Have you ever noticed that some of the dashes in The Daily are longer than others but don’t know the difference? Or perhaps wondered whether the university writes “healthcare” as one word or two? When you’re writing about our alumni, do you struggle with the format to indicate their year of graduation and school affiliation?
Find these answers—and more—in the new version of the Case Western Reserve University Editorial Style Guide! Now updated to reflect recommendations from university experts and national writing sources, the guide helps writers, editors and communication professionals across campus present information clearly and consistently.
What’s new
The new style guide provides guidance on and examples of topics regularly covered in university publications, including alumni affiliations, dates and times, capitalizations, titles and more. Plus, it adds a diversity and representation section to the guide describing how to write about gender, race, ethnicity and other important considerations.
A critical addition in the representation section: When writing about people, ask—do not assume—how they should be identified. For example, if an individual’s race and/or ethnicity is relevant in your article, ask their preference on the term used (e.g., Black or African American; Latinx, Latine, Latina, Latino). In addition, if the individual does not provide their pronouns, please ask. (Note: The university uses “they, them, their” as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun.)
Why the style guide is essential
Having a style guide—which outlines how elements such as words, punctuation and capitalization should be used—shows the university thinks carefully about language, that it is committed to professionalism and the highest standards of service to partners and clients, and that it matters how the university’s message is expressed.
References
For any topics not addressed in the university’s style guide, University Marketing and Communications follows the Associated Press Stylebook, 56th Edition and Webster’s New World College Dictionary.
University Marketing and Communications consulted with several offices to update the editorial style guide. Many thanks to Flora Stone Mather Center for Women; Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center; Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity; Office of Multicultural Affairs; Office of Undergraduate Admission and University Archives for their collaboration.
For more information
Review the 2023 Editorial Style Guide to learn more about university style on punctuation, writing about courses, departments and schools, and more.