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WSU Writing Style Guide

To establish a cohesive image of Weber State University and to provide readers with consistent, clear publications, Marketing & Communications has produced the WSU Writing Style Guide, a guidebook of editorial style. This includes rules regarding the mechanics of written communication, such as capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.

The WSU Writing Style Guide adheres predominantly to the Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law and should be uniformly applied to all university media (print and digital), recruitment materials, and web pages. For guidance that is not already addressed in this style guide, please consult the following references:

We invite you to use the WSU Writing Style Guide for all materials except those that are governed by specialized guidelines such as research reports and legal documents. If you have questions or would like to offer suggestions, please contact Marketing & Communications at 801-626-7359.

A

abbreviation  Do not use abbreviations or acronyms the reader would not quickly recognize. Always spell out official names and titles on first reference. Avoid courtesy titles such as Dr., Mr. and Mrs. Delete all periods unless necessary for clarity. Special cases: Some abbreviations are acceptable in technical writing or catalogs. For degree abbreviations, see degrees.

academic degrees  See degrees.

academic departments  See departments.

academic departments/programs, named  Check WSU catalog for formal names of departments and programs not named on behalf of donors. Do not capitalize programs when referenced generally without the full name of the department. Example: Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing; Parson Construction Management.

acronym  Avoid using an acronym on first reference, unless its meaning is universally recognized. The preferred form is to write a name or term in full on first reference. An acronym then can be used in all subsequent references. Example: The Master of Business Administration program is offered at Weber State University Davis. In 2009–10, the MBA program will graduate 42 students.

addresses  When listing an address in a publication, use a comma between city and state. Use U.S. Postal Service format for state: capitalized, two-letter state abbreviation (i.e., UT, not Utah). Use only one space between state and zip code. Mail codes should follow Mail Center guidelines.

Right: Ogden, UT 84408-4020
Wrong: Ogden, Ut., 84408-4020

Letterhead and business cards use unique street addresses, followed by Dept (no period) then the mail code number.

Office of the President
3850 Dixon Parkway Dept 1001
Ogden, UT 84408-1001

institutional addresses  When giving someone directions to WSU in Ogden, use 3848 Harrison Blvd. as the location:

Weber State University
3848 Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84408

Weber State University Davis
2750 University Park Blvd.
Layton, UT 84041-9099

Weber State Farmington Station
240 N. East Promontory, Suite 300
Farmington, UT 84025

Weber State University Morgan Center
241 E. Young St.
Morgan, UT 84050

Center for Continuing Education
775 S. University Park Blvd.
Clearfield, UT 84015

Weber State Downtown
2314 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84401

Community Education Center
2605 Monroe Blvd. 
Ogden, UT 84401

advisor  Not adviser

ages  Always use numerals.

alma mater

alum  A graduate of any gender, singular; use alum to be gender-neutral. Alumnus or alumna are acceptable in rare situations, such as a direct quote or an organization’s name, but the preferred term is alum.

alumni  A group of graduates of any gender.

Athletics Department  Not athletic department.

associate's degree  Per AP Style, associate degree is also acceptable. See degrees.

B

bachelor or bachelor’s degree  Informal use. See degrees.

bell tower  Preferred name is Stewart Bell Tower or Stewart Bell Tower Plaza.

Black  Capitalize Black in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying an essential and shared sense of history, identity and community among people who identify as Black, including those in the African diaspora and within Africa. The lowercase black is a color, not a person.

Board of Regents  Takes a singular verb and should be used on first reference; regents is acceptable on second reference and takes a plural verb. Example: The Board of Regents has approved the plan. The regents have recommended three changes.

Board of Trustees  WSU Board of Trustees takes a singular verb; trustees is acceptable on second reference and takes a plural verb; the board is also acceptable on second reference and takes a singular verb. Example: The WSU Board of Trustees has approved the plan. The trustees have tabled the recommendations. The board has tabled the recommendations.

bookstore  Wildcat Store is preferred, but bookstore is acceptable as a generic noun on second reference. See Wildcat Store.

bulleted lists  Appropriate mainly for instructional or promotional material. The lead-in to a bulleted list need not be a complete sentence; however, the lead-in should end with a colon as follows:
• Leave at least one space between the bullet and the start of the list item, and indent the list items three to five spaces (start the bullet on the third or fifth column)
• Begin run-over lines under the text of the list item, not under the bullet
• Omit articles (a, an, the) from the beginning of list items
• Punctuate bulleted list items only if they are complete sentences or verb phrases that complete the lead-in sentence, and use periods in these two cases
• Limit bulleted lists to no more than six or eight list items; for long bulleted lists, look for ways to subdivide or consolidate
• Avoid single-item bulleted lists.
 
buttons/hyperlinks When referring to a labeled button or hyperlink online, follow capitalization as it appears on the button itself, and use quotation marks around it. Example: Hit the "Submit" button when you’re done. Select "Next" when you are ready to move on.

