| Topic |
Rule |
Example |
| 24/7
|
Refers
to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. References should be 24/7, not 24x7.
|
|
academic
degrees
|
Do
not use academic degrees after names unless they are relevant/important
to the text. Use: B.A., B.S., M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., etc. Do not capitalize
doctorate, doctor's, bachelor's, master's, master of science, etc.
|
|
| academic
years |
Do
not abbreviate. Use lower case unless starting a sentence. |
freshman,
sophomore, junior and senior |
| acronyms |
Spell
out what the acronym stands for on first reference on a page. Follow
it with the acronym in parenthesis. On following references on the
same page, simply use the acronym.
|
|
| active
voice |
Use
active voice whenever possible. Active voice means, in general, avoiding
forms of "to be."
|
|
| addresses |
Addresses
should be centered in Web copy, with separate lines for name; street
address; and city, state and ZIP.
|
|
adviser
|
This
should be spelled with an "e," not an "o." It
is adviser, not advisor.
|
|
| affect/effect |
Don't
use "effect" as a verb. "Effect" is more commonly
used as a noun. "Affect" is the verb meaning to modify or
take on.
|
|
| All-University
Fund Drive (AUFD) |
Spell
this out on first reference and use AUFD on second reference. When
spelling this out, there should be a dash between the words "All"
and "University." The first letter of each word also should
be capitalized. The acronym is AUFD. |
|
alum
|
Do
not use in copy. Okay to use in Web headlines.
|
|
Alumni
Association
|
On
first reference use: Oakland University Alumni Association. Following
references can be OUAA.
|
|
alumni,
alumna, alumnae, alumnus,
|
Use
the correct word for the gender: Alumna is feminine singular. Alumnae
is feminine plural. Alumnus is masculine and non-gender singular.
Alumni is masculine and non-gender plural.
|
|
| Alumni
designation/year graduated |
When
including the year someone graduated and from which school or college,
this should be set off by commas when it is used with the person's
name. |
Joe
Smith, SBA '83, is vice president of the company. |
| ampersand
(&) |
Spell
out "and" unless the ampersand is officially part of a name
or title. On the Web, it is acceptable to use the ampersand on buttons.
|
AT&T |
| and/or |
Avoid
this construction. |
|
| annual |
Do
not use the term "first annual." Instead, note that sponsors
plan to hold the event annually. An event cannot be described as annual
until it has been held at least two successive years. |
|
auxiliaries
(return
to top) |
On
first reference, use the full university name before an auxiliary. |
Oakland
University's Meadow Brook Hall. |
| BA,
MA, BS, MS, Ph.D. |
Use
periods in Ph.D., but not BA, MA, BS or MS. |
|
| Bachelor
of Arts, Master of Arts |
Capitalize
the first letters in "Bachelor," "Master" and
"Arts." There is no "s" at the end of "Bachelor"
or "Master." |
|
|
bachelor's, master's |
lowercase
with an apostrophe between the "r" and "s." |
|
| bachelor's
degree |
Lower
case unless it begins a sentence. However, specific degrees should
be capitalized. |
He
received his bachelor's degree from Oakland University. She received
her Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University. |
| Banquet
Room A, Banquet Room B, Banquet Rooms |
Use
Banquet Rooms, not Banquet Rooms A and B. |
|
| Board
of Trustees |
The
"B" in "Board" and first "T" in "Trustees"
should be capitalized when using the "Board of Trustees."
When just using the "board," it should be lowercase. Use
the Board of Trustees on first reference and the board on second reference. |
|
| BS,
MS, BA, MA, Ph. D. |
Use
periods in Ph.D., but not BA, MA, BS or MS. |
|
| building
names |
Refer
to the schedule of classes for appropriate building abbreviations.
Do not use BIT for Elliott Hall. |
See
attachment for building abbreviations. |
bullet
points
(return
to top) |
You
need not use the word "including" or the phrase "as
follows" before a bulleted list. The text that follows the bullet
should be in lower case if it is part of the sentence at the beginning
of the list. The text that follows should start with a capital letter
only if the bullet point is a complete sentence.
|
|
| Café
O'Bears |
Use
an accent over the "e" in "Café" and only
one apostrophe between the "O" and "B" in "O'Bears." |
|
| calendar
items |
All
items should include: date, time, location and event title or description.
If applicable, items should include contact name and number, and cost.
