{"id":134,"date":"2025-01-08T19:58:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T19:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.golive.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/?page_id=134"},"modified":"2025-04-09T20:00:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T20:00:02","slug":"editorial","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/","title":{"rendered":"Editorial style guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\">Editorial style guide<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"intro\">The Clark University Editorial Style Guide is a resource for frequently asked questions and is based on the Associated Press Stylebook, with minor alterations for Clark-specific usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any questions, or would like to add an entry, please contact\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:mellynch@clarku.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Melissa Lynch<\/a>, managing editor and senior writer (x7440).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few basics:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Headlines or titles of news articles should be written in sentence case, with only the first word and proper nouns capitalized.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave only one space after a period (or question mark, exclamation point, quotation mark \u2014 whatever punctuation ends your sentence). Two spaces between words used to be necessary to delineate the beginning of a new sentence because the spacing between words was uneven on a typewriter. That is no longer the case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clark\u2019s style is to use the serial (or Oxford) comma, included after the penultimate item in a list of three or more items, before \u2018and\u2019 or \u2018or.\u2019 This decision was made to ensure clarity in all cases.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He will major in English, philosophy, or psychology. She dedicated the book to her parents, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">And a note on gender-neutral language:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They, their, and they\u2019re are generally plural, but are acceptable for use as a singular and gender-neutral pronoun. In fact, we prefer that you use \u201cthey\u201d in place of the outdated \u201che\/she\u201d or \u201che or she.\u201d\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cThey\u201d always takes a plural verb, even when used in a singular context.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cThe student wants to live on campus; they are planning to live in Wright Hall.\u201d Do not use \u201cthemself.\u201d When in doubt, rewrite the sentence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Clark-specific and other academic terms and usage<\/summary>\n<ul>\n \t<li><strong>advisor\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 Changed from \u201cadviser\u201d as of February 2023.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>alumni\/a\/ae\/us<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>For more inclusive language, unless referring to a single person whose pronouns you know, we recommend &#8220;alum(s)&#8221; or &#8220;Clark graduate(s)&#8221;<\/li>\n \t<li>alumna = female singular<\/li>\n \t<li>alumnae = female plural<\/li>\n \t<li>alumnus = male singular<\/li>\n \t<li>alumni = male plural OR mixed-gender group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Board of Trustees<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The Clark University Board of Trustees comprises 26 members, including six alumni-elected Trustees. Each elected member serves a six-year term; officers are elected each year, and new terms begin July 1. The full board typically meets in October, February, and May each year.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/who-we-are\/president-and-leadership\/board-of-trustees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"Go to Board of Trustees website\">Current board members and officers \u00bb<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li>Use Clark University Board of Trustees on the first reference; lowercase \u201cthe board\u201d in subsequent references.<\/li>\n \t<li>When referring to individual trustees, uppercase Trustee before the name, and lowercase after: Clark University Trustee Ron Shaich; Lee Plave, Clark University trustee; Lee Plave, member of the Clark University Board of Trustees; Ross Gillman, chair of the Clark University Board of Trustees; Board of Trustees Chair Ross Gillman<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design<\/strong><\/li>\n \t<li><strong>cocurricular <\/strong>\u2014 Never hyphenated.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Division of Student Success<\/strong><\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Emerita<\/strong>\/<strong>Emeritae<\/strong>\/<strong>Emeritus<\/strong>\/<strong>Emeriti<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Denotes professors who have retired but retain their rank or title. Not all retired individuals have emeriti status.<\/li>\n \t<li>Emerita = female singular<\/li>\n \t<li>Emeritae = female plural<\/li>\n \t<li>Emeritus = male singular<\/li>\n \t<li>Emeriti = male plural OR mixed-gender group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>faculty<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Faculty is a collective noun taking a singular verb when referring to faculty as a group: The faculty is researching the topic.<\/li>\n \t<li>When referring to faculty as a group, use \u201cwho,\u201d not \u201cthat&#8221;: The faculty, who presented at the meeting, discussed goals for the year.<\/li>\n \t<li>The plural can be expressed by using \u201cfaculty members\u201d: Faculty members are gathering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>First-Year Intensive\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 A specific type of course that all Clark first-year students take; always hyphenated and capitalized.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>first-year student<\/strong> \u2014 Always hyphenated.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>grade-point average<\/strong> \u2014 Not grade-point-average or grade point average; <strong>GPA<\/strong> is acceptable in all references.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Higgins University Center \u2014\u00a0<\/strong>Home to the Higgins Caf\u00e9, the University\u2019s dining hall.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>liberal arts<\/strong> \u2014 Plural noun; hyphenate when used as an adjective if it precedes the noun it modifies: a liberal-arts education.