Editorial Style Guide
Adhering to editorial guidelines and portraying our story in a unified way is a crucial part of serving our brand. Purdue Fort Wayne’s Editorial Style Guide provides direction for university communicators so that they can produce clear and consistent copy, for both internal and external communications.
Purdue Fort Wayne follows The Chicago Manual of Style, Eighteenth Edition. It’s accessible at chicagomanualofstyle.org. The university has a subscription that grants permission to view the complete guide through any computer on the campus network. Employees may also access The Chicago Manual of Style through Helmke Library, which requires university credentials, making the guide available to users off campus.
Based on The Chicago Manual of Style’s preference, the university uses the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, which can be found online at merriam-webster.com.
Much of the Editorial Style Guide, which includes a collection of official university names and preferred usage, is a list of university-specific preferences and exceptions to The Chicago Manual of Style. If something isn’t covered in this guide, follow the rules prescribed by The Chicago Manual of Style.
Table of Contents
Academic Degrees
- Academic degrees
-
Use periods with degree abbreviations.
- B.A.
- M.S.Ed.
- Bart has a B.S.
MBA is an exception to this rule.
Degrees are written in lowercase in running copy.
- Sawyer earned his bachelor of science in business last year.
- Associate degree
-
Note that this is not possessive.
Capitalization and Titles
- Athletics
-
Lowercase. Capitalize only when the proper name is used.
- The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is recruiting for the next season.
- Sassy was excited to see the newly released athletics schedule.
- Capitalizing academic disciplines
-
Except for languages, such as English, Spanish, and French, the names of academic disciplines should not be capitalized.
- Jim is a music major.
- Dave studied Spanish.
- Department names
-
Capitalize the words school, college, division, and department when the entire proper name is used. Do not capitalize informal constructions.
- The Department of Communication sponsored Todd’s lecture.
- Geoff had a meeting with the staff of organizational leadership.
- The biology department is part of the College of Science.
- Office names
-
Capitalize the word office only in the Office of context.
- Office of the Chancellor, but chancellor’s office.
Computer and Social Media Terminology
As a general rule, capitalize only proper nouns, acronyms, and initialisms. Respect the capitalization of business entities (LinkedIn). The following list contains just a few examples of some of the most common computer and social media terms. If in doubt, consult Merriam-Webster’s.
Terms
- email (no hyphen)
- FAQ (not FAQs)
- home page (two words)
- hyperlink
- internet
- login (This is a noun. The information you use to access Facebook is your login, which you input on the login page.)
- log in (This is a verb. You must log in to see your new messages.)
- online
- Snapchat
- X
Diversity
This section contains a collection of official university statements and policies, as well as guidance concerning diversity.
Abandon the Binary
Don’t assume there are only two genders. Try to use gender-neutral language like parent (instead of mom or dad); chair (instead of chairman or chairwoman); partner or spouse (instead of boyfriend or girlfriend); student (instead of boy or girl); friends, colleagues, or everyone (instead of ladies or gentlemen); and people instead of (men or women).
Never use gender-based language based on assumptions.
Civility Statement
Purdue University Fort Wayne is committed to the goals and ethics of academic investigation and education. The foundation of academic pursuit is the process of free inquiry, in which individuals may openly explore and express ideas. Free inquiry requires an environment that encourages open investigation, as well as the educational growth and positive social development of individuals. Therefore, it is important to state explicitly the ethics that define our academic community.
Prominent among the values that define the academic community is civility, which includes mutual respect, fairness, and politeness. Membership in any community requires a concern for the common good for all who belong to that community. Each individual may possess different ideas, as well as different ways of communicating those ideas, particularly in a community as varied and diverse as a university. Because of these differences, respect and civility are integral to maintaining the quality of the academic environment and free inquiry. Respect and civility should therefore be afforded to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, family status, socioeconomic level, educational background, veteran status, or position at the university.
