English Editorial Style Guide

The University of Northern Colorado’s Editorial Style Guide is the official resource for use in all nonacademic, promotional written communications including marketing materials (brochures, flyers, posters, etc.), news releases, newsletters, web pages, emails, viewbooks and other materials featuring content, narrative or text/copy.

This guide is based on the Associated Press Stylebook. For spelling guidance, we refer to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

An online subscription to the AP Stylebook is recommended, which includes a summary of recent style changes. All university units are expected to follow AP style. Remember, for editorial issues that can’t be resolved by a stylebook, please use common sense, sound grammar and punctuation with an appreciation for the reader as your guide.

Accommodation for Disabilities

Posters, flyers, advertisements, digital announcements, and other notices for all campus events should include an accommodation for disabilities statement at the bottom:

Accommodation for disabilities may be made by [specific date, typically three business days or more before event] by contacting [sponsoring department contact person, phone or email of event organizer].
When appropriate, use: Accommodation for disabilities or dietary restriction requests may be made by [specific date, typically three business days or more before event] by contacting [sponsoring department contact person, phone or email of event organizer].

All printed materials should include the following accommodation for disabilities statement:

This publication will be made available in an accessible alternative format upon request. Please contact [sponsoring department contact name, PHONE or EMAIL.]

If there are accessibility features that will already be present at an event, list those on the advertisement so that participants know whether they need to make a request. The following format can be used:

American Sign Language interpreting will be provided, and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Additional accommodations for disabilities may be made by [specific date, typically three business days or more before event] by contacting [sponsoring department contact person, phone or email of event organizer].

It is up to the event organizer to provide the phone number and email address for coordinating accommodation requests. The Disability Resource Center is available to provide technical assistance to event organizers who have been asked to provide requested accommodations or accessible materials.

See UNC’s Guide to Planning an Accessible Event for more information.

Inclusive Language Practices

Avoid all sexual or racial stereotyping and language. Many words now have neutral alternatives: firefighter, police officer, chair, or chairperson. Use these rather than assuming a particular gender. Don't create words such as s/he, and use the plural they to avoid putting two words together with slashes: he/she. When writing about a specific person, ask what pronouns they use for themselves (e.g., she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs).

Identity

LGBTQ+ is acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and/or questioning, plus other sexual and gender minorities. Fewer or additional letters can be used to be more inclusive or in quotations and names of organizations and events, such as LGBT or LGBTQIA.

I stands for intersex, and A typically stands for asexual (a person who doesn’t experience sexual attraction).

Use of LGBTQ+ is best used as a collective adjective: Walters joined the LGBTQ+ business association. Avoid using LGBTQ+ to describe individuals, and don't default to LGBTQ+ if discussing a more specific population: a bisexual advocacy group, a transgender health program.

Gender refers to internal and social identity and often corresponds with but is not synonymous with sex. Experts say gender is a spectrum, not a binary structure consisting of only males and females, that can vary by society and change over time.

Transgender is an adjective describing a person whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth. Use the term sex (or gender) assigned at birth instead of biological sex, birth gender, was identified at birth as, born a girl and the like.

Additional AP Stylebook Resources

See entry under gender, sex and sexual orientation
See entry under Transgender Coverage Topical Guide
See entry under Inclusive storytelling

Disabilities

Disabilities are handled according to the preference of the person or group. In writing about disabilities, use person-first language and stress the person, not the disability: persons with disabilities rather than the disabled.

If you have questions, check with the Disability Resource Center, 970-351-2289. The ADA National Network also offers Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities.

Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality Guidelines

Ethnic designations generally follow the preference of the person or group. Ask the person or group you're writing about how they want to be identified, such as Black or African American. Keep in mind that many people consider themselves multiracial. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can help with questions.

