Skip to main content

Editorial Style

Following NC State's editorial style lends your writing a professional sheen and ensures a consistent experience for all of our readers.

Clear, Consistent Writing

Editorial style is a set of rules that tells you what to do when there's more than one "correct" way to write something. Examples include determining which words to capitalize in a headline or when to spell out a number versus using a numeral. Without a clear-cut set of style guidelines, writers often address these situations in inconsistent and contradictory ways, which undermines their credibility.

NC State’s editorial style is based on The Associated Press Stylebook, with exceptions and additions as noted below. When AP style conflicts with NC State's own guidelines, you should follow the latter. To resolve questions of spelling, AP recommends using Merriam-Webster.

You should follow these rules far more often than not. However, situations may arise when bending a rule makes more sense than following it. Clarity and consistency are the most important considerations.

Use the search bar or index to find a specific editorial style reference.

“Alma Mater”

The title of NC State’s alma mater — i.e., the name of the university’s official song — is “Alma Mater.”

Examples:

  • The crowd sang NC State’s alma mater at the top of their lungs.
  • The assembled fans sang “Alma Mater” with all their heart.

(Note: This song is not to be confused with NC State’s athletics fight song, which is titled “Red and White Song.”)

“Red and White Song”

The title of NC State’s official athletics fight song is “Red and White Song.”

(Note: This song is not to be confused with the university’s official song, which is titled “Alma Mater.”)

4-H

In North Carolina, this youth development program is operated through the Extension units at both NC State and NC A&T State universities. A hyphen is always present in “4-H” (e.g., do not use “4H”). A 4-H member is also called a 4-H’er. The four Hs are head, heart, hands and health.

a.m., p.m.

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

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. For degrees are abbreviated with three or more letters, conventions vary. In all instances, follow the list below, which gives examples of commonly encountered degrees and their abbreviations.

  • AAS Associate of Applied Science
  • A.B. Artium Baccalaureus (bachelor of arts)
  • A.M. Artium Magister (master of arts)
  • B.A. Bachelor of Arts
  • B.D. Bachelor of Divinity
  • BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • B.M. Bachelor of Music
  • B.Pharm. Bachelor of Pharmacy
  • B.S. Bachelor of Science
  • BSW Bachelor of Social Work
  • D.B. Divinitatis Baccalaureus (bachelor of divinity)
  • D.D. Divinitatis Doctor (doctor of divinity)
  • DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • D.Litt. or D.Lit. Doctor Litterarum (doctor of letters; doctor of literature)
  • DMD Dentariae Medicinae Doctor (doctor of dental medicine)
  • D.Min. Doctor of Ministry
  • D.O. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
  • DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • Ed.D. Doctor of Education
  • Ed.M. Educationis Magister (master of education)
  • J.D. Juris Doctor (doctor of law)
  • LHD Litterarum Humaniorum Doctor (doctor of humanities)
  • Litt.D. Litterarum Doctor (doctor of letters)
  • LL.B. Legum Baccalaureus (bachelor of laws)
  • LL.D. Legum Doctor (doctor of laws)
  • LL.M. Legum Magister (master of laws)
  • M.A. Master of Arts
  • M.Arch. Master of Architecture
  • MBA Master of Business Administration
  • M.D. Medicinae Doctor (doctor of medicine)
  • M.Div. Master of Divinity
  • MFA Master of Fine Arts
  • M.S. Master of Science
  • MSN Master of Science in Nursing
  • MSW Master of Social Welfare or Master of Social Work
  • Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy
  • Ph.B. Philosophiae Baccalaureus (bachelor of philosophy)
  • Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy
  • Psy.D. Doctor of Psychology
  • S.B. Scientiae Baccalaureus (bachelor of science)
  • S.M. Scientiae Magister (master of science)
  • STB Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus (bachelor of sacred theology)

Per AP, the only time we use these abbreviations with someone’s name is when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. In general we should instead follow the guidelines given in the Dr. entry. When using these abbreviations, use them only after a full name — never after just a last name. Set these abbreviations off with commas when they follow a person’s name:

  • Correct: Ben Chapman, Ph.D., is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.
  • Incorrect: Ben Chapman, Ph.D. is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.
  • Incorrect: Ben Chapman Ph.D., is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.
  • Incorrect: Ben Chapman Ph.D. is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.

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]

advisor

Contrary to AP style — and in a 2026 change to previous NC State editorial style, which called for a combination of “adviser” and “advisor,” depending on the situation — we now call for the word to be spelled “advisor” in all uses.

  • The governor conferred with her advisors 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.