Writing Style Guide

If mention of degrees is necessary to establish someone’s credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use instead a phrase such as: John Doe, who has a doctorate in biology.

Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science or associate degree.

Use such abbreviations as B.A., M.S. 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: Jane Doe, Ph.D., spoke.

Do not precede a name with a courtesy title for an academic degree and follow it with the abbreviation for the degree in the same reference.

In general, avoid using abbreviations for academic degrees, fellowships or certifications after a person’s name except in formal programs and invitations, such as commencement programs.

Elon currently offers the following degrees — please note the correct abbreviations, capitalization and punctuation.

• B.A. — Bachelor of Arts
• B.F.A. — Bachelor of Fine Arts
• B.S. — Bachelor of Science
• B.S.B.A. — Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• B.S.N. — Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• D.P.T. — Doctor of Physical Therapy
• J.D. — Juris Doctor
• M.A. — Master of Arts in Higher Education
• MBA — Master of Business Administration
• M.Ed. — Master of Education
• M.S. — Master of Science in Accounting; Master of Science in Business Analytics; Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

In general, confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual’s name: Dean of the School of Communications Jane Doe; Vice President for Enrollment John Doe.

Lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an individual’s name: The president issued a statement.

Lowercase and spell out titles in constructions that set them off from a name by commas: Elon’s president, Jane Doe, began her tenure in 2018; John Doe, senior vice president of advancement, recently won an award.

Capitalize formal titles when they are used immediately before one or more names: President Jane Doe; Vice Presidents Emeritx John Doe and Jane Doe.

A formal title generally is one that denotes a scope of authority, professional activity or academic activity and is usually capitalized before the person’s name (Gov. John Doe; Professor Jane Doe), while other titles serve primarily as occupational descriptions and are lowercased even before the person’s name (writer John Doe; soccer player Jane Doe).

When in doubt, use a construction that sets the name or the title off with commas.

Named professorship titles are always capitalized, even after the person’s name: Jane Doe, Gordon Professor of Entrepreneurship.

Emeritx is not synonymous with retired; it is a special status granted to some retired faculty and staff members who worked at Elon University for at least 10 years and whose service to the institution exceeded the expected norm of performance.

Prior to 2021, male-identifying retirees were granted the title of emeritus and female-identifying retirees were granted the title of emerita. In 2021, the university adopted the gender-neutral title of emeritx to refer to this class of titles. However, individual faculty can choose which title (Emeritx/Emerita/Emeritus) they prefer when emeritx status is conferred. The emeritx title is not applied retroactively. Those who were granted emeritus/emerita status prior to 2021 retain the emeritus/emerita nomenclature, as do those who were granted emertix status after 2021 but have indicated a specific preference: John Doe, professor emeritus of chemistry, retired in 2017; Vice President Emeritx Jane Doe will deliver the commencement address; The School of Health Sciences’ emeritx faculty members attended the reception.

Spell out Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on first reference. Use AAPI on second reference.

Lowercase the names of academic disciplines except for proper nouns: Jane Doe’s research focus is South Asian religion; John Doe teaches courses in computer science and engineering.

Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St. only when they appear with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Spell out and capitalize those same street types when used as part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue

Lowercase and spell out street types when they appear alone or with multiple names: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues

Always spell out other street terms like alley, drive, road, terrace, etc. Capitalize when part of a formal name: Oak Drive. Lowercase when used generically or with multiple names: Maple and Pine drives

Always use numerals for the building number: 100 Campus Drive

For street names that are numbers, spell out and capitalize First through Ninth; use numerals for 10th and higher: 7 Fifth Ave.; 100 21st St.

Abbreviate compass directions (N, S, E, W, NE, NW, etc.): when used with a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 600 K St. NW. Spell out if there’s no number: East 42nd Street, K Street Northwest. Don’t use periods in abbreviations like NW, SE, unless a local style requires it

For P.O. Boxes, include periods: P.O. Box 1889

Adviser is the preferred spelling for general usage, but advisor is acceptable if it is part of a formal title or office name: John is a trusted friend and adviser; Jane’s new title is chief financial advisor.