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>nonmajors<\/strong><\/li>\n \t<li><strong>postgraduate, postdoctoral <\/strong>\u2014 One word; never hyphenated.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Presidents of Clark University<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>G. Stanley Hall \u2014 1888\u20131920<\/li>\n \t<li>Caroll D. Wright \u2014 1902\u20131909 (Clark College, undergraduate)<\/li>\n \t<li>Edmund D. Sanford \u2014 1909\u20131920 (Clark College, undergraduate)<\/li>\n \t<li>Wallace W. Atwood \u2014 1920\u20131946<\/li>\n \t<li>Howard B. Jefferson \u2014 1946\u20131967<\/li>\n \t<li>Frederick H. Jackson \u2014 1967\u20131970<\/li>\n \t<li>Glenn W. Ferguson \u2014 1970\u20131973<\/li>\n \t<li>Mortimer H. Appley \u2014 1974\u20131984<\/li>\n \t<li>Richard P. Traina \u2014 1984\u20132000<\/li>\n \t<li>John E. Bassett \u2014 2000\u20132009<\/li>\n \t<li>David P. Angel 2009\u20132020<\/li>\n \t<li>David B. Fithian \u201987 2020\u2013<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Professor<\/strong> \u2014 Not \u201cProf.\u201d<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Sackler Sciences Center<\/strong> \u2014 Not \u201cScience.\u201d<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center<\/strong><\/li>\n \t<li><strong>University<\/strong> \u2014 Capitalize when referring specifically to Clark.\n<ul>\n \t<li>All alumni of the University are invited to Reunion Weekend.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Academic degrees<\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When referring to degrees in general, lowercase the first letter of the degree and use \u201cdegrees.\u201d\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They all had master\u2019s degrees in engineering. He earned a doctorate. She received a Master of Public Administration. More than six hundred students received bachelor\u2019s degrees. Did you earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Master of Science?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use an apostrophe in bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degree, but no \u2019s in Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, or Master of Business Administration (note capitalization of formal degree names).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cDoctorate\u201d or \u201cdoctoral degree\u2019\u2019 can be used in place of Ph.D. \u2014 but \u201cPh.D.\u201d cannot always be used in place of \u201cdoctorate.\u201d\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She earned a doctorate in education (D.Ed.). His doctoral degree is in music (D.M.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_doctoral_degrees_in_the_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">List of doctoral degrees awarded in the U.S.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use periods for two-letter acronyms (M.A., B.A.); no periods for three or more (MBA, MSIT, MSF) except Ph.D., M.A.Ed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In writing, all acronyms beginning with a consonant sound (el, em, en), such as M.A., MBA, MSF, etc., are preceded by \u201can.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark offers the following degrees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bachelor of Science (B.S.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master of Arts (M.A.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master of Science (M.S.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master of Business Administration (MBA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master of Science in Finance (MSF)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master of Public Administration (MPA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Master of Science in Communication (MSC; formerly Master of Science in Professional Communication [MSPC])<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Diversity and inclusion<\/summary>\n<p><strong>Race-related terms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Black (adj.)\u2014Use the capitalized term as an adjective in a racial, ethnic, or cultural sense: Black people, Black culture, Black literature, Black colleges. Use of the capitalized Black recognizes that language has evolved, along with the common understanding that especially in the United States, the term reflects a shared identity and culture rather than a skin color alone. Note that African American is also acceptable for those in the U.S. The terms Black and African American are not necessarily interchangeable; Americans of Caribbean heritage, for example, generally refer to themselves as Caribbean American.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indigenous (adj.)\u2014Capitalize this term used to refer to original inhabitants of a place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>brown (adj.)\u2014Avoid this broad and imprecise term in racial, ethnic, or cultural references unless it\u2019s part of a direct quotation. Interpretations of what the term includes vary widely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>white (adj.)\u2014Use lowercase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BIPOC\u2014Avoid using this abbreviation for historically underrepresented groups, except for direct quotations; explain the term if it\u2019s used.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Capitalization of academic and professional titles<\/summary>\n<p>Capitalize and spell out formal titles such as president, dean, provost, chair, professor, etc., only when they precede a name. Lowercase elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dean of the College Betsy Huang is a member of English Department faculty. Betsy Huang, dean of the college, was present at the meeting. The dean approved the measure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Professor Karen Frey studies Arctic sea ice. Karen Frey, professor of geography, traveled to Siberia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clark University President David Fithian gave the keynote speech. David Fithian, president of Clark University, spoke at the event.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Clark schools, academic departments, and subjects<\/summary>\n<p>Academic subjects are not capitalized unless referring to a language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She teaches chemistry. Her research is in screen studies. The student majors in environmental science. He teaches English. The students majored in Spanish.