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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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majors, degree fields

Use lowercase for terms that generically describe a major or the field a degree is in, even if the term is part of the name of an academic department or college:

  • Correct: She earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering.
  • Incorrect: She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering.

A major or field in a foreign language is designated by that language’s name — e.g., English, Spanish, Russian, etc. — and is thus capitalized.

When giving an NC State alumnus’ undergraduate major and year in parentheses after their name, capitalize the major (this is an exception to AP style). State the major first and then the year. Also, state the year as a two-digit abbreviation preceded by an apostrophe.

Leigh-Kathryn Bonner (International Studies ’15) founded a company called Bee Downtown, an urban beekeeping startup.

Mr. and Ms. Wuf

NC State has two mascots, one male and one female: Mr. Wuf and Ms. Wuf. On Feb. 28, 1981, Mr. and Ms. Wuf were married in a mock wedding ceremony during halftime of a men’s basketball game at Reynolds Coliseum. The Wake Forest Demon Deacon mascot officiated the ceremony, and Chancellor Joab Thomas gave the bride away.

The female mascot should be referred to as “Ms. Wuf,” not Mrs. Wolf, Mrs. Wuf or Miss Wuf. The only exception is when the female mascot appears in pictures predating Feb. 28, 1981, in which she would be referred to as Miss Wolf.