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style guide

It is preferred that UNCP publications (not to be confused with academic publications) be written in the same style. The Associated Press Stylebook is the official guide for external university publications. On some points, it clashes with styles used in academia, and it does not completely deal with every writing issue concerning academia. It is, however, the most commonly used stylebook in the U.S. Some important differences in styles and issues related to academia will be addressed here. Where UNCP style conflicts with AP style, it will be noted.  Also, some (not all) specific issues related to UNCP style will be addressed.

UNCP Style

Academic Writing Style:  This brief style manual is for university publications designed for external audiences of a general nature. Academic writing is not addressed here.

Apostrophe: Use to abbreviate years for college classes e.g., Class of '52 or Jane Doe '79. Use '00, '01 etc. for these years

Alumni:  Alumni is plural and used when referring to former male and female students in a mixed group.  Alumna is singular female, and alumnae is plural female. Alumnus is singular male, and alumni is plural male.

Capitalize:

  • Academic degrees (complete) -- Bachelor of Arts in history, Master of Business Administration  (MBA)
  • Classes -- Class of '49
  • Departments -- Department of Chemistry and Physics
  • Offices -- Office of Student Affairs (or just Student Affairs when referring to that office)
  • Committees -- Chancellor Search Committee, Technology Committee
  • Programs -- Teaching Fellows Program
  • Course titles -- Lumbee Literature 504 and Principles of Economics 333
  • Titles of  campus activities -- Homecoming, Miss UNCP Scholarship
    Pageant, Pembroke Day, etc.
  • Distinguished professorships -- Martha Beach Chair in Art
  • Boards -- Board of Trustees, Parking Board, etc.
  • Rooms -- Oxendine Science Building, Room 212 and The Andre Nadeau Room
  • Geographical regions -- the South, West, Southeast, Southeastern N.C.
  • Titles that appear before a person's name -- Vice Chancellor Tommy Hawk

Do Not Capitalize:

  • Titles that appear after a person's name -- Neil Hawk, vice chancellor of Business Affairs.
  • Degrees (standing alone) -- bachelor of arts degree, doctorate, master's degree, etc.
  • Academic disciplines standing alone -- chemistry, biology, etc.
  • Fragmentary references -- the university, division, school, department, board, etc.

Courtesy Titles:  Scott Bigelow is good for the first reference, but Mr. Bigelow is appropriate for references thereafter. Ms. is appropriate for all women unless they request otherwise. (This departs from AP style)
 
Commas:  Here are answers to some common questions.

  • Lists -- apples, oranges, plums and lemons.
  • Dates -- The events planned  Feb. 19, 2000, will be well attended.
  • Junior -- Jr. is not set off by commas, e.g., Allen Smith Jr. is a member of the Class of  '29. His son is Allen Smith III.

Dates:

  • Some abbreviations are acceptable, such as for months e.g., Feb. 21, 1999, was an important day in the life of the university. Abbreviated years are acceptable also, such as Class of '99. And, when referring to a person's year of graduation, it is Bill Bates '99.
  • Centuries may also be abbreviated to 20th century or 4th century.
  • Do not use apostrophes for 1890s, 1920s, etc.

Hyphens: Use hyphens in modifiers -- You may have a part-time job, but you are are working part time.

Numbers:

  • Spell out whole numbers below 10 and use numbers for 10 and above.
    However, you may use 1st, 2nd as well as 20th for rankings (this deviates from AP style, but they will see it our way in time)
  • However, $6, and 6.65 do not have to be spelled out. Also, do not spell out the 6-foot-5 forward, the 6-10 center or he is 6 feet 10 inches.
  • Use $6 million or $4 billion, not $6,000 and $400.

Percent:  Spell it out. Use % only in scientific, statistical and professional writing for academic publishing.

Periods:

  • Please put periods between B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., M.Ed., Ph.D., Ed.D., B.S.N., etc.
  • Also use periods for a.m. and p.m.
  • Also use periods for N.C., etc.

Racial References:  Native American, American Indian and Indian are acceptable uses and should be capitalized, as should African American, Afro-American and Caucasian. However, white and black are lower case and not preferred. The term "red" is never acceptable when referring to American Indians.

Sexist Language:

  • Gender references in titles are no longer acceptable e.g., Dr. Bonnie Kelley is the chair of the Biology Department, replacing outgoing Chair David Maxwell. Always use a gender neutral title when possible e.g., police officer, food server, etc.
  • Singular pronouns - he, him and his - are often unavoidable e.g., A person should come to the aid of his country.

Sports:  Please refer to the "AP Stylebook" (there is a section devoted to sports) or call Sports Information.

States: Please refer to the "AP Stylebook." Postal abbreviations are not acceptable.

Time: a.m. and p.m. Also, use noon and midnight.

Titles:

  • People -- Dr. Pete Wish, Professor Pete Wish, Prof. Pete Wish and Pete Wish, Ph.D. are all acceptable. For second reference, use Dr. Wish. (This deviates from AP style.)
  • Books, plays, song titles, lecture titles, movies and works of art -- Always enclose these titles in quotation marks. Do not underline book titles. Capitalize the principle words in the title.
  • Magazines -- Italicize magazine and other periodic titles.
  • Newspapers -- Italicize newspapers: The Robesonian, The Carolina Indian Voice.

The University Name:

  • The correct way to write The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is with a capital "T" and "The" in front.
  • It is preferable to use UNC Pembroke and/or UNCP because some other UNC universities use a hyphen. UNC-Pembroke is acceptable but not preferable (never UNC-P).
  • If you are referring to UNCP as the university, do not capitalize.
  • When referring to the 16-campus university system, UNC should be referred to in the first reference as The University of North Carolina.  UNC or the UNC system are acceptable thereafter.

Updated: Wednesday, September 22, 2010

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