Βι¶ΉΣ³»­

Writing guide

University style

College style

 

University style notes

Addresses

  • House numbers: Always use figures. Example: 9 Morningside Circle.
  • Only abbreviate Ave. (Avenue), Blvd. (Boulevard) and St. (Street) with street numbers; spell out all others (Circle, Road, Parkway, etc.).
  • Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names. Use figures for 10th and above. Avoid using superscript. Example: First St., 10th Ave.

Ages

  • Always use figures. A 5-year-old boy, the boy is 5 years old, the 5-year-olds.

Chapters, Pages

  • Capitalize word and use numeral. Chapter 3, Page 123.

Dates, Times

  • Do not add "st," "th," etc. to the date. Example: Dec. 1, not Dec. 1st.
  • Use colons only with times not on the hour. Example: 2 p.m., 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
  • Do not use numbers with noon or midnight.
  • Use lowercase a.m., p.m., with a space before the "a" or the "p," and no space after the first period, as shown here.

Dimensions

  • Use all figures and spell out inches, feet, etc., to indicate depth, height, length and width. 5 inches of snow, a 5-foot man, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 6 feet wide and 5 feet high, the rug is 9 feet by 12 feet.

Distances

  • Spell out below 10. In metric system, don’t abbreviate anything unless it is film or weapons.

Fractions

  • Spell out fractions less than one in text, using a hyphen. Two-thirds, four-fifths, etc. Use figures for precise amounts larger than one, converting to decimals whenever practical.

Grades

  • Spell out below 10.
  • Hyphenate the noun forms: First-grader, second-grader, 10th-grader. Also hyphenate the adjective forms: a fourth-grade student, a 12th-grade girl.

Numerals

  • Spell out all numerals that begin a sentence, except a calendar year. Unless another specific rule applies, spell out whole numbers below 10 and use figures for 10 and above.
  • In a series, apply the appropriate guidelines. They have 10 cats and three dogs.

Percentages

  • Always use figures with % sign. He completed 80% to 90% of the job.

Ranges

  • The form: $12 million to $14 million, not: $12 to $14 million.

Ratios

  • Always use figures and hyphens. A ratio of 2-to-1, or, a 2-1 ratio.

Recipes

  • Always use figures, except follow the fraction rule above.
  • Do not abbreviate. 2 teaspoons, 5 cups, 1 tablespoon.

Speeds

  • Always use figures. OK to abbreviate mph.

Telephone numbers

  • Put area code in parentheses, abbreviate and lowercase the extension: (775) 784-1581 ext. 18

Temperatures

  • Always use figures, except zero. Use a word, not a minus sign to indicate temperatures below zero. The low was minus 10, or the low was 10 below zero. Temperatures fell 5 degrees. If you need to specify Fahrenheit, you have two choices.
  • Use number, space, capital F format: 56 F, 82 F. No degree “circle” is ever used.
  • Use number, followed by degrees Fahrenheit. The water was 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Weights

  • Always use figures, spell out pounds, ounces, etc.

Years

  • The 1980s (no apostrophe), the ‘80s (apostrophe).
Get the full University style guide
 

College style

Talking about the College

Stand-alone formal

"I am not surprised that Matt volunteered to help out with the wildland fires in Australia," Tamzen Stringham, a professor with the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, said.
- University-trained firefighter volunteers to help Australia

Stand-alone informal

Christina is a first-generation student. Following her passion for soil science, soil ecology and natural resources, she's earning her doctorate degree in Environmental Science from our College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.
- First-generation Ph.D. student Christina T. Igono presents, wins award at international conference of soil scientists

With reference to the University

Marina MacLean has joined the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources as a lecturer for molecular biology labs in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
- New molecular biologist researches insect communication at University

The five-day event with seven locations across the state is a partnership led by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, and its Extension and Experiment Station units.
- Cattlemen’s Update provides market, production and research updates for 2020

Since fall 2018, Erica Bigio has been a lecturer and academic advisor for students enrolling in the majors associated with the Natural Resources & Environmental Science Department in the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.
- Natural resources professor studies tree rings for climate and fire data

Talking about our academic departments

Marina MacLean has joined the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources as a lecturer for molecular biology labs in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
- New molecular biologist researches insect communication at University

