Frequently Used Terms

When describing the University, use Washington State University as the first reference in text or in speaking. Subsequent references should be the University, Washington State, or WSU.

When describing one of the WSU urban campuses, use the full name on first reference, for example, Washington State University Tri-Cities. Subsequent references should be WSU Tri-Cities.

• University Graduates
  • alumna = singular, feminine
  • alumnus = singular, masculine or non-specific gender
  • alumnae = plural, feminine
  • alumni = plural, masculine or mixed masculine and feminine
• Graduate/graduates are good alternatives for non-specific gender uses.

• fall semester, spring semester (not capitalized)
• The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health (first mention); Allen School (second mention).
• African American, African American history
• email; internet; online; password; username; website
• fundraising
• fall, winter, spring, summer (seasons)

Serial Comma

When there are three or more items in a series, put a comma before the “and” or “or” that precedes the last item. In the case of a series within a series, use semicolons to separate the outer series.

• I want eggs, ham, and toast for breakfast.
• I want eggs, ham, and toast for breakfast; soup, salad, and a sandwich for lunch; and a tofu stir-fry, rice, and fresh fruit for dinner.

Time

Use periods in a.m./p.m.; do not repeat in ranges.

Use noon, not 12 p.m. Use midnight, not 12 a.m.

Designate ranges with an en dash OR “from/to.” Do not combine methods.

Omit: 00

• The afternoon presentation is 9–11:30 a.m.
• Lunch is at noon. Doors will be open from 5:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Dates

• September 8, 2014
• September 2014

Numbers

Spell out numbers below 10 in non-scientific text. The exceptions are percents, semester hours, and grade point averages: 9 percent, 5 semester hours, 3.5 grade point average.

Spell out a number that begins a sentence.

Use Arabic numerals for numbers 10 and above.

• We noticed a 1 percent difference in the number of students enrolled for fewer than 5 semester hours. Those students earned a 3.5 grade point average.
• Twelve students signed up for the seminar.
• The department ordered 122 pencils.

Addresses

Spell out directions, street names, and states, but use postal state abbreviations when followed by a zip code.

Phone Numbers

• 509-335-6686

Non-University Titles

Professional titles are lowercased in running text.

• Samantha Wilson is senior vice president of administration for FutureTech Corporation.

• For titles, use lowercase except when preceding a name or when used in a mailing address. President Elson S. Floyd; Elson S. Floyd, president of Washington State University; the president. Dean Candis Claiborn; Candis Claiborn, dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture; the dean.
• For unit names, capitalize formal, official references and lowercase subsequent alternative references. College of Veterinary Medicine; the college. Department of Biology; the department, the biology department. Holland Library; the library. Bohler Gym; the gym. The exception to this rule: Washington State University; the University.
• When referring to the academic year, fall semester, spring semester, and summer session are lowercase, as are freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.
• Academic degrees are lowercase when spelled out: baccalaureate degree, bachelor's degree, bachelor of arts; master's degree, master of science; doctoral degree, doctorate, doctor of philosophy, etc. Note the plural form: bachelor's degrees; master's degrees; doctoral degrees.
• Academic degrees are abbreviated with periods and closed up: B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., Ph.D., D.Ed., M.D., etc. Plural form: B.A.'s, B.S.'s, M.A.'s, M.S.'s, Ph.D.'s, D.Ed.'s.

• Use a comma before and and or in a series: "Entering students will be required to take placement tests in English, mathematics, and a foreign language."
• Do not use a comma before Jr., Sr., II, III, IV, etc.: "John H. Jones III presented the guest lecture."
• Dates are punctuated month, day, year: "May 12, 2009, was the date set for commencement." This differs from the Chicago Manual, which prefers day, month, year. If using only the month and year, there is no comma: "Commencement was held in May 2009." (Also "fall 2010"; "spring 2011"; etc.)
• Quotation marks are placed outside commas and periods and inside semicolons and colons.
• Question marks and exclamation points are placed inside quotation marks if they are part of a quote and outside if they are not.
• Items placed inside quotation marks include article titles, direct quotes, parts of books, song titles, short poems, and television and radio programs.

• Numbers below 10 are spelled out in non-scientific text. The exceptions are percents, semester hours, and grade point averages: 9 percent, 5 semester hours, 3.5 grade point average.
• When writing for the web, use numerals in all cases. This helps readers scan content more quickly.
• Always spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence or reword the sentence to avoid spelling out a large number.
• Treat numbers alike in a sentence if they refer to the same thing: "The class of 50 students was separated into smaller groups of 5 students each."
• Spell out ordinal numbers in text: e.g., first, second, third—not 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
• For numbers of four digits or larger, use a comma: 1,500; 35,000. Very large numbers should be expressed with a figure and word: 450 million. Exceptions are dates, temperatures, and SAT scores.
• Spell out references to money under $100 and use figures for references to $100 and more: "The ticket will cost five dollars." In text referring to registration or conference fees, use figures and the dollar sign because they are easier to read: "Conference materials and lunch are covered in the $275 registration fee."