C

capitalization  Departments: capitalize formal department names; lowercase the department name in informal references. Check the WSU catalog for formal department names. Example: the Department of History, the history department; the English department, the Office of Media Relations, the media relations office.

Titles in general: capitalize the first letter of all words in a title except prepositions, articles and coordinating conjunctions with four or fewer letters. For titles of compositions, such as magazines, newspapers, movies and plays, see titles.

campuswide  In general, avoid this term if what is actually meant is universitywide, across all campuses. 

chairman, chairwoman or chairperson  Department chair for academic departments; chair is preferred for other uses.

child care  Two words, no hyphen. In all cases except when referring to official titles that state otherwise, such as Care About Childcare, which uses the single word iteration as a proper noun.

cities: Ogden and Salt Lake City are the only Utah cities that may stand alone without the state name outside of datelines. Example: Ogden, Salt Lake City; Layton, Utah; St. George, Utah; Provo, Utah.

class of 2010  Do not capitalize.

class work, coursework

co-author (noun) or co-authored (verb)

cocurricular  One word, no hyphen. 

Code of Conduct, Student  See Policies and Procedures Manual.

colleges

College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology

College of Science

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions

Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education

John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics

Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities

commas  See Punctuation Guide.

commencement  Universitywide formal ceremony held to recognize and celebrate graduates from all university programs, and the term used to encompass all facets of graduation activities at the end of each semester.

concurrent enrollment  Capitalize only when referring to a proper noun, such as the Concurrent Enrollment program. 

continuing education  Division of Online & Continuing Education (as of Jan. 1, 2018); formerly the Division of Continuing Education. 

convocation  Formal event held by a college or academic program to recognize graduates and bestow individual degrees.

courtesy titles  See titles.

co-worker

cum laude  Also, magna cum laude and summa cum laude 

cyberspace

D

database

dates  Capitalize the names of months in all uses. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out when using alone, or with a year alone. When a phrase lists only a month and a year, do not separate the year with commas. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma.

Davis Campus  See Weber State University Davis.

days of the week  Capitalize days of the week as proper nouns. Do not abbreviate, except when necessary for a table: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat (three letters, without periods). When writing dates, do not include the day of the week, excluding instances where it is particularly relevant, such as an event that is historically held on a Friday being held for the first time on a Monday.

Dee Events Center  Events is plural.

departments: Capitalize formal department names; lowercase the department name in informal references. See academic departments, named for academic departments named on behalf of donors. Check the WSU catalog for additional formal department names. Example: the Department of History, the history department; the English department, the Office of Media Relations, the media relations office.

degrees: Academic degrees are not capitalized, and the preferred form is to avoid abbreviation unless producing catalog-type materials.

Use an apostrophe in associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. Use abbreviations such as B.A., M.A. and Ph.D., only when the need to identify many individuals by degree would make the preferred form cumbersome.

Right: She earned a bachelor’s degree.
Right: Stephen Covey, Ph.D., spoke.
Right: B.S., M.A., Ph.D.
Wrong: B.S., M.A., PhD

Web exception: Omit periods for all informational content on weber.edu. Example: BS, AAS, PhD, etc.

associate's degree: informal form of Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree.

bachelor’s degree: informal form of Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree.

When including a major with the informal form of a degree, do not capitalize the major. Example: bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy.

When including a major with the formal Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, capitalize the major, too. Example: Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy; Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

doctorate (noun) or doctoral (adjective) degree

Wrong: doctor’s degree or doctorate degree

master’s degree (see graduate degree programs)

Right: master’s degree in education
Wrong: master’s degree of education

disk or diskette  Not disc.

dorm  Preferred term is residence hall.

Downtown, Weber State  See Weber State Downtown.