Use racial, ethnic and nationality identification when it is pertinent to a story and use it fairly, identifying white individuals if people of other races/ethnicities are identified.
Avoid stereotypes.
If you are including a person’s race in the content you’re creating, be sure it is necessary to mention it, and ask the person how they prefer to be identified.
Many BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) are told that their names are too complicated or too difficult to pronounce. Use the name that the subject asks you to use and do not ask to use a nickname instead. Also, be sure to include any accents or diacritics in the person’s name rather than removing them to better align with English characters.
Do not use the term colored person/people. Use a broader term, like people of color, which refers to any person who is not white, especially in the U.S. BIPOC is an emerging acronym that stands for Black, indigenous, people of color. Some feel the term is more appropriate than people of color because it acknowledges the varying levels of injustice experienced by different groups. In these instances, be sure to ask the individual/group how they prefer to be identified. However, if you are talking about a specific racial or ethnic group, name that specific group rather than generalizing to all people of color. This is especially important when discussing Black people.
The term people of color is acceptable when necessary in broad references to multiple races other than white. Do not use person of color for an individual.
Understanding the differences between race, ethnicity, and nationality is crucial in nonacademic writing.
- Race is a social construct based on physical attributes, such as skin color, grouping people into broad categories.
- Ethnicity relates to shared cultural practices, traditions, language and history.
- Nationality pertains to a person's legal or political association with a particular country.
Recognizing these distinctions promotes accurate and respectful representation and helps avoid generalizations, stereotypes and misconceptions.

Below is a list of preferred terms, though it is permissible to deviate from this list based on the person’s preferred racial and ethnic identification. Source: Race Forward.

African American, Black
1. African American and Black are not synonymous. A person may identify as AfroLatino or Afro-Caribbean, for instance, or Haitian American or Jamaican American. A person also may identify specifically as African rather than African American, such as Ghanaian or Congolese.
2. Capitalize the B in Black when referring to people who are part of a shared identity or culture.
3. African American is not hyphenated. Never use the word colored or Negro as a descriptor. Likewise, Afro American is an archaic descriptor and should not be used.
4. In the body of a piece, use Black people, not Blacks, to refer to a group.
5. Do not use Black as a singular noun, such as a Black.
Asian, Asian American
1. Within higher education, it is crucial to recognize and address the differences between Asian American students, who are U.S. citizens, and international students from Asian countries.
2. UNC uses the term "Asian American and Pacific Islander," for individuals who are U.S. citizens.
3. When writing about someone or a group of this background, it usually makes more sense to refer to a specific background—e.g., Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino. Use that term rather than a collective noun.
4. South Asian: This collective term refers to people from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Desi American is a term commonly used by people from India, but not by all South Asians.
American Indian, Alaska Native, Hawaiian Native, Native American, Native People, Indigenous People
1. The most inclusive term to use to refer to those who inhabited land that became the United States (or, previously, territories) is Native or Indigenous.
2. You may also see the terms:
  1. Native People(s)
  2. First People(s)
  3. Tribal Peoples
  4. Tribal Communities
  5. Indigenous People(s)
    1. The person may prefer that you refer to them by their tribally specific nation.
3. American Indians and Alaska Natives/Hawaiian Natives have distinct political and cultural identification constructed in and through treaties, executive orders, and the Constitution. American Indian and Alaska Native/Hawaiian Natives' cultural identification is place-based, diverse, and informed by the practices of their culture (e.g., language, singing, dancing, ceremonies).
Hispanic, Latine, Latino/a, Latinx, Latin@, Chicano/a
1. Hispanic/Latine (La-TEEN-eh) is the standard descriptor at UNC, unless the individual or people prefer another term.
2. Latine is a term utilized to address individuals across various gender identities, including nonbinary, gender fluid, genderqueer, bigender, agender, and gender nonconforming. It is favored among Spanish speakers due to its ease of pronunciation and flexibility in plural usage compared to Latinx.
  1. *Latine is an emerging term as language has continued to evolve to reflect the changing values of our society. Latindad, Latin@, Latinx are emerging terms that may be favored by younger generations.
3. While it is common to see Hispanic and Latine or Latinx/o/a used interchangeably, they are not synonymous.
  1. Hispanic generally refers to people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries.
  2. Latine or Latinx/o/a generally refer to people with origins in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  3. Latine or Latinx/o/a generally refer to people with origins in Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. In some cases, Hispanic people also identify as Latine or Latinx/o/a and vice versa. Generally, people from Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Guadalupe, or Haiti do not identify as Hispanic but may identify as Latine or Latinx/o/a.
5. Avoid the term Latin unless it is a reference to Latin America.
6. Chicano/a is a term that refers to Americans of Mexican ancestry.
  1. The Chicano movement includes a focus on being of Mexican ancestry and having indigenous roots. It's also important to note that Chicano/a isn't merely a term, it's a sociopolitical identity, so it shouldn't be placed on people without them claiming it first.
  2. In all, you should practice extreme caution when using Chicano/a. A better term to refer to Americans of Mexican ancestry is simply MexicanAmerican.
7. In all, you should practice extreme caution when using Chicano/a. A better term to refer to Americans of Mexican ancestry is simply MexicanAmerican.
8. Also, be aware of gender when using Latino/Latina and Chicano/Chicana in your writing.
9. Also, be aware of gender when using Latino/Latina and Chicano/Chicana in your writing.
Students with Undocumented Status
1. Entered the U.S. without inspection or with valid nonimmigrant visas but those visas have expired. For instance, an individual issued a student F-1 visa can become undocumented if they do not fulfill the minimum course of study requirement or if they work without authorization.
  1. Do not specify a person’s immigration status unless it is relevant to the story. Immigration laws are complex. Do not state as a fact that someone has violated the law without sufficient attribution.
Students with DACA Status
1. DACA is an administrative relief that protects eligible immigrants who came to the United States when they were children from deportation. DACA gives undocumented immigrants: 1) protection from deportation, and 2) a work permit. The program requires that the DACA status and work permit be renewed every two years, and the fee to renew is $495.
  1. The term “illegal immigrant” and “illegal alien” are inaccurate
  2. The shorthand I-word used as a noun, “illegals,” is also problematic grammatically, and, like the other related terms, is dehumanizing and racially charged.

