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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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National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA is acceptable on first reference.

NC State Athletic Hall of Fame

The hall recognizes the university’s most accomplished athletes and coaches.

NC State Esports

NC State’s competitive esports program, NC State Esports, supports the university’s mission of teaching and research while providing opportunities for student wellness and recreation. NC State Esports is not to be confused with the university’s student Esports Club, which organizes competitions among club members and fields a team that competes against club teams from other colleges and universities.

NC State Extension

Based in NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NC State Extension provides informal education and research-based resources for all North Carolinians through programs focusing on agriculture, food and nutrition, and youth development. NC State Extension is part of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, a strategic partnership that comprises N.C. A&T State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and 101 local governments statewide.

Points to note about Extension:

  • NC State Extension never uses periods with the state abbreviation, but N.C. Cooperative Extension always does.
  • N.C. Cooperative Extension has centers located in each of North Carolina’s counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. From an organizational standpoint, the county and tribal Extension centers are part of N.C. Cooperative Extension, not of NC State Extension.
  • Capitalize ”Extension“ when referring to NC State Extension or N.C. Cooperative Extension, but lowercase the word when used generically:
    • The workshop was sponsored by Extension.
    • The university’s mission includes extension and engagement.

To learn more, consult the NC State Extension brand site.

NC State Gaming and Esports Lab

This is NC State’s pilot esports facility, located in the Hunt Library.

NC State University Libraries

The NC State University Libraries consists of two main libraries — the D.H. Hill Jr. Library (the Hill Library) and the James B. Hunt Jr. Library (the Hunt Library) — and three branches: the Harrye B. Lyons Design Library, the Natural Resources Library and the William Rand Kenan Jr. Library of Veterinary Medicine. There are also three campus information centers affiliated with the Libraries: the African American Cultural Center Library and Media Room, the College of Education Media and Educational Technology and Research Center, and the LGBTQ Pride Center Collection.

The Libraries should be referred to as:

  • the North Carolina State University Libraries
  • the NC State University Libraries
  • the Libraries

The Libraries should NOT be referred to as:

  • the NC State Libraries
  • University Libraries
  • Libraries

When referring to the Libraries, the article “”the”” always precedes the name:

  • Correct: This program is presented by the NC State University Libraries.
  • Incorrect: This program is presented by NC State University Libraries.
  • Correct: This program is presented by the Libraries.
  • Incorrect: This program is presented by Libraries.

Because the NC State University Libraries is considered a single entity, the noun takes a singular verb and pronoun.

  • Correct: The NC State University Libraries is hosting a series of data visualization workshops.
  • Incorrect: The NC State University Libraries are hosting a series of data visualization workshops.
  • Incorrect: The NC State University Library is hosting a series of data visualization workshops.

NCSU

Do not use NCSU to refer to NC State University in any way, regardless of whether the communication in question is internal or external.

This rule stems from market research the university conducted in the 2000s to gauge public name recognition of “NCSU” vs. “NC State.” This research discovered that “NC State” was recognized across the United States, but “NCSU” was not well known or well understood outside the South. To position NC State as a nationally prominent university, strengthen our name recognition and make our brand more cohesive, we eliminated “NCSU” from our communications.

To help members of our community get in the habit of using on-brand terminology, we prefer that people refrain from using NCSU even in internal communications with a more private audience, such as emails within the university or on platforms like Slack.

North Carolina Agricultural Research Service

Known until 1979 as the Agricultural Experiment Station, the agency is the research arm of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts

The official name of the school that eventually became NC State, which was founded in 1887. In 1918 the name was formally changed to North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering. In 1963 the name was changed to the University of North Carolina at Raleigh, causing students and alumni to protest. In 1965, the name was officially changed to North Carolina State University at Raleigh, although the final two words are rarely used in reference to the school.

North Carolina State University
  • “North Carolina State University at Raleigh” is the full, official name of our institution and may be written when explicitly required on official documents. Writers and editors should otherwise avoid using this name because of the implication that another branch of North Carolina State University exists in another city.
  • “North Carolina State University” is one of the two preferred forms of the university’s full name. This form should be used on first reference in news releases and formal or ceremonial texts; and in other situations when a more formal tone is appropriate.
  • “NC State University” is the other preferred form of the university’s full name. This form should be used on first reference in material aimed at high school students and undergraduates, most advertisements and other situations when a more familiar tone is appropriate.
  • “NC State” is the preferred second reference in all situations, mainly used as a noun (e.g., “Welcome to NC State”). Because “university” is missing from this short form, be careful when using it as an adjective; i.e., “NC State Department of . . .” may be confused with a department of the government of the state of North Carolina.
  • “The university” is an acceptable third reference.