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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.

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faculty

At NC State, “faculty” refers specifically to employees who hold faculty appointments and have academic, research, teaching or Extension responsibilities that align with faculty rank. Faculty typically hold titles such as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, Extension specialist or Extension assistant professor.

Use faculty as a collective noun when referring to this group as a whole (e.g., NC State faculty, Extension faculty). Do not use “faculty” as a general synonym for university employees.

Use lowercase except when part of a formal title or a proper name.

Feed the Pack Food Pantry

The on-campus food pantry is part of the Pack Essentials Hub and is open to all members of the NC State community.

first name vs. last name

When referring to a person in a news or feature story, use both the first name and last name on first reference. On second and subsequent references, we generally use the last name only:

  • The new vice chancellor, Jane Smith, came to NC State from the University of Florida. “I’m so excited to be part of the Wolfpack,” Smith says.

Exceptions to this rule:

  • When referring to children — i.e., from birth through high school graduation or age 17, whichever is later — use the first name on second and subsequent references.
  • When referring to multiple people with the same last name, use both first and last name on second and subsequent references for all such people in the story.

fiscal year

Fiscal years generally begin in one calendar year and end in the next calendar year. For this reason, they are often stated as a year span, and all digits should be used for both the beginning and ending years:

  • The budget will take effect for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

You may also state a fiscal year with a single year. If you do, use the calendar year in which the fiscal year ends. Thus, for the 2026-2027 fiscal year you could also say “fiscal year 2027.”

For an even shorter abbreviation, you can abbreviate “fiscal year” as “FY” and delete the space before the number, which would give you “FY27.”

Founders’ Day

March 7 marks the anniversary of the founding of the university. The Founders’ Day event commemorates the 1887 passage of a bill in the state legislature that provided for the founding of a college to teach agriculture and mechanic arts.