize, abbreviate, punctuate or spell. Usage, on the other hand, is a set of guides intended to encourage the correct, unambiguous use of words.

All written materials prepared in the conduct of university business should be accurate, free of error, grammatically correct and consistent in style and presentation. It is important for every office to establish a proofreading process that ensures that all written documents are carefully reviewed.

The primary sources for this guide have been WSU’s previous style guide; results from a WSU campus communicators survey; The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual (2007), which is widely used by American journalists; The Chicago Manual of Style (14th Edition), which reflects the current practices and requirements of most American publishers; and Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th Edition).

Consult these sources for more extended treatments of topics that concern you.

1.2 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This guide answers questions of special concern to WSU campus communicators, including references to university addresses, names, faculty and staff, alumni and students, campus events, athletics and WSU publications.

The left margins provide space for notes as well as quick tips, hints, rules and preferences to keep in mind — kind of like Cliffs Notes.

2.1 NAMES

2.2 First and Subsequent References

Individuals are referred to by their full names on first reference. On subsequent references, use the last name only.

Rick Campbell was named chemistry chair. Campbell will begin in December.

2.3 Middle Initials

Use the middle initial only if an individual prefers it.

2.4 Junior, Senior, II, 2nd

Use Jr., II, 3rd, only with the person’s complete name. Follow the source’s preferred spelling when deciding whether to precede or follow abbreviation by a comma.

2.5 Married Names and Courtesy Titles

Ask each source for the proper spelling of his or her name. Avoid courtesy titles. Instead of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, use John and Betty Smith.

2.6 Nicknames

If a nickname is used following a person’s first name, place it in quotation marks. Familiar nicknames used in place of first names are not placed in quotation marks. On subsequent references, use last names.

2.7 Company Names

Abbreviate a company’s name. On subsequent references, abbreviate or lowercase the company, the corporation, the association (see Editor’s Notes for exceptions):

General Motors Corp. is adding staff. The corporation is looking to upgrade itself or GM is looking to upgrade itself.

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 45, 50, 136, 150 (Company, Corporation, Names, Organizations)

Chicago Manual: 7.60 (Institutions and Companies), 14.12-15 (Company Names)

Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: 1396-1440 (Biographical Names)

2.8 TITLES AND OFFICES

The following guides pertain to titles in general.

2.9 Capitalization

Capitalize civil, military, religious and professional titles when they immediately precede a name: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm

Lowercase titles when they precede the name as modifiers or identifiers: former president George H.W. Bush

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 207-208 (Titles) Chicago Manual: 7.16-26 (Titles and Offices), 14.4-15 (Personal Names and Titles and Titles Before Names)

2.10 PLACES

2.11 Form

Nouns and some adjectives identifying geographical locations are generally capitalized. For a listing of geographical names, their form and their spelling, consult Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary: Geographical Names.

2.12 Capitalization

Capitalize the names of cities and states; lowercase the word state and city: I live in the state of Michigan. Visit the city of Detroit. If you write "the State of Michigan," you're speaking of a governmental unit.

In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass directions. But capitalize compass points when part of a proper name: West Virginia; or when used in denoting widely known sections: Southern California. If in doubt, lowercase. Follow these examples:

the Upper Peninsula, western Michigan, Metro Detroit, Southeastern Michigan

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 62 (Directions and Regions)

2.13 Abbreviations (Geographic)

The name of states, territories and possessions of the United States should be abbreviated in conjunction with the name of a city, town, village or military base (see Editor’s Notes for exceptions):

He found his thrill in Troy, Mich.

2.14 Streets, Buildings

Spell out and capitalize avenue, boulevard, building, court, drive, lane, parkway, place, road, square, street and terrace when they are part of an address or name. Lowercase them when they stand alone or are used collectively following two or more proper names: Woodward and Gratiot avenues

Capitalize and spell out a building when it is part of a proper name. Lowercase when used alone or with two or more names:

Academic/Administrative Building, Fitness Center and Law School buildings

Capitalize and spell out north, south, east and west when they form part of an address or name: 200 Woodward Avenue South; North Mack Avenue

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 5 (Addresses)

2.15 TITLES OF THINGS

Italicize titles in the following categories of works when they appear in text:

Place the following categories of works in quotations when they appear in text:

Spell out and lowercase references to parts of a book; do not use italics or quotation marks: part I, page vii, chapter 3

2.16 QUOTATIONS

2.17 Running Text

All quotation marks and apostrophes are curved: “ ” ‘ ’. Do not use " or ' in any text.

