The University of Alabama

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.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H
I | J | L | M | N | O | P | Q
R | S | T | U | V | W | Y

Appendix A: Common Abbreviations

  1. Days of the Week and Months
  2. 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

telephone numbers

See addresses, campus.

temperature

When giving a temperature, use numerals, no matter how small the figure:

The temperature averages 17 degrees Celsius, although that may vary by as much as 8 degrees from year to year.

When the degree symbol is used, abbreviate Celsius and Fahrenheit to C and F, respectively:

The sample came from water that was 125ºF, or 51.6ºC.

that and which

Use that to introduce a restrictive clause, which to introduce a nonrestrictive clause. How to choose? Consider whether the meaning of the sentence would be changed if the clause were removed.

Restrictive: Steinbeck wrote the book that made us want to move out west.
Nonrestrictive: The Scarlet Letter, which I read in high school, has been made into a movie.

Use a comma or pair of commas to set off a nonrestrictive clause:

Of Mice and Men, which is banned in many school districts, is generally considered an American classic.

If that appears earlier in the sentence, it is acceptable to use which in place of that to introduce a restrictive clause—but use no comma.

Is that the Steinbeck book which made you want to move out west?

See also comma.

that and who

Use that for objects, who for people.

Incorrect: He is the man that married my sister.
Correct : He is the man who married my sister.

See also comma.

theatre

Preferred over theater, except when the proper name of a room or building is spelled theater. Some University examples of official names with theater and theatre:

Allen Bales Theatre
Department of Theatre and Dance
Ferguson Theater
Riverside Amphitheater

time

See Appendix F: Time Terminology.

titles of works

Capitalize and set in italics the titles of the following:

books
CD-ROMs
collections of poetry
long poems
magazines and other periodicals
motion pictures
newspapers
operas, oratorios, motets, tone poems, and other long musical compositions
paintings, drawings, statues, and other works of art
plays, regardless of length
television and radio series, including miniseries

Capitalize (but don't italicize) the titles of the following:

book series
untitled musical compositions (e.g., Symphony in B Major); sharp and flat are lowercased (e.g., Symphony in E-flat Major)
computer software, languages, and hardware

Capitalize and enclose in quotation marks the titles of the following:

articles and parts of books
short poems
short stories
songs
television and radio programs that are not continuing series and individual episodes within a series
theses and dissertations

titles, personal

Do not capitalize a personal title when it falls after an individual's name or when it stands alone.

Emily Purchase, dean of women, will speak tonight.
Tell the dean of women about the night's events.

Capitalize most personal titles when given before the titleholder's name.

Dean Emily Purchase will speak tonight.
Assistant Professor Robbins teaches undergraduate composition courses.

When a surname alone follows a title, the title is never abbreviated (e.g., General Powell).

In running text, do not abbreviate position titles such as professor, associate professor, or assistant professor, or their capitalized forms.

Courtesy titles such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., and Ms. must be abbreviated.

Jr., Sr., II, III, etc., must be abbreviated. Punctuate as follows:

John E. Smith Jr.
John E. Smith III
Smith, John E., Jr.
Smith, John E., III

Sen., Gov., Pres., etc., may be abbreviated when a full name follows, but consider the greater degree of formality that spelling out the title may convey. Congressman and Congresswoman are preferred to Representative, and there is no abbreviation for Congressman or Congresswoman. Honorable must be spelled out if the word the precedes it; it may be abbreviated Hon. if the is not used and a full name follows. Military titles may be abbreviated when a full name follows: Capt., Cpl., Gen., Lt. Col., Maj., etc. When a surname alone follows a military title, the title is never abbreviated.

See also dean; graduate teaching assistant, GTA, GTAs; president.

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