E

email  Lowercase the letter e when writing the word email and write as one word; when listing an email address, use lowercase and do not use quotation marks.

Right: email recruit1@weber.edu
Wrong: E-mail “Recruit1@weber.edu”

em dash  See Punctuation Guide.

emeritus  Do not capitalize, and always place emeritus after the formal title.

Right: professor emeritus of history
Wrong: emeritus professor of history

e-newsletter  Newsletter should be used instead of e-newsletter to describe an electronic newsletter. However, if the text is differentiating between an electronic newsletter and a print newsletter, use e-newsletter to describe the former.

en dash  See Punctuation Guide.

entitled/titled  Entitled is possessing a right to do or have something; books are titled, not entitled.

ePortfolio  One word, no hyphen. Capitalize the first two letters in a headline or at the beginning of a sentence. 

events  For guidance on an event that is not listed here, contact the event organizer or visit its website.

Annual event names may be preceded by a number with its ordinal suffix and the word Annual. An event has to have occurred at least two years in a row to become annual; there is no such thing as a 1st Annual event. A suitable alternative is inaugural or first. Example: 10th Annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit.

Browning Presents!

Commencement

Convocation

Homecoming Week

Intermountain Sustainability Summit

Light the W

Lindquist Family Summer Pops Concert and Fireworks

Alumni Golf Classic

Block Party

Mount Ogden Hike

National Undergraduate Literature Conference

Service Day of Remembrance

Utah Juneteenth Festival and Holiday Commemoration

Weber Historical Society Lecture Series

WSU Day at Lagoon

eWeber portal

ext.  When listing phone extensions, the abbreviation is preferred to extension. Do not capitalize.

F

Faculty Senate

FAFSA  Spell out Free Application for Federal Student Aid on first reference; FAFSA is acceptable on second reference.

fall  Do not capitalize in reference to semesters. Example: The class will begin fall semester.

fall break  Do not capitalize unless used in a program title. Example: Alternative Fall Break.

Farmington Station  Use Weber State Farmington Station in most cases.

Farmington Station may be used if the inclusion of Weber State becomes repetitive or cumbersome, such as a list of locations or centers written for a publication, website or social media platform where it is inherently understood that Weber State University is referenced.

When listing multiple WSU locations and removing Weber State University or Weber State from titles, include street addresses for each center/campus listed.

Federal Student Aid

financial aid  Capitalize in formal reference to the department. Example: The student received his financial aid today from the Financial Aid Office.

Founders Day  No apostrophe.

Founders Society  No apostrophe.

full-time (adjective), full time (noun)  Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier.
           
            Right: I just landed a full-time job.
            Wrong: I work full-time.

fundraiser (event) or fundraising (adjective or gerund)

G

General Education  Capitalize as a proper noun when referring to the group of courses students must take to fulfill the requirements of their degree. Gen Ed is acceptable on second reference, especially when used in internal communications.

When writing for external audiences, general education should not be treated as a proper noun, unless specifically talking about a formal title, such as the General Education program at WSU, or the General Education director.

grade point average(s)  GPA or GPAs acceptable on second reference. No apostrophe. 

graduate degree programs 

Doctor of Nursing Practice
Master of Accounting
Master of Arts in English
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Criminal Justice
Master of Education
Master of Health Administration
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Professional Communication
Master of Science in Athletic Training
Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Master of Science in Computer Science
Master of Science in Data Science
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Master of Science in Nursing
Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences
Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy
Master of Science in Systems Engineering
Master of Social Work
Master of Taxation

graduation years When writing an individual’s name with his or her graduation year, replace the first two digits with an apostrophe if the graduation occurred less than 100 years ago, or will in the near future. If the graduation occurred more than 99 years ago, include the full year.

Include the abbreviation for the degree earned with the year whenever possible. Do not include a comma between the name and the abbreviation. Example: Weber Normal College graduate Doris Cook, 1919; NBA star Damian Lillard ’15; current student Elise Winston AS ’20.

great, Great, GREAT  When using the school fight song lyrics in official communications, it is recommended to use the listed capitalization and punctuation to indicate a crescendo to the final word.

The use of great-Great-GREAT is also acceptable, especially if the phrase is being used to modify a noun. This recommendation is intended to foster consistent usage in official communications. Example: great-Great-GREAT Homecoming.

