A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
abbreviations/acronyms: Generally, only use abbreviations and acronyms that the reader will easily recognize. When abbreviating something not commonly known, put the abbreviation in parentheses behind the first reference. >The Save the Lizards Club (SLC) raised money for the zoo. SLC had 48 members. Consult the AP stylebook for specifics.
academic affairs: Do not capitalize. >Vice president for academic affairs
academic departments: Use lowercase unless the word is a proper noun or adjective. >the department of history, the English department, the department of English.
academic titles: For University faculty and staff members, use the titles given in the University’s current General Bulletin. Not everyone is a doctor or professor.
accept/except: Accept is a verb that means to receive. >Juliette gladly accepted the title of Miss Iowa. Except is a conjunction that means to exclude. >Everyone has turned in a time sheet except Jo Ann!
according to: This is used when referring to a document. When referring to a person use said.
ad: Use advertisement. Ad may only be used in headlines and quotations.
Adair Building: This is where the Multicultural Affairs Office is found. Use Adair Building in all references to distinguish it from Adair County.
addresses: Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues.
All similar words (alley, drive, road, terrace, etc.) always are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number; lowercase when used alone or with two or more names.
Always use figures for an address number: 1 Moidart Gardens.
Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures with two letters for 10th and above: 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St.
Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 800 N.W. 70th St., 600 K St. N.W. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: East 42nd Street, West 43rd Street, K Street Northwest.
Use periods in the abbreviation P.O. for P.O. Box numbers.
administration: Usually lowercase. >the administration. Only capitalize when used in a proper name. >Food and Drug Administration. Do not use the administration as a source in a story. Use a proper name instead.
Admission Office
adverse/averse: Adverse means unfavorable. >They worked in adverse conditions with no windows. Averse means reluctant or opposed. He is averse to change.
Advertising & PR Club
adviser: Not advisor.
affect/effect: Affect is a verb that means to influence. >Roy’s decision to stay at the University of Kansas affected many people. It is best to avoid using affect as a noun. Effect is a verb that means to cause. >The new president will effect many changes in the country. Effect is also a noun that means result. >The effect of his words was overwhelming.
African American: Use black. African American may be used in quotations, in the names of organizations and when a person requests to be identified in that way.
afterward: Not afterwards.
age: Always use figures. >The man is 21 years old, a 21-year-old man, the man is in his 20s (no apostrophe). Use man to refer to all males 18 and older. Use woman to refer to all females 18 and older. Do not use lady as a synonym for woman. Use girl and boy for people under 18.
AIDS: Always acceptable for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
All-American: Capitalized and hyphenated. Use the same format for similar designations such as All-Conference.
All-Conference: capitalized and hyphenated
all ready, already: All ready means prepared. >We were all ready to take on the other team. Already means before a given time. >By the third inning we had already scored eight runs.
all right: Never use alright. Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier.>She is an all-right singer.
alma mater: Two words; do not capitalize.
Alpha Chi Sigma: A departmental/professional organization associated with chemistry. Use ACS on second reference.
Alpha Gamma Delta: A social sorority belonging to the Panhellenic Council. Use AGD(s) on second reference.
Alpha Gamma Rho: A social fraternity belonging to IFC. Use Ag Rho(s) on second reference.
Alpha Kappa Lambda: A social fraternity belonging to IFC. Use AKL(s) on second reference.
Alpha Kappa Psi: a business professional fraternity
Alpha Phi Alpha: A traditionally black social fraternity belonging to IFC. Use APA(s) on second reference.
Alpha Phi Alumni Chapter: A social sorority that went to alumni status in spring 1999.
Alpha Phi Omega: A coed national service fraternity. Use APO on second reference.
Alpha Phi Sigma: There are two!! One pertains to criminal justice and the other is a freshmen honorary organization.
Alpha Psi Omega: An honorary organization associated with theater.
Alpha Sigma Alpha: a social sorority belonging to the Panhellenic Council. Use Alpha(s) on second reference.
Alpha Sigma Gamma: A service/social sorority. Use ASG(s) on second reference.
Alpha Tau Omega: A social fraternity belonging to IFC. Use ATO(s) on second reference.
