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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.

quotation marks

In addition to their use in enclosing quoted matter, quotation marks are also used to enclose the titles of shorter works or works that are part of a larger work. Thus, the title of a book is italicized, and the title of a chapter in that book is set in quotation marks. (This style point differs from AP.) The same holds true for songs on an album, poems in a book of poetry, television episodes that appear as part of a television series, blog posts on a blog, articles in a magazine or journal, and the like.

“Shut the Door, Have a Seat” was one of the most highly rated episodes of the TV show Mad Men.

The study is referenced in the article “Green Tech Goes Global” in the latest issue of U.S. News & World Report.

Chapter 2 of her book, “Building a Legacy,” explains how the successful alumna decided to give back to her alma mater.

red and white

NC State’s official school colors since 1896. The original school colors were pink and blue, in honor of the two most popular literary societies in the school’s early years. Brown and white were used for two years (1894-95) until red and white replaced them in a vote of the student body.

residence hall

University Housing prefers this term rather than dormitory.

Shrine Room

The Shrine Room is located in the base of NC State’s Belltower. In a long-standing campus tradition, the class rings of graduating seniors spend a night locked in the Shrine Room before being given to their new owners.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

This is the body that grants accreditation to NC State University. On second reference, use SACS.

Stewart Theatre

This performance venue, located on the third floor of Talley Student Union, is operated by University Theatre, a division of Arts NC State. Stewart Theatre seats 759 patrons.

Student Aid Association

This organization provides private financial support for athletics scholarships and facilities at NC State. Its unofficial name is the Wolfpack Club. These two names can be used interchangeably.

student-athlete

Hyphenate the term when referring to a student who participates on one or more of NC State’s 22 NCAA Division I varsity athletics teams.

Talley Student Union

NC State’s student community center was founded as the NC State College Union in 1951. The organization became known as Talley Student Center when it moved into a new building in 1972. In 2013 the facility was renovated, and the organization and building were renamed Talley Student Union.