List events on the same day in time order.
|
|
| Campaign
for OU, comprehensive campaign, campaign |
When
referring to "Innovation and Opportunity - The Campaign for Oakland
University," use the full name, Campaign for OU, comprehensive
campaign or campaign. Never use capital campaign. |
|
| capitalization |
The
standard rules for capitalization should be followed. Each sentence
should begin with an initial cap. All proper names should be capitalized. |
|
| capitalization,
all caps |
Never
use all caps—unless the word is an acronym or the proper/legal
name is all cap. Legal documents posted on the Web site are an exception. |
|
capitalization;
university
|
Capitalize
university only when it is part of a proper name or at the beginning
of a sentence.
|
|
click
here (and other Web directional instructions)
|
Do
not use. Integrate hyperlink into appropriate text. Including "click
here" and other phrases is redundant. |
|
coed
|
Do
not hyphenate coed.
|
|
| colleges
& schools |
Abbreviate
the names of OU's colleges and schools after first reference. The
following are acceptable: CAS, HS, SBA, SECS, SEHS, SON. Capitalize
the names of colleges and schools within the university.
|
|
| comma
usage |
Do
not place a comma before the concluding conjunction in a simple series
(a listing of three or more items.) Do place a comma before the concluding
conjunction if the series contains a conjunction. |
Don't:
coffee, tea, and juice. Do: coffee, tea, milk, and a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich |
| contractions |
Use
of contractions is encouraged to make text friendlier to the reader/visitor.
Be careful not to overuse.
|
|
co-op
|
Hyphenate.
|
|
| course
names |
Full
titles of an academic course should be capitalized. No quotation marks
should be used. |
He
teaches the popular course, 20th Century American History. |
|
credit/credit
hours
(return
to top)
|
Use
term credit. Credit hours is redundant. |
|
| dashes |
Used
sparingly, the dash can provide emphasis or suspense. Use a dash for:
irony, emphasis, breaks in thought, explanatory comments.
|
|
| dates/months |
Follow
AP style: Spell out month and include year without separating by a
comma. Abbreviate month when used with a specific date. When referring
to month, date and year, offset year with commas. For Web copy and
calendars, include the day of the week when previewing an event. |
January
1972 was very cold. Jan. 29 was the coldest day. Jan. 29, 1972, hit
historic lows. |
| days
of the week |
Include
days of the week with dates in Web copy and calendar items when previewing
an event. Offset dates with commas. |
Monday,
April 23, 2001 |
| Decades |
Use
Arabic figures to indicate spans of decades or centuries (1920s, 1900s).
Use an apostrophe to indicate numerals that are left out ('20s). Show
plural by adding an "s," no apostrophe, to the end (1920s). |
the
1990s, the '90s, the Gay '90s, the mid-1990s. |
| Disability
Statement |
People
with disabilities who need assistance to participate in this program
should contact (insert department name and phone number).
|
|
| Distinguished
Professor |
The
first two letters of each word should be capitalized in all cases,
including when this is plural, when referring to the prestigious honor
bestowed upon OU faculty members by the Board of Trustees. |
|
| doctoral
degree |
Lower
case unless it begins a sentence. However, specific degrees should
be capitalized. |
He
received his doctoral degree from Oakland University. She received
her Doctor of Philosophy degree from Michigan State University. |
| dorm/dormitory |
Do
not use. Use residence hall instead. |
|
|
double negatives
(return
to top)
|
Do
not use. |
|
e-commerce
|
Hyphenate
and lowercase unless it begins a sentence. When it begins a sentence,
capitalize the "E."
|
|
| EEO
Statement |
Oakland
University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution.
|
|
| EEO/Disability
statements |
The
EEO and disability statements should appear on most materials used
for publicity, recruitment (of students or staff) or information to
the public.
|
|
e-mail
|
Hyphenate,
lowercase. Always include with contact information.
|
|
| ensure/insure |
Insure:
To cover with insurance. Ensure: To make sure or certain.
|
|
|
exclamation
point
(return
to top)
|
Use
with discretion and avoid using in formal communication. |
|
| FAQ |
Acronym
for frequently asked questions. Okay to use as acronym on Internet.