No hyphen for this and other dual-heritage terms, even when used as an adjective.

An acronym for African American/Black, Latinx/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaskan Native and Multiracial. ALANAM can be used on second reference.

Alumnus refers to one male-identifying graduate. Alumni refers to a group of male-identifying graduates or a group of graduates of multiple genders. Alumna refers to one female-identifying graduate. Alumnae refers to a group of female-identifying graduates. Alum is a gender-neutral term for one graduate. Alums is a gender-neutral term for multiple graduates. Generally, alum, alums and alumni are preferred.

No hyphen for this and other dual-heritage terms, even when used as an adjective.

No hyphen for this and other dual-heritage terms, even when used as an adjective.

Use the capitalized term as an adjective in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense (e.g. Black people; Black culture; Black literature).

Use Elon University Board of Trustees on first reference. On second reference, use Board of Trustees (note capitalization).

Student organizations that are widely known across campus may be abbreviated on second reference: Student Government Association and SGA; Elon News Network and ENN; Student Union Board and SUB.

In most cases, cities should be followed by their state or country: Greensboro, North Carolina; Edinburgh, Scotland. But some cities may be referenced without mentioning their state or country.

Domestic

• Atlanta
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Dallas
• Denver
• Detroit
• Honolulu
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Milwaukee
• Minneapolis
• New Orleans
• New York
• Oklahoma City
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• St. Louis
• Salt Lake City
• San Antonio
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Washington

International

• Amsterdam
• Baghdad
• Bangkok
• Beijing
• Beirut
• Berlin
• Brussels
• Cairo
• Djibouti
• Dublin
• Geneva
• Gibraltar
• Guatemala City
• Havana
• Helsinki
• Hong Kong
• Islamabad
• Istanbul
• Jerusalem
• Johannesburg
• Kuwait City
• London
• Luxembourg
• Macao
• Madrid
• Mexico City
• Milan
• Monaco
• Montreal
• Moscow
• Munich
• New Delhi
• Panama City
• Paris
• Prague
• Quebec City
• Rio de Janero
• Rome
• San Marino
• São Paulo
• Shanghai
• Singapore
• Stockholm
• Sydney
• Tokyo
• Toronto
• Vatican City
• Vienna
• Zurich

Undergraduate student and undergraduate alumni names should be followed by the last two digits of the year they graduated or the year they are expected to graduate, with an apostrophe preceding the class year. It’s important that the apostrophe points in the correct direction: down and to the left: this ’ and not this ‘. Jane Doe ’10 not Jane Doe ‘10; John Doe ’25.

When naming an alum who graduated 100 years prior to the current incoming class or older, use all four digits when noting their class year, without an apostrophe: John Doe 1928.

Graduate student and graduate alumni names should be followed by a G, an apostrophe and the last two digits of the year they graduated or the year they are expected to graduate: Jane Doe G’18.

The names of parents of students and alumni should be followed by a P, an apostrophe and the last two digits of the year the students/alumni graduated or the year they are expected to graduate. If they have had multiple children attend Elon, list each student or graduate’s year beginning with the oldest: John Doe P’24; Jane Doe P’12 P’15 P’18.

The names of grandparents of students and alumni should be followed by GP, an apostrophe and the last two digits of the year the students/alumni graduated or the year they are expected to graduate. If they have had multiple grandchildren attend Elon, list each student or graduate’s year beginning with the oldest: John Doe GP’11; Jane Doe GP’20 GP’23.

Capitalize class when referring to an entire graduation class from a given year: This year’s seniors are members of the Class of 2026.

Capitalize when referring to a specific ceremony: The 133rd Commencement; the Class of 2024 Commencement. Lowercase when referring to graduation generally: Students grow intellectually and emotionally between the first day of class and commencement.

Capitalize the main words in a title. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), short prepositions (of, on, for) and short conjunctions (and, but, or) unless they appear at the beginning or end of the title.

