Skip to main content

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.

curricula, curriculum

Curriculum is the singular form; curricula is the plural form.

cyber

In most cases, use this prefix with no hyphen: cyberattack, cybercriminal, cybersecurity, cyberthreat.

D.H. Hill Jr. Library

The main campus library was named for Daniel Harvey Hill Jr., a professor of English and bookkeeping who became president of NC State. Do not use a comma after “Hill.” See entry for NC State University Libraries.

dashes, hyphens

Dashes, also called em dashes ( — ), can serve several functions. They signal abrupt change, set off a series within a phrase, mark attribution in pull quotes and start lists. Use a space on both sides of a dash in body copy, and use a space after a dash for attribution in pull quotes.

For example:

Howling Cow ice cream flavors — especially Cherry Brick Road and Tuffy’s Toffee — show off our school spirit.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing baseball for NC State.”

— Mr. Wuf

Hyphens ( – ) act as joiners, such as in compound modifiers: first-generation college student. Hyphens are also used in ranges: 8-9 a.m., Jan. 1-4. There are no spaces surrounding a hyphen.

data

Data is the plural of datum. The word should generally take a plural verb.

  • Correct: The study data show that carbon outputs can be reduced by 16 percent.

dates

When a phrase lists only a month and year, do not separate the year with commas:

  • January 1972 was a cold month.

When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set the year off with commas:

  • Feb. 14, 1987, was the target date.

Follow the rules in the months entry for when to abbreviate certain months.

deaf, Deaf, hard of hearing

In accordance with AP style, use the lowercase form “deaf” for the physical condition of total or major hearing loss. You can use “hard of hearing” to describe people with a lesser degree of hearing loss.

Many deaf people use the uppercase form “Deaf” to signify their identification with a culture shared among deaf people who use sign language. If you’re writing a specific piece of copy about a person or group that uses the uppercase form, it’s acceptable for you to also use it in phrasings such as “Deaf community,” “Deaf culture,” and so on.

However, don’t use the uppercase form in reference to an individual person; instead, use lowercase “deaf” to describe an individual. For example: 

Smith, who has been deaf since childhood, said Deaf culture plays a defining role in her life. 

DELTA

This acronym stands for Digital Education and Learning Technology Applications, a unit within the Office of the Provost. DELTA’s role is to lead the way in designing, creating and supporting extraordinary digital learning experiences for NC State.

departments

When using a department’s formal name, be sure to capitalize appropriately: the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. When referring to the department generically or informally, only capitalize proper nouns: the agricultural and resource economics department, the English department.

  • Correct: The Department of Mathematics is hiring new faculty.
  • Incorrect: The Math Department is hiring new faculty.

For the proper title of a particular department, refer to the NC State University Undergraduate Catalog, which can be accessed online.