Other derogatory terminology to avoid

Anchor baby: Pejorative term used to describe children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents. Because they are U.S. citizens, they can later sponsor other family members for U.S. citizenship
Illegal: Unlawful or not authorized by law; often used to describe undocumented or unauthorized immigrant.
Alien: Often used to describe a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country (legal and unauthorized noncitizens)

Biracial, multiracial, and mixed
1. The terms biracial and multiracial are acceptable, when clearly relevant, to describe people with more than one racial heritage, per AP Style. Avoid mixedrace, which can carry negative connotations, unless the subject prefers the term. Be sure to ask the individual/group who they prefer to be identified.
2. Be as specific as possible by describing a person's heritage.
3. Note that multiracial can encompass people of any combination of races.
International Students
1. The university is proud of its international students, who have chosen to travel great distances to receive their education at UNC. Identifying a student as an international student should be done only when the designation is relevant to the content. If such identification is not relevant, the student should be identified in the same way as domestic students featured in the content.
2. Do not assume that all Asian students are international students, or assume that all international students come from Asia.

Editor’s note: Given the complexity and evolving nature of this topic, we will continually update this section so it is as current, inclusive, and useful as possible. Please send questions and suggestions for additions and changes to officeof.publicrelations@sports-quotes.com.

The Diversity Style Guide at San Francisco State University is a useful guide for other inclusive language practices. Also refer to the AP Stylebook guide to race-related coverage.

Military Affiliated Student/Veteran Students

Military titles (additional information available in AP Stylebook)

Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's name.
1. EXAMPLE: Sergeant John Smith
On first reference, use the appropriate title before the full name of a member of the military
In subsequent references, do not continue using the title before a name. Use only the last name.
Spell out and lowercase a title when it is substituted for a name:
1. EXAMPLE: Gen. John Jones is the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. The general endorsed the idea.
AP style stipulates that veteran is not a proper noun and is not capitalized

Military Branches

It is generally preferred to spell out the branch name in full on first reference and then use the shortened form in subsequent references.

Air Force
1. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Air Force, the Air Force, Air Force regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USAF.
2. Use lowercase for the forces of other nations: the Israeli air force.
Army
1. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Army, the Army, Army regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USA.
2. Use lowercase for the forces of other nations: the French army.
Marines
1. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Marines, the Marines, the Marine Corps, Marine regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USMC.
2. Capitalize Marine when referring to an individual in a Marine Corps unit: He is a Marine.
3. Do not describe Marines as soldiers, which is generally associated with the Army. Use troops if a generic term is needed.
Navy
1. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Navy, the Navy, Navy policy. Do not use the abbreviation USN.
2. Lowercase when referring to the naval forces of other nations: the British navy.
U.S Space Force
1. Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Space Force, the Space Force. Do not use USSF.
2. People in the U.S. Space Force are called, “Guardians.”