H

half, one-half (adjective or noun)  A half-hour, a year and a half, 1 1/2-year-old.

halftime

healthcare  One word when used to describe a system, industry or field of study where health practitioners work or train. This usage aligns with common practice in the healthcare industry. However, two words, health care, may be used when they are used in a program title.

Hill Air Force Base  Hill AFB may be used on second reference.

Hispanic  See Hispanic and Latino.

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (eHSI)  Acronyms should be used on second reference only. Include the hyphens. The word Hispanic in an HSI context includes both Hispanics and Latinos. See Hispanic and Latino.

This usage is consistent with the writing style used by the U.S. Department of Education and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). 

homecoming  Capitalize when used in the formal title of an event; lowercase in all other instances.

Right: Weber State University Homecoming
Right: WSU Homecoming
Right: Homecoming Recycle Run
Right: I’m excited for homecoming
Wrong: Homecoming Week
Wrong: Homecoming Football Game
Wrong: Homecoming Dance

homepage  One word.

Honors Issues Forum

Honors Program  Capitalize Honors students when referring to students in the WSU Honors Program, but use honor students generically.

Housing and Residence Life  Is the formal name of the office responsible for WSU campus housing. Use WSU housing, campus housing or housing for general purposes, but use the formal title as needed.

        Right: Housing and Residence Life
        Wrong: Housing and Residential Life

hyperlinks  When possible, use descriptive links over existing text. Do not spell out entire URL. Example: Visit Human Resources to learn more. See buttons/hyperlinks.

hyphens  See Punctuation Guide.

I

Inc.  Do not set off with commas; do not write as INC.

Indigenous  Capitalize in reference to original inhabitants of a place. 

in-state, out-of-state  Preferred over resident and non-resident as of fall 2020.

institutional names:

Weber Stake Academy (Jan. 7, 18891908)
Weber Academy (19081918)
Weber Normal College (19181922)
Weber College (19221963)
Weber State College (19631990)
Weber State University (Jan. 1, 1991present)

interdepartmental  One word, no hyphen. Refers to interaction between or among WSU departments.

Intermountain West  Intermountain area.

interoffice  One word, no hyphen. Functioning or communicating between the offices of an organization or company; an interoffice memo.

J

junior  Abbreviate as Jr. only with full names of persons and do not precede by a comma. Example: John F. Kennedy Jr.

K

KWCR Wildcat Radio  Use KWCR on second reference.

L

landmark names: Capitalize when using the formal name

Ada Lindquist Plaza
Flaming W Rock
Legacy Wall at Tracy Legacy Plaza on first reference. Legacy Wall may be used on subsequent references.
Petersen Plaza
Stewart Bell Tower Plaza
Tracy Legacy Plaza
Veterans Memorial Grove (no apostrophe)

Latino  See Hispanic and Latino.

Latinx  May be used when referring to a specific organization or event or when an individual prefers the term. It should be accompanied by a brief explanation that some people use Latinx or Latine as gender-neutral terms. In general, Latinx is not widely accepted among the people it aims to describe. See Hispanic and Latino.

Legacy Society

LGBTQ+  Acceptable in reference to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning communities.

library  See building names.

Light the W

logo  Distinctive identifying mark that can be used alone or with the university signature. See the WSU Brand Identity Guidelines, or call Marketing & Communications at ext. 7359 for additional information about WSU logos.

M

mail code

Mail Center  Not mail services.

main campus  Avoid this term and instead use Ogden campus.

master’s degree  See degrees.

microcertificate  One word, no hyphen. All lowercase, except when at beginning of a sentence, in a title or when used as a proper noun. This rule was put into use on Jan. 1, 2022 and is subject to revision to align with industry and academic standards at a later date.

microcredentials  One word, no hyphen. All lowercase, except when at beginning of a sentence, in a title or when used as a proper noun. This rule was put into use on Jan. 1, 2022 and is subject to revision to align with industry and academic standards at a later date.

Morgan Center  Use Weber State University Morgan Center in most cases.

Morgan Center may be used if the inclusion of Weber State University becomes repetitive or cumbersome, such as a list of locations or centers written for a publication, website or social media platform where it is inherently understood that Weber State University is referenced.