2.18 Block Quotations

Material set off from the rest of the text as a block quotation is indented, left and right, and not enclosed in quotation marks. Quoted matter within block quotations should be enclosed in double quotation marks.

2.19 Bracket

Use brackets to indicate any additions or corrections you make to quotations.

2.20 Periods, Commas within Quotation Marks

Periods, commas, question and exclamation marks should be placed within closing quotation marks. “Aren’t you wondering what happened next?”

Sources

AP Stylebook: 275 (Quotation Marks) Chicago Manual: 15.105-15.149 (Quotation Marks)

2.21 COMMAS

Eliminate the last comma in a simple series. He is studying English, biology and math.

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 270-271 (Commas)

2.22 HYPHENS

Hyphens are joiners. Use them to avoid ambiguity or to form a single idea from two or more words that express a single concept. When a compound modifier precedes a noun, use hyphens to link all words in the compound except very and adverbs that end in ly. They are African American. It is an African-American custom. He received a 10- to 20-year contract. That was a beautifully constructed phrase.

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 273-274 (Hyphens)

2.23 ABBREVIATIONS

2.24 Standard Abbreviations

Consult Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary for a listing of standard abbreviations.

2.25 Acronyms

Acronyms are abbreviations pronounced as words; do not italicize them or follow the individual letters with periods.

2.26 Subsequent References

As a general rule, follow the first full reference with the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses if they are to be used throughout the text. He works at the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts (CFPCA).

2.27 University Abbreviation

The university’s full name should be used on first reference. On subsequent references, use WSU (note, no periods), Wayne State or the university (note lowercase u).

2.28 Subsequent References

On subsequent references, abbreviate WSU’s colleges and schools such as CFPCA (note, no periods) or refer to them as college or school (note, no cap).

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 3-4 (Abbreviations and Acronyms) Chicago Manual: 14.1-57 (Abbreviations) Merriam’s Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 1379-1389 (Abbreviations)

2.29 TIME

2.30 Centuries and Decades

Use numerals to refer to centuries and decades: the 20th century the 1980s.

2.31 Seasons

Lowercase the names of the seasons unless they designate an issue of a periodical: Where are you going this spring? He has the Fall 1999 issue of Currents.

2.32 Days and Months

Capitalize the names of days and months; abbreviate months with date (see Editor’s Notes for exceptions): He never forgot that Sunday in June. She received her degree on Dec. 10, 1999.

2.33 Hours

Use figures with a.m. or p.m. Abbreviations ante and post meridiem are always lowercased with periods and the time is placed before the date: The class meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 25.

Sources

The AP Stylebook: 36 (Century), 59 (Decades), 203-204 (Time Element, Time of Day) Chicago Manual: 7.74-76 (Calendar and Time Designations)

3.1 COLLEGES, SCHOOLS

3.2 Capitalization

Capitalize office, department, division, program, institute, center, in official titles on first reference: the Office of Accounting Otherwise, lowercase office, department, division, program, institute, center: the director’s office

3.3 Auxiliaries

On first reference, always use the full university name before and after an auxiliary: Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theatre The Hilberry Theatre at Wayne State University

Source

The AP Stylebook: 43 (Colleges)

3.4 WSU DEPARTMENT VS. OFFICE

3.5 Department

Always use the proper name of a department, division or unit of the university on first reference. Use the correct preposition in designating employee titles: Professor of Neurology; Professor in the Center of Molecular Medicine and Genetics. See undergraduate catalog for reference.

3.6 Department vs. Office

At WSU, academic areas are referred to as departments and nonacademic areas are referred to as offices: Department of History Office of the General Counsel Lowercase subject areas when not part of a proper name; lowercase names of programs, concentrations, specializations, majors, minors, options.

3.7 FACULTY AND STAFF

3.8 Titles

Like other professional titles, formal academic and administrative titles should be capitalized when they immediately precede personal names: Executive Director Mary Shannon. Lowercase titles when they are used after names but uppercase a formal office or department: Tim Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, approved the requisition.

3.9 Academic Degrees

Do not use academic degrees after names unless they are important to the text: John Smith, Ph.D., graduated from Harvard with honors. In text, follow the AP Stylebook and refer to a person as a doctor only if that individual has earned a medical degree. Do not confuse the reader by referring to those with doctoral degrees as doctors. See Glossary, academic degrees.