Because it is not possible to establish a set of rules or guidelines that will address every issue of civility, all members of the academic community are called upon to promote and value this ethic of common respect and civility. Ultimately, such a community-wide concern will assure the continuation of a free and open exchange of ideas.
Diversity Statement
Purdue University Fort Wayne is committed to creating an environment that enhances learning by recognizing the inherent worth of all individuals at the university. Diversity stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. The term diversity encompasses differences of culture, background, and experience among individuals and groups. Such differences include, but are not necessarily limited to, differences of race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, class, age, and disabilities, as well as political and religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status.
Nondiscrimination Policy
Purdue University is committed to maintaining an environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect; and encourages its members to strive to reach their potential. The most effective way to work toward preventing harassment is through education that emphasizes respect for every individual.
Pronouns
Be sure to ask for the pronouns and terms that each individual is most comfortable with. Never use gender-based language based on assumptions.
Terms
- Bisexual refers to people who are attracted to more than one gender.
- Gay is used to describe people who are attracted to the same sex, and is often used to refer to men. It’s also used as an umbrella term for sexual orientations that fall outside of heterosexual.
- Gender is a complex system of roles, expressions, identities, performances, and more that are given gendered meaning by a society and usually assigned to people based on the appearance of their sex characteristics at birth. How gender is embodied and defined varies from culture to culture and from person to person.
- Queer is an umbrella term for someone who doesn’t identify with society’s normative expectations of gender or sexual orientation.
- Sexual orientation is the desire for intimate emotional and/or sexual relationships with people of the same gender, another gender, or multiple genders. This term should always be used over sexual preference.
- Transgender and transsexual refer to people who have a gender identity that differs from their sex at birth. They may or may not have undergone surgery and hormone therapy.
Numbers and Time
- Course numbers and titles
-
Capitalize course titles. Do not place punctuation between the course number and title. In publications that discuss curricula, it’s useful to specify the department in which the course is listed.
- 13100 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I
- ENGL 13100 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I
- Credits
-
Use numerals to refer to credits.
- Bennett has a course load of 9 credit hours.
- Numbers
-
Single-digit numbers should be spelled out, and numerals should be used for all others. This is CMOS’s alternative rule for numbering (9.3).
- Chip took a walk around campus and saw seven squirrels.
- Twenty-six native tree families populate campus, and there are more than 15,000 trees in total.
- Time
-
Use numbers with the abbreviations a.m. and p.m. Do not use zeros for the exact time. For time ranges, use an en dash (with no spaces), and do not repeat a.m. or p.m.
- Bobbi’s meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m.
- The class is 9–11 a.m.
Official University Names
The following collection of university names serves as the official reference for both written documents and verbal expressions of these entities. The names listed are the standard, preferred usage. For names that have formal alternatives, those are identified through the “officially known as” designation. It’s most appropriate to use these formal names in official or ceremonial capacities.
Academic Units (colleges, schools, departments, and divisions)
- College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Science
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Department of Accounting
- Department of Anthropology and Sociology
- Department of Art and Design
- Department of Biological Sciences
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- Department of Communication
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Department of Computer Science
- Department of Counseling and Graduate Education
- Department of Criminal Justice and Public Administration
- Department of Economics and Finance
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Department of English and Linguistics
- Department of History
- Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Department of Human Services
- Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Department of International Language and Culture Studies
- Department of Management and Marketing
- Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Department of Organizational Leadership
- Department of Physics
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Theatre
- Division of Continuing Studies
- Doermer School of Business (officially known as the Richard T. Doermer School of Business)
- Integrated Studies
- School of Education
- School of Music
- School of Polytechnic
- Unit of Affiliated Programs
Administrative Units
- Administrative Business Services
- Campus Credentials and Transportation
- Career Development Center
- Center for Economic Education
- Center for Healthy Living
- Center for Supplemental Instruction
- Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching
- Communication Disorders Clinic
- Community Relations
- Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Disability Access Center
- Division of Engagement
- Division of Enrollment Management and the Student Experience
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Facilities Management
- First Year Advising Center
- Graduate Admissions
- Human Resources
- Mastodon Academic Performance Center
- Mastodon Alumni Community
- Multicultural Center
- New Student Programs
- Office of Academic Accountability and Student Success
- Office of Academic Affairs
- Office of Accounting and Budget
- Office of Admissions
- Office of Assessment and Institutional Review
- Office of Communications and Marketing
- Office of Development and Alumni Engagement
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Office of Financial Aid
- Office of Financial and Administrative Affairs
- Office of Graduate Studies
- Office of Institutional Equity
- Office of Institutional Research and Analysis
- Office of International Education
- Office of Major Scholarship Advising
- Office of Military Student Services
- Office of Student Conduct and Care
- Office of the Bursar
- Office of the Chancellor
- Office of the Registrar
- Purchasing
- Purdue Information Technology
- Student Housing on the Waterfield Campus
- Student Leadership
- Student Life
- Telephone Operations
- Testing Services
- TRIO Student Support Services
- TRIO Upward Bound Program
- University Archives
- University Police
- University Research and Innovation
- Well-being and Recreation
- Women’s Center
Affiliates
- Allen County Purdue Extension Office
- Believe in a Dream
- Campus Ministry
- Fort Wayne Area Community Band
- Fort Wayne Children’s Choir
- Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Youth Symphony
- Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition
- Indiana University Credit Union
- Mastodon Campus Store
- Mikautadze Dance Theatre
- Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)
- PBS39 WFWA-DT
- Purdue University Fort Wayne Foundation
- Questa Foundation for Education
- Shakespearemachine
- Small Business Development Center
- The Alliance for Teaching Enrichment
- The Family Project
- The Learning Community (TLC)
- Unity Performing Arts Foundation
Campus Facilities and Structures
- Athletics Field Storage (AFS)
- Auer Performance Hall
- Bon Bon’s
- Chiller Plant (CP)
- Classroom Clinic Building (CLCB)
- Cole Clubhouse (COLE)
- Crescent Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
- Davies Greenhouse (GH) (officially known as H. William Davies Greenhouse)
- Development Building (DEV)
- Doermer School of Business Building (DSB) (officially known as Richard T. Doermer School of Business Building)
- Dolnick Center (DK) (officially known as Bernard Dolnick Center)
- Don’s at Walb
- Einstein Bros. Bagels
- Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Building (ET)
- Environmental Resources Center (ERC)
- Equipment and Material Storage (ES)
- Gates Sports Center (GC) (officially known as Hilliard Gates Sports Center)
- Ginsberg Hall / Physical Plant Building (GB) (officially known as S. T. Ginsberg Hall)
- Helmke Library (LB) (officially known as Walter E. Helmke Library)
- Herd Hideout
- Hobson Center
- IDEASpace
- Java Spot
- Kettler Hall (KT) (officially known as Alfred W. Kettler Hall)
- Kiln Building
- Larson Ticket Office
- Learning Commons
- Liberal Arts Building (LA)
- Life Sciences Resource Center (LS)
- Lutheran Health Fieldhouse
- Marsha Walb Heller Rehearsal Hall
- Medical Education Building (IU School of Medicine) (MEC)
- Modular Classroom Building (MCB)
- Music Center (MC)
- Neff Hall (NF) (officially known as Floyd R. Neff Hall)
- Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)
- Parker–Cole Crossing
- Parking Garage 1 (P1)
- Parking Garage 2 (P2)
- Parking Garage 3 (P3)
- PBS39 WFWA-DT (officially known as Dr. Rudy and Rhonda Kachmann Teleplex)
- Press Box / Concession Building (PBC)
- Printing Services / Warehouse Building (PW)
- Purdue Cooperative Extension Service (ACX)
- Purdue Fort Wayne Holiday Inn
- Purdue Fort Wayne Sweetwater Music Center
- Rhinehart Recital Hall
- Venderly Bridge (officially known as Ron Venderly Family Bridge)
-
Schatzlein Box Office
- Science Building (SB)
