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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.

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.

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. 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: 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]

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.