Use quotation marks for book titles, movies, plays, poems, albums and songs, TV and radio shows, lectures and speeches, and works of art (except sculptures): “The Godfather”; “A Streetcar Named Desire”; “Leaves of Grass”; “Shake It Off”; “Parks and Recreation”; “Starry Night”.

No quotation marks are needed for: religious texts (Bible, Quran); reference works (Webster’s Dictionary, Farmer’s Almanac); software and apps (Microsoft Word, Photoshop); games, including video, mobile and board games (Minecraft, Monopoly); and sculptures (The Thinker, David).

Translate foreign titles into English unless the original is widely recognized (“Mona Lisa”). In music reviews, name the work in the language it was performed in: “The Magic Flute” (if performed in English), “Die Zauberflöte” (if sung in German). For Slavic works, use English titles regardless of the performance language: “From the House of the Dead” (not “Z Mrtvého domu”).

Use quotation marks for a piece of classical music’s nickname, but not for standard titles that include the type and number: Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, Beethoven’s Sonata No. 14.

Always use Arabic figures, without st, nd, rd or th.

Note apostrophe usage

Use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of dental surgery, doctor of medicine, doctor of optometry, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of podiatric medicine, or doctor of veterinary medicine.

Do not use Dr. before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. Instead, when necessary or appropriate: John Doe, who has a doctorate in mathematics, was lead researcher.

In a list: Jane Doe, Ph.D.

Also see the entry for “academic degrees.”

Acceptable in all references for electronic mail. Also: esports. Use a hyphen with other e- terms: e-book; e-reader; e-commerce.

“Entitled” means having the right to something. She is entitled to the inheritance. Use “titled” to introduce the name of a publication, research, speech, musical piece, etc. The research project, titled “Cheese in nutrition and health,” was important in the committee’s decision.

The preferred term instead of freshman or freshmen. Hyphenate when used as an adjective: Jane Doe is a first-year student at Elon; John Doe is in his first year at Elon; incoming students have the option to participate in First-Year Summer Experiences before classes begin.

One word in all cases; no hyphen.

Acceptable in all references for grade-point average.

Two words in all uses.

Hispanic refers to a person from, or whose ancestors were from, a Spanish-speaking land or culture. Latino is often the preferred noun or adjective for a person from, or whose ancestors were from, a Spanish-speaking land or culture or from Latin America. Latina is the feminine form. Some prefer the gender-neutral term Latinx. Follow the person’s preference. Use a more specific identification when possible, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican or Mexican American.

Capitalize the formal name of Elon’s homecoming celebration. Lowercase when referring to homecoming informally: The Class of 2013 will celebrate its 10th reunion at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend; The Phoenix will play William & Mary at the homecoming game this year.

Lowercase in all uses. The internet refers to the global network of connected devices that communicate digitally.
The web (short for World Wide Web) is a part of the internet, as is email. These terms are not interchangeable; use them correctly depending on context. When referring to online platforms or services in writing, use the name of the platform, not its web address: Facebook, not Facebook.com.

Acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex and asexual, plus other sexual and gender minorities. Avoid using LGBTQIA to describe individuals, and don’t default to LGBTQIA if discussing a more specific population: a bisexual advocacy group; a transgender health program.

Use a hyphen between “living” and “learning” and only capitalize when part of a formal name. The Honors Living-Learning Community; Elon has many living-learning communities. LLC is acceptable on second reference.

Capitalize all month names in every use.
When a month is paired with a specific date, abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Classes begin Aug. 26.

Spell out the month when it’s used by itself (Classes begin in August) and when it’s used with a year but no specific date (August 2025 was unusually hot).

When writing month + day + year, use commas around the year: The conference began on Feb. 14, 2023, in Chicago. When writing month + year (no day), do not use a comma: The building opened in October 2019.

One word in all uses; no hyphen.

Generally, refer to people by first and last name on first reference and by last name only on second reference. When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, generally use first names only on second reference.

Both Native American and American Indian are acceptable when referring to Indigenous peoples in the U.S., especially in general references involving multiple tribal affiliations: The university welcomed Native American and Alaska Native students.