Describing Military Services

Clearly describe the military service, such as deployments, roles, and specialties, while avoiding assumptions or generalizations.
Use phrases like "served in the military" or "served in the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines" rather than "was in the military."
Use the term veteran for anyone who has previously served in the military.

Avoiding Stereotypes:

Portray military students as multifaceted individuals with diverse experiences and interests, avoiding narrow stereotypes like "war heroes" or "damaged veterans."

PTSD and Mental Health:

Approach discussions about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health with sensitivity and accuracy.
Avoid linking PTSD or mental health challenges to all military students or veterans, as it can perpetuate stereotypes.

Recognizing Diversity:

Highlight the diversity within the military student population, including race, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Military affiliated individuals can hold multiple identities and often are navigating intersectionality especially after service and in a school environment.
Avoid assuming a single narrative or experience for all military students.

UNC's Exceptions to AP style

Because writing for higher education is sometimes different than writing for the media, there are a few instances where UNC deviates from AP Style.

academic majors:
Capitalize the names of academic majors, minors, emphases and concentrations in narrative text. He’s majoring in Business Administration with an Accounting emphasis and minoring in Political Science.

acronyms:
UNC style allows for including an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses following the first listing of the full name of an organization or company.

advisor, adviser:
Although AP Style suggests adviser, advisor is the preferred spelling at UNC.

composition titles:
Use italics for titles of books, magazines, journals, newspapers, newsletters, plays, operas, movies, television and radio shows, and gallery and museum exhibitions.

Use quotation marks for subsets of these major categories and short works. Examples: short stories, poems, a specific episode of a television show, magazine and newspaper articles, songs and individual works of art.

headlines:
UNC’s style is to use title case in headlines (capitalize the first letter of every major word, lowercase the first letter of minor words).

lists, bulleted lists:
UNC style is to use bullets for lists, rather than the AP recommendation of dashes. Put a space between the bullet and the first word of each item in the list. Capitalize the first word following the dash or bullet.

Use periods at the end of each sentence in a bulleted list. Use no punctuation at the end of a single word or single phrase in each section of a list.

proper names:
UNC style allows for using lowercase style for janine weaver-douglas, director of the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, even at the beginning of a sentence.

AP Style Quick Reference for UNC

Common Word Use

alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae

alumnus is the masculine singular form;
alumni is the masculine or mixed masculine and feminine plural noun;
alumna is the feminine singular noun;
alumnae is the feminine plural.

If the alumnus only received an undergraduate degree from UNC, listing the degree is not necessary: Klawz Bear, ’88, is a loyal alumnus. The two-number graduation year is set off by an apostrophe.

If the alumnus received undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNC, use just the year for an undergraduate degree, followed by graduate degrees and years in order: Klawz Bear, ’88, M.A. ’89, Ph.D. ’94.

If space is limited, list the years only: Klawz Bear, ’88 ’89 ’94. Use this exception sparingly.
If the alumnus earned degrees from another institution, just list the UNC degrees: Dr. Klawz Bear, ’88, M.A. ’89.

If you are including an alumnus’s degree and major, the order is:
Degree, major and year, set off by commas:
Klawz Bear, B.A. ’88, or
Klawz Bear, B.S. ’88, MBA ’94, or
Klawz Bear, B.S. Chemistry ’88, M.S. Biomedical Sciences ’89.

This is an EXCEPTION to AP style: UNC uppercases majors

academic degrees:
Degree names: Lowercase degree names such as bachelor’s or master’s and use an apostrophe. EXCEPTIONS: Do not use an apostrophe with associate degree.

Example: She earned her bachelor's degree in History at UNC and is now pursuing a master’s degree.
Example: He earned an associate degree at Aims and is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UNC.

Capitalize the full degree name, and do not use an apostrophe:

Associate of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Science

NOTE: Regarding doctoral, doctorate. Doctorate is a noun; doctoral is the adjective. You may have a doctorate or a doctoral degree, but not a doctorate degree:

Example: He received his doctoral degree in English.
Example: He holds a doctorate in English.

Bears
The mascot of the University of Northern Colorado. Does not need an apostrophe to show possession. Capitalize it but not the rest of the team name if referencing one of our sports teams: the Bears men's basketball team; the Bears women’s cross-country team.