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark\u2019s academic departments are part of six schools. They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Undergraduate Arts and Sciences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Graduate Arts and Sciences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School of Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Becker School of Design &amp; Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School of Professional Studies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Academic department names are capitalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This event is sponsored by the Visual and Performing Arts Department.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The English Department hosted the lecture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The academic departments at Clark are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Economics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Graduate School of Geography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>History<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Language, Literature, and Culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mathematics and Computer Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Philosophy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Political Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sociology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sustainability and Social Justice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visual and Performing Arts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Preprofessional advising programs at Clark:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pre-health (pre-med, pre-veterinary)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre-law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Addresses<\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St.&nbsp;<em>only<\/em>&nbsp;with a numbered address.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clark is on Main Street. Clark\u2019s address is 950 Main St.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use figures in address numbers.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The family lives at 5 Hawthorne St.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spell out First through Ninth when used as street names. Use ordinal numbers (figures with two letters) for 10th and above (e.g., 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only use postal abbreviations for states (e.g., MA, NH, CA) when used with a mailing address that includes a zip code. In postal addresses, leave one space between the city and state, and two spaces between the state and zip code (per USPS guidance).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clark University 950 Main St. Worcester MA&nbsp; 01610<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Within text, spell out the state name; if necessary for space, abbreviate as follows (but never abbreviate Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, or Utah; also note Washington, D.C.):<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Ala.<\/td><td>Fla.<\/td><td>Md.<\/td><td>Neb.<\/td><td>N.D.<\/td><td>Tenn.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ariz.<\/td><td>Ga.<\/td><td>Mass.<\/td><td>Nev.<\/td><td>Okla.<\/td><td>Vt.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ark.<\/td><td>Ill.<\/td><td>Mich.<\/td><td>N.H.<\/td><td>Ore.<\/td><td>Va.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Calif.<\/td><td>Ind.<\/td><td>Minn.<\/td><td>N.J.<\/td><td>Pa.<\/td><td>Wash.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Colo.<\/td><td>Kan.<\/td><td>Miss.<\/td><td>N.M.<\/td><td>R.I.<\/td><td>W. Va.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Conn.<\/td><td>Ky.<\/td><td>Mo.<\/td><td>N.Y.<\/td><td>S.C.<\/td><td>Wis.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Del.<\/td><td>La.<\/td><td>Mont.<\/td><td>N.C.<\/td><td>S.D.<\/td><td>Wyo.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Commonly confused words and phrases<\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>affect\/effect<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Affect is a verb, meaning \u201cto influence\u201d (as a noun, it is predominantly used in psychology). Effect is usually the noun, meaning \u201cresult,\u201d but can also be used as a verb meaning \u201cto cause.\u201d\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The game will affect the standings. He will effect many changes in the company. The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>afterward, backward, toward<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 No s.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>cancel, canceled, canceling, cancellation&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 Not \u201ccancelled.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>coursework<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>currently\/presently&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 Currently means now; presently means in the near future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>email<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>e-newsletter<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>e-book<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>farther<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>further<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 While generally interchangeable, farther refers to physical distance, while further is an extension of time or degree.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He ran farther than he had before. The doctor said he would investigate further.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>fewer, less than, under<\/strong>\u2014 Use \u201cfewer\u201d for individual items (items that can be counted); use less than for bulk, time, or quantity; use \u201cunder\u201d for spatial relationships.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fewer than 100 students attended the meeting. I will be there in less than 10 minutes. The box is under the desk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>internet&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 Never capitalized.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>login, logon, logoff<\/strong>&nbsp;(nouns);&nbsp;<strong>log in, log on, log off<\/strong>&nbsp;(verbs)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enter your login details.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Please use your Clark credentials to log in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>over, more than<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Use \u201cover\u201d for spatial relationships. Use \u201cmore than\u201d for amounts that can be counted.