American Advertising Federation: This group merged in July 2000 with the International Association of Business Communicators to form the Ad and PR Organization.
Alumna: One female graduate. Alumnae refers to multiple female graduates. Alumnus refers to one male graduate. Alumni refers to multiple male graduates or a mixed group.
a.m./p.m.: Lowercase, with periods.
American Medical Student Association: Use AMSA on second reference.
amid: Do not use amidst.
among/between: Use among for more than two items. >The pizza was split among Johnny, Monica, Emily, Erin, Katie and Peggy. Use between for two items. >The breadsticks were shared between Beth and Melissa.
Anime Club
annual: An event is annual when it has been held for at least two consecutive years. Do not use first annual; note that the sponsors plan to hold an event annually.
anyone/any one: Use one word when the reference is indefinite. >Anyone can learn PageMaker. Use two words to emphasize one element of a group. >Any one of the staff members can take that call.
Archery Club
Art Gallery: See University Art Galley
Armory: Its actual name is the Reiger Armory. Use the Armory on second reference.
Art Club: (Was Artistic Students of Baldwin)
Art History Society
Art of Living Club: This organization has to do with meditation and yoga.
Artistic Students of Baldwin: Now Art Club.
Assistant: Do not abbreviate. Avoid abbreviating associate and association as well.
awhile/a while: >He will be here awhile. >He plans to stay for a while.
bachelor’s: Bachelor’s degree or bachelor’s are acceptable in all references. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science may also be used.
Baldwin Hall: This is where the ROTC and Residential Life offices are found. This is not the same as the old Baldwin Hall, which used to be where the Sunken Garden is located.
Baldwin Hall Little Theatre: Use Little Theatre on second reference.
Baptist Student Union: Use BSU on second reference. Also know as the One 10 Building. Home of FUEL, Damascus Road, and Common Grounds.
Barnett Hall: This building houses the human potential and performance division, including the nursing and communication disorders programs. Physics and agricultural science are also found there.
baseball: Use baseball team on first reference. The word men’s is not necessary because the women play softball.
Players should be identified by both year of athletic eligibility and position.>senior pitcher Jeff Birdsong.
Their field is referred to as the baseball field.
The team competes in the MIAA conference, which is split into two divisions. The top four teams compete in the postseason.
North Division South Division
Central Missouri State Missouri Southern
Emporia State (KS) Pittsburg State (KS)
Missouri Western Southwest Baptist
Northwest University of Missouri-Rolla
Truman State University
Washburn (KS)
common baseball terms:
Bullpen first baseman left-hander playoff (n.,adj.)
center field(er) hit-and-run (n.) outfield(er) put out (v.)
designated hitter hit and run (v.) pinch hit (v.) putout (n.)
doubleheader home plate pinch-hit (adj.) RBI, RBIs
double play home run pinch hitter (n.) right field(er)
ERA left field(er) play off (v.) shortstop
basketball: Use men’s/women’s basketball team on first reference.
Players should be identified by both year of athletic eligibility and position.
>senior forward Jason Reinberg.
All 10 teams in the MIAA compete in basketball. The top eight advance to the MIAA playoffs.
Common basketball terms:
backboard free-throw line half-court press jump shot
backcourt full court halftime layup
field goal full-court press hook shot three-point shot
free throw half court jump ball time-out
because/since: Use because to indicate cause and effect. >Erin was smiling because she met a guy who she considered to be an A. Use since to indicate time. >Stephanie has played rugby since I met her.
beside/besides: Beside means at the side of. Besides means in addition to.
Beta Beta Beta: A biology honor group. Use Tri-Beta(s) on second reference.
Beta Gamma Sigma: Honor society for business students.
Beta Omega Beta: A non-Greek campus organization for women. BOB on second reference.
Beta Theta Pi: A social fraternity with membership in IFC. Use Beta(s) on second reference.
Big Event: The Big Event is a way for Truman State University students to say thanks to the Kirksville community through service activities such as raking leaves, washing windows, painting, etc.
Blanton/Nason/Brewer Hall: Use the specific hall name. Brewer Hall is associated with the social sororities.
Blimpie Subs and Salads: Use Blimpie on second reference.
Blue Key: A male service organization.
board of directors/board of trustees: Lowercase.