BearMail
NOT Bearmail or Bear mail

Bear number
NOT BearNumber or Bear Number

Board of Trustees
Capitalize when using full name. Use the board or the trustees (lowercase) for subsequent references:

Example: The University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees met to discuss the proposal.
Example: The board discussed the proposal.
Example: The trustees voted on the issue.

campus
Capitalize when used with the full name of the campus as a proper noun: West Campus, Central Campus. Lowercase when it stands alone.

Example: Recruiters from several local companies visited campus.

Hyphenate as modifier (e.g., an on- campus program)

Example: All on-campus classes are canceled.

campus community/university community
A collective term used for students, faculty and staff at UNC. Avoid use of campus community unless you are only referencing the Greeley campus, otherwise use university community.

Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
Capitalize the full name of each accreditation standard when used in full:

Applicant Status
Candidate Status
Pre-Accreditation Status

coursework
One word. This is a recent change to AP style.

cultural centers
UNC has eight cultural centers:

Asian Pacific American Student Services
César Chávez Cultural Center
Gender and Sexuality Resource Center
Marcus Garvey Cultural Center
Native American Student Services
Stryker Institute for Leadership Development
Veteran’s Services
Center for Women’s and Gender Equity

Use full names on first reference and acronyms or informal names thereafter whenever possible:

the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center (MGCC)

On first reference for external communications, preface the name of the center with the University of Northern Colorado’s unless the full university name has been used earlier:

The University of Northern Colorado’s César Chávez Cultural Center.

emeritus, emerita, emeriti
The title of emeritus is not synonymous with retired; it is an honor bestowed on a small number of retired faculty and should be included in the title. Emerita is feminine; emeriti is plural. The word may precede or follow professor:

Example: John Doe is a professor emeritus of art.
Example: Jane Doe, professor emerita at the university.

postgraduate
No hyphen; use as an adjective only:

Correct: He was a postgraduate student at Yale.
Incorrect: He was a postgraduate at Yale.

freshman, freshmen
First-year student and first-year students are the preferred terms.

grades
Use the capital letters, A, B, C, etc., with no quotation marks. Plurals are made by adding s, except in the case of A, which has an apostrophe to avoid confusion with the word as:

Example: A's, Bs, Cs, etc.

GPA, grade-point average
Either is acceptable. GPAs normally have two numbers after the decimal, e.g., 3.00, 4.25.

Health care
Always two words, unless it is part of an official name.

international students
Not foreign students.

off campus, on campus
Hyphenate when using as an adjective, not as an adverb.

Example: Off-campus housing is plentiful during the summer.
Example: It's difficult to find housing off campus during the fall semester.

residence hall
This is preferred to dorm or dormitory when referring to housing units at UNC.

STEM
Acceptable on first reference for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. AP recommends spelling out the full phrase shortly thereafter.

Example: Teacher preparation in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences emphasizes the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

theater, theatre
Use theater unless theatre is part of the official name or referring to UNC’s degrees in Theatre Arts.

Example: The School of Theatre Arts and Dance offers numerous theater classes.
Example: At UNC, you can major in Theatre Studies, Musical Theatre or Theatre Education.

At UNC, our official theater names are:

Langworthy Theatre
Little Theatre of the Rockies
Norton Theatre
Norton Theatre

work-study
Hyphenate; capitalize only when using the formal designation: Federal Work-Study Program.

Abbreviations

Acronyms

For the most part, always fully spell out the name of an organization or company before using an acronym. UNC style allows for putting an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses following the first listing of the full name of an organization or company., which is an exception to AP Style.

NOTE: Some entities are widely known by their acronym and may not need to be spelled out on first reference (i.e., FBI, CIA, NSA); let context guide you.

Avoid overuse of abbreviations and acronyms.

Don't use periods for large acronyms. [USPS, NASA, FEMA]

Dates
When a month is used with a specific date, only abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. In most cases, the year is not necessary if the date is within the current year.

Always use the number, but without st, nd, rd or th.

Example: Spring semester term begins Jan. 4.
Example: The 2022 Commencement ceremony was held May 6-7.

Spell out months when using alone, or with a year alone. When a phrase lists only a month and a year, do not separate the year with commas.

Example: An ice storm in February 2022 damaged a number of trees on campus.

When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with commas.

Example: Andy Feinstein became University of Northern Colorado’s 13th president on July 9, 2018.

