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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.

biographical notes

Biographical notes should follow the rules in the capitalization entry.

  • Jane Smith is an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State. 
  • John Doe is the executive director of Feed the World, a nonprofit organization based in Oxford, Mississippi.

Board of Directors, Governors, Trustees, Visitors

Contrary to AP,  always capitalize any of these phrases when used as the proper name for any such board, regardless of whether the board in question is affiliated with NC State or the UNC System.

Examples:

  • The corporation’s Board of Directors approved the grant last Tuesday morning.
  • The UNC System’s Board of Governors will meet today to consider the measure.
  • UNC-Chapel Hill’s Board of Trustees voted to create a joint department with NC State.
  • NC State’s Board of Visitors will fan out across the state to gauge support for the initiative.

bookBot

This automated storage and retrieval system is located at Hunt Library.

Brickyard

Capitalize the B when referring to the brick courtyard area that is formally known as University Plaza.

Caldwell Fellows Program

This merit scholarship program provides three-year fellowships to high-achieving first-year students.

campus precincts

NC State’s main campus in Raleigh is divided into the following official precincts, which are always capitalized:

  • Centennial Biomedical Campus (includes the College of Veterinary Medicine)
  • Centennial Campus (includes James B. Hunt Jr. Library and the Wilson College of Textiles)
  • Central Campus (includes Talley Student Union and Carmichael Gymnasium)
  • North Campus (includes the Belltower and D.H. Hill Jr. Library)
  • South Campus (includes the Joyner Visitor Center and the McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education)
  • West Campus (includes the Materials Support Warehouse)

Note that “main campus” is not an official precinct and thus is not capitalized.

campuswide, universitywide

Do not use hyphens in these adjectives.

capitalization

In general, avoid unnecessary use of capital letters. Words are not capitalized just because somebody considers them important. Capitalize words in these categories:

Proper nouns (the proper name of a person, place or thing) — Gertrude Cox, Raleigh, NC State University, Reynolds Coliseum, the Bulletin, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Personal titles immediately preceding a person’s name — Chancellor Howell, Provost Pfaendtner
Personal titles following a name in a formal or ceremonial list —
Kevin Howell, Chancellor
Jim Pfaendtner, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

  • Correct: The chancellor is meeting with Governor Smith to discuss recent successes in commercialization of research.
  • Incorrect: The Chancellor is meeting with the Governor to discuss recent successes in commercialization of research.
  • Correct: The department has hired a new assistant professor.
  • Incorrect: The department has hired a new Assistant Professor.
  • Correct: The class of 2018 has a bright future.
  • Incorrect: The Class of 2018 has a bright future.

Centennial Campus

Use the full capitalized name.