Spell out in copy.
|
|
fax
|
Lower
case, unless it begins a sentence.
|
|
| freshman |
Lower
case, unless it begins a sentence. There are no acceptable abbreviations.
|
|
|
full time,
full-time
(return
to top)
|
Hyphenate
when used as a compound modifier. |
She
works full time. He has a full-time job. |
| Graduation
year and school/college |
When
including the year someone graduated and from which school or college,
this should be set off by commas when it is used with the person's
name. |
Joe Smith, SBA '83, is vice president of the company. |
| grassroots |
one
word, no hyphen |
|
Grizz
(return
to top) |
When
referring to OU's mascot, it is "the Grizz," not "The
Grizz," unless this appears at the beginning of a sentence. |
|
| health
care |
Two
words except when the name of a company dictates otherwise. |
|
| Help
Desk |
Two
words with the first letter of each word capitalized. |
|
| his/her,
s/he |
Do
not use. Use the plural instead. |
Use:
They |
home
page
|
Two
words, lower case unless starting a sentence.
|
|
| husband,
wife |
Use
commas to separate the words "husband" or "wife"
from the name of the spouse |
His
wife, Sally, helped on the project. |
hyperlinks
(return
to top) |
Hyperlinks
should be bold, red, not underlined. |
|
| Internet |
Initial
cap. |
|
|
intranet
(return
to top)
|
Lower
case unless it begins a sentence. |
|
junior,
senior
(return
to top) |
Abbreviate
as Jr. and Sr. only with full names of persons or animals. Do not
precede by a comma (Martin Luther King Jr.) only in specific cases
where the person whose name it is requests it. The notation II or
2nd may be used if it is the individual's preference. However, note
that II and 2nd are not necessarily the equivalent of junior - they
often are used by a grandson or nephew. If necessary to distinguish
between father and son in second reference, use the elder Smith or
younger Smith. |
Do:
All juniors must take this class. Pete Brown Jr. said it was true.
Don't: The jr. class will attend the session. |
| legal
documents |
Legal
documents posted to the Web should be posted as approved and distributed
by the legal department. |
|
|
login, logon,
logoff
(return
to top)
|
One
word, lower case. |
|
| MA,
BA, MS, BS, Ph.D. |
Use
periods in Ph.D., but not BA, MA, BS or MS. |
|
| Macomb
Community College |
Use
the full name on first reference and just "Macomb" on second
reference. Never use MCC. |
|
| Macomb
University Center |
It
should be the Macomb University Center. Never use Macomb's University
Center. |
|
|
Majors and Programs |
Lowercase
names of programs and majors. |
chemistry
program, chemistry major |
| Master
of Arts, Bachelor of Arts |
Capitalize
the first letters in "Bachelor," "Master" and
"Arts." There is no "s" at the end of "Bachelor"
or "Master." |
|
| master's,
bachelor's |
lowercase
with an apostrophe between the "r" and "s." |
|
| master's
degree |
Lower
case unless it begins a sentence. However, specific degrees should
be capitalized. |
He
received his master's degree from Oakland University. She received
her Master of Arts degree from Michigan State University. |
|
Meadow Brook Hall |
Use
the full name on first reference and just the hall (lowercase) on
second reference. |
|
| mid |
Do
not hyphen unless a capitalized word follows. |
Midterm,
midsemester, Mid-Continent Conference |
| Midnight
Madness |
Both
Midnight Madnezz and Mid-Night Madnezz are acceptable. |
|
| money |
Use
figures with the dollar sign in copy. For even dollar amounts do not
add decimal followed by double zero. Spell out the word cents and
lowercase, using numerals for amounts less than a dollar: 5 cents.
Use the $ sign and decimal system for larger amounts ($1.05).
|
The
fee for activities is $25. The exact amount of the bill is $19.48. |
monthlong
|
One
word.
|
|
| months/dates |
Follow
AP style: Spell out month and include year without separating by a
comma. Abbreviate month when used with a specific date. When referring
to month, date and year, offset year with commas. For Web copy and
calendars, include the day of the week when previewing an event. |
January
1972 was very cold. Jan. 29 was the coldest day. Jan. 29, 1972, hit
historic lows. |
| more
than |
Follow
AP style: "More than" should be used when relating to numerals.
When you refer to spatial relationships, use "over." |
Numerals:
Salaries increased more than 10%. Spatial: The plane flew over the
city. |
| MS,
BS, MA, BA, Ph.D. |
Use
periods in Ph.D., but not BA, MA, BS or MS. |
|
MSU-O,
Michigan State University - Oakland
(return
to top) |
Use
Michigan State University - Oakland on first reference and MSU-O on
second reference. There should be a dash between the "U"
and "O" and between the words "University" and
"Oakland." |
|
| names |
Individuals
should be referenced by their full name on first reference of each
(Web) page. Following references should be last name only. Do not
include courtesy titles in the first or following references.
|
|
| names;
junior, senior, II |
Use
Jr., II, etc. only on first reference with the individual's full name.