Natives (capitalized) is acceptable on second reference: Many Natives in the region identify with more than one tribe.

When possible, use the individual’s tribal affiliation: She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma; He is a member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe.

Respect preferred terminology. Some tribes use member, others use citizen. If unsure and you can’t verify, default to citizen.

In Alaska, the correct collective term is Alaska Natives, which includes multiple distinct Indigenous groups.

In Canada, the preferred term is First Nation (or First Nations for plural reference to multiple groups).

Do not use Indian to refer to Native Americans. Indian refers to people from India and should not be used as shorthand for Native Americans or Indigenous peoples in the U.S. or Canada. The exception: Indian may be used in proper names or official government designations: Gila River Indian Community; Indian Country.

Capitalize when using the formal name of Elon’s New Student Orientation, but lowercase in informal uses: All incoming students are required to attend New Student Orientation; Jane had to complete an orientation session before starting her on-campus job.

Use as the abbreviation for number in conjunction with a figure to indicate position or rank: No. 1 ranking not #1; No. 3 choice.

One word in all uses; no hyphen.

Spell out one through nine. Use figures for 10 and above.

Always use figures for:

• Ages (The student was 18 years old)
  • Use hyphens for ages used as adjectives (the 18-year-old student)
• Dates (Feb. 14, 2025)
• Time (3 p.m.)
• Money ($5, 8 euros, 5 cents)
  • But for millions/billions use numeral + word ($2 million)
• Percentages (100%, 3.5%)
• Decimals (0.75 inches)
  • But spell out fractions less than one (three-fourths)
• Measurements and dimensions (5 feet 6 inches, 9-by-12 rug, 7-foot-tall statue)
• Scores and statistics (The team won 10-3; He made 5 of 6 shots)
• Addresses (100 Campus Drive)
  • But spell out street numbers one through nine (7 Fifth Ave.)
• Speeds (70 mph)

• Temperatures (12 degrees)

Other common uses:

• Academic courses: GST 1100
• Centuries: fifth century, 21st century
• Court decisions: 5-4 ruling
• Political districts: Ward 9, 3rd District
• Military ranks: 1st Sgt. Jane Doe
• Votes: 6-4 vote, a two-vote margin
• Highways: U.S. Highway 1, Interstate 5
• Rankings: No. 1 choice, Top 40 hit

Hyphenate only when used as an adjective: Juniors and seniors may live in off-campus housing but There is a special event on campus today.

Always capitalize; OL(s) is acceptable on second reference.

The term people of color is acceptable for broad, collective references to individuals who are not white, but it should be used carefully and sparingly. Be aware that some object to the term because it can imply a single, uniform identity for very diverse racial and ethnic groups. Whenever possible, be specific: Black and Latino Americans are most affected, not
people of color are most affected. Use terms like: Black Americans, Asian Americans, members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Avoid using “person of color” to describe an individual. Instead, specify race or ethnicity if relevant and appropriate.

Alternative phrasing for broader references: People from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, individuals from different heritages, culturally diverse communities, various racial and cultural groups.

Use the % symbol with numerals, no space: Enrollment rose 3.1%; She won 56.2% of the vote.

Always use numerals with percentages, even for numbers less than 10: 1%, 4%, 75%.

For amounts less than 1%, include a zero before the decimal: The tuition increase was 0.6%.

Spell out “zero percent” in narrative text: The loan comes with zero percent interest.

Avoid starting a sentence with a percentage if possible. If necessary, spell out both the number and “percent”: Eighty-nine percent of students agreed.

Use a singular verb when the percentage is treated as a single unit or followed by a singular noun: 60% is a passing grade; Fifteen percent of the membership was present.

Use a plural verb when the noun following “of” is plural: 60% of students were absent.

Use decimals, not fractions: The interest rate is 4.5%.

For ranges, any of these are acceptable: 12% to 15%, 12%-15%, between 12% and 15%.

Use “percent” with numerals: 4% of students. Use “percentage” when not paired with a number: The percentage of applicants who enrolled increased.