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More than $100,000 was raised. I saw more than 10 students at the diner. The poster hangs over that desk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>startup&nbsp;<\/strong>(noun and adjective);&nbsp;<strong>start up<\/strong>&nbsp;(verb)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>web<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>website<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>webmaster<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>webcast&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 But web page is two words.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Holidays<\/summary>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/offices\/human-resources\/benefits\/holiday-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View a <\/a><a href=\"\/human-resources\/benefits\/holiday-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">list <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/offices\/human-resources\/benefits\/holiday-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">of the official holidays at Clark University \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Presidents Day<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Observed the third Monday of February. No apostrophe; the official name of this holiday is Washington\u2019s Birthday.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Martin Luther King Jr. Day<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Celebrated the third Monday in January.<em>&nbsp;Note: no comma<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>St. Patrick\u2019s Day \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Celebrated every March 17. Never use \u201cSt. Patty\u2019s Day\u201d; the correct informal use is \u201cSt. Paddy\u2019s Day\u201d (abbreviating the Irish name Padraig), but that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/words-at-play\/st-paddys-day-vs-st-pattys-day\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">should be avoided<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memorial Day&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 Celebrated the last Monday in May to honor those who died in active military service. It is a day of remembrance; do not write \u201cHappy Memorial Day\u201d under any circumstances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Juneteenth<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 June 19 is the traditional commemoration date of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States; if it does not fall on a Monday, the holiday is observed on the Monday after.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/06\/17\/1007602290\/biden-and-harris-will-speak-at-the-bill-signing-making-juneteenth-a-federal-holi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about Juneteenth \u00bb<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independence Day&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 \u201cJuly Fourth\u201d and \u201cFourth of July\u201d are also acceptable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Celebrated on the second Monday of October to honor Native Americans; first&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/presidential-actions\/2021\/10\/08\/a-proclamation-indigenous-peoples-day-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">officially observed<\/a>&nbsp;in the U.S. &nbsp;in 2021.&nbsp;<em>Note: apostrophe after Peoples.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Veterans Day&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Observed every November 11, this day honors all veterans of the armed forces.&nbsp;<em>Note: no apostrophe.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Hyphenation<\/summary>\n<p>The use of hyphens is far from standardized. Clark is guided by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apstylebook.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AP Style<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourdictionary.com\/about\/websters-new-world-college-dictionary.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Webster\u2019s New World College Dictionary<\/a>, 5th edition. These words are never hyphenated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>campuswide<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>cocurricular<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>dual heritage terms<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 African American, Asian American, Caribbean American, Pacific Islander, Native American, etc., are not hyphenated when used as nouns or adjectives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>email<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>nonprofit<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>online<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014 Not to be confused with how to describe people waiting in a queue: They are&nbsp;<em><strong>in<\/strong>&nbsp;line<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>peacemaker<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>peacemaking<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>policymaker<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>policymaking<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>postdoctoral<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>postgraduate<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>website<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But these always are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>decision-making, decision-maker<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>e-book, e-newsletter<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>student-athlete<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>work-study<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In general:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Compound modifiers before a noun should be hyphenated: first-quarter touchdown; bluish-green dress; full-time job; tuition-free year; liberal-arts college; high-school teacher; know-it-all attitude; fifth-year-free program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No hyphen after very or adverbs ending in ly: very pretty girl; easily remembered rule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many combinations that are hyphenated before a noun are not hyphenated when they occur after a noun: She works full time. She is well aware of the consequences. The children are soft spoken. The play is second rate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Numbers (times, dates, and more)<\/summary>\n<p>Spell out numbers one through nine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Times:&nbsp;<\/strong>Use a.m. and p.m., lowercase, with periods.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To avoid confusion, always use \u201cnoon\u201d and \u201cmidnight\u201d instead of 12 p.m. and 12 a.m. (And never,&nbsp;<em>ever<\/em>&nbsp;write \u201c12 noon\u201d or \u201c12 midnight.