The abbreviations are not set off with commas.
|
|
names;
middle initials
|
Use
middle initials in full name reference only if the person uses it
regularly.
|
|
names;
second reference
|
On
second and subsequent references on the same page, refer to individuals
by last name only.
|
|
| noon,
midnight |
Use
noon or midnight. Do not use 12 a.m. or 12 p.m.
|
|
|
numbers
(return
to top)
|
Units
of measurement and percents should be indicated in numerals. Spell
out numbers nine and under. Use numerals for numbers 10 and higher.
|
|
| Oakland
University |
Use
the full name of the university on first reference. Second references
may be Oakland, OU or the university. Headlines may also use OU or
Oakland. |
|
| offices,
departments, divisions |
Capitalize
office, department, division, program, institute, center, etc., when
they are part of official titles. Otherwise, use lowercase. |
The
Office of the Dean. The dean's office. |
| online |
One
word in all cases for the computer connection term (per AP style).
|
|
| O'rena |
The
"r" should be lowercase and only one apostrophe should be
used between the "O" and the "r." |
|
| OU
at Macomb, Oakland University at Macomb |
Don't
use "the Oakland University/OU at Macomb program" |
|
| OU
Bookstore, university bookstore |
Both
OU Bookstore and university bookstore are acceptable. When using OU
Bookstore, the "B" in "Bookstore" should be capitalized.
When using university bookstore, it should be lowercase. |
|
| OU
INCubator, OU INC |
When
spelling this out (OU INCubator) and using the abbreviated form (OU
INC), "INC" should all be capitalized. Use OU INCubator
on first reference and OU INC on second reference. |
|
over
(return
to top) |
Follow
AP style: "More than" should be used when relating to numerals.
When you refer to spatial relationships, use "over." |
Numerals:
Salaries increased more than 10%. Spatial: The plane flew over the
city. |
| parenthesis |
In
general, parenthesis create clutter. If your copy has parenthesis,
review the material and consider omitting the information in parenthesis
or reorganizing the material.
|
|
| part
time, part-time |
Hyphenate
when used as a compound modifier. |
She
works part time. She has a part-time job. |
| passive
voice |
Avoid
it. Limited usage may be okay when it is used to achieve a special
effect—that should be rare.
|
|
| percent |
When
spelled out, it is one word. |
|
| percent
sign |
Use
the % symbol in Web copy with the numeral when in copy. Use the sign
with numerals in table. Spell out in all other cases. |
The
survey received a 73% response. |
| Ph.D.,
BA, MA, BS, MS |
Use
periods in Ph.D., but not BA, MA, BS or MS. |
|
|
phone numbers
|
All phone numbers
should include ten digits.
|
(248)
370-2100 |
Programs
and Majors
(return
to top) |
Lowercase
names of programs and majors. |
chemistry
program, chemistry major |
| residence
hall |
Use
the term residence hall instead of dorm or dormitory.
|
|
| room
numbers |
Use
figures. Capitalize "Room" when used with a figure.
|
The
seminar will be in Room 4B. |
rooms
(return
to top) |
Capitalize
the names of specifically designated rooms. |
We
will meet in the Gold Room. The session was held in the common room. |
| seasons |
Do
not capitalize seasons unless they designate an issue of a periodical. |
The
winter of 1978 was the coldest on record. Have you seen the Fall issue
of Inside Oakland? |
| semesters |
References
to semesters should be lowercase. |
The
spring 2001 semester. |
| senior,
junior |
Abbreviate
as Jr. and Sr. only with full names of persons or animals. Do not
precede by a comma (Martin Luther King Jr.) only in specific cases
where the person whose name it is requests it. The notation II or
2nd may be used if it is the individual's preference. However, note
that II and 2nd are not necessarily the equivalent of junior - they
often are used by a grandson or nephew. If necessary to distinguish
between father and son in second reference, use the elder Smith or
younger Smith.
|
|
sentence
length
|
Use
short, direct sentences instead of long, complex ones.
|
|
| sophomore |
Lower
case, unless it begins a sentence. There are no acceptable abbreviations.
|
|
| SpiritCard |
One
word with the "S" and "C" capitalized. |
|
| SpiritCash |
One
word with the first "S" and the "C" capitalized.
