Style & Grammar Glossary

In writing and editing materials for publication, the Division of Marketing and Communications relies upon the Associated Press Stylebook, the preferred editing reference for materials directed at general audiences.

In addition to providing a consistent writing style, the style and glossary section of our editorial style guide serves as a practical reference guide to some common spellings, abbreviations and punctuation. On some issues, in accordance with an academic culture, it differs from AP.

If an item is not listed below, defer to the or the .

If you have questions about 快活app style, please reach out to marcomm@du.edu

Glossary

  • A

    advisor

    • Not adviser

    听

    addresses

    • For numbered addresses, always use figures. Abbreviate Ave., Blvd. and St. and directional cues when used with a numbered address.

    听

    alumnus, alumni, 听alumna, alumnae

    • Use these terms to refer to former students of the University. Students need not have earned a degree to be considered alumni. 听
      • alumnus: man (singular)
      • alumni: men; and a group of men and women
      • alumna: woman (singular)
      • alumnae: women (plural)
    • Note: In 快活app Magazine and 快活app Newsroom articles, first references to alumni often include the degree(s) they earned and the year(s) in which degrees were awarded. Set off this information with parentheses:
      • Sally Smith (BS 鈥96); Bob Jones (BA 鈥98, MBA 鈥99); John Johnson (attd. 1993鈥95); Frank Albright (Hon. PhD 鈥01)

    听

    amicus, amica, amici听

    • Use these terms to refer to former employees of the University who have earned this honorary distinction.
      • amicus: man (singular)
      • amica: woman (singular)
      • amici: men and women (plural)

    听

    ampersand

    • Do not use in place of the conjunction unless it is part of an entity鈥檚 official name.
      • The Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness. 听

    听

    Anderson Academic Commons

    • This building, which opened in spring 2013, houses the 快活app Library, including the Penrose Collection, and a number of services focused on teaching and learning. On subsequent references, refer to it as the Academic Commons or the library.

    听

    annual fund

    • Capitalize references to the 快活app Annual Fund; lowercase annual fund when used without the official title designation.

    听

    awards

    • Use the full formal name for the following annual faculty awards:
      • Distinguished University Professor
      • Distinguished Teaching Award
      • Distinguished Scholar Award
      • Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award
      • Faculty Service Award 听
      • United Methodist Church Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award (Teacher of the Year on second reference)
      • University Lecturer (sponsored by the provost鈥檚 office)听
  • B

    Board of Trustees

    • Capitalize Board of Trustees when it refers to the 快活app governing organization, but lowercase board when it stands alone.
    • See Trustees entry for information on use when referring to members.

