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.

LGBTQ Pride Center

NC State’s LGBTQ Pride Center, a unit of NC State’s Division of Academic and Student Affairs, was founded in 2008 as the GLBT Center. The LGBTQ Pride Center’s mission is to engage, develop and empower members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities and their allies.

LGBTQ+

This is NC State’s preferred abbreviation for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and associated identities.” In quotations and the formal names of organizations and events, other variations, such as LGBT, LGBTQ and LGBTQIA+, are also acceptable.

majors, degree fields

Use lowercase for terms that generically describe a major or the field a degree is in (including graduate degrees), 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 Ph.D. 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 alum’s 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 a backward-facing apostrophe:

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

months

When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell the month out when using it by itself, or when using it with a year alone.

Examples:

  • The last day of class is Dec. 12.
  • Spring break will begin on March 17.
  • The building was completed sometime in July 2025.
  • October is my favorite month.
  • Thanksgiving takes place on Nov. 25 this year.

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.

N.C. Cooperative Extension

North Carolina Cooperative Extension is the statewide partnership of NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local governments. The partnership delivers research-based programs and services through 101 local centers across North Carolina’s 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Always include periods in “N.C.” when writing N.C. Cooperative Extension.

Local Extension centers are part of N.C. Cooperative Extension, not NC State Extension.

Capitalize “Extension” when referring to the organization; use lowercase “extension” only in the generic land-grant sense.

For full naming and brand guidance, see the N.C. Cooperative Extension brand site.

named colleges

NC State has two colleges that have been named by donors: the Poole College of Management and the Wilson College of Textiles. Refer to the colleges as:

  • Poole College of Management, Wilson College of Textiles (first reference)
  • Poole College, Wilson College (second reference; headlines; and space-limited physical assets, such as signage)

Do not refer to a named college without using the donor’s name as part of the college’s name.

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.