Last Updated: June 12, 2025 9:29:00 AM PDT
Use this as a guide when you write for Blink, TritonLink, or other UC San Diego websites.
Purpose A abbreviationsThe preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use instead a phrase such as: Mary Smith, who has a doctorate in philosophy. Use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree, a master's, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. When academic degrees are referred to in general terms such as doctorate, doctoral, bachelor's, or master's, they are not capitalized. When using the initial forms, do not put spaces between the initials. Examples:
Licenses and associations do not take periods: CPA, LCSW, AAAS, IEEE, ASLA.
In general, capitalize disciplines only when referring to specific courses or departments:
In a first reference, use "Department of Literature," but use "literature department" or "literature" in subsequent references. Majors and minors are lowercase, but proper names as subjects are always capitalized. Example:
See also academic degrees, building and facility names, departments, office(s).
Use "the Academic Senate," or "the senate." If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also collective nouns, faculty.
Capitalize and spell out formal titles such as chancellor, dean, etc., when they precede a name. Use lowercase elsewhere:
See also academic degrees, chancellor, Dr., job titles, lecturer, professor.
Use the entire name first, followed by the acronym in parentheses, then use the acronym in subsequent references:
Exception: If the acronym is familiar to your audience, use it first, followed by the entire name in parentheses:
Avoid using the word "the" with an acronym unless it is necessary for clarity. In general, omit periods from acronyms: DOE, NCAA, NEA, NIMH, SAT scores, UNESCO, but U.S., U.N. Examples:
See a listing of UC San Diego Acronyms and Abbreviations.
If you are using the campus CMS:
Use "the administration" or "UC San Diego's administration." If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
Use "Admissions" or "Office of Admissions." If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
The preferred spelling is "advisor" (not adviser) for college counselors, etc. If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
Always use figures:
Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives:
See also bias-free language.
Use alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a man who has attended a school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for a similar reference to a woman. Use alumni when referring to a group of women and men. Informally, use "alum" for singular or "alums" for plural.
Avoid using "&" except when it's part of the official name of a department:
Use lowercase letters with periods and no spaces between letters:
See also en dash (–), times of day.
Anchor links help readers jump to the topic they need within the same page. Use Back to top format (not "Return to top" or "Top of page"), followed by an extra line space.
Blink/TritonLink instructions:
Avoid the use of "and/ or" by writing the sentence in a different way. When you do use it, no space after the slash: and/or.
Usually hyphenated, but refer to the AP Stylebook for exceptions.
Plurals of a single letter, add apostrophe s for clarity:
Figures, numbers, do not use an apostrophe:
See also possessives, and reference the AP Stylebook (possessives and punctuation guide).
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, B.A., B.S. A bachelor's degree or bachelor's is acceptable in any reference and preferable to the term "baccalaureate." See also academic degrees.
See anchor links.
Avoid reference to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic background or debilitating physical condition if it is not pertinent to the story.
See also disabled, disability, ethnic groups, nationalities, gender, sexual orientation.
See millions.
Capitalize only when integral part of a proper name:
Always use lowercase.
Use bold or red text sparingly when you need to emphasize important words or phrases, but generally avoid using italics in online text, since it's hard to scan. Bold any punctuation that immediately follows your bolded text. HTML code:
Use "the UC San Diego Bookstore" in the first occurrence on a page, then use "Bookstore" in subsequent instances (not University Bookstore). If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also Bookstore website.
Brand is more than a visual system with logos, colors and typography. It’s a reflection of campus essence and how UC San Diego stakeholders feel about the institution. See the Brand Guidelines website.
Never abbreviate, except when necessary in charts and tables. Capitalize the proper names of buildings, including the word "building" if it is part of the proper name:
If you must abbreviate the name of a building, look for an entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also departments, office(s).
Always use an initial capital letter on the first word in a list item. Use end punctuation only if the list item is a complete sentence. Use ordered (lettered or numbered) lists when the order of the items is important. Otherwise, use bullet lists. Make all items within a list parallel in construction; e.g., start each item with a verb, make each item a complete sentence, etc.
HTML code:
If an introductory sentence precedes the list, end the sentence with a colon.
In general, no hyphen: byproduct, bygone era
Use as the abbreviation for California. Use "CA" only as a mailing address. See also northern, southern.
Spell out on first reference, then abbreviate as Calit2 in subsequent references:
Use lowercase in all instances: The UC San Diego campus. Avoid using: the upper campus, the lower campus. Instead, use the Scripps campus and the main campus, or central campus. If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also UC San Diego.
Use lowercase "c": Please present your campus ID.
1 word or with hyphen is acceptable. See also universitywide.