    听

    Boettcher Scholars

    听

    buildings, facilities, gardens and greens

    • Capitalize the formal name of campus buildings and facilities on first reference in all documents.
    • Exceptions: the Ritchie Center, the Chambers Center, Nelson Hall and the Newman Center are acceptable on first reference when the publication audience is familiar with the 快活app campus.
    • On subsequent references, some building names may be shortened. Capitalization should be retained when the proper noun is used. Examples below:
      • The meeting is scheduled for the Sie Complex. Students love the complex for its many inviting spaces.
    • University Park buildings and facilities (first and second references)
      • Ammi Hyde Building
      • Anderson Academic Commons, the Academic Commons, the library
      • Anna and John J. Sie International Relations Complex, the Sie Complex 听 听
        • Si茅 Ch茅ou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy, the Si茅 Center听
      • Boettcher Center /BECH-蓹r/
      • Buchtel Bungalow /BUCK-tel/
      • Buchtel Memorial Tower
      • Burwell Center for Career Achievement, the Burwell Center
      • The Cable Center
      • Carnegie Green
      • Campus Green (between Sturm Hall and the Frank H. Ricketson Jr. Law Building)
      • Centennial Halls, Halls
      • Centennial Towers, Towers
      • Chamberlin Observatory
      • Chester M Alter Arboretum, Alter Arboretum
      • Clarence M. Knudson Hall, Knudson Hall
      • Columbine Hall
      • Community Commons
      • Craig Hall
      • Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness, the Ritchie Center
        • Barton Lacrosse Stadium
        • Benjamin F. Stapleton Jr. Tennis Pavilion, Stapleton Tennis Pavilion
        • CIBER Field at the 快活app Soccer Stadium (CIBER Field on subsequent references)
        • Coors Fitness Center
        • Diane Wendt Sports Fields 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
        • El Pomar Natatorium
        • Gates Field House
        • Hamilton Gymnasium
        • Joy Burns Arena
        • Magness Arena
        • Pat Bowlen Training Center
        • Williams Tower
      • Daniels College of Business, the Daniels College, Daniels (Do not use DCB.)
      • Dimond Family Residential Village /dim-ond/
      • Driscoll Green
      • Driscoll University Center
      • Evans Memorial Chapel
      • Facilities Service Center
      • Fisher Early Learning Center
      • Frank H. Ricketson Jr. Law Building
      • Frontier Hall
      • F.W. Olin Hall, Olin Hall
      • Harper Humanities Gardens
      • Iliff School of Theology
      • International House
      • John Moye Hall
      • Johnson-McFarlane Hall, J-MAC
      • Joy Burns Center
      • Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall, Ruffatto Hall
      • King Lee and Shirley Nelson Residence Hall, Nelson Hall
      • Margery Reed Hall, Margery Reed
      • Mary Reed Building, Mary Reed
      • Mass Communications Building
      • Merle Catherine Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women, the Chambers Center
      • Nagel Art Studios
      • Nagel Hall
      • Physical Education Building
      • Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, the Newman Center
        • Joy Burns Plaza
        • June Swaner Gates Concert Hall
        • Elizabeth Eriksen Byron Theatre, the Byron Theatre
        • Frederic C. Hamilton Family Recital Hall, Hamilton Recital Hall
        • Trevorrow Hall
        • Williams Recital Salon
      • Shwayder Art Building
      • Sturm Hall
      • University Hall (formerly Old Main)
        • University Technology Services Building
    • Off-campus buildings
      • Chamberlin Observatory (see separate entry)
      • Denver Tennis Park (a partnership with Denver Public Schools and Denver Tennis Park Inc.)
      • Margaret Rogers Phipps House, Phipps House (not Phipps Mansion)
        • The University sold this facility in 2010.
      • Meyer-Womble Observatory
  • C

    campuses听

    • City Campus: The 快活app is housed on a 125-acre site in the University Park neighborhood.听听
    • Mountain Campus: The James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus is situated on 720 acres of pristine wilderness in the Colorado Rockies.听

    听

    campuswide听

    听

    chair and vice chair听

    • Use chair and vice chair instead of chairman, chairperson, chairwoman.听

    听

    Chamberlin Observatory听听

    • 快活app owns and operates the Chamberlin Observatory, located just a few blocks from campus at Observatory Park. Established in 1890, the observatory and its 20-inch refracting telescope are managed and cared for by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.听

    听

    Cherrington Global Scholars program听

    • Established in 2002, the Cherrington Global Scholars program is a for-credit initiative designed to send every eligible junior and senior abroad for at least one quarter of study. Participants in the program are referred to as Cherrington Scholars or Cherrington Global Scholars.听

