Editorial Style Guidelines

Following a well-defined editorial style gives your writing a professional sheen and brings it in line with the university’s brand platform.

4-H

In North Carolina, this youth development program is operated through the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at NC State and NC A&T State University. A 4-H member is also called a 4-H'er. The four Hs are head, heart, hands, and health.

abbreviations and acronyms

Acronyms that appear as main entries in the dictionary can generally be used without first spelling them out (e.g., HTML, IQ, NASA). Other acronyms that are used more than once in a given piece of writing — such as a web or magazine article, a brochure, a letter, etc. — should be spelled out the first time they are used, with the acronym given in parentheses immediately afterward (a departure from AP style). Use the acronym on second and subsequent references.

Correct:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released its final report. In it, the NSF makes several timely recommendations.
Incorrect:
The NSF has released its final report. In it, the NSF makes several timely recommendations.

Many writers think they should use an acronym just because it exists, but that is not the case. In the example above, if the National Science Foundation is only mentioned once in the piece, the acronym should not be used:

Correct:
The National Science Foundation has released its final report, which makes several timely recommendations.
Incorrect:
The NSF has released its final report, which makes several timely recommendations.

Avoid overuse of acronyms. When acronyms appear too often in a piece of writing, the resulting "alphabet soup" can impede comprehension and make the prose awkward. Also, when an acronym only means something to those within a specific organization, it should be used sparingly (if at all) when communicating with the outside world. In such instances, use a generic noun or nouns to replace the acronym.

Awkward:
The Grand Rapids United Elections League (GRUEL) has announced their support for a slate of candidates. GRUEL members say they hope to change the city come November.
Better:
The Grand Rapids United Elections League has announced their support for a slate of candidates. League members say they hope to change the city come November.

The personal titles Dr., Mr., Ms. and the like are always abbreviated when used with a name:

Correct:
Dr. Mackay has received funding to study the genetics of glaucoma.
Incorrect:
Doctor Mackay has received funding to study the genetics of glaucoma.

academic degrees

Academic degrees are abbreviated according to established conventions for each degree. Degrees that are abbreviated with two letters take a period after each letter, and both letters are capitalized. Some degrees are abbreviated with three or more letters. When a degree is abbreviated with three capital letters, periods are never used; when some of the letters are lowercased, periods are used according to the convention for that degree. Following are some examples of academic degrees and their abbreviations:

B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
B.S.
Bachelor of Science
BSW
Bachelor of Social Work
DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Ed.D.
Doctor of Education
M.A.
Master of Arts
M.Arch.
Master of Architecture
MBA
Master of Business Administration
MFA
Master of Fine Arts
M.S.
Master of Science
Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy

Set these abbreviations off with commas when they follow a person's name:

Correct:
Randy Woodson, Ph.D., is the chancellor of NC State University.
Incorrect:
Randy Woodson, Ph.D. is the chancellor of NC State University.
Incorrect:
Randy Woodson Ph.D., is the chancellor of NC State University.
Incorrect:
Randy Woodson Ph.D. is the chancellor of NC State University.

The plural forms of the abbreviations do not use apostrophes:

Correct:
Business students who get MBAs face better job prospects than those who don't.
Incorrect:
Business students who get MBA's face better job prospects than those who don't.

The general terms for academic degrees are as follows:

  • associate degree
  • bachelor's degree
  • baccalaureate
  • master's degree
  • doctoral degree
  • doctorate

addresses

In writing to an on-campus address, the preferred order is as follows:

Recipient Name
Department Name
NC State University
Campus Box [number]
Raleigh, NC 27695-[box number]

For return addresses, the preferred order is:

NC State University
Sender Name
Department Name
Campus Box [number]
Raleigh, NC 27695-[box number]

adviser/advisor

AP style calls for the word to be spelled “adviser,” and NC State follows that style except when referring to academic advisors. Here are examples of correct usage of both styles:

  • The governor conferred with her advisers before presenting her budget proposal.
  • NC State's academic advisors help students graduate on time.

African American

AP no longer hyphenates this term or any similar term designating dual heritage (e.g., Mexican American, Italian American, etc.).