Generally, avoid unnecessary capitalizations or those that result from individual preference or sense of emphasis. Consult the Merriam-Webster online dictionary: if lowercase is an acceptable form, follow that usage. Avoid using ALL CAPS in websites, since it's hard to scan. See also buildings, departments, ethnic groups, non-, offices, titles, web page titles.
Cards: Capitalize when part of the name, lowercase when referring to cards in general:
Forms: Use lowercase:
Use "Cashier Services" instead of Cashier's Office or University Cashier.
Note hyphen and capitalization.
2 words, no hyphen.
Use "chair." Avoid chairwoman, chairman, chairperson:
As part of a formal title, capitalize:
In less formal references, use lowercase:
See also endowed chair.
Lowercase when not used with a name:
Uppercase when used with a name (as part of a title):
Uppercase when referring to a position or job title:
If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also vice chancellor.
Use lowercase when referring to the physical shoreline. Capitalize when referring to U.S. regions lying along such shorelines. Capitalize the Coast when standing alone only if the reference is to the West Coast.
Nouns denoting a unit take singular verbs and pronouns: class, team, faculty:
See also data.
Spell out and capitalize as part of a formal name:
Use lowercase when referring to "the college" and "the academy." Always spell out the proper name of an institution in full on first reference. Popular or shortened versions are OK on second reference. Examples:
See also University of California, UC San Diego.
In most cases, use the entire name of the UC San Diego college in the first reference on a page and whenever it appears in a heading, then the shortened name for subsequent references:
When listing the colleges, alphabetize by last name, with Sixth before Warren, in this order:
Use lowercase "college" for general description: college policy, the college's events. See also UC San Diego's Six Colleges and information on individual colleges: Marshall, Muir, Revelle, Roosevelt, Sixth, Warren.
Within a sentence, capitalize the word following a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence:
Use a colon for emphasis or to begin a list:
A colon at the end of boldface text should also be bold. Colons go outside of quotation marks unless they are part of the quotation itself.
Use a colon:
Use a comma to introduce a direct quotation of 1 sentence within a paragraph.
See font colors.
For details on using commas, see the punctuation guide of the AP Stylebook. Exception to the AP Stylebook: Use a serial comma (the final comma in a series of items) when needed for clarity, or when the tone is more formal or academic.
Do not put a comma before the conjunction in a simple series:
Do put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series, however, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction:
Always use lowercase.
Capitalize when "committee" is part of the official title:
See also collective nouns, subcommittee.
Use these general guidelines for titles of books, magazines, newspapers, operas, plays, poems, songs, TV shows, web page titles, and titles of lectures, speeches and works of art:
Examples:
See also non-, software titles, web page titles.
Blink/TritonLink instructions: All Blink and TritonLink pages should close with a contact line. Ex:
Note that:
HTML code for email and phone number: < a href="mailto:abecker@ucsd.edu"> Allisa Becker</a>, 858-534-1013.
Blink style: In Blink pages, insert contact line in the "More Information" field. If contact information is lengthy (more than 2 to 3 lines), use the "Other" field instead.
TritonLink style: In TritonLink pages, the contact line goes at the end of the body content.
Organize the tables in department contacts pages with the reader in mind. List the services in the left column and the employee or unit name, email, phone and fax numbers in the right column. Example: Imprints: Contacts
Capitalize course titles, but do not italicize or enclose in quotes. In a sequence of courses with a single title and course description, a course should appear as:
Usually a plural noun: The data have been carefully collected. "Data" can, however, take a singular verb when used as a collective noun (describing a group or quantity as a unit):
Use 1981–82, not 1981/82 or 1981–1982 (use en dash between); in the '80s or 1980s. See also en dash.
Use "weekdays" instead of "Monday through Friday." Generally, spell out the days of the week:
When space is an issue (e.g., on some graphics), abbreviate the days. Do not use a period after an abbreviation, and separate the days with an en dash. Examples:
See also weekdays.
Acceptable, or use "hard of hearing," but not "hearing impaired." Do not use "deaf-mute" or "deaf and dumb." See also disabled, disability.
Lowercase when not used with a name:
Uppercase when used with a name:
See academic degrees.
Capitalize "Department" when the word is part of the official name, but not when part of running text:
If you must abbreviate the name of a department, look for an entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also academic departments, building and facility names, office(s).
Use a hyphen in all instances, even when another website referred to uses "dialin."
Use lowercase when not used with a name:
The term "disabled" is preferable to "handicapped." The phrase "people with disabilities" is preferable to "the disabled." Do not use "afflicted with" or "wheelchair-bound." Examples:
For more information on people with disabilities in postsecondary education, visit the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD).
