UA Editorial Style Manual

Make your writing as inclusive and gender-neutral as possible when representing The University of Alabama or its programs or services. There are three good ways to make your language inclusive:

1. Use the second person (you and your).

2. Use plural nouns and pronouns. If you choose this option, be sure to change verbs and other nouns and pronouns as needed.

3. Use he or she, him or her, his or her, etc.

geographic terms and names

Lowercase north, south, east, and west and variations when they indicate direction. Capitalize north, south, east, west, and similar terms when they refer to regions.

We went north, then east, then south, and finally west.
He drove northwest for about 20 miles.
He is from the South; his wife is from the Northeast.
Tuscaloosa is the business and cultural heart of West Alabama.
The earthquake affected parts of East L.A.
the south of France
Southern hospitality, Southern accent (Use this capitalization carefully-only when referring to the region's culture, people, or history. In geographic and similar uses, such as southern city or southern climate, lowercase.)

Capitalize the names of physiographic provinces and divisions:

Antarctica, Antarctic Circle
Appalachian Highlands
Continental Shelf
Coastal Plain
East Gulf Coastal Plain
Great Plains
High Plains
Hudson Valley
Interior Plains
New England Province
Piedmont Province
Rocky Mountain System
Valley and Ridge Province

See also capitalization for general rules.

grade point average, GPA

After first reference, GPA is an acceptable abbreviation, although in many contexts you may not need to use the long form at all; no periods are necessary. When giving a GPA, always use a decimal point and carry to at least one decimal place: 3.0, 2.2.

In running text, give grades in quotation marks:

"A"
"B-"
"C+"
"Incomplete"
"Pass"
"WP"
He earned a "B+" in that class.
A grade of "NC," or "No Credit," may be given in freshman English courses.

In tables and charts, omit the quotation marks, but retain capitalization.

The modifier pass/fail is not treated specially:

It was a pass/fail course, in which I earned a grade of "Pass."
I took the course pass/fail.

graduate teaching assistant, GTA, GTAs (plural)

The abbreviation GTA is acceptable as a second reference in many publications. Avoid using graduate teaching assistant as a personal title.

Incorrect: Graduate Teaching Assistant Bob Jones teaches two sections of an introductory math course.
Correct: Bob Jones, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics, teaches two sections of an introductory math course.
Correct: Bob Jones, a graduate teaching assistant, teaches two sections of an introductory math course.

greek or Greek?

Do uppercase when referring to social organizations and honor societies, and always uppercase when referring to the culture, nation, people, or language of Greece or ancient Greece.

Roughly 20 percent of UA students belong to Greek-letter organizations.
Students majoring in classics study ancient Greek; classes in modern Greek are also available.



UA EDITORIAL STYLE MANUAL

UA Editorial Style Manual—editorial standards for University of Alabama publications. Compiled for editors and proofreaders around the campus by the Office of Marketing and Communications, a division of the the Office of University Advancement. Introduction \| What's New The Editorial Style Manual (alphabetical listing of topics): A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H I \| J \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| Y Appendices: Appendix A: Common Abbreviations Days of the Week and Months State and Postal Abbreviations Appendix B: Campus Building Names Appendix C: Historical, Cultural, and Geographical Terms Appendix D: Computer- and Internet-Related Terms Appendix E: Punctuation Appendix F: Time Terminology Appendix G: Usage	gender-neutral language Make your writing as inclusive and gender-neutral as possible when representing The University of Alabama or its programs or services. There are three good ways to make your language inclusive: 1. Use the second person (you and your). You must choose your major during the second semester. 2. Use plural nouns and pronouns. If you choose this option, be sure to change verbs and other nouns and pronouns as needed. Students must choose their majors during the second semester. 3. Use he or she, him or her, his or her, etc. Each student must choose his or her major during the second semester. geographic terms and names Lowercase north, south, east, and west and variations when they indicate direction. Capitalize north, south, east, west, and similar terms when they refer to regions. We went north, then east, then south, and finally west. He drove northwest for about 20 miles. He is from the South; his wife is from the Northeast. Tuscaloosa is the business and cultural heart of West Alabama. The earthquake affected parts of East L.A. the south of France Southern hospitality, Southern accent (Use this capitalization carefully-only when referring to the region's culture, people, or history. In geographic and similar uses, such as southern city or southern climate, lowercase.) Capitalize the names of physiographic provinces and divisions: Antarctica, Antarctic Circle Appalachian Highlands Continental Shelf Coastal Plain East Gulf Coastal Plain Great Plains High Plains Hudson Valley Interior Plains New England Province Piedmont Province Rocky Mountain System Valley and Ridge Province See also capitalization for general rules. *grade point average, GPA* After first reference, GPA is an acceptable abbreviation, although in many contexts you may not need to use the long form at all; no periods are necessary. When giving a GPA, always use a decimal point and carry to at least one decimal place: 3.0, 2.2. grades In running text, give grades in quotation marks: "A" "B-" "C+" "Incomplete" "Pass" "WP" He earned a "B+" in that class. A grade of "NC," or "No Credit," may be given in freshman English courses. In tables and charts, omit the quotation marks, but retain capitalization. The modifier pass/fail is not treated specially: It was a pass/fail course, in which I earned a grade of "Pass." I took the course pass/fail. graduate teaching assistant, GTA, GTAs (plural) The abbreviation GTA is acceptable as a second reference in many publications. Avoid using graduate teaching assistant as a personal title. Incorrect: Graduate Teaching Assistant Bob Jones teaches two sections of an introductory math course. Correct: Bob Jones, a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics, teaches two sections of an introductory math course. Correct: Bob Jones, a graduate teaching assistant, teaches two sections of an introductory math course. greek or Greek? Do uppercase when referring to social organizations and honor societies, and always uppercase when referring to the culture, nation, people, or language of Greece or ancient Greece. Roughly 20 percent of UA students belong to Greek-letter organizations. Students majoring in classics study ancient Greek; classes in modern Greek are also available. top of page

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UA EDITORIAL STYLE MANUAL