However, in some cases, SpiritCa$h is acceptable. |
|
| Spouse,
husband, wife |
Use
commas to separate the words "husband" or "wife"
from the name of the spouse. |
His
wife, Sally, helped on the project. |
| state
names |
When
standing alone in copy, spell out the name of the state.
|
|
state
names, abbreviations
(return
to top) |
Use
AP accepted state abbreviations in copy. Use two-letter postal abbreviations
with full address and ZIP code. |
Ala.,
Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kan.,
Ky., Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Neb., Nev., N.H.,
N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.D., Okla., Ore., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.D., Tenn.,
Vt., Va., Wash., W. Va., Wis., La., N.C., Wyo. Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho,
Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah are not abbreviated. |
|
The Honors College |
Capitalize
"The," except when this is used as an adjective. |
Bill
Smith is a student of The Honors College. |
| The
President's Club |
Capitalize
"The," except when this is used as an adjective. |
The program was sponsored by The President's Club. |
| time |
Use
a.m. and p.m. to designate day or evening times. Use midnight or noon
instead of 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. For full hour times use only the first
number.
|
8
a.m. not 8:00 a.m. |
time
reference/days
|
Do
not use in copy: today, tonight, tomorrow or yesterday.
|
|
titles,
books, publications, TV shows, movies, magazines, etc.
|
Enclose
the title in quotation marks in the Web copy. |
|
| titles;
academic |
Like
other professional titles, formal academic titles should be capitalized
when they immediately precede an individual's name. Lower case titles
when they are used after a name; offset with commas. Shortened versions
of titles are acceptable in Web copy. |
Vice
President for University Relations Susan Goepp. Geoff Upward, director
of Communications and Marketing. |
| titles;
university president |
On
first reference use full name and title. On subsequent references
use last name only. |
|
today
|
Do
not use in copy.
|
|
tomorrow
|
Do
not use in copy.
|
|
|
tonight
|
Do
not use in copy. |
|
Trustees
(return
to top) |
Capitalize
the first "T" in "Trustees" only if this is before
a name, otherwise it should be lowercase (trustees). |
|
| United
States |
Spell
out when used as a noun. Use U.S. (no space and periods) only as an
adjective.
|
|
under
way
|
Two
words in almost all cases.
|
|
|
underline
|
Do
not underline text in Web copy. Underlining indicates hyperlink on
most sites. It is not a hyperlink on Oakland.edu and should not be
used in regular text or to indicate hyperlink.
|
|
university
bookstore, OU Bookstore
|
Both
OU Bookstore and university bookstore are acceptable. When using OU
Bookstore, the "B" in "Bookstore" should be capitalized.
When using university bookstore, it should be lowercase. |
|
university
update
(return
to top) |
On
first reference, use President Russi's 2005 University Update. On
second reference, or when just using the words "university update"
alone, it should be lowercase. |
|
| Web |
Use
upper case W when referring to the World Wide Web. Use upper case
W for all references.
|
|
| Web
page |
Two
words. Upper case W, all other letters lower case.
|
|
| Web
site |
Two
words. Upper case W, all other letters lower case (per AP Style).
|
|
| webcast |
Online
broadcast. One word, lower case (per AP style).
|
|
webmaster
|
One
word, all lower case (per AP style).
|
|
weeklong
|
One
word.
|
|
| wife,
husband |
Use
commas to separate the words "husband" or "wife"
from the name of the spouse |
His
wife, Sally, helped on the project. |
|
World Wide
Web
(return
to top)
|
All
initial caps, no hyphens. Can be shortened and referred to as "the
Web." |
|
| Year
and school/college graduated from |
When
including the year someone graduated and from which school or college,
this should be set off by commas when it is used with the person's
name. |
Joe
Smith, SBA '83, is vice president of the company. |
yearlong
|
One
word.
|
|
| Years |
Use
commas only with a month and day: Dec. 18, 2005, is a Sunday. Years
are the lone exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure
is not used to start a sentence: 2000 was a very good year. |
|
|
yesterday
(return
to top)
|
Do
not use in copy. |
|
ZIP
Codes
(return
to top) |
When
using OU addresses, always include the ZIP Code with the four-digit
extension. For more information, check the list of four-digit extensions. |
|