See also bias-free language, deaf.
Disc is the preferred spelling for CDs and CD-ROMs (optical or laser-based media). Disk refers to floppy and hard drives (magnetic storage media).
Blink/TritonLink instructions: The disclaimer on a Blink or TritonLink page points out that the content has been derived from university or UC San Diego policies and procedures, which take precedence over Blink or TritonLink content in any case of dispute. The disclaimer (if used) appears in gray at the bottom of the page.
See disc/ disk.
Use the symbol and numerals for exact amounts: $75. Spell out proximate amounts or casual references: a million dollars. Use a singular verb for specific amounts: We applied for a $500,000 grant. Do not include decimal or zeros in round dollar amounts: $50 (not $50.00) For amounts over $1 million, use the $ symbol and numerals up to two decimal points. Examples:
See residence hall.
A business operating on the World Wide Web. Use lowercase and hyphen.
Use the title "Dr." for medical doctors only: Dr. Jonas Salk. Never use Dr. and M.D. at the same time. Refer to individuals with other doctoral degrees (such as Ph.D.s) by their specialty or department. Examples:
Hyphenate. (See Merriam-Webster entry.)
An acronym for digital video disk or digital versatile disk. Always capitalize.
Generally, use lowercase; capitalize when used as the proper name of the planet.
Means "for example" (Latin) and is followed by a comma. Do not confuse with i.e., which means "that is," or "in other words."
Use an ellipsis to indicate the deletion of 1 or more words in condensing quotes, texts and documents. Avoid deletions that would distort the meaning. Leave 1 space before and after an ellipsis. Example:
If the words preceding an ellipsis constitute a complete sentence, place a period at the end of the last word before the ellipsis, and follow it with a regular space before the ellipsis:
Use an ellipsis with sentences ending in other punctuation marks (question mark, exclamation point, comma or colon) in the same manner:
Do not use an ellipsis at the beginning and end of direct quotes. Do not use an ellipsis to indicate a pause in speech—use a dash, unless it is in a context where words have been deleted, in which case an ellipsis would be appropriate.
Do not use a hyphen. Only use: email. When used in a title, capitalize only the "e":
Use the person's name — not the email address — as the name of the link. Follow the name with a comma and the phone number:
HTML code: < a href="mailto:sdonahoe@ucsd.edu"> Mary Smith</a> 858-555-5555.
Use a hyphen with other e-terms, such as: e-book, e-business and e-commerce.
Use an em dash to indicate a break in thought, an abrupt change, or emphasis within a sentence:
Use an em dash to set off a series of words separated by commas:
Always use a space before and after an em dash. HTML Code: —
Use emeritus (emeriti in plural) when referring to a man who has retired from a position. Use emerita (emeriti in the plural) for a similar reference to a woman. Use emeriti when referring to a group of women and men:
An en dash is half the length of an em dash and longer than a hyphen. An en dash connects numbers in dates, times, and references. When an en dash connects letters or numbers, do not add a space before or after it. Examples:
When an en dash connects words or a word and a number, add 1 space before and after it:
HTML Code:
See also em dash, hyphen, times of day.
For names of endowed chairs, capitalize the entire entry:
See also chair.
"Ensure" means to make certain of, to make sure of:
See also insure.
Always capitalize (not "ethernet").
Avoid racial, ethnic group references unless pertinent to the story. Capitalize the names of people, races, tribes, and other groupings of humankind, including American Indian, Asian, and Hispanic. Use lowercase for black and white (noun or adjective). Preferred usage:
See also bias-free language.
(adv.) every day; (adj.) everyday:
Use the exclamation point to express a high degree of surprise, incredulity or other strong emotion. Avoid overuse. Use a comma after mild interjections and a period to end mildly exclamatory sentences. Place the exclamation point inside quotation marks when it is part of the quoted material. Examples:
Place the exclamation point outside quotation marks when it is not part of the quoted material:
Do not use a comma or a period after the exclamation mark:
Use lowercase: the faculty, the faculty of Muir College. See also academic senate, collective nouns.
FAQ is an acronym for "frequently asked questions." Use the acronym primarily in titles and headers, not in body text. Use the spelled-out version of "frequently asked questions" in body text, at least in the first usage. When referring to 1 document that contains frequently asked questions, refer to the document as an "FAQ" (not "FAQs"). When referring to more than 1 document that contain frequently asked questions, refer to the documents as "FAQs." Refer to specific questions within an FAQ as "questions," not as "FAQs." When writing an FAQ page, if you have more than 10 questions, try grouping them into categories.