Degree abbreviations: Avoid abbreviations of academic degrees in narrative text

Degree abbreviations: Avoid abbreviations of academic degrees in narrative text
Degree abbreviations: Avoid abbreviations of academic degrees in narrative text
Degree abbreviations: Avoid abbreviations of academic degrees in narrative text

Use such abbreviations as B.A., M.A., LL.D. and Ph.D. only when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. Use these abbreviations only after a full name — never after just a last name.

When used after a name, an academic abbreviation is set off by commas:

… said John Snow, Ph.D., author of the article.

When abbreviating degree names outside of narrative text, generally use periods: B.A. in Psychology; B.S. in Chemistry.

EXCEPTION: Listings of alumni or programs of study in campus publications.

In features, news stories, etc., omit the periods in degree abbreviations consisting of three or more letters (MBA) unless the abbreviation consists of three or more letters that use a combination of upper and lowercase letters (Ph.D.; Ed.D.)

Use Dr. before a name only when the person in question has a medical degree (M.D., D.O., DMD, DDS or DVM).

EXCEPTION: When a quote references a person.

state names
Always spell state names whether on their own or in conjunction with a city, town, village, etc.

The only time a state is abbreviated is when used in a dateline. Eight states are never abbreviated (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah)

UNC
UNC follows the AP style for acronyms. The proper acronym for the University of Northern Colorado is UNC.

UNC is acceptable upon second reference.
UNCO is not an acceptable reference.

Note: National and state media started referring to UNC's intercollegiate athletics teams as Northern Colorado teams to avoid confusion when referring to University of North Carolina teams. UNC's Athletics program has adopted the practice to be consistent. Use of Northern Colorado as a shortened form of the university's full name by those outside of Athletics is discouraged.

Punctuation

ampersand
Do not use an ampersand (&) in running text unless it is part of a trademarked or registered business name. Proctor & Gamble; College of Humanities and Social Sciences. An ampersand may be used in specific instances such as campus banners where space for text on a single line is very limited.

commas – AP Style does not subscribe to the use serial commas, also referred to the Oxford comma. Do not use a comma before the final conjunction in a simple series:

Example: The color choices for the car were red, green and blue.

EXCEPTION: A serial comma can be used when an integral element of the series requires a conjunction - the programs of physics, journalism, recreation, and chemistry and biochemistry - or in a complex series of phrases.

DATE: Use a comma between a specific date and year: Jan. 1, 2023. A comma should follow the year when a specific date is mentioned mid-sentence:

Example: May 11, 2020, was the date of the party.

Do not use a comma between month and year or season and year:

Example: I remember that party from May 2020.

LOCATIONS: When using a city name with a state or country in a sentence, place a comma afterward:

Example: She is a Denver, Colorado, sports fan.

dashes
The dash (—) is used for parenthetical remarks or abrupt changes of thought, epigraphs and datelines. Include one space before and after the dash:

Example: Smith offered a plan — it was unprecedented — to raise revenues.

Note: AP Style only uses an em dash (named because it is the width of the letter "m"). It has never used an en dash (named because it is the width of the letter "n").

Keyboard shortcuts

Mac: Option + Shift + Dash
PC: Ctrl + Alt + minus sign on numeric keypad OR Alt + 151 on a keyboard without a numeric keypad OR Word will automatically make an em dash when you type two hyphens between two words without spaces.

email
Don't use a hyphen. Don't capitalize unless it starts a sentence or is before the email address in a vertical list.

exclamation point
Use the mark to express a high degree of surprise, incredulity or other strong emotion, but avoid overuse. Use a comma after mild interjections. End mildly exclamatory sentences with a period.

Place exclamation points inside quotation marks when it is part of the quoted material:

“How wonderful!” he exclaimed.
“Never!” she shouted.

Place the mark outside quotation marks when it is not part of the quoted material:

“I hated reading the article “The hypocrisy of America”!

hyphens
Use a hyphen to avoid ambiguity:

Example: He was a small-business man.

Hyphenate modifiers that follow forms of the verb to be:

Example: The cancer program is world-renowned for its innovative treatments.

Hyphenate compound modifiers except when the compound modifier follows the noun:

Example: She is a part-time worker.
Example: She works part time.

EXCEPTIONS: No hyphen is needed for compound modifiers using the adverb very and all adverbs ending in -ly: She was a very qualified candidate. This is not such an easily remembered rule.