Format with parentheses around the area code and a hyphen between the first three digits and the last four digits: (336) 278-1234 not 336.278.1234 or 336-278-1234.

Don’t refer to preferred or chosen pronouns. Instead, the pronouns they use, whose pronouns are, who uses the pronouns, etc.

Don’t make assumptions about a person’s gender identity based on their pronouns, or vice versa. Don’t assume a person’s pronouns based on their first name.

Growing numbers of people, including some transgender, nonbinary, agender or gender-fluid people, use they/them/their as a gender-neutral singular personal pronoun. They/them/their take plural verbs even when used as a singular pronoun, and the singular reflexive themself is also acceptable when referring to people who use they/them/their.

Do not presume maleness in constructing a sentence by defaulting to he/his/him.

When necessary, use they rather than he/she or he or she for an unspecified or unknown gender (a person, the victim, the winner) or indefinite pronoun (anyone, everyone, someone). But rewording to avoid a pronoun is preferable. For example: The foundation gave grants to anyone who lost a job this year (instead of anyone who lost their job).

Not dorm or dormitory.

Note accent marks to differentiate from the verb “resume.”

Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter and derivatives such as springtime unless part of a formal name: fall semester, spring 2024 but Summer Olympics.

EXCEPTION: Always capitalize Winter Term.

Double spaces are no longer included after a period in a sentence. They were necessary when using typesetting or a typewriter because these both used monospace type. Now, word processing programs use proportional type, and double spaces no longer enhance readability.

Always spell out U.S. state names in body text whether the name stands alone or follows a city or town: She moved to Portland, Oregon, after graduation; The event was held in Nebraska.

The following eight states are never abbreviated in text, even when used with a city name: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, Utah. Postal abbreviations for these states are: AK, HI, ID, IA, ME, OH, TX, UT.

Use two-letter USPS (postal) abbreviations only in full mailing addresses that include a ZIP Code: 1889 Campus Drive, Elon, NC 27244.

Place a comma between the city and state, and another after the state unless it ends the sentence: He’s from Madison, Wisconsin, and works in tech; She grew up in Boise, Idaho.

You may abbreviate most states (except the eight noted above) in tables or charts, lists or short-form references, political affiliations (D-Va., R-Ga.) and where space is limited (e.g., newsletters, infographics). Use the following state abbreviations (postal code abbreviations in parentheses):

• Ala. (AL)
• Ariz. (AZ)
• Ark. (AK)
• Calif. (CA)
• Colo. (CO)
• Conn. (CT)
• Del. (DE)
• Fla. (FL)
• Ga. (GA)
• Ill. (IL)
• Ind. (IN)
• Kan. (KS)
• Ky. (KY)
• La. (LA)
• Md. (MD)
• Mass. (MA)
• Mich. (MI)
• Minn. (MN)
• Miss. (MS)
• Mo. (MO)
• Mont. (MT)
• Neb. (NB)
• Nev. (NV)
• N.H. (NH)
• N.J. (NJ)
• N.M. (NM)
• N.Y. (NY)
• N.C. (NC)
• N.D. (ND)
• Okla. (OK)
• Ore. (OR)
• Pa. (PA)
• R.I. (RI)
• S.C. (SC)
• S.D. (SD)
• Tenn. (TN)
• Vt. (VT)
• Va. (VA)
• Wash. (WA)
• W.Va. (WV)
• Wis. (WI)
• Wyo. (WY)

Use figures except for noon and midnight. Don’t use 12 p.m. or 12 a.m.

Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 3:30 p.m.; 9-11 a.m.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note that a.m. and p.m. should be lowercase and include periods.

Avoid such redundancies as 10 a.m. this morning, 10 p.m. tonight or 10 p.m. Monday night. Use 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. Monday.

Capitalize the word top if it’s part of the formal name of a list or a shortened version of a formal list: U.S. News & World Report Top 100 National Universities, Spotify’s Global Top 50. Lowercase in informal uses: It’s widely regarded as one of the top five restaurants in the city. Note there is no hyphen: Top 10 not Top-10.