Farther refers to physical distance:
Further refers to an extension of time or degree:
Do not capitalize: fees, university registration fee, parking fee, housing fees
Use lowercase when used alone, but capitalize in combination with the name of a granting organization:
See numbers.
Use first-year as the adjective: They beat the first-year team (not "freshmen team") alternative. Hyphenate only when used as a compound modifier. Examples:
Abbreviate as FY: "FY 2007."
Use "flyer" for both physical (paper) postings and electronic notices.
Blink/TritonLink instructions: For the most part, don't use colored fonts in Blink or TritonLink text. Use a red font sparingly, for emphasis, following these guidelines:
HTML code: Do not use <font="red">
See international.
See cards, forms.
The noun: freelancer; no hyphen for all forms.
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier (adjective):
Do not use a hyphen when "full time" appears after the verb:
1 word, no hyphen.
See fiscal year.
If singular construction is necessary, use "he" or "she." No slashes ("his/her"). Avoid the awkward "he or she" and "his or her" by using plurals wherever possible, being careful not to mix singular and plural:
Be sensitive to gender-specific terms and titles:
Copy intended to apply to both sexes should be written without gender bias. Avoid specifying gender unless it is essential to meaning. Avoid using "man" or "mankind" when referring to men and women; instead, use "human," "humanity," or "humankind." See also bias-free language, sexual orientation.
Hyphenate as a modifier:
See grade-point average.
Hyphenate both the noun forms (first-grader, 10th-grader) and the adjectival forms (an 11th-grade competitor).
Letter grades appear without quotation marks (as in B average). Use an apostrophe in plurals: She earned all A's this quarter.
Hyphenate as a modifier; no hyphenation for the noun form: She earned 12 grade points during the year. Abbreviate as GPA — no periods.
Alt text is mandatory (find more information about alt text and why it is used).
In cases where the image carries meaning, follow these guidelines for alt text:
1 word, no hyphen.
Readers should be able to scan the headers on a page for an overview of the main ideas. Use no more than 2 levels of headers (<h2> and <h3>) below the page title. Use <h2> for main topic areas and <h3> for subtopics.
Use 2 words (as both an adj. and noun). Use UC San Diego Health when referring to the UC San Diego patient-care program.
In general, use lowercase:
Use uppercase when referring to the department:
Note hyphenation.
Capitalize the names of widely recognized epochs in anthropology, archaeology, geology and history:
Capitalize recognized popular names for the periods and events:
Lowercase century: the 20th century. Capitalize only the proper nouns or adjectives in general descriptions of a period:
The "front" page of a particular website. Always 2 words, no hyphen.
All references should specify that the degree is honorary.
Use a hyphen to link compound modifiers:
Use a hyphen for clarity:
Do not hyphenate compound modifiers that include the word "very" or words that end in "-ly":
Capitalize hyphenated words in titles and headers only if the hyphen connects 2 separate words:
Do not capitalize the letter following the hyphen in hyphenated words:
See also anti-, by-, em dash (—), en dash (–), inter-, intra, mid-, pro-, -wide.
See campus ID.
Means "that is" (Latin) or "in other words" and is followed by a comma. Do not confuse with e.g., which means "for example."
Both "index" and "index number" are acceptable. Use the plural "indexes."
Use periods and no space when someone uses initials instead of a first name: R.G. Little. See also period.
Hyphenate and lowercase when used generically or following an individual's name:
Capitalize when used as a formal title or name:
"Insure" means to contract to be paid money in the case of loss:
See also ensure.
Prefix use rules apply, but in general, no hyphen: interstate, interracial, but inter-American.
Always capitalize.
Preferred to "foreign." International student, not "foreign student."
Prefix use rules apply, but in general, no hyphen: intramural, intranet
Avoid using italics online except in special design circumstances; it makes text difficult to scan online.
Lowercase job titles when they appear in body copy:
Lowercase job titles when they refer to a particular person but do not appear as part of the person's official title:
Uppercase job titles when they appear as part of an individual's official title:
Uppercase job titles when they refer to a position:
If you must abbreviate a job title, look for an entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also capitalization, titles.
Use a hyphen.
Not judgement.
Abbreviate as Jr. and Sr. only with full names. Do not precede by a comma: Joseph P. Baldwin Jr.
No entries.
LA gender-neutral word for people of Latin American descent.
The title of a lecture should, in all cases, be written in quotes but not italicized. Lectures can be held, presented or given. The title "lecturer" should be treated as an occupational title rather than a formal title, and thus always be lowercased, even before a name. Example:
Lectureships, often endowed or underwritten, enable the university to invite distinguished scholars to campus for a period of a few days to participate in seminars and to give one or more talks:
If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
left hand (n.), left-handed (adj.), left-hander (n.)