- Skybridge
- Soccer Support Facility (SSF)
- Steel Dynamics Keith E. Busse Mastodon Alumni Center (AC)
- Student Housing Building A (SHA)
- Student Housing Building B (SHB)
- Student Housing Building C (SHC)
- Student Housing Building D (SHD)
- Student Housing Building E (SHE)
- Student Housing Building F (SHF)
- Student Housing Building G (SHG)
- Student Housing Building H (SHH)
- Student Housing Building I (SHI)
- Student Housing Building J (SHJ)
- Student Housing Building K (SHK)
- Student Housing Building L (SHL)
- Student Housing Building M (SHM)
- Student Housing Maintenance Facility (SHMF)
- Student Housing on the Waterfield Campus
- Support Services Building (SS)
- Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building
- Sweetwater Music Center (SWMC)
- Trace
- The Plex North
- Vehicle Storage (VS)
- Visual Arts Building (VA)
- Visual Arts Gallery
- W. Paul and Carolyn Wolf Bridge
- Walb Student Union (WU) (officially known as Walter W. Walb Student Union)
- Williams Theatre (WT) (officially known as Ernest E. Williams Theatre)
Centers of Excellence
- Center for Applied Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Science
- Center for Collaborative Media in the College of Liberal Arts
- Center for Marine Conservation and Biology in the College of Science
- Center of Excellence in Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
- Community Research Institute in the Doermer School of Business
- Environmental Resources Center in the College of Science
- FIRST Molecules Research Center
- Gold Top Music Group in the School of Music
- Information Analytics and Visualization Center in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
- Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in the College of Liberal Arts
- Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics in the College of Liberal Arts
- Scanning Electron Microscope Laboratory in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
- School of Education Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Education Resource Center
- Three Rivers Language Center in the School of Education
Programs
- AmeriCorps Program
- Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute
- Bridges to Education and Careers
- Chapman Scholars Program
- Collegiate Connection
- Community Arts Academy
- Community Counseling Center
- Dean’s Diplomats
- Disability Friendly Fort Wayne
- ETCS Outreach Programs
- Honors Program
- Military Science (ROTC Program)
- National Student Exchange
- Project Compass (Community Partners Against Student Suicide)
- Sponsored Programs
- Student Government Association
- Study Abroad Program
- Summit Scholars Program
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program
Streets, Grounds, and Landmarks
- Achievement Drive
- Alumni Plaza
- Alumni Walk
- Aquarius Park
- Artists Drive
- Baker Drive
- Baker Drive North
- Black Drive
- Blue Hippo
- Broyles Boulevard
- Chessboard
- Chiller Plant Road
- Connie and Dan Dickey Alumni Fountain
- Dean Drive
- Delivery Drive
- Development Lane
- Dirrim Quiet Spot (officially known as Richard J. Dirrim Quiet Spot)
- Dr. Jack A. Sunderman GeoGarden
- Dr. Rudy and Rhonda Kachmann Tennis Center
- East California Road
- East Campus Drive
- Friends Circle
- Friends Pavilion
- Fuller Drive
- Geib Drive
- Gold Drive
- Hefner Soccer Fields
- Indiana Landscape
- Katter Park
- Kettler Circle
- Lascaux Stacked Plus One
- Lawshe Drive
- Main Campus
- Mastodon Drive
- Mastodon Statue
- Mastodon Way
- McKay Farm (MKAY)
- Meeks Drive
- Millennium Marker
- Mirro Drive
- Music Circle
- Native Trees of Indiana River Walk
- North Campus
- Obelisk
- Onwood Memorial Wildflower Garden
- Paul Shaffer Drive
- Pole Clock
- River Sculpture
- SCAN Children’s Garden
- Science Mall
- Set in Stone
- Sirlin Drive
- South Campus
- South Campus Drive
- Student Legacy 25th Anniversary Sculpture
- Sundial
- Teaching Sculpture
- Union Circle Drive
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Marker
- Visual Arts Plaza
- VPA Service Drive
- Walb Service Road
- Waterfield Campus
- West Campus
- West Campus Drive
Student Support
- Arts and Sciences Student Success Center
- Center for Student Counseling
- Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science Student Success Center
- First Year Advising Center
- FRIENDS of the University Pantry
- Help Desk
- Mastodon Advising Center
- Math and Science Tutoring and Testing Center
- Professional Studies Student Success Center
- Student Activities Board
- Student Information Support Services
- Q Center
- Tutoring Center
- Writing Center
University Organizations
- All Professional Staff Advisory Council (APSAC)
- CARE Team
- Crisis Management
- Campus Support Staff Advisory Committee (CSSAC)
- Leadership Academy
Preferred Spelling and Usage
- Acronyms and initialisms
-
Refrain from using because of the confusion they may cause. Spell out initially, and then use another form on subsequent references if spelling out again becomes difficult.