Use periods in the abbreviation, U.S.

Do not capitalize any part of URLs. If you are writing for an external audience, do not precede a link with www or http://. If it’s for an internal audience, include www, because websites on the on-campus network load faster when preceded by www. All links should end with .com, .edu, .gov, .org, etc.

One word in all uses.

Hyphenate in all uses.

When a phrase refers to a month and day within the current year, do not include the year: The exam is scheduled for May 10.

If the reference is to a past or future year, include the year and set it off with commas: Feb. 14, 2027, is the target date.

Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries: the 1890s, the 1800s.

Years are an exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure is not used to start a sentence: 1999 was a great year for movies.

Elon offers the following accelerated degree programs — please note the correct abbreviations and capitalization.

• Accelerated 3+1 Business Dual-Degree Program in Accounting (B.S. in Accounting + M.S. in Accounting or bachelor’s degree in any undergraduate arts and sciences major + M.S. in Accounting)
• Accelerated 3+1 Business Dual-Degree Program in Business Analytics (B.S.B.A. + M.S. in Business Analytics)
• Accelerated 3+2.5 Law Dual-Degree Program (bachelor’s degree in any major + J.D.)
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (A.B.S.N.)
• Accelerated Pathways to PA and PT (Students complete their undergraduate courses in three and a half years with the opportunity for admission and enrollment into the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies or Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in the School of Health Sciences during their final semester of their fourth year.)

In most cases, spell out the names of centers, initiatives and programs. Some abbreviations that are recognized university-wide can be used on second reference:

• Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning → CATL
• Center for Engaged Learning → CEL
• Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education → CREDE
• Elon Alumni Board → EAB
• Elon Black Alumni Network → EBAN
• Elon Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network → ELHAN
• Gender and LGBTQIA Center → GLC
• Isabella Cannon Global Education Center → GEC
• President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council → PSLAC
• Student Professional Development Center → SPDC
• Spring Undergraduate Research Forum → SURF
• Student Undergraduate Research Experience → SURE
• Teaching and Learning Technologies → TLT
• University Curriculum Committee → UCC

Course names should be capitalized, unitalicized and used without quotation marks: Introduction to Finance; Comparative Politics; Foundations of Advertising and Brand Communications.

Capitalize when using the full formal name of departments and offices: Department of Engineering; Office of University Communications. Lowercase references to departments and offices that do not use the full formal name, but continue to capitalize proper nouns: English department; history department; student conduct office.

Capitalize the E and the A, with a hyphen between E and Alert.

Capitalize when referring to Elon’s five signature programs that are eligible for the Experiential Learning Requirement (study abroad, service, leadership, internships and undergraduate research).

One word in all uses; note capitalization.

Lowercase the names of majors and minors except for proper nouns: John Doe graduated with a degree in chemistry, Jane Doe is an English major with minors in elementary education and Jewish studies.

Elon University includes the following schools:

Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education

Second reference: Watts Williams School of Education

Elon Ed is acceptable on second reference for communications targeted toward an internal Watts Williams School of Education audience.

Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences

Always spell out and; avoid using &

Second reference: the College (note capitalization)

Martha and Spencer Love School of Business

Second reference: Love School of Business

LSB is acceptable on second reference for communications targeted toward an internal Love School of Business audience.

School of Communications

Elon Comm is acceptable on second reference for communications targeted toward an internal School of Communications audience.

School of Health Sciences

School of Law

Elon Law is acceptable on second reference.

Capitalize Study USA, but lowercase study abroad. Avoid using “study abroad” if the sentence includes the name of the country: John Doe will study in England during the spring and not John Doe will study abroad in England during the spring.