See grades.
Use 1 space after a period in both printed materials and website copy.
Use uppercase when part of a name:
Use lowercase when not part of a name:
If you must abbreviate, see entries in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also job titles, UC San Diego Libraries.
Use initial cap on both "Link" and "Family." "Link products" is also acceptable. Avoid using the lengthier "Link Family of products." The Link family is an integrated Web-based environment that provides authorized UC San Diego students, faculty, and staff with consistent and easy-to-use access to administrative information. See LinkFamily for more information.
When you link to a document in one of these file formats, put the name of the application or format in parentheses at the end of the link:
Use "mailing list" or "electronic mailing list" instead of the trademarked word Listserv to refer to an electronic discussion group based on common interests that uses a mailing list program to distribute messages to all members' email addresses. UC San Diego uses Mailman software to administer its electronic mailing lists.
Log in and log out are the preferred terms for entering/ exiting an application. Log in/ log out are used as verbs; login/logout may be either a noun or an adjective. Log in/ log out (verb). Examples:
Login/logout (noun or adjective):
Note: If your use of log in is followed by the word "to," then use "into":
Lowercase the word "magazine" unless it is part of the publication's title:
See also composition titles.
Capitalize both words, no hyphen.
Majors and minors are not capitalized:
If you must abbreviate the name of a major or minor, look for an entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
"Make up" when it's a verb, but "makeup" when used as a noun or adjective (never hyphenated):
See gender.
Blink/TritonLink instructions: Following the named location, lowercase the word "map" and enclose in parentheses, with only the word "map" hyperlinked to the URL (not the parentheses):
To find the map URL:
Can be shortened to a master's degree or master's. See also academic degrees.
Preferred usage is physician or surgeon. See also Dr.
Generally, no hyphen, unless a capitalized word or a figure follows:
No hyphen when used as a noun:
Hyphenate when used as a modifier:
Spell out the word and use with numerals:
Do not hyphenate when used in a phrase:
See dollar amounts ($).
Spell out when using alone, or with a year alone:
Abbreviate only with date in calendar and event listings. Abbreviate as: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. Never abbreviate March, April, May, June, or July.
Use "Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health" on first reference; may use "Moores Cancer Center" on subsequent references. Do not use "Moores UC San Diego Comprehensive Cancer Center," “Moores UCSD Cancer Center” or "Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center."
Prefix use rules apply, but in general, no hyphen: multiethnic, multilateral, multimedia, multidisciplinary.
1 word, no hyphen.
Capitalize "the" in a newspaper's name if that's how the publication prefers to be known:
See also composition titles.
UC San Diego common usage often includes a hyphen in words with the prefix "non":
Otherwise, follow prefix rules; no hyphen.
Capitalization in titles: When "non" is used as part of a hyphenated word in a title or heading, use an initial cap only:
Write "12 p.m." or "noon" (but not "12 noon").
But use Northern California.
In general, use numerals in Web writing, since usability tests show they are easier to scan. If a number occurs at the beginning of a sentence, spell out the number. Spell out 1 – 9 in text, except when you want to draw attention to the number or when using a numeral makes the text easier to scan. With measurements (percentages, hours, etc.), use numerals. Examples:
In all cases, use judgment based on context. You wouldn't write "4 score and 7 years ago."
Use lowercase when the word "ocean" stands alone, or in plural uses:
Capitalize the proper name of the ocean:
Hyphenate only when used as an adjective before a noun:
See also on campus/ on-campus.
Capitalize "Office" when the word is part of the official name, but not when part of running text, such as "the office provides . . . ". Capitalize "Office" in the official name "the Registrar's Office" but not in "the registrar." Examples:
If you must abbreviate the name of an office, look for an entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also departments.
1 word, no hyphen. See also online.
Hyphenate only when used as an adjective before a noun:
See also off campus/ off-campus.
1 word, no hyphen. See also offline.
See PID/PAC.
Use sparingly or try to rewrite the sentence to avoid them. Use commas or dashes to set off incidental material within a sentence whenever possible. Place a period outside a closing parenthesis if the material inside is not a sentence (such as this fragment). (An independent parenthetical sentence such as this one takes a period before the closing parenthesis.) When a phrase placed in parentheses (this is an example) might normally qualify as a complete sentence but is dependent on the surrounding material, do not capitalize the first word or end with a period.
Hyphenate only when used as an adjective before a noun (no hyphen when "part time" appears after the verb):
Use "person" for an individual, "people" as the plural. Use "persons" only in a quote.
Use the symbol % when writing for the Web. Always use numerals. However, when AP style is required, "percent" should be written out:
See also spacing.