Agricultural Institute

This program, part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, provides technical training in agriculture and related fields. Students who complete the institute's two-year course of study receive the associate of applied science degree.

Agromeck

The Agromeck is the university's student-published yearbook.

alma mater

Do not capitalize or italicize.

alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnus

An alumnus is a person of male, unknown or unspecified gender who has attended a particular school, college or university. Alumni is the plural form, referring both to males as a group and to people of all genders as a group. An alumna is a female alumnus; alumnae is the plural form, referring only to females as a group.

a.m., p.m.

These terms referring to time of day are set lowercase, with periods and without spaces.

ampersand (&)

AP style dictates that the ampersand generally should not be used in place of "and," and NC State style follows this rule. You should only use an ampersand when:

  • It is part of an organization's official name — Procter & Gamble, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway
  • It is part of a publication name or composition title — the magazine Garden & Gun, the book and movie Marley & Me
  • It is a generally accepted abbreviation listed in the dictionary: B&B, R&B

antisemitism, antisemitic

Per a 2021 change in AP style, style these terms without a hyphen and with no capitalization.

athletics department

The official name of the university department that administers 22 NCAA Division I varsity sports is:

Department of Athletics

Treat capitalization of this department as you would any other department: Capitalize headline style when the full, official name is used, and lowercase otherwise.

Correct:
Debbie Yow is director of the Department of Athletics.
Incorrect:
Debbie Yow is director of the Athletics Department.
Correct:
Debbie Yow is director of the athletics department.

In specific references to the department or its staff, avoid the singular version of the word.

Correct:
NC State is hiring an assistant athletics director.
Incorrect:
NC State is hiring an assistant athletic director.

athletics facilities

NC State has a variety of athletics facilities located on and off campus. Each has a designated facility name.

  • Carter-Finley Stadium — Opened in 1966 as Carter Stadium in honor of brothers Nick and Harry Carter, textile executives from Greensboro, N.C., who spearheaded the fundraising for the stadium. In honor of philanthropist A.E. Finley, a longtime NC State benefactor, the named was changed prior to the 1979 season.
  • Dail Basketball Center — The home of the Wolfpack men's basketball program.
  • Doak Field at Dail Park — The home of NC State baseball. Doak Field was originally named for longtime coach Charles "Chick" Doak.
  • The Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium — The home of NC State's newest varsity sport.
  • Dail Soccer Field — Home to both the men's and women's soccer team, the field is located in the infield of Paul H. Derr Track.
  • Paul H. Derr Track — A cinder track has been at this location since approximately 1939. It was named for former track coach and head of the NC State physical education department Paul H. Derr in 1979.
  • The J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center — This tennis complex, home to the men's and women's varsity programs, houses both the Andy Andrews Indoor Facility and the Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Outdoor Tennis Stadium.
  • Lonnie Poole Golf Course — Located on 200 acres in the southeast corner of Centennial Campus, the 18-hole championship course was designed by golf champion Arnold Palmer with input from NC State graduates Erik Larsen and Brandon Johnson, both architects with Palmer Golf Course Design.
  • Wendell H. Murphy Center — This facility houses football coaches' offices, locker rooms, training facilities, a weight room, and a lobby filled with displays about the history of NC State football.
  • PNC Arena — This indoor athletics stadium near campus, formerly known as the Entertainment and Sports Arena and the RBC Center, is the home-game venue for NC State's men's basketball team.
  • William Neal Reynolds Coliseum — The home of NC State men's basketball from 1949 to 1999, it remains a multiuse facility for campus events and is the home of NC State women's basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling.
  • C. Richard Vaughn Towers — This four-level structure at Carter-Finley Stadium includes press seating, a chancellor's suite and luxury boxes that are available for rent.
  • Weisiger-Brown Athletic Facility — This is the home of the athletics department administrative offices.
  • Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center — The pool facility, located in the Carmichael Gym complex, is named for the former swimming coach and longtime athletics director.

Atlantic Coast Conference

NC State is one of seven charter member universities of this NCAA Division I athletic conference. ACC is acceptable on second reference.