When listing multiple WSU locations and removing Weber State University or Weber State from titles, include street addresses for each center/campus listed.

multicultural

multimedia

N

names of buildings  See building names.

names of campus facilities  See campus spaces, named.

names of centers  See centers, campus.

names, institutional  See institutional names.

names of landmarks  See landmark names.

names–first reference  Preferred use is first and last name, followed by title or position; use of middle names and maiden names optional. Avoid using courtesy titles (Dr., Mr., Mrs.).

Right: Brad Mortensen, WSU president, spoke Thursday.
Wrong: Dr. Brad Mortensen spoke Thursday.

names–initials  Omit spaces between initials, but do not omit periods. See abbreviation.

Right: E.B. White
Wrong: E. B. White

names–second reference  Preferred use is last name only in second and subsequent references.

Right: Mortensen said enrollment is up.
Wrong: President Mortensen said enrollment is up.

nontraditional  One word, no hyphen. Nontraditional students are those who are 25 and older, have a spouse or committed partner, are divorced or widowed, and/or have children.

north/northern  Lowercase when using as a directional description and when referring to a section of the state or city. 

Right: At the stop sign, turn north.
Right: She moved to northern Utah.
Wrong: She moved to Northern Utah.

numbers  Generally, spell out numbers below 10, use figures for 10 and above. Example: They had three children; nearly 100 students attended.
Spell out a numeral at the beginning of a sentence, except calendar years. Example: 1945 was a good year. Twenty-one students attended.

Web exception: Use figures for all numbers in informational content on weber.edu. Example: You must be enrolled for 8 credit hours to be eligible.

ordinal numbers: Spell out first through ninth when indicating a sequence in time or location. Starting with 10th, use figures. Example: First Amendment; he was first in line. Today is her 11th birthday.

calendar years: Do not use an apostrophe before the s in calendar years, but do use an apostrophe when omitting the first two numbers.

Right: 1980s; ’80s
Wrong: 1980’s, 80’s

school years: Written as 2009–10, usually omitting the century and the apostrophe in the second year and should use an en dash, not a hyphen. See Punctuation Guide: en dash.

O

on/off campus  Exclude hyphen if after the noun; hyphenate if before the noun. Example: Meetings on campus; off-campus activities.

Ogden  Stands alone. See cities.

Ogden bus rapid transit  Spell out on first reference as Ogden bus rapid transit, abbreviate as BRT on subsequent references. The official name of the bus line is Ogden Express, or OGX.

Ogden campus  The preferred term for the Weber State University campus located at 3848 Harrison Blvd. Avoid using main campus

OGX  Abbreviation for Ogden Express, the bus line running through Ogden. The Wildcat Express bus route on the Ogden campus is part of OGX. 

online  One word.

open-enrollment university 

Outdoor Adventure & Welcome Center

P

Pell Grant, Federal

percent  Use the % sign when paired with a numeral, with no space, in most cases.

Right: 21% increase
Wrong: 21 percent increase

phone number  Put a hyphen between each number sequence; do not use parentheses around the area code.

Right: 801-626-0000
Wrong: (801) 626-0000

president  Capitalize president only as a formal title used directly before an individual’s name. Lowercase in all other uses. Example: President George Washington, also the president said today...

President’s Council

program  Use uppercase for the formal name of academic programs. Example: the Outdoor Program, the Honors Program.

programs, named:

Richard Richards Institute for Ethics on first reference. Richards Institute may be used on second reference.

Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service on first reference. Walker Institute may be used on second reference.

punctuation  See Punctuation Guide.

Q

quotations  See punctuation.

R

resume or resumé  Accent mark optional.

room numbers  Do not use # symbol.

Capitalize and spell out the word Room. Example: Elizabeth Hall Room 410.

Capitalize the names of specifically designated rooms. Example: Betty Hess Lampros Board Room.

S

Salt Lake City  Stands alone. See cities.

School of Accounting & Taxation

scholarship  When possible, use the full name of a scholarship. Example: the Larson and Powell Nursing Scholarship fund.

shootout (noun) or shoot-out (adjective, adverb)

The Signpost

sports scores  Game scores should be written in numerals, even if fewer than 10. Macintosh users, note use of the en dash rather than a hyphen. See Punctuation Guide: en dashExample: The final score was 33–3.

spring  Do not capitalize in reference to semesters. Example: The class will begin spring 2017.

spring break  Do not capitalize unless used in a program title. Example: Alternative Spring Break.

strategic plan  The strategic plan guiding the university through 2026 is called Weber State Amplified, a 5-year plan for growth on first reference. Weber State Amplified may be used on subsequent references.