See People, persons.
It is preferable to say that someone holds (or has) a doctorate and name the specialty area. (Note that areas of study are not capitalized.) Examples:
See also academic degrees, academic titles, Dr., professor.
Use lowercase with periods. Do not write: 11 p.m. tonight. See also a.m. and p.m., times of day.
In general, lowercase when you are not using a specific policy's official name:
Blink/TritonLink instructions: Blink and TritonLink aim to summarize, not restate, policy. If you need readers to see word-for-word policy, link to its location in the online Policy & Procedure Manual (PPM) using the policy number and proper name:
See also apostrophe.
Follow prefix rules and Webster's except when the prefix precedes a word that begins with the same vowel: pre-election, pre-exists.
Generally, do not use a hyphen when the prefix precedes a word starting with a consonant. Use a hyphen when the prefix precedes a word that starts with the same vowel, except in cooperate and coordinate. Use a hyphen if the word that follows the prefix is capitalized. Examples:
See the AP Stylebook. for additional examples and use guidelines. See also anti-, by-, inter, intra, non-, pre-, pro-, re-, sub.
Capitalize only when part of a formal title: UC Office of the President. Otherwise, use lowercase: The president arrived today.
Hyphenate only when joining words that mean in support of something: pro-war, pro-peace. See also prefixes.
Never abbreviate. Capitalize when used as a formal title before a full name. Do not use on second reference to the person:
If you must abbreviate, see the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also Dr., Ph.D.
Program names are capitalized: courses in the Education Studies Program. Check program names carefully so that words aren't transposed in the "official" names. If you must abbreviate a program name, look for an entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also collective nouns.
they, them, their
In most cases, a plural pronoun should agree in number with the antecedent: The children love the books their uncle gave them. They/them/their is acceptable in limited cases as a singular and/or gender-neutral pronoun, when alternative wording is overly awkward or clumsy. However, rewording usually is possible and always is preferable. Clarity is a top priority; gender-neutral use of a singular they is unfamiliar to many readers. We do not use other gender-neutral pronouns such as xe or ze.
Usage example: A singular they might be used when an anonymous source's gender must be shielded and other wording is overly awkward: The person feared for their own safety and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Arguments for using they/them as a singular sometimes arise with an indefinite pronoun (anyone, everyone, someone) or unspecified/unknown gender (a person, the victim, the winner). Examples of rewording:
In stories about people who identify as neither male nor female or ask not to be referred to as he/she/him/her: Use the person's name in place of a pronoun, or otherwise reword the sentence, whenever possible. If they/them/their use is essential, explain in the text that the person prefers a gender-neutral pronoun. Be sure that the phrasing does not imply more than one person. Examples of rewording:
When they is used in the singular, it takes a plural verb: Taylor said they need a new car. (Again, be sure it's clear from the context that only one person is involved.)
Do not use themself.
Follow these examples for usage:
If you must abbreviate, see entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
See apostrophe, colon, comma, ellipsis, em dash, en dash, exclamation point, hyphen, parentheses, period, question mark, quotation marks, and semi-colon. See also the Punctuation Guide of the AP Stylebook.
Generally use:
Capitalize when referring a specific quarter/ year such as Fall Quarter 2006-2007 or Fall Quarter 2008. If referring generically to any fall quarter, use lowercase. Note that summer is a session, not a quarter. See also week of quarter, Summer Session, term.
Use a question mark at the end of a direct question:
Do not use question marks to end indirect questions:
Put question marks inside or outside of quotation marks, depending on the meaning:
Use quotation marks around the title of a book or other major literary or artistic work. Use quotation marks to refer to a word as a word, or to indicate foreign words:
Put periods at the end of sentences inside the quotation marks. Put a question mark inside quotation marks if the question is part of the sentence or item in quotes:
Put colons and semicolons outside quotation marks unless they are part of the quotation. Do not put quotation marks around page or form names in text unless they are necessary:
Use figures and hyphens: 2-to-1, a 2-1 ratio.
Prefix rules apply. Use a hyphen when the prefix ends in a vowel and the following word begins with the same vowel:
Also use hyphen if meaning denotes repetition:
The formal name is the Board of Regents of the University of California. Acceptable abbreviations include: UC Regents, the Regents of the University of California, the Board of Regents, the regents, or the board. UC Regents is OK on first reference. See also collective nouns.
See text links and See Also box.
Preferred. Avoid "dormitory."
Do not include accent marks in onscreen text. In body text, be careful not to place the word where it could be mistaken by the reader for the verb "resume."
right hand (n.), right-handed (adj.), right-hander (n.)