Board of Governors: Use the Board on second reference.
Bookstore: Use Truman Bookstore for the bookstore in the Student Union Building. The bookstore not affiliated with the University is called Patty’s University Bookstore. Use Patty’s on second reference.
brand names: Capitalized. Only use them when they are essential to a story.
Brewer Hall: This is the hall the social sororities are associated with.
buildings: Capitalize the proper names of all buildings.
Bulldogs: The University mascot. ’Dogs may be used on the third reference. Never use Lady Bulldogs or Lady ’Dogs.
Bullets Rugby: The female team. See rugby.
Bulls Rugby: The male team. See rugby.
bylaw: One word.
cafeterias: Refer to them by the name of the hall they are found in. >Missouri Hall cafeteria.
campus
Campus Christian Fellowship: Use CCF on second reference.
Campus Crusade for Christ: Use CCC on second reference.
cannot: One word.
Canterbury Club: A religious (Episcopal) organization.
capital/capitol: Capital is money or a city where a central governing body is located. Capitol is a building.
Capoeira Club: A Brazilian martial arts organization.
captions: Use present tense for the first sentence and past tense for the rest.
Cardinal Key National Honor Society: Use Cardinal Key on second reference.
career center: Use University Career Center on first reference. Use career center in all subsequent references.
Career Expo: Use Expo on second reference.
Catholic Newman Center: Use the Newman Center on second reference.
Catholic Newman Center Council
Ceilidh Club
Centennial Flame: Located north of Kirk Memorial Building. Not the eternal flame.
Center for International Education Abroad: This is the study abroad office.
Center for Student Involvement: Formerly the CAOC. The office is located in the SUB lower level. Use CSI on second reference.
century: Lowercase. Spell out numbers less than ten. >The second century. The 14th century.
Chi Alpha: A religious organization associated with the Assembly of God.
chairman/chairwoman: Never use chairperson or chair.
Child Development Center: Use CDC on second reference.
Centennial Hall Senate
Christians in Action: Use CIA on second reference.
class status: Always state class status on first reference. For sports stories, use the athletic year of eligibility listed on the roster. Place class status before position in references.
Clay People: Use The Clay People.
coach: Lowercase. Use the full title on first reference. >head football coach John Ware. Use only the last name on second reference. Never abbreviate assistant coach.
coed: One word.
commencement: Capitalize when referring to a specific ceremony.
committee: Do not abbreviate.
Conflict Resolution and Mediation: Use CRAM on second reference. This is an organization that works with Residential Life and mediates conflicts.
contractions: Only use them within a quotation or in a headline.
course titles: Official course titles are capitalized. Course titles can be found in the University’s General Bulletin. Use course names instead of their numbers.
Cross country: Use men’s/women’s cross country team on first reference. See the AP stylebook for guidelines about distances and times.
The men’s team and the women’s team compete in the MIAA with these schools:
CMSU
Emporia State (Kan.)
Mo. Southern
Northwest
Pittsburg State (Kan.)
SW Baptist
UMR
Competitors can qualify for nationals on an individual or team basis.
Daily Jolt: On-line news
dates: When referring to a specific date abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. Spell out the other months. A hyphen is used for a series of dates. >Freshman week is Aug. 20-25. Spell out all months when used alone or with only a year.
days of the week: Do not abbreviate.
DEAL: Use Diabetes Education and Awareness for Life on first reference.
dean’s list: no longer exists. (See president list and vice president for academic affairs list)
decades: Use an apostrophe for numbers that are left out. >’80. Show plural by adding s. 1900s.
degrees: Consult the AP Stylebook under academic degrees.
Delta Chi: A social fraternity belonging to IFC. Use Delta Chi(s) on second reference.
Delta Sigma Pi: A coed business and marketing fraternity. Use Delta Sig(s) on second reference.
Delta Sigma Theta: A service sorority traditionally for black women belonging to the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Delta Tau Alpha: An agricultural organization.
Delta Zeta: A social sorority belonging to the Panhellenic Council. Use DZ(s) on second reference.
Department of Public Safety: Use DPS on second reference.
departments: Departments and disciplines within academic division are lowercase unless they are languages.
Detours: Do not italicize.