Source

AP Stylebook: 5 (Academic Degrees)

3.10 SEMESTERS

References to semesters should be lowercased: the spring 1994 semester

3.11 COURSES

3.12 Course Names

The full title of an academic course should be capitalized. No quotation marks are used. Use italics: He teaches the popular course, 20th Century American History.

3.13 CREDITS

3.14 Credits and Grades

The term credit hours is redundant; use credits. The abbreviation for grade-point average is GPA. For grade-point averages, the preferred form is to use figures to one decimal point: 3.9.

Do not italicize letter grades or place them within quotation marks: He received one A and five Bs.

4.1 PUBLICATIONS

4.2 General

Consult MAC for an extended treatment of the university’s graphic identity system.

4.3 Headlines

Substitute single-stroke quotation marks for double quotes in all headlines. Always use numerals in headlines, even if it is the first to appear in the headline. 3 professors win awards

4.4 Photo Captions

A photo caption may be a complete sentence or a tagline (name only or name and title and not followed by a period). Captions may take many forms, but the preferred form is a complete sentence. Spot directions, such as from left or from right, in captions are separated by parentheses: Company founders (from left) Miller, Davis and Cantor meet once each year. If there are only two people in a photo, it is not necessary to use both left and right spot directions: Tom Giradot (left) and Therese Jones review plans for the annual meeting. A caption should never begin with spot directions.

4.5 Photo Credits

When used, photo credits should be written vertically along the top right margin of the photograph.

4.6 Newsletters

Place the university wordmark in the publishing information box. The name of the newsletter should appear only in type: No other graphic elements should be used in the flag. Place the university wordmark on the mailing panel with return address and any mailing indicia.

4.7 Poster/Fliers/Brochures/Booklets

Place the university wordmark in the upper left corner of poster (bottom center is also acceptable).

4.8 Self-mailers

Place the university wordmark on the mailing panel on top or next to the return address.

4.9 Invitations

Place the university wordmark on the cover and the message inside the invitation, or place the university wordmark and message on the cover. The wordmark may also appear centered on the bottom of the back panel.

4.10 Invitation Envelopes

The university wordmark should appear with the return address block (upper left corner) or on the envelope flap.

Source

Chicago Manual: 2.1-177 (Manuscript Preparation and Copyediting)

4.11 EEO/DISABILITY STATEMENTS

4.12 Usage

The Equal Employment Opportunity statement must appear on materials used for recruitment purposes. All university programs and services must be accessible to people with disabilities. Program announcements should always include the disability statement.

4.13 EEO Statement

Wayne State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

4.14 Disability Statement

People with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this program should contact (insert department name and phone number).

4.15 Mail Panel Information

For updated mailing information, contact MAP at 577-8155 and/or the United States Post Office main branch at (313) 226-8301.

4.16 Demeaning Language

Demeaning stereotypes and condescending phrases should not be used. Avoid language that is ambiguous. Examples: Use chair, chairman or chairwoman, but not chairperson Use spokesman, spokeswoman, but not spokesperson

4.17 ALUMNI

4.18 Designation

Designate all alumni appearing in alumni magazines and other publications: Peter Gibbons ’67

4.19 Gender

Use the right word for gender. Alumna is the feminine singular form. Alumnae is feminine plural. Alumnus is both masculine and nongender singular. Alumni is both masculine and mixed-gender plural.

4.20 Alumni Association

First reference: Wayne State University Alumni Association; subsequent references: WSUAA.

4.21 CAMPUS EVENTS

4.22 Capitalization

Capitalize the names of recurring WSU events when they are used in a specific sense: This year’s Homecoming was great. Lowercase the names of WSU events when they are used in a general sense: She attended several parent weekends.

4.23 ATHLETICS

4.24 Games

When pairing the names of two schools in athletic competition, use a hyphen: this Saturday’s WSU-Findlay game. While it is acceptable to drop the terms university and college from the names of the participating schools, avoid colloquialisms such as Pitt and BC if possible.

4.25 Conference

Most WSU athletic teams belong to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In contexts where the athletic emphasis is understood, use GLIAC.

4.26 National Collegiate Athletic Association

On subsequent references, use NCAA; note, no periods.