Completely identify a location by including the building name and the room's name (capitalize) or numbers (in figures):
See also building and facility names.
An abbreviation of the phrase "please respond" in French. Do not write, "R.S.V.P. please."
The acronym is SOM.
Use "Scripps Institution of Oceanography" in first reference. In second reference use "Scripps Oceanography" if space permits and just "Scripps" if space is limited.
Institution, not Institute.
Remove all references to the acronym "SIO."
Use Scripps' (not Scripps's).
There is no "the" or "The" in front of the institution name.
Always lowercase unless part of a formal title, even when naming an issue of a publication:
See also quarter.
Blink/TritonLink instructions: Items that appear in the See Also box link to other websites, documents, applications, or Blink or TritonLink pages. These links supplement the information on the page where they appear.
The semi-colon is often used to separate lengthy sentences. In online writing, it's best to simply write shorter sentences. Instead of using a semi-colon in a complicated list, use bullet points:
With semicolons (hard to scan): He teaches a writing class, "Your Autobiography," at UC San Diego; a composition class, "Paragraphs 101" at Grossmont College; and a basic writing class at Mesa College.
With bullets (easier to scan):
Place semi-colons outside quotation marks.
Most individuals of same-sex orientation prefer "gay" or "lesbian" to "homosexual." See also bias-free language.
Capitalize all 3 words and use a hyphen between "sign" and "on" when referring to the UC San Diego system. Spell with all lowercase letters when using "single sign-on" as a generic term for systems that require only 1 password.
Space once after the slash:
Exception: If the words are short, don't space after the slash:
Use initial caps on "Social Security" only:
The acronym for Social Security number is SSN.
Capitalize but do not use quotations marks around titles such as MS Word or Windows. Use quotation marks for computer game titles: "The Sims."
But use Southern California.
Use 1 space between sentences. See also period.
Use figures:
See also numbers.
For word spellings, consult these references in order:
When the dictionary lists multiple choices for word spellings (e.g., "canceled" and "cancelled"), use the first-listed spelling. If Webster's provides different spellings in different listings, (e.g., "tee shirt" and "T-shirt"), use the spelling that appears with the full definition ("T-shirt").
The spell-checker in Microsoft Word uses a different dictionary, so double-check with the Merriam-Webster online dictionary if you aren't sure.
In running text, always spell out state names when they stand alone. When used in conjunction with the name of a city or town, abbreviate states per the AP Stylebook. (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah are not abbreviated according to these rules.) See also Calif.
1 word, no hyphen.
See bold text.
See also building and facility names.
Prefix rules apply.
1 word, no hyphen. Capitalize if part of the group's formal name. Otherwise, use lowercase. See also committee, collective nouns.
See headers.
Follow the Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
Use "Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center at UC San Diego Health" on first reference; may use "Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center" on subsequent references. Do not use "Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center."
See seasons, Summer Session.
Uppercase both words. Note that summer is a session, not a quarter.
The plural "syllabi" is also acceptable.
1 word or with hyphen is acceptable for the University of California campuses and labs.
CMS users: When creating a table, follow the guidelines on the "Kitchen Sink" page.
No hyphens. Do not use teen-aged or teenaged.
General style:
858-555-1111
858-555-1111, Ext. 45555
800-888-8888, not 1-800-888-888
Ext. 45555 (not X45555, x45555, ext. 45555, or extension 45555)
Use quarter, not "term."
General guidelines for text links:
Use your judgment about the number of text links to include. Too many links make a page hard to read, but if the links are necessary (for example, to explain steps in a process), include them. Do not underline punctuation marks that appear next to text links. Examples:
Link to a Web page outside of Blink or TritonLink:
Generally, use "which" in nonessential clauses (clauses that could be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence). Nonessential clauses are usually set off by commas:
Generally, use "that" in essential clauses (clauses that can't be omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence):
Use "that" and "which" to refer to inanimate objects and animals without a name:
Use "who" as the subject of a sentence, clause or phrase:
Use "whom" as the object of a verb or preposition:
Lowercase when used with organizations. Capitalize when used with the name of newspapers and periodicals if they are part of the proper title:
Use "theater" for all generic references to auditoriums and the theatrical arts. Use "theatre" only if part of a proper name. Theaters located on the UC San Diego campus are:
Always use numerals, except for noon and midnight. Use lowercase type and periods, but no spaces, with a.m. and p.m. Use an en dash for ranges. Examples:
See also en dash, a.m. and p.m.
