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Editorial Style Guide

 

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Frequently Asked Questions


  • Should I capitalize the word "university" when referring to SDSU? [answer]
  • What's correct: Open Air "Theater" or "Theatre"? [answer]
  • Should I worry about being "PC"? How can I recognize and avoid racist, sexist or other biased language in my communications? [answer]
  • Do I capitalize a person's academic or administrative title when it comes before or after the name? [answer]
  • Should I use "Dr." to refer to a professor? [answer]
  • Alumna, alumni, alumnus, alumnae . . . it's confusing. How do I know which form to use? [answer]
  • Is it M.A. or MA? Do I use an apostrophe in "bachelor's degree" or not? [answer]
  • Should I capitalize the word "department" in "Department of Chemistry"? Or "chemistry department"? When do I capitalize the name of a discipline or department? [answer]
  • Do I capitalize "Sophomore"? How should I refer to students from other countries? [answer]
  • Should I always capitalize the word "president"? [answer]
  • Is it "Fall Semester," "Fall semester," or "fall semester"? [answer]
  • How should I indicate academic years? 1996-97 or 1996/7 or 1996-1997 or . . .??? [answer]
  • When do I spell out a number, and when do I use a figure? How do I use numbers when referring to people's ages, or dates, or page numbers? [answer]
  • Is it "campuswide" or "campus-wide"? How do I know whether to use "off campus" or "off-campus"? What are the rules regarding hyphens? [answer]
  • What's the difference between "i.e." and "e.g."? [answer]
  • Is there a hyphen in online or email? Is it Website or website or web site . . . ? Do I capitalize Internet? [answer]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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