Style Guide - Glossary of Style Terms
The editorial style guide of the University of Maine Department of University Relations is based largely on the Associated Press Stylebook and Merriam-Webster Dictionary. For style questions not addressed specifically in the editorial guide, check those two primary references or contact the Department of University Relations.
academic degrees
associate degree
B.A.
B.S.
Ed.D.
M.A.
M.F.A.
M.S.
Ph.D.
M.B.A.
M.P.A.
M.A.T.
C.A.S.
bachelor’s degree; master’s degree
She earned a master of business administration in 1998.
He earned a master of fine arts degree.
She received a bachelor’s in science.
academic honors
cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude
Acronyms:
CCI (Climate Change Institute)
AEWC (Advanced Engineered Wood Composites) Center
LASST (Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology)
CFRU ( Cooperative Forestry Research Unit)
SMS (School of Marine Sciences)
ASAP (Association of Student and Administrative Publications)
DIC (Department of Industrial Cooperation)
DMC (Darling Marine Center)
SPA (School of Performing Arts)
CEAC (Classified Employees Advisory Council)
PEAC (Professional Employees Advisory Council)
SCEAC (Supervisory/Confidential Employees Advisory Council)
Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center
adviser
not advisor
Alfond Sports Arena
Harold Alfond Sports Arena; Harold Alfond Stadium; Morse Field
alternative break
formally UMaine’s LET’S (Learning and Exploration Through Service) Volunteer Alternative Spring Break Program. UMaine is a chapter of the national Break Away program; the first UMaine alternative break was in March 1998.
alumna, alumnus, alumnae, alumni
alumnae refers to a group of women who attended a school; alumna is female singular; alumnus is male singular; alumni refers to a group of all men or men and women who attended.
Alumni House
Robert D. Buchanan ’44 Alumni House
American
Do not hyphenate in ethnic identifications (i.e. African American, Asian American, Native American, North American).
Department of Art
not Art Department
Bananas
University of Maine mascot
Black Bears
MAINE Black Bears, Black Bear basketball
blackfly
Board of Trustees
University of Maine System Board of Trustees; never UMaine Board of Trustees. BOT as an abbreviation should be used sparingly.
Board of Visitors
University of Maine Board of Visitors
by-product
campuswide
Canadian American Center
capitalization
The “T” in The University of Maine is capitalized at the start of a sentence; lowercased when used in a sentence. The university is lowercased on second and further references. (i.e. The University of Maine is in Orono. She attends the University of Maine. At the university (or at UMaine), classes are in session.)
CASE
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Center for Research on Sustainable Forests
chairperson, chair
Clarence Beckett Track and Field Complex
class year
first-year student, sophomore or second-year student, junior, senior
Class of `89
upperclass(man) – one word, referring to sophomores, juniors, seniors.
Upper-class, lower-class refers to socio-economic status
coauthor
Cohen Center
William S. Cohen Center for International Policy and Commerce; Cohen
Center; Cohen Center Lecture Series — all in the College of Business, Public Policy and Health
colleges
College of Business, Public Policy and Health
College of Engineering
College of Education and Human Development
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture (note punctuation)
Honors College
Commas
In a simple series, omit the comma before the conjunction (The flag is red, white and blue). In a complex series, use a comma before the conjunction to ensure clarity (For breakfast he had juice, eggs, and toast and jam.)
Among the formal names that are exceptions: the University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture.
Communication Sciences and Disorders
not the Department of Communication Disorders
Cooperative Extension
University of Maine Cooperative Extension (first reference)
UMaine Extension (second reference)
UMaine Extension xx County office
UMaine Extension Master Gardener
100 Corbett Business Building
formally the W. Stanley Devino Auditorium
course numbers and titles
ENG 101 – College Composition; Engineering Economics
coursework
Darling Marine Center
Ira C. Darling Center, Walpole
data
takes a plural verb
dates
the 1960s, `60s
September 1991; Sept. 12, 1991
July 10, July 12, July 14, not July 10, 12, 14
dean
the dean; Dean Harriet Jones
dean’s office
Office of the Dean
Deans Council
Dean’s List
departments
Department of Philosophy, History Department, the department
not Dept. in text
disabilities
person with disabilities, not disabled person
disciplines
She is majoring in art and music.
doctoral, doctorate
She is in the doctoral program. (adjective)
He will receive a doctorate. (degree received)
Down East
Dwight B. Demeritt Forest