    听

    Chester M Alter Arboretum听

    • Note that the middle initial is not punctuated.听听

    听

    classes听

    • Class of 2019, but the classes of 鈥90鈥撯99.听

    听

    co-curricular听

    • Not cocurricular.听

    听

    College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS)听

    听

    College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM)听

    听

    Colorado Women鈥檚 College听

    • Until 1967, this institution was known as the Colorado Woman鈥檚 College. From 1968鈥72, it was named the Temple Buell College after a donor. In 1973, the name became the Colorado Women鈥檚 College. When 快活app acquired the school in 1983, it was renamed the Weekend College. It was named the Women鈥檚 College in 1993. A decade later, it became the Colorado Women鈥檚 College once again.听 The college was reorganized in 2020 and its remaining programs were blended into other 快活app units.听听
    • After 130 years as an institution of higher education, Colorado Women鈥檚 College ceased operations in Spring of 2021 due to insurmountable budgetary challenges that pre-date COVID-19, but were exacerbated by the pandemic. The CWC Leadership Scholarship Program and Equity Labs, the current hallmark programs of the CWC, remain fully maintained and housed by other 快活app organizational structures to ensure that they continue to fulfill CWC鈥檚 mission beyond the immediate transition. The Her快活app event series is now maintained by ODEI.听听
    • When referring to alumni and faculty of the college, acknowledge the institution鈥檚 name during the period in question. Example below:听
      • Smith is an enthusiastic alumna of the Colorado Women鈥檚 College, having earned her degree in 1969, when it was known as the Temple Buell College.听听

    听

    commencement听

    • Capitalize when referring to 快活app鈥檚 ceremonies.听听
    • Lowercase when referring to ceremonies at other universities. Example below:听听
      • He gave the commencement address at Harvard.听

    听

    committee names听听

    • Lowercase generic committee names听

      • buildings and grounds committee, budget committee, search committee.听听

    • Capitalize only those committees with distinctive formal names听

      • the Colorado Committee on Higher Education Reform.听听

    听

    convocation听

    • Capitalize when referring to 快活app鈥檚 fall ceremonies.听听
    • Lowercase other references.听

    听

    co-requisite听

    听

    course titles听

    • Capitalize the full, formal title of a course.听听
    • Do not place titles in quotation marks.听听
    • Lowercase casual references to classes.听听
      • He loved his air pollution class but really disliked photography.听

    听

    coursework听

    听

    cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude听

    • Always lowercase.听

    听curriculum, curricula听

  • D

    Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science听

    • On second reference, use the Ritchie School.听

    听

    Daniels College of Business听

    • On second reference, use Daniels College or Daniels.听

    听

    dates听

    • Use Arabic figures, without st, nd, rd or th.听
    • When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, commas are required before and after the year.听
      • She will graduate on June 6, 2022, with a degree in engineering.听
    • When including a day of the week with the date, use a comma after the day and after the date.听
      • The lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, in the Anderson Academic Commons.听听
    • When a phrase refers to a date but not a year, do not use a comma with the date.听听
      • The hockey team will play an exhibition match on Feb. 15 at Magness Arena.听
    • When referring to just the month and year, do not use a comma and do not abbreviate the month.听
      • The program began in January 2016 with plans for rapid expansion.听

    听

    degrees听

    • Do not capitalize formal names of academic degrees in general text.听
      • bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of business administration, doctor of philosophy, etc.听听
    • Casual references to degrees require an apostrophe.听听
      • He has a bachelor鈥檚 degree, but his sister has a master鈥檚 degree.听
    • When referring to specific degrees, use formal titles.听听
      • She earned a bachelor of fine arts and a master of social work from the 快活app.听
    • When listing degrees by their initials, do not use periods.听听
      • BA, JD, MFA, PhD.听
    • When a degree is used as part of a person鈥檚 descriptive identity, it should follow their name and be offset by commas.听听
      • Sally Smith, PhD, addressed the class on Tuesday.听
    • When writing about 快活app alumni, list their degrees and the years they were awarded after the first reference, if possible.听听
      • Sally Smith (BA 鈥89, MA 鈥91, PhD 鈥94).听听
    • If writing about an alumnus who did not earn a degree, list the years of attendance only.听听
      • John Smith (attd. 1972鈥73).听
    • Note: Deviations from this list should be verified with the Office of the Registrar, x2284.听

