Writing Style

University Relations has established this style guide for use in non-academic, promotional written communications including news releases, newsletters, web pages, brochures, viewbooks and fliers that include narrative or running text. A more formal style may be desired for invitations, event programs, letters and for other uses.

About the University’s Style Guide
This guide is based on the principles found in the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. Despite the scope of editorial style contained in the AP guide, it doesn’t address some issues unique to UNC that are frequently encountered. This style guide is intended to provide answers to those issues, and to a lesser extent, other questions of grammar such as punctuation, capitalization and acceptable word usage.

On spelling matters, our preferred resource is Webster's New World Dictionary.

For More Information
If you have questions, would like more information or have a suggestion for future revisions of the style guide, contact UNC’s Office of University News & Public Relations at 970-351-2331 or public.relations@unco.edu.

DOWNLOAD UNC'S WRITING STYLE GUIDE

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Web Specific Writing Tips

You only have a few seconds to engage your reader on the web. So, to make the writing on your site more relatable, combine a conversational tone with "you" language. This places more emphasis on the reader instead of we and us. See two examples of what to do and not to do below:

Use the ABC's:

A good exercise to help you think strategically about your page content is to use the "ABC's":

A-Audience. Who is the intended target(s) of the information?

B-Behavior. What do you want your reader to do, or what kind of action do you want your audience to take once they read the information?

C-Content. What do you want to tell your reader? Why should this page exist? Your content should help your reader answer the question, "What's in it for me?"

Common Errors

Use these rules of thumb to avoid some of the common errors we see online and in print. 

• DO list phone numbers with dashes 000-000-0000 and not (000) 000-0000 or 000.000.0000
• DO write out the word percent instead of using the symbol "%"
• DO place punctuation (such as the period at the end of a sentence) inside quotations(.")
• DO NOT refer to Ph.D.- credentialed faculty as Dr. ____________. Indicate degree (i.e., Mary Smith, Ph.D.) in first reference, then use last name throughout. 
• DO use an apostrophe in "bachelor's degree" and "master's degree" but as part of the formal degree name, do not add the possessive: Master of Arts, not master's of arts. 
• DON'T capitalize when you're in doubt. For example, university is not capitalized unless it is part of the proper name: "The university is closing early today" versus "The University of Northern Colorado is closing early today." As our style guide indicates, UNC does capitalize program names. 

Acronyms

Although acronyms are an effective way to avoid repeating lengthy department, program or organization names, they should be avoided whenever possible. ALWAYS spell out the name followed by the acronym in parenthesis on first references on a page or within a document or story. Keep in mind that acronyms we use may be unfamiliar to prospective students and other external audiences--which may create an exclusive culture rather than inclusive. There are time when acronyms can be used effectively:

• When it becomes necessary, spell out the entity's proper name upon first reference, followed by the acronym. The acronym can be used for any subsequent references on the page to simplify the language on the page.
  • Example: College of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)
• It is OK to use acronyms when the acronym is commonly used, and better known than the proper name it represents. Be sure to provide context within the sentence to avoid confusion as even common acronyms can represent different things.
  • Example: CNN, ESPN

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Web Header/Headline Writing

Headers and headlines are used throughout the site as page titles, subheads and callout headers, headlines, subheads and section titles. Keep these guidelines in mind when writing:

• Most headers and page titles should be brief phrases (approximately three words or less).
• If your supporting headlines, subheads or callout headers form complete sentences, where punctuation is needed, then only the first word and proper nouns should be capitalized (sentence case):
  • Example: Be a leader.
• If there is no punctuation, all important words should be capitalized (title case):
  • Example: Making An Impact
• Do not use acronyms.
• Use subheads and section titles to break up lengthy page copy. Breaking up the copy visually makes it less intimidating to readers so that they are more likely to remain engaged and your message isn't missed. It also gives them entry points to information they are specifically interested in, so try to keep subheads succinct and clear.