4.27 All-America

An individual team member may be called an All-American. However, the correct adjectival form is All-America: He is an All-America point guard. For miscellaneous athletic terminology, refer to The AP Stylebook: 234-251.

5.1 USAGE

Introduction

Miscellaneous deals with such usage questions as: Is the word I want beside or besides, comprise or consist, log on or log-on? How should I refer to a disabled person? Which form is correct: on line, online or on-line? The alphabetized entries include guides to the correct or preferred usage of words and idioms and brief discussions of broader questions of usage such as ethnic and racial designations, people with disabilities and selected principles of good usage such as the avoidance of overused words. If you can’t find the item or topic you’re looking for, refer to the Index or consult the sources listed in the Introduction. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary is especially helpful on questions of usage.

5.2 MISCELLANEOUS TERMS

Academic/Administrative Building

Not Administration. Use slash. A/AB is acceptable on subsequent references.

A cademic degrees Use master’s, bachelor’s, bachelor of science or arts degree, master of science or arts degree or doctoral degree. Avoid using abbreviations in describing academic status. Instead use a phrase such as Chris Brown earned a doctoral degree in physics.  Selected uses:

Active voice

Wherever possible, rephrase sentences in the passive voice to make them active: The proposals that were made by the committee were received negatively by the faculty would be less awkward and more effective if rephrased as The faculty rejected the committee’s proposals.

Adviser

Do not use advisor.

Agree to, agree with

These are common idioms with different meanings. A person agrees to a plan and with another person. A thing agrees with another thing (a noun with a verb, for example). Other idioms: I agree in principle; We agreed on a plan of attack; He agreed to fly.

All of

The of in all of can often be omitted: All [of] the milk was spilled.

All right

is two words.

Ampersand

The ampersand (&) should be used only in names and titles, and then only when the ampersand is officially part of the name or title: The College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions is part of WSU.

a.m., p.m.

are lowercase with periods.

And/or

Do not use this construction. Instead of writing The dean will speak at the convocation and/or the dedication, write The dean will speak at the convocation or the dedication, or both.

Archives

Archives takes a singular verb when used as a collective noun: The Reuther Archives is an excellent resource. The archives increases in size every year. When using archives to denote more than one archive, use the plural verb: The professor used several archives during his research.

Awhile

Don’t use for awhile. Use either I talked awhile or I talked for a while.

Beside, Besides

The preposition beside means by the side of, as in beside the road. It is also used in idioms like beside the point and beside myself with rage. ... Besides is used as a preposition meaning in addition to: Besides the dean of the School of Social Work, 10 others attended the meeting. It is also used as an adverb meaning in addition: The dean remained silent on the issue; besides, she had come to enjoy herself.

Board of Governors

is acceptable on first reference and board (no cap!) or BOG on subsequent references.

Bullets

In general, uppercase the first word in a bulleted list. Use a period at the end only if the bulleted item is a full sentence. It is also acceptable to use semicolons at the end of each bullet with and at the end of the next to last bullet and a period at the end of the last bullet. Be consistent in listing bulleted items.

Cannot

Do not use can not.

Capitalization

In general, avoid unnecessary use of capital letters. Capitalize common nouns such as center, river and street only when they are an integral part of the full name for a person, place or thing: Detroit Athletic Center, Detroit River, Cass Avenue. Lowercase when they stand alone in subsequent references: the center, the river, the avenue.

Centers and institutes

Spell out on first reference: Center for Urban Studies. Initials are permissible on subsequent references, but the center or the institute is preferred. Exception: Do not use MMCC for McGregor Memorial Conference Center or CUS for Center for Urban Studies. See capitalization and McGregor Memorial Conference Center.

Cliches

Avoid using trite expressions, or cliches, such as crack of dawn, generous to a fault, on the cutting edge.

Co-

Retain the hyphen when forming nouns, adjectives and verbs that indicate occupation or status: co-author, co-sponsor, co-signer. Use no hyphen in other combinations: coed, coexistence, cooperate, coordination. Consult AP Stylebook for an extended treatment.

College names

When the full and correct name of a university college or school is given, capitalize: College of Nursing, but lowercase if the proper name is not used: nursing college.

Colleges and schools

WSU has 13 colleges and schools: School of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, Graduate School, Law School, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Library Science Program, School of Medicine, College of Nursing, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Social Work, Irvin D. Reid Honors College.