Stromberg Complex  See building names.

Student-athlete  Hyphenated.

student body  No hyphen unless used as an adjective. 

street names  Write out street names such as Sixth South.

T

theater  In all references to on-campus venues, but theatre arts in reference to academic major and proper names of performing groups.

time  Use today, this morning, this afternoon, tonight, etc., as appropriate. Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. Avoid redundancies such as 10 a.m. this morning. 

titles 

composition titles  Italicize titles of magazines, newspapers, plays, movies, podcasts and books. For titles of articles in books, journals, newspapers and seminars: do not italicize, use quotation marks.

courtesy titles  Avoid courtesy titles such as Dr., Mr. and Mrs. Spell out university titles such as President Brad Mortensen, Provost Ravi Krovi and Vice President Norm Tarbox. See degrees.

formal titles  Confine capitalization to full formal titles used directly before individuals’ names. Lowercase informal titles, general job descriptions and the word former when referring to someone who no longer has a position.

Lengthy titles are recommended after individuals’ names to minimize capitalization. Example: Professor of English John Doe addressed the audience; English professor John Doe addressed the audience; John Doe, professor of English, addressed the audience; former Professor of English John Doe addressed the audience.

occupational titles  Titles that serve primarily as occupation descriptions should be written in lowercase. Example: astronaut John Glenn, director Rich Bills.

U

university  Not capitalized unless written as Weber State University or as part of any other university’s name.

University Village  See building names.

universitywide  One word, no hyphen. 

URL: Abbreviation for uniform resource locator, an internet address. It is no longer necessary to include http:// before a URL. Avoid using a URL at the end of a sentence, as a period following the URL is confusing.

Right: Go to weber.edu to access the homepage.
Wrong: Our URL is http://www.weber.edu.

Utah  Should not be abbreviated in regular text. Abbreviate Utah as UT in mailing addresses.

Utah State Legislature  Capitalize when preceded by the state name. Example: the Utah State Legislature. Retain capitalization when the state name is dropped but the reference is specifically to a state’s legislature.

          Right: The Legislature needs to appropriate more money.
          Wrong: He ran for the Legislature in every western state.

V

vice president  No hyphen. Capitalize when used as a formal title. See titles.

visiting professor

W

Wasatch Mountains, Wasatch Front, Wasatch Range

Weber State Amplified  See strategic plan.

Weber State Downtown:  Use in all references to the WSU location at 2314 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84401. Avoid including the word university in the location name.

Weber State Police Department  Or Weber State police.

Weber State University  Spell out on first reference; WSU acceptable in subsequent references, but never W.S.U.

Avoid using WSU on second reference if there is a perceived risk that the initials may be mistaken as standing for another institution. Example: Washington State University, Wichita State University, etc.

Weber State may be used in longer pieces and on weber.edu, especially when referring to the Weber State College era (1964–1989).

Avoid using Weber, unless written for a longer piece, or a publication, website or social media platform where a conversational tone is used and it is abundantly clear that Weber references Weber State University and not a different Weber named institution. Example: county, high school, library, school district, etc

Weber State University Davis: On first reference; WSU Davis on second reference.

The word campus may be used in conjunction with Weber State University Davis or WSU Davis. However, do not use it as part of the proper noun. Example: WSU Davis campus

Davis is acceptable in a WSU publication or social media post where it is abundantly obvious that the reference is to the WSU Davis campus in Layton.

webpage  One word.

website  When writing a website in publication, omit www. Do not italicize the URL. See URL.

Wildcat  Capitalize in reference to mascot or WSU students and alumni.

Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness  Formerly known as the Stromberg Center, part of the Stromberg Complex along with the Swenson Building, located west of the Swenson Building.

Wildcat Shuttle  The section of bus line that runs through Weber State's Ogden campus, which is a part of the Ogden Express (OGX) bus line.

Wildcat Store: The preferred name of the WSU bookstore. Using the proper, preferred name is encouraged on all references but bookstore is acceptable as a generic noun on second reference. See bookstore.

If the specific location is necessary, use Wildcat Store [name]. Example: Wildcat Store Shepherd Union, Wildcat Store WSU Downtown, Wildcat Store WSU Davis. 