“MacLean is an integral part of the department,” said Bob Ryan, department chair. “Along with her assigned duties as a lecturer, she manages the laboratory and has stepped in when we were short on instructors. She’s a terrific resource and overall great person to have in the department.”
- New molecular biologist researches insect communication at University

Since fall 2018, Erica Bigio has been a lecturer and academic advisor for students enrolling in the majors associated with the Natural Resources & Environmental Science Department in the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.
- Natural resources professor studies tree rings for climate and fire data

Talking about our academic programs

Christina is a first-generation student. Following her passion for soil science, soil ecology and natural resources, she's earning her doctorate degree in Environmental Science from our College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.
- First-generation Ph.D. student Christina T. Igono presents, wins award at international conference of soil scientists

Talking about Experiment Station

Dos

The five-day event with seven locations across the state is a partnership led by the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, and its Extension and Experiment Station units.
- Cattlemen’s Update provides market, production and research updates for 2020

The University-taught program was developed by Stringham and fellow University ecologist Devon Snyder, with support from the College's Experiment Station.
- University-trained firefighter volunteers to help Australia

Christina conducted the award-winning research by setting controlled fires at the College's Gund Ranch Experiment Station in Austin, Βι¶ΉΣ³»­.
- First-generation Ph.D. student Christina T. Igono presents, wins award at international conference of soil scientists

Christina also studies how the effects of fire on soil biochemistry and greenhouse gas fluxes affect the sprouting and growth of grasses such as squirrel tail and cheatgrass. This she does at the Valley Road Field Lab Experiment Station in Reno.
-First-generation Ph.D. student Christina T. Igono presents, wins award at international conference of soil scientists

Don'ts

  • Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Agricultural Experiment Station
  • NAES

Talking about Extension

Dos

  • County name follows Extension. (Example: Extension, Clark County)

Stand-alone formal

The classes are taught by Extension horticulturists, experts and certified Master Gardener volunteers, as well as local business owners.
- Extension’s Gardening in Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ classes return in February

With reference to the University

Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Extension and their certified Master Gardeners offer “Gardening in Βι¶ΉΣ³»­: The Bartley Ranch Series.”
- Extension’s Gardening in Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ classes return in February

Lizeth Ramirez-Barroeta, a community based instructor in child and family literacy with Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Extension, was honored by the University's Staff Employees' Council as November's Classified Employee of the Month.
- Community instructor earns University award, citizenship

Extension titles

Heidi Kratsch, Extension horticulture specialist, will present the benefits of incorporating native plants into the landscape, showing photos of a wide variety of well-suited native plants for our area, and discussing their growing conditions, care and maintenance.
- Extension’s Gardening in Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ classes return in February

For more information, contact Staci Emm, Extension educator for Mineral County, at 775-475-4227.
- Cattlemen’s Update provides market, production and research updates for 2020

Professor Staci Emm and colleagues at Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Extension have been conducting the Veggies for Kids Program to address the issue, and have just published a paper on the program and its successful results in an article in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, in the Indigenous Food Sovereignty issue.
- University teaches nutrition to American Indian and rural kindergarteners

"Lizeth is amazing," Monica Peterson, a community based instructor with Extension, said.
- Community instructor earns University award, citizenship

Michael Janik, Extension Master Gardener volunteer and certified arborist, will discuss fruit tree varieties for northern Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ and their needs, including soil, USDA zones and chill hours, watering and pest control. 
- Extension’s Gardening in Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ classes return in February

Extension Research Center & Demonstration Orchard

On first reference, use "Research Center & Demonstration Orchard." On subsequent references, use "the Orchard." It can be noted that the Orchard is part of the Center for Urban Water Conservation. However, that's not the Orchard's name.

Don'ts

  • County name precedes Extension (Example: Clark County Extension)
  • University of Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Cooperative Extension
  • Cooperative Extension
  • UNCE

Design tips | Where identifiers meet content

  • If a design features the Block N only, spell out our name in the content.
  • If  a design features the College, Unit or Department identifier, our the name is already on the design. So, you don't have to repeat our name again in the text. Save the limited design space for your content.
  • If you use a branded Program identifier on a design, you don’t need to use a Unit, Department, College or University identifier too. Just mention us in the text somewhere. For example: Grow Your Own, Βι¶ΉΣ³»­! is a program of Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ Extension.
  • You don’t have to put our name on one line on marketing materials. If it looks too crowded that way, go to two lines. For example: First line: Extension, Clark County. Second line: Βι¶ΉΣ³»­.