Commencement

Use commencement ceremonies or commencement program, not commencement or commencements alone when referring to graduation ceremonies.

Computing & Information Technology, Division of

Spell out full title on first reference, Division of Computing & Information Technology (use ampersand). C&IT is acceptable in subsequent references. See ampersand divisions.

Comprise

means consist of or include, as in The whole comprises its parts. Write composed of but not comprised of.

Consensus

means agreement of opinion. Consensus of opinion is therefore redundant.

Consist

means include, as in This textbook consists of 23 chapters. See comprise.

Co-op

This shortened version of cooperative is hyphenated. Because it is not an abbreviation, don’t use a period. See co-.

Courses

Capitalize proper names of courses: Theory of General Education.

Coursework

is one word, no hyphen.

Copy-edit

use a hyphen.

Cripple, crippled

Do not use when referring to a person with a disability.

Database

is one word.

David Adamany Undergraduate Library

Spell out on first reference. On subsequent references, use Adamany Library or the library but never Adamany alone.

Dean

Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name and lowercase in all other references. See capitalization.

Degrees

See academic degrees.

DIA

Acceptable on subsequent references for the Detroit Institute of Arts, but also use the art institute or the institute of arts.

Different from

not different than.

Director

Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name and lowercase in all other references. See capitalization.

Disabled person

Do not use. Rather, use person with a disability. See disabilities.

Disabilities

Words such as the handicapped, confined to a wheelchair and the retarded should never be used as nouns. In general, phrases such as people with disabilities and children with autism are appropriate, emphasizing the person, rather than the disability.

Disability statement

People with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this program should contact (insert department name and phone number).

Disk

Do not use disc.

Divisions

WSU divisions include Development and Alumni Affairs, Government and Community Affairs and Research.

Do’s and don’ts

Do not use dos and donts.

Drop/Add

is capitalized.

Due to

should be used only when due is an adjective modifying a noun: His dismissal was due to misconduct or a dismissal due to misconduct. Don’t use due to when there is no modified noun: He was dismissed because of missing work.

e.g.

means for example. Use a comma after e.g.  See i.e.

e-mail

Use a hyphen and do not capitalize unless it is placed at the beginning of a sentence.

e-mail addresses

Use all lowercase letters unless capitalizations are specified. 

Emeritus 

is a WSU designation bestowed on retired faculty after recommendation from the president and approval of the dean and provost. When used, place emeritus after the formal title, in keeping with the general practice of academic institutions. Use emerita in reference to a woman.

Entitled

means deserving or having the right. It does not mean bearing the title. A book is titled, not entitled. 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Wayne State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. See 4.12.

etc.

is a Latin abbreviation used in English to mean and so on. It should be avoided in all but the most informal uses.

Ethnic and racial designations

Where appropriate, MAC prefers the abandonment of racial designations such as black, Indian and Asian in favor of identifiers based on cultural heritage: African American, Native American and Asian American.

Ex officio

Italicize and place after a name.

Facilities Planning and Management

Note, no commas.

Faculty/Administration Building

Use slash. F/AB is acceptable on subsequent references.

Faculty, staff

Both words are collective nouns. They refer to groups of people, yet they take singular verbs: The faculty has assembled. The staff is present. When writing about individuals, use a faculty member, staff members.

Fax

Acceptable as short version of facsimile or facsimile machine. Use lowercase. Avoid use as a verb: I will send you a fax today.

Fewer, less

Use fewer when referring to objects that are identifiable by number: Fewer than 100 members voted. Use less for bulk or quantity: They gave me less than their best.

File name

is two words.

Flowchart

is one word.

Forms

Lowercase the titles of forms — registration form, transfer request form — unless part of a formal title.

Freelance

as a noun is one word, no hyphen. Free-lance as an adjective and verb requires a hyphen.

Fund raising, fund-raising, fund-raiser

Fund raising is difficult. They planned a fund-raising campaign. A fund-raiser was hired.

Gordon H. Scott Hall of Basic Medical Science

Scott Hall is acceptable on subsequent references.

Grade-point average, honor-point average

Spell out on first reference. Use GPA or HPA on subsequent references. Note no periods.

Graduated

Graduated from is preferable: He graduated from WSU in May 2000. Do not write She graduated college.

Hardworking

is one word, no hyphen.

Health care

is two words.

Home page

is two words.