Wildcat Village: Comprising Residence Hall 1, Stewart Wasatch Hall and Residence Hall 3.

World Wide Web  Web is acceptable.

WSU Davis See Weber State University Davis.

WSUSA  On first reference, spell out Weber State University Student Association.

X

 Formerly known as Twitter. For clarity, use social platform X on first reference. 

Y

year  2000s (no apostrophe); note the omission of an apostrophe before the s in the example. School years should be written with an en dash, omitting the century in the second year and without an apostrophe. Example: 2009–10. See Punctuation Guide: en dash.

For listing a graduation year with an individual’s name, see graduation years.

Z

zip code

Punctuation Guide

ampersands (&)  Ampersands should only be used when part of an entity’s official name. Note that official department and college names typically use an ampersand. Example: Department of Sociology & Anthropology, R&O Construction Classroom.

commas (,)

in a series: separate elements in a series, but omit the comma before the conjunction.

Right: The flag is red, white and blue
Wrong: The flag was red, white, and blue.

Use before and in a series of three or more items when needed for clarification. Example: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast.  

before a quote: do not use a comma at the beginning of an indirect or partial quotation. Example: She said the award “was long overdue.”

introduce a complete one-sentence quotation. Example: Smith said, “I will return Wednesday.”

em dash (—)   Replaces the traditional double hyphen and is used to indicate an abrupt change in thought. For Macintosh users, press the option, shift and hyphen keys simultaneously.

en dash ()   Use the en dash between words indicating a duration, such as hours, months or years. For Macintosh users, press the option and hyphen keys simultaneously. Example: 7:30–4:30, 5–8 years of age, January–March. 

headlines  Follow AP Style and only capitalize the first word of the headline or subhead, with the exception of proper nouns and titles.

hyphens (-)  hyphens are used strictly for hyphenating words or line breaks. If a word may be used with or without a hyphen, preferred use is to omit the hyphen. Hyphenated words should not appear in headlines.

quotations  use open-quote marks (“) and close-quote marks (”) to surround the exact words of a speaker or writer and to show which words are quoted directly or verbatim. Example: “I have no intention of staying,” he replied; “I do not object,” he said, “to the tenor of the report.”

A secondary use is to mark words that are used in an unusual sense or in an unfamiliar way. Example: That’s the “Weber Way” to cheer on the team. This secondary use should be infrequent.

Personal Pronouns, Race, Ethnic and Nationality Terminology

When such identifications are appropriate and relevant to the story, the interviewee/subject will determine personal pronouns, race, ethnicity and nationality. In all cases, avoid assumptions about subjects’ personal identifications and ask what terms they prefer. Do not argue with the person’s preferred terms of identification.

Pronouns

When writing about a member of the LGBTQ+ community, ask the person’s preferred gender pronouns. For circumstances in which the person does not identify as either male or female, use a singular they and their (regardless of grammatical convention) or whichever gender-neutral pronouns the person prefers. In the event that the person prefers that pronouns not be used at all, rework the story to avoid pronouns and use the person’s name whenever necessary.

Male: Use he/him/his/himself

Female: Use she/her/hers/herself

Gender neutral (singular “they”): Use they/them/their/theirs/themself (or preferred gender-neutral language)

Race and Ethnic Terms

When using race or ethnic terms, be sensitive to the interviewee/subject’s personal preference. While some terms seem interchangeable, these terms may carry different connotations and cultural significance. Avoid assumptions about subjects’ personal identifications and ask what terms they prefer. In the case of people of different nationalities, many people prefer identification by country of origin rather than blanket terms.

Black and African American

Not interchangeable. Ask personal preference. For groups, ask what terms may be used to refer to the whole group. Capitalize both. 

Black — a person who identifies their race as black, but may or may not claim ties to African or African American heritage.

African American  this term is applied to Americans of African origin (regardless of race) or people who identify with African American cultural heritage.

Hispanic and Latino

Hispanic and Latino, when used together, is the preferred term to describe the people Weber State University aims to serve as part of its strategic plan and Hispanic-serving initiatives.

As first priority, when writing about people who have indicated they are of Hispanic or Latino descent, ask personal preference. Some will prefer, for example, Mexican or Colombian to Hispanic or Latino.

Prefer Hispanic and Latino to Hispanic/Latino (avoid using slash); prefer and to or. The terms by themselves are not interchangeable:

Hispanic — a