    听

    departments and offices听

    • Capitalize the department or office when used as a formal name.听
      • Department of Biological Sciences, Office of the Provost听
    • Lowercase informal references.听
      • geography department, provost鈥檚 office听
      • Note: An exception is made for proper nouns.听听
        • The English department met to discuss curriculum.听
    • When referring to such departments whose formal names also describe the subject matter鈥攕uch as Asian Studies and Judaic Studies鈥攗se uppercase for references to the department itself and lowercase for references to the subject matter.听听
      • Example: She recently joined the Judaic Studies faculty.听听
      • But: She is interested in Judaic studies. That course is offered by Asian Studies. After two years as an undeclared major, Fred has decided to concentrate on Asian studies.听
    • When referring to centers and institutes, use the full name on first reference and subsequently a lowercase 鈥渃enter鈥 or 鈥渋nstitute鈥 as appropriate.听听
      • The Environmental Institute becomes the institute on second reference.听
    • For verifying formal names of departments and offices, please consult the Departments A-Z Directory at du.edu. Please note the following usages:听
      • Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures听
      • Office of Undergraduate Admission (not Admissions)听
  • E

    endowed chairs and professorships听

    • Capitalize the full name of the chair or professorship.听听
      • Ved Nanda holds the Thompson G. Marsh Professorship.听听
    • Modified usages incorporating a lowercase chair or professorship are acceptable on second references.听
      • The Marsh professorship is a great honor.听
  • F

    faculty听听

    • The word 鈥渇aculty鈥 is a collective noun, singular in form but referencing a group of individuals.听听
    • Use with a singular verb if emphasizing action as a unit.听
      • The law school faculty embodies the University鈥檚 emphasis on the public good.听听
    • Use a plural verb if emphasizing faculty members individually.听
      • Faculty from the political science department are quoted in recent news reports about the election.听

    听

    fieldwork听

    听

    first-year student听

    • In most cases, this term is preferred over 鈥渇reshman.鈥澨

    听

    Founders Day听

    听

    Founders鈥 Fellows听

    听

    Four-Dimensional Experience, 4D Experience听

    • At 快活app, students receive a multidimensional, adventure-driven education that prepares them to make a difference and thrive in a dynamic world. It鈥檚 called the 4D Experience. The four integrated dimensions are: advancing intellectual growth, exploring character, promoting well-being and pursuing lives of purpose听

    听

    Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management听

    • Use the Burns School on second reference.听

    听

    Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management听

    • Use the Knoebel School on second reference.听
  • G

    gender-specific language听

    • Avoid gender-specific language whenever possible.听听
    • Opt for neutral nouns and pronouns instead.听听
      • They or the student, instead of he or she.听听
    • 听Use male or female only when referring to the sex of an individual or animal.听
  • H

    Homecoming听

    • Capitalize when referring to 快活app鈥檚 fall event.听听

    听

    Honors/honors听

    • Lowercase cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude.听
    • Capitalize Honors when used to describe students in the University Honors Program.听听
      • Sally, who is an Honors student, takes a demanding course load each quarter.听
    • Capitalize Honors when used to describe projects prepared for the program and classes offered under the program.听听
    • Lowercase honors when it refers to departmental achievements.听听
      • Sarah Hamm earned honors in biology.听
  • J

    Josef Korbel School of International Studies听

    • Formerly named the Graduate School of International Studies, the school was renamed in May 2008 after its founder and one of its most famous scholars.听听
    • On second reference, use Josef Korbel School.听听
    • On subsequent references, it鈥檚 acceptable to use the Korbel School.听
  • K

    Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging (KIHA)听

  • L

    living and learning communities听

    • The acronym LLC is acceptable on second reference.听
  • M

    Morgridge College of Education听

    • Use the Morgridge College on second and subsequent references.听
  • O

    on-campus, on campus听

    • Use on-campus as an adjective.听听
      • We promote on-campus events.听听
    • Use on campus as a prepositional phrase.听听
      • We promote events on campus.听