Hopefully

is an adverb meaning in a hopeful manner: Hopefully, he approached the two-dollar window is an example of correct usage. Hopefully tells us that the subject was full of hope: Hopefully, his loss will teach him a lesson is an example of incorrect usage. Hopefully has nothing to modify.

i.e.

means that is, not for example. See e.g.

Inc.

Do not precede Inc. with a comma unless you know the source prefers the form.

Input

Do not use as a verb.

International student

is preferred to foreign student.

Internet

Capitalize. See World Wide Web.

John R

does not have a period.

Junior

Do not precede Jr. with a comma unless you know the source prefers the form. Use Martin Luther King Jr.

Lectern

Speakers stand on the podium and at the lectern.

Lecture about

is correct, not lecture on.

Log off

(verb), log-off (noun and adjective)

Log on

(verb), log-on (noun and adjective)

Keyboard

is one word.

Kmart

has no hyphen or space.

Master class

Not masterclass, Master class or Masterclass.

McGregor Memorial Conference Center

Use full name on first reference. Use McGregor Center or the center on subsequent references. Do not use McGregor alone.

Media

is the plural form of medium. It should be used with a plural verb: The media are attending the event.

Metro or Metropolitan Detroit

See 2.12.

Money

Use $12, not $12.00. Use $12 million, not $12,000,000.

More than, over

More than expresses quantity: More than 10 applicants attended. Over is an adverb expressing direction: He threw the salt over his shoulder. Over also expresses altitude: Superman flew high over the Himalayas. Over can, at times, be used with numerals: She is over 30. But more than is usually better.

Multi

In general, use no hyphen in words with multi as a prefix: multicultural, multidisciplinary.

Non

As a rule, no hyphen: nonprofit.

Nonsexist language

In general, remember that people and human beings are preferable substitutes for man, men and mankind when both sexes are intended.

Numbers

Spell out one through nine. For numbers 10 and above, use numerals. Spell out numbers when they appear as the first word of a sentence. For additional information, see AP Stylebook.

Online

is one word, no hyphen.

Output

is a noun. Do not use as a verb.

People, persons

The word people is preferred to persons in all plural uses.

Percent

is preferred to percentage and the percent sign, except in technical material. 

Postsecondary 

is one word, no hyphen.

Presently

means soon; currently means now.

Prior to

Use before instead of prior to in most instances.

Purdy/Kresge Library

Do not use either name separately. Include slash.

Reason why

The why is superfluous and useless: Quality education was the reason I attended WSU.

Semester, term

Lowercase in all references: fall semester, spring/summer term.

Student Center Building

Student Center or SCB are acceptable on subsequent references.

That, which, who, whom

That is the preferred pronoun to introduce clauses that refer to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. Which is the only acceptable pronoun to introduce a nonessential clause that refers to an inanimate object or an animal without a name.

Which is specific; that is more general. The cold wind that blew across the steppes. ... The cold wind, which blew without ceasing across the steppes, froze everything in its path. A good way to remember this usage is that which is almost always preceded by a comma. No comma? Use that.

Use who and whom in reference to people and to animals with a name: John Jones is the man who helped me.

Theatre, theater

Theatre is the preferable form, but always check the spelling in formal names: Fisher Theatre, State Theater.

Time

State the time of an event in the following order: time, day, date: 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2000.

Toward

Not towards.

Under way

is two words.

United States

Spell out on first reference and use U.S. on subsequent references.

University Cultural Center

is the complete formal title. Cultural center is acceptable on subsequent references.

Universitywide

is one word, no hyphen.

User friendly

Avoid: The system is easy to use, not The system is user friendly.

Utilize

Try use or employ. Also avoid optimize, maximize, prioritize and strategize.

WDET-FM 101.9

Use WDET-FM 101.9 on first reference and WDET on subsequent references.

Work force

is two words.

Workplace

is one word.

World Wide Web, Web, Web site

Capitalize Web, as it is a formal name. Note: Web site is two words!

ZIP code

Use all caps as it is short for Zone Improvement Program. The word code is lowercase. 

 

Exceptions

 

We made the rules, now we’re going to break a pair of them.


Company Names

Do not abbreviate a company’s name; Inc. and Ltd. are usually dropped: General Motors Corporation

Abbreviations (Geographic)

Do not abbreviate the name of a city, town, village or military base: He found his purpose in life in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.