Always use a building’s formal name on first reference. Many buildings on campus have shorter names that can be used on second reference:

• Alumni Memorial Gymnasium → Alumni Gym
• Carol Grotnes Belk Library → Belk Library
• Caroline D. McCoy Commons → McCoy Commons
• Caroline E. Powell Building → Powell Building
• Chalmers and Pam Brumbaugh Hall → Brumbaugh Hall
• Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center → McMichael Science Center
• Dwight C. Schar Hall → Schar Hall
• Ella Darden and Elmon Lee Gray Pavilion → Gray Pavilion
• Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center → Koury Business Center
• KOBC is acceptable on second reference for communications targeted toward an internal Love School of Business audience.
• G. Smith Jackson Hall → Jackson Hall
• Gerald L. Francis Center → Francis Center
• Gerald O. Whittington Hall → Whittington Hall
• Iris Holt McEwen Building → McEwen Building
• Isabella Cannon Pavilion → Cannon Pavilion
• Janice Ratliff Building → Ratliff Building
• Jerry and Jeanne Robertson Track and Field Complex → Robertson Track and Field Complex
• Jimmy Powell Tennis Center → Powell Tennis Center
• Luvene Holmes and Royall H. Spence Jr. Pavilion → Spence Pavilion
• Martha S. and Carl H. Lindner III Hall → Lindner Hall
• Nan P. Perkins Hall → Perkins Hall
• Phoenix Activities & Recreation Center → PARC
• Richard W. Sankey Hall → Sankey Hall
• Russell B. Gill Hall → Gill Hall
• William Henry Belk Pavilion → Belk Pavilion
• William R. Kenan Jr. Honors Pavilion → Kenan Pavilion

Note that several buildings on Elon’s campus have similar names, so be mindful of differentiating those spaces, especially on second reference: McEwen Building and McEwen Dining Hall, not just McEwen; Koury Business Center and Koury Athletic Center, not just Koury Center.

Capitalize the names of Elon’s designated Residential Neighborhoods:

• Colonnades Neighborhood
• Danieley Center Neighborhood
• East Neighborhood
• Global Neighborhood
• Historic Neighborhood
• Loy Center Neighborhood
• The Oaks Neighborhood
• The Station at Mill Point Neighborhood

Always capitalize

Always capitalize The. Do not abbreviate as “The Inn” but you can use “the inn” on second reference.

Capitalize Under and Oaks when referring to the area of historic oak trees bordered by West residence hall, Whitley Auditorium, Schar Hall and McEwen Building.

Elon is home to 17 teams in NCAA Division I (FCS football).

• Men’s sports include:
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
• Women’s sports include:
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Indoor Track
  • Lacrosse
  • Outdoor Track and Field
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball

Use CAA on second reference.

Acceptable in all references for National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The correct spelling of Elon’s official student support organization for Elon Athletics.

Hyphenate

Elon adopted the Phoenix as its mascot in 2000. The mascot does not have a name and should simply be referred to as the Phoenix in all references. Note that the Phoenix is singular when referring to Elon’s athletic teams: The Phoenix is now 3-3 after yesterday’s game; The Phoenix is scheduled to play a home game this week.

Capitalize the first word after a colon only if it begins a complete sentence or is a proper noun: She had one rule: Always be kind. Three things mattered: cost, time and quality.

Common Uses

• Emphasis: He had only one hobby: baking.
• Introducing lists or explanations: The award goes to: excellence, effort, and integrity.
• Time, citations and ratios: 8:30 a.m., 2 Kings 2:14, 1:2 ratio
• Dialogue and Q&A: Alex: Where were you?; Q: Did you go? A: Yes.

Use a colon to introduce a long or block quotation. Use a comma for a short, one-sentence quote within a paragraph.

Colons go outside quotation marks, unless part of the quote: He called it a “bold move”: risky but smart.

Avoid using a colon with a dash (i.e., don’t write —:).

Use a dash (specifically an em dash) to show:

• An abrupt change in thought or tone: She was ready to go — or so she thought.
• An emphatic pause: He knew the answer — finally.
• When a comma-separated list appears within another clause: He admired many traits — curiosity, patience, humility — in a leader.
• Before an author’s name at the end of a quotation: “To thine own self be true.” — Shakespeare

Use spaces on both sides of a dash: It was a surprise — completely unexpected.