    听

    onstage听

  • P

    Partners in Scholarship (PinS)听

    听

    phone numbers听

    • Use periods to separate the area code and exchange.听听
      • 303.871.2000听

    听

    Pioneers听

    • University鈥檚 official moniker.听听
    • Usage should be determined on case-by-case basis.听

    听

    post听

    • Words beginning with this prefix are usually closed, with no hyphen, unless the root word is a proper noun. Example: postdoctoral, postmodern, post-Obama.听听

    听

    pow wow听听

  • Q

    quarters, quarter hours听

    • Lowercase fall, winter and spring quarters, summer session and interterm in general copy. Use numerals to express quarter hours. Example: Students traveling to Mexico will earn 2 quarter hours of credit.

    听

    quotation marks听

    • Use single quotation marks in news headlines and for quotes within quotes.听听
    • 鈥淪mart鈥 quotes, not "straight" quotes, should be used.听听
    • Semicolons and colons go outside quotation marks.听听
    • Periods and commas go inside the closing quotation mark.听
    • Use quotation marks for book, dissertation and thesis titles, as well as articles, poems, short stories, book chapters, essays, individual lectures, blog entries, podcasts, and TV and radio programs.听听
    • No quotation marks or italics are needed for academic course titles, apps, awards, websites, political documents (such as the Constitution), scriptural works (the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud), or musical compositions whose names contain a musical form (such as concerto, symphony).听
  • R

    Reiman School of Finance听

    听

    residence hall听

    • Not dorm or dormitory.听
  • S

    School of Art and Art History听

    听

    Sturm College of Law听

    • On second reference, use 鈥淪turm College鈥 or 鈥淒enver Law鈥澨
  • T

    Theater/theatre听

    • Use the British spelling when referring to the University鈥檚 Department of Theatre.听听
    • In other references, it is preferable to use theater.听听
      • Theater majors use the Byron Flexible Theatre as a laboratory for developing their skills.听

    听

    titles听

    • Capitalize the following but do not italicize or place within quotation marks:听
      • blog titles听
      • course titles (see course titles for further guidance)听
      • software听
      • TV and radio stations听
      • websites (the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast)听听

    听

    T-shirts听

    听

    transgender听

    • Not transgendered.听听

    听

    Trustees听

    • Capitalize trustee as a title before the name:听听
      • Trustee Allan Phipps听
    • Lowercase when used as a descriptor in sentence.听
      • As a trustee, Allan Phipps served the University Board of Trustees well.听
  • U

    快活app听听

    • Capitalize 快活app.听听
    • Capitalize second references to the University when the 快活app is implied.听听
    • 快活app is acceptable on second reference.听听

    听

    University College听

    • Before 1987, University College was known as the New College.听听听

    听

    University Honors Program听

    • Always capitalize the full formal name.听听
    • Use Honors Program on second reference.听听
    • Casual references should capitalize Honors.听听
      • Sally is an Honors student.听
  • W

    work-study听

  • Y

    years听

    • Let context dictate usage.听听
    • Either 1946 or 鈥46 may be appropriate.听听
    • When discussing a span of years, it is acceptable to use the shortened version for years in the same century.听
      • 1946鈥52; 1998鈥2003听

Formatting Guide

Bulleting

Do not capitalize single words in bulleted lists.听

Do not capitalize the first word of sentence fragments appearing in bulleted lists.听

When a list consists of complete sentences, punctuate each sentence as though it stands alone. When a list consists of sentence fragments or phrases, do not use a period or semicolon at the end of each entry, including the concluding entry.听听

The new program has the following goals:听

  • to help students find financial aid听
  • to match students with faculty mentors听
  • to ensure that students have a rewarding educational experience听

Captions

Be consistent in caption style throughout a document or publication.听听

Use either full sentences with punctuation or phrases without punctuation, but do not mix the two.听听

In group shots, identify people from left to right and according to rows.听