However, note that when family (which, of course, is not an adverb) is part of a compound modifier, the modifier is hyphenated: family-owned business.

Hyphens are used between ranges of numbers or dates: 2001-2004, pages 206-220. There are no spaces between the hyphen and the numbers.

parentheses
If a dependent clause or other sentence fragment is in parentheses, the final punctuation goes outside the parentheses. If the parenthetical matter is an entire sentence, the final punctuation goes inside the parentheses.

If parenthetical matter is included within another set of parentheses, brackets [ ] should replace the inner parentheses.

Quotation marks
Periods and commas always go within quotation marks. Dashes, semicolons, question marks and exclamation points go within quotation marks when they apply to the quoted matter and outside when they apply to the whole sentence.

Capitalization

academic majors, minors, emphases and concentrations
Capitalize the names of academic majors, minors, emphases and concentrations in narrative text.

Example: He’s majoring in Business Administration with an Accounting emphasis and minoring in Political Science.

academic units
The University of Northern Colorado has academic departments or programs within schools within five academic colleges.

Capitalize the official names of colleges, schools and departments/programs. Lowercase generic references to them.

She’s dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences.
She’s a professor in the School of Nursing.
The Department of English is offering a new major this spring.
She’s the top student in our nursing school.
He’s a professor of Anthropology.
He joined the faculty as a professor of Physical Education in 1997.

Use full names on first reference and acronyms or informal names thereafter whenever possible:

the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, HSS;
the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, EBS.

If the college is named after someone, include the honoree’s last name: Monfort College of Business. First names and initials need be included only in the most formal settings, such as commencement programs: Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business.

On first reference for external communications, preface the name of the school or college with the University of Northern Colorado’s unless the full university name has been used earlier:

The University of Northern Colorado’s College of Performing and Visual Arts.

University, college, school department and program are never capitalized unless they are part of the official name or the first word of a sentence.

athletic teams
Capitalize the official names of UNC’s sports teams. Lowercase generic references to them.

Smith is the starting quarterback for UNC Football. Northern Colorado Football or UNC Football
UNC Women’s Soccer or Northern Colorado Women’s Soccer

commencement, Commencement
Uppercase the formal ceremony; lowercase for generic usage:

This year’s Commencement has been moved to Jackson Field.
The university holds commencements in December and May every year.

courses
Capitalize specific course titles and put in quotes

Bob Smith, professor of Communication, teaches the graduate-level course “Media Relations in Ethical Business.”

federal
Use a capital letter for corporate or governmental bodies that use the word as part of their formal names: the Federal Trade Commission.

(See separate entries for governmental agencies.)

Lowercase when used as an adjective to distinguish something from state, county, city, town or private entities: federal assistance, federal court, the federal government, a federal judge.

Northern Colorado, northern Colorado
National and state media started referring to UNC's intercollegiate athletics teams as Northern Colorado teams to avoid confusion when referring to University of North Carolina teams. Using this as a shortened form of the university's full name by those outside of Athletics is discouraged

The term northern Colorado refers to the geographic area of the state that includes Weld and Larimer counties. Do not capitalize northern in this geographic reference as it is not yet generally considered a proper noun.

seasons
Always lowercase, even when naming an issue of a publication:

Example: The fall 2003 issue of Northern Vision.
Example: He graduated in spring 2022.

semesters
Academic semesters are lowercase with no comma preceding a year.

Example: He graduated in fall 2006.

state
Lowercase in all state of constructions: the state of Colorado, the states of Colorado and Wyoming.

Do not capitalize state when used simply as an adjective to specify a level of jurisdiction:

state Rep. William Smith, the state Transportation Department, state funds.

Apply the same principle to phrases such as the city of Chicago, the town of Auburn, etc.

Four states — Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia — are legally commonwealths rather than states. The distinction is necessary only in formal uses: The commonwealth of Kentucky filed a suit. For simple geographic reference: Tobacco is grown in the state of Kentucky.

titles
In general, capitalize formal or courtesy titles- president, dean, professor, senator, coach- before names of individuals and lowercase when they follow names.

Example: President George Bush…
Example: President George Bush…

Lowercase descriptive or occupational titles except for professor:

editor John Doe
Professor Sue Smith

university
Capitalize only when used as part of a complete formal name or title; lowercase otherwise.

Example: She attends the University of Northern Colorado.
Example: The university is providing her with an excellent education.