General guidelines, including UC San Diego web page titles, capitalize:
Capitalize the first letter of each word in a hyphenated compound word, but only the first letter of the first word in a hyphenated prefix:
Capitalize words in parentheses after a title:
Capitalize the title of a person when it precedes the person's name but not when it appears separately:
When the title appears after the name, do not capitalize:
See also academic degrees, academic titles, composition titles, job titles, magazine names, M.D., newspaper names, software titles, the, web page titles.
Blink/TritonLink instructions: For pages that are overviews or instructions on how to use a tool (e.g., MyBlink, Connexxus, FinancialLink), get a link to the tool as high on the page as possible and alert the user if authorization is required. Examples:
Treat as a formal title when appropriate and capitalize in such cases if used before a name:
Otherwise, use lowercase:
UCPath is the University of California's system-wide payroll, benefits, human resources, and academic personnel system.
Do not use "UC Path."
UC San Diego is the preferred first reference in higher-level Web pages, but the following forms are also acceptable:
Use “University of California San Diego” for a first reference. Use the abbreviated version “UC San Diego” in subsequent references and in headlines.
Do not use “UCSD.”
Write "the university" (lowercase) for both UC San Diego and UC references.
See also UC San Diego Health.
Use "UC San Diego Extension" when referring to UC San Diego Extended Studies and Public Programs. See entries in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
"UC San Diego Health" refers to the entirety of the academic medical enterprise at UC San Diego. Use "UC San Diego Health" when referring to any of the medical center’s patient-care programs or locations on first reference.
On second and subsequent reference, the name of the facility alone can be used. See UC San Diego Health’s Brand Guide or Editorial Style Guide on Pulse (login required) for more details.
"UC San Diego Health Sciences" is largely outdated - use "UC San Diego Health" instead in most cases. "UC San Diego Health Sciences" may still be used to describe the organizational structure of the medical center within the context of the university setting or in job titles for staff. Example:
Use "UC San Diego Medical Center" only when referring to the hospital in Hillcrest.
Always capitalize "Medical Center."
Do not use "UC San Diego Medical Center – Hillcrest," or refer to it as "Hillcrest."
If an event is place-specific, you may use "UC San Diego Medical Center." But use "UC San Diego Health" when referring to our general services. Example:
2 words, no hyphen:
On the World Wide Web, underlining in a document indicates that the underlined word or phrase is an active hypertext link. All HTML editing programs automatically underline any text linked to another hypertext or website.
When composing Web documents, avoid underlining. Instead, bold the text or use quotation marks around words for emphasis.
Spell out in most cases. Use U.S. (with periods) only as an adjective:
Spell it out in most cases. If you must abbreviate, use UCtr. Don't use UCTR, Uctr, Ucen, or Ucenter.
See the entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
All of the following are acceptable:
If confusion with UC San Diego is likely, refer to "the 10-campus UC system." University of California Office of the President may be abbreviated as "UC Office of the President" or "UCOP." Do not use "Systemwide" as a title for UCOP. However, "systemwide" is acceptable as an adjective. Example:
Abbreviate other UC campuses as UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UCSF, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz.
See also UC San Diego and college and university names.
Refer to "Communications" as University Communications and Public Affairs.
1 word or with hyphen is acceptable. Interchangeable with "systemwide" to refer to the campuses in the UC System. See also campuswide.
A Uniform Resource Locator (URL), an Internet address. Plural: URLs. If a Web address falls at the end of a sentence, use a period.
Capitalize "ID."
1 word, no hyphen.
See entries in Acronyms and Abbreviations.
Use lowercase when not used with a name:
Use uppercase when used with a name (as part of a title):
If you must abbreviate, see entry in Acronyms and Abbreviations. See also chancellor.
2 words, no hyphen.
Use waitlist as a noun and wait-list as a verb or compound modifier:
Lowercase web, website, webserver, webcam, webcast, webinar, webmaster.
Capitalize the first and last word, principal words, prepositions and conjunctions of 4 or more letters such as With, From, Before. Examples:
See web.
When referring to a particular week within the 10-week quarter, use an uppercase "W," followed by a numeral:
Use "weekdays" instead of "Monday through Friday." See also days of the week.
1 word, and hyphenate.
See that, which, who, whom and the AP Stylebook entry on "essential clauses."
Do not use a hyphen in campuswide, systemwide, nationwide, worldwide. Do use a hyphen in these cases:
No entries.
Y1 word, and hyphenate.
1 word, no hyphen.
Use figures, without commas: 1975.
To indicate decades, use an "s" without apostrophe: 1990s. It was back in the ‘80s or 1980s.
To indicate a range of years, use an en dash and this format: 2004–2006 (not 1981/82 or 1981–82)
Use all caps in "ZIP" and lowercase "c" in code. Always 2 words, no hyphen.
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