Distinguished Visiting Scholar(s)
divisions: Capitalize when used as part of a proper name. >Division of Language and Literature. Use lowercase otherwise. >the language and literature division.
’Dogs: Acceptable on third reference to a University sports team. Never use Lady ’Dogs.
dollar: Use figures and the $ sign in all except causal references or amounts without a figure. >I received $40 for my math book. I need a few dollars to buy lunch.
dormitory: Do not use dormitory or dorm to refer to residential colleges or residential halls.
Down Under: Use the SUB Down Under on first reference.
each: This word is singular and takes a singular verb.
Eagle Forum Collegians
E.C. Grim Hall: Use Grim on second reference.
Echo: Not ECHO
editor in chief: No hyphens.
Ekklesia: Associated with the Church of Christ.
ellipsis: There should be one space before and after. Use three for a break in sentence, four when the cut out portion of quote contains conclusion of sentence.
e-mail: Always acceptable for electronic mail. Do no use e-mail without a hyphen.
Eta Sigma Gamma: An honorary health education organization.
every day/ everyday: Every day is an adverb. >Sarah cooks amazing food just about every day. Everyday is an adjective. >She uses an everyday pan to cook in.
Faculty Senate: Use Senate on second reference unless the story includes both the faculty and student senates.
farther/further: Farther is used for physical distance. Further refers to an extension of time or degree.
Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance: Use FMLA on second reference.
fewer/less: Use fewer for individual items. >Fewer than 10 mistakes were found on the proofs. (mistakes are individual) Use less for bulk or quantity. >I have less than $20 in my purse. (the money is a bulk amount)
Freshens
Flag Corps
football: Use the football team on first reference. The word men’s is not needed because women don’t play competitive football.
Players should be identified by both year of athletic eligibility and position. >junior quarterback Mark Haworth.
When referring to yardage, always use ordinal numbers. >15-yard pass.
The team plays in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region. The MIAA has 10 teams which are listed in the MIAA entry.
common football terms:
ball carrier goal line linebacker running back
blitz goal-line stand lineman tight end
end zone halfback out-of-bounds (adj.) touchback
fair catch halftime out of bounds (adv.) touchdown
field goal kickoff (adj.) place-kicker wide receiver
fullback kick off (v.) quarterback
fourth-and-one (adj.) left guard runback (n.)
Forest Lake: The lake at Thousand Hills State Park.
Fraternities: Never use frats. To refer to fraternity members, use fraternity men, not frat boys.
freshman/freshmen: Freshman is singular. >freshman Jake Jones, the freshman class. Freshmen is plural. >freshmen Jake Jones and Alexi Muller.
Fundraising: See Associated Press Style Book for correct use
Funds Allotment Council: Use FAC on second reference.
Gamesroom: Use Take Five Gamesroom on first reference. Gamesroom is acceptable on second reference.
Gamma Chi: group of women from all sororities that help potential members through the recruitment process
Godfather’s Pizza: Use Godfather’s on second reference.
golf: Use men’s/women’s golf team on first reference. Use class status to identify players.
The men compete with every team listed under the MIAA entry except Emporia State University and Northwest Missouri State University.
The women’s golf team does not belong to a conference. They qualify for the National Golf coaches Association Division II tournament in the spring. Players can qualify on either a team or individual basis with the lowest score prevailing.
good/well: Consult the AP Stylebook.
grade point average: Use GPA.
grades: Use an apostrophe. >She received four A’s and a B on her report card.
graduate student: Never abbreviate as grad student.
GRE: Acceptable in all references to the Graduate Record Exam.
Greek: Capitalize when referring to a member of a fraternal organization, when used as part of a proper noun, or when referring to a person from Greece.
Greek Christian Alliance: Use GCA on second reference.
Grim Hall: See E.C. Grim Hall.
half: It is not necessary to use the preposition of. >I can run the mile in half the time I used to run it in.
halftime: One word, no hyphen for sports.
HIV Project: Formerly Lifestyle Advocacy Program.
High Street Dancers: Use High Street on second reference.
his/her, he/she: When unsure of a person’s sex, use his/he. >A child will do what he wants to do. It is best, however, to structure the sentence differently. >Children will do what they want to do.