Numbers

In general, spell out numbers one through nine; use numerals for 10 and above.

Always spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence, except for calendar years:

Five years ago today she graduated from high school.
2001 marked the beginning of increased airport security. (Avoid this construction when possible. INSTEAD: The Challenge for Excellence plan began in 1998.)

Always use numerals for

Academic course numbers – Calculus 2
Ages – My nephew is 7 years old.
Credit hours – My History class is 3 credit hours.
Dimensions – He is 5 feet 2 inches tall. • Distances – I ran 2 miles today.
Parts of a book – My favorite part of the book is chapter 2.
Percents – I received a 2% increase in pay last year.

telephone numbers
The preferred form is to set off the area code with a dash.

Correct: 970-555-1212
Incorrect: (970) 555-1212; 970.555.1212

time a.m., p.m.
Don’t use 0s to designate hours and lowercase with periods in narrative text and most promotional materials. Do not use A.M. or P.M.

8 a.m. or 11 p.m.

Noon and midnight are better expressed without the number

Noon is 12 p.m.
Midnight is 12 a.m.

Range of time: When listing a range of time, use an en dash only if the time frame doesn’t extend from a.m. to p.m. otherwise, use the word “to” to separate the times.

The event will take place from 2 – 3 p.m. (use an en dash with a space in between the number and the dash)
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Common Mistakes

annual events
An event cannot be described as an “annual event until it has been held at least two successive years. Do not use the term “first annual.” Instead, refer to it as inaugural or note that the sponsors plan to hold the event annually.

compose, comprise
These words are often misused. Comprise means "include" or "encompass." The whole comprises the parts, but the parts are composed of the whole.

Example: The College of Performing and Visual Arts comprises three schools.
Example: The College of Performing and Visual Art is composed of three schools.

farther, further
Use farther to describe a physical distance.

Example: C parking lots are farther from the center of campus.

Use further to describe a figurative distance.

Example: Taking on an international internship pushed her further beyond her comfort zone.

flier, flyer
Flyer is the preferred term for handbills and for a person flying in an aircraft. They put up flyers announcing the event; He used his frequent flyer miles. Use flier in the phrase take a flier, meaning to take a big risk. This is a recent change to AP style.

non
Words with the prefix non are generally not hyphenated unless the prefix is directly before a proper noun: nondegree, nonresident, noncredit, non-English speaking. The dictionary contains a long list of words with the non prefix and their appropriate spellings.

online
One word, no hyphen.

résumé
The preferred spelling includes diacritical marks and helps avoid confusion with resume.

toward
Not towards.

underway
One word.

URLs
It isn't necessary to include http:// or www. in a URL when it is clear that it's a web address. Although programs like Word and PowerPoint will automatically include http:// when you copy and past from a web browser, you can delete that from the Text to Display when creating a link in your document.

When listing web addresses, try to get the URL to fit on a single line. If it is necessary to break the URL, try to break it before a slash or period. For long URLs, consider using the beav.es link shortener. Don't allow the URL to break itself by adding a hyphen because that could change the address. Use appropriate punctuation after a URL. If it finishes a sentence, place a period after it.

Website, webpage
One word, lowercase.

yearlong
One word.

UNC Boilerplate language

UNC’s boilerplate text is standardized copy that is used to provide an overview of the university.

Long:
Nestled between the Rocky Mountains and Colorado’s stunning high plains, the University of Northern Colorado is a public, doctoral research and educational institution that is home to about 9,000 students and more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, many of which are nationally recognized. Founded as a teacher’s college in 1889, we have graduated generations of educators, more than any other Colorado university. Our culture is marked by academic excellence in education, health sciences, business, the humanities and the performing and visual arts. Recognized as a top university for social mobility, UNC is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution and to serve more than 40% of our undergraduates who are the first in their family to attend college. The university has over 130,000 alumni living and working in 50 states and 90 countries who build communities that save and transform lives. Get to know us at sports-quotes.com.

Short:
The University of Northern Colorado is a public, doctoral research and educational institution that is home to about 9,000 students and more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, many of which are nationally recognized. Our culture is marked by academic excellence in education, health sciences, business, the humanities and the performing and visual arts. We are proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution and to serve more than 40% of our undergraduates who are the first in their family to attend college. Get to know us at sports-quotes.com.