- The Office of Financial Aid. The office.
- Advisor
-
This spelling is a variant of Merriam-Webster’s preferred spelling.
- Alumni identification
-
Set off the person’s degree and class year with commas.
- Blake Sebring, B.S. ’90, was at the meeting.
- Smith Fenker, B.A. ’10, M.A. ’14, is an ornithology expert.
- Chair
-
Use instead of chairperson, chairwoman, or chairman.
- Commencement
-
Lowercase. Uppercase only when using as an official name.
- Liz will attend commencement.
- Dan is looking forward to the 2019 Commencement.
- Coursework
-
See Merriam-Webster’s.
- Dean’s list
-
Lowercase in all references.
- Oliver made the dean’s list.
- Dons
-
Use as an abbreviated version of Mastodons. Do not use ’Dons.
- Esports
-
Lowercase. Do not use a hyphen.
- Nick joined the esports team last year.
-
Capitalize. This is the official name.
- Federal Work-Study Program
-
Capitalize when the entire proper name is used. Lowercase in all other instances.
- Bowie’s financial aid package included funds from the Federal Work-Study Program.
- Students at Purdue Fort Wayne are encouraged to participate in federal work-study.
- goPFW
-
Maintain the lowercase treatment at the beginning of a sentence.
- Healthcare
-
This spelling is a variant of Merriam-Webster’s preferred spelling.
- Homecoming
-
Lowercase. Uppercase only when using as an official name.
- Ashley will have fun at homecoming.
- Layla will participate in the 2019 Homecoming festivities.
- Job descriptions, academic
-
Use the preposition of to join a professional title to a discipline. Use the preposition in for instructors.
- Sasha is an assistant professor of biology.
- Kent is an instructor in Spanish.
- Mastodon Card
-
Uppercase.
- Jacqueline never leaves the office without her Mastodon Card.
- Notes
-
Set in roman followed by a colon.
- Note: Elliana will bring cookies to the next meeting.
- Practica
-
The plural form of practicum.
- Penny enrolled in multiple practica last semester.
- Purdue Fort Wayne Scholarship
-
Do not shorten.
- The latest group of admitted students eagerly awaited the letter containing their Purdue Fort Wayne Scholarship award.
- Theatre
-
This spelling is a variant of Merriam-Webster’s preferred spelling. Make an exception for official names.
- Sakara is going to Williams Theatre.
- He enjoys performances at First Presbyterian Theater.
- University
- Lowercase when referencing Purdue Fort Wayne in general.
- Andrew came to the university two years ago.
- Upperclassmen
-
Avoid using. The term is in reference to juniors and seniors only. If the desired meaning is nonfreshmen, use sophomores, juniors, and seniors instead.
- World language
-
Use instead of foreign or global.
- Colin has fulfilled his requirement for a world language.
Punctuation
- Apostrophes
-
Be sure to use smart (or curly) apostrophes. Do not use foot marks.
- Nan’s class starts at 9 a.m.
- Quote marks
-
Be sure to use smart (or curly) quote marks. Do not use inch marks.
- Kathryn said, “I really enjoy reading the Editorial Style Guide.”