\u201d)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>8 p.m., not 8:00 p.m.;&nbsp;11 a.m., not 11:00 a.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If using a.m. or p.m., do not also use \u201cthis morning\u201d or \u201cthis evening.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dollars<\/strong>: Use a \u201c$\u201d followed by a numeral. Do not include the cents (.00) if the figure is zero.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Admission is $5. The shirt cost $17.98. The goal is $100 million.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use figures with million or billion in all except casual cases (I\u2019d like to make a billion dollars).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Percent<\/strong>: Use a number with %.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ages<\/strong>: Always use figures.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A 5-year-old boy; the boy is 5 years old. The boy, 7, has a sister, 10. The race is for 3-year-olds. The woman is in her 30s.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Phone numbers:&nbsp;<\/strong>Use hyphens only.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>508-793-7441, not (508) 793-7441, and not 508.793.7441.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Centuries:<\/strong>&nbsp;Do not spell out, except for the first through the ninth, unless it starts a sentence.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>21st century; 19th century (do not use superscript for st, th, rd). Eighteenth-century women were restricted in their behavior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hyphenate when used as a modifier (19th-century writer; 17th- and 18th-century fashion)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dates:&nbsp;<\/strong>Always use Arabic figures without st, nd, rd, or th. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. Spell out months when using alone, or with a year alone.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He joined the company in February 2016.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That event usually happens in November.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The event is planned for May 8.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Join us on Sept. 15, 2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weights<\/strong>: Use figures.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The baby weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She had a 6-pound, 7-ounce boy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The employee must be able to lift 50 pounds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Clark University Editorial Style Guide is a resource for frequently asked questions and is based on the Associated Press Stylebook, with minor alterations for Clark-specific usage. If you have any questions, or would like to add an entry, please contact\u00a0Melissa Lynch, managing editor and senior writer (x7440). A few basics: And a note on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":9,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-no-title","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-134","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Editorial style guide | Office of Marketing and Communications | Clark University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Editorial style guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Clark University Editorial Style Guide is a resource for frequently asked questions and is based on the Associated Press Stylebook, with minor alterations for Clark-specific usage. If you have any questions, or would like to add an entry, please contact\u00a0Melissa Lynch, managing editor and senior writer (x7440). A few basics: And a note on [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Office of Marketing and Communications\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-09T20:00:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/guidelines-and-style-guides\\\/editorial\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/guidelines-and-style-guides\\\/editorial\\\/\",\"name\":\"Editorial style guide | Office of Marketing and Communications | Clark University\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-08T19:58:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-09T20:00:02+00:00\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/guidelines-and-style-guides\\\/editorial\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/wp-json\\\/wp\\\/v2\\\/pages\\\/134#breadcrumbs\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":0,\"name\":\"ClarkU\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Office of Marketing and Communications\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/\",\"name\":\"Office of Marketing and Communications\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.clarku.edu\\\/marketing-communications\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Editorial style guide | Office of Marketing and Communications | Clark University","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Editorial style guide","og_description":"The Clark University Editorial Style Guide is a resource for frequently asked questions and is based on the Associated Press Stylebook, with minor alterations for Clark-specific usage. If you have any questions, or would like to add an entry, please contact\u00a0Melissa Lynch, managing editor and senior writer (x7440). A few basics: And a note on [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/","og_site_name":"Office of Marketing and Communications","article_modified_time":"2025-04-09T20:00:02+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/","url":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/","name":"Editorial style guide | Office of Marketing and Communications | Clark University","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-01-08T19:58:09+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-09T20:00:02+00:00","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/guidelines-and-style-guides\/editorial\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134#breadcrumbs","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":0,"name":"ClarkU","item":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Office of Marketing and Communications","item":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/","name":"Office of Marketing and Communications","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":291,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions\/291"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/marketing-communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}