An ellipsis has three periods with a space on either side. ( … ) Use an ellipsis to indicate the deletion of one or more words in condensing quotations, texts and documents. Be especially careful to avoid deletions that would distort meaning. An ellipsis also may be used to indicate a thought that the speaker or writer does not complete.

Use to express a high degree of surprise, incredulity or other strong emotion. Use exclamation points sparingly. End mildly exclamatory sentences with periods.

Use hyphens to avoid ambiguity (re-creation, not recreation) and to join words into a single idea before a noun (small-business owner, self-driving car).

Use hyphens for clarity, not clutter. If the meaning is clear without one, skip it. When a phrase becomes hard to read or overloaded with hyphens, try rephrasing: a guide on how to use hyphens wisely, not a how-to-use-hyphens-wisely guide.

Generally hyphenate compound modifiers before a noun: full-time job, well-known artist. After a noun, generally do not hyphenate unless needed for clarity: She works full time, but The instructions were fill-in-the-blank.

Use hyphens in multi-word modifiers: know-it-all tone, black-and-white photo.

Don’t use the Oxford comma before a conjunction in a series. Use the Oxford comma if omitting it makes the meaning unclear, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction and if there is a complex series of phrases.

Example of not using the Oxford comma: She packed a laptop, notebook and charger. We met with professors, alumni and students. He enjoys hiking, swimming and biking.

Example of omitting the comma makes meaning unclear: She thanked her parents, Oprah Winfrey, and her therapist.
(Omitting the Oxford comma could imply Oprah and the therapist are her parents.)

Example of an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: For lunch, he had soup, salad, and fish and chips.

Example of a complex series of phrases: The goals are to improve academic support, to increase student engagement, and to expand access to mental health services.

Add ’s to show possession for singular nouns (the girl’s backpack, Jane’s laptop, the alum’s reunion) and proper names not ending in “s” (Jane’s speech, John’s project)

If the noun is plural and ends in “s”, add just an apostrophe: the teachers’ lounge, the dogs’ owner, the senators’ votes.

Add only an apostrophe for singular nouns that are plural in form but treated as one thing: mathematics’ principles, General Motors’ success, United States’ policy.

Treat nouns that have the same form for singular and plural as plurals: the deer’s tracks, the corps’ mission, the moose’s antlers.

Just add an apostrophe to proper names ending in “s”: Charles’ idea, Achilles’ strength, Tennessee Williams’ plays.

For join ownership, use the possessive on the second name only: John and Jane’s apartment. For individual ownership: use the possessive for each: John’s and Jane’s cars.

Periods and commas always go inside quotation marks: He called it “a step forward.” She said, “Let’s go,” and they left.

Dashes, semicolons, colons, and question/exclamation marks go inside the quotation marks if they belong to the quoted material (She asked, “Are you joining us?”) and outside if they apply to the whole sentence (He called it “a turning point”: a moment of truth.)

If a quoted statement runs across multiple paragraphs, do not use closing quotation marks at the end of the first paragraph. Begin each new paragraph with opening quotation marks. Only close the quote at the end of the final paragraph.

For quotes within quotes, alternate between double and single quotation marks: He said, “She asked me, ‘Do you think it’ll work?’ and I said yes.”

Use three quotation marks (double + single or vice versa) when a sentence ends with a quote inside a quote: She said, “He told me, ‘I’m proud of you.’”

Use a semicolon to separate thoughts more clearly than a comma, but with less finality than a period.

Use semicolons to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas: The speakers included John Doe, director of communications; Jane Doe, CEO of Nexon Tech; and Tom Smith, chair of the board. They visited Albany, New York; Dallas, Texas; and Portland, Oregon. Note: Use a semicolon before the final “and” in this kind of series.

Use a semicolon to join two complete sentences that are closely related but not connected by a coordinating conjunction: The team missed its flight; the game was delayed by two hours.

If you do use a conjunction such as and, but or for to join two long or heavily punctuated clauses, use a semicolon before the conjunction: They completed the survey, analyzed the responses, and drafted a proposal; but because of timing, they delayed the final presentation.

If a sentence gets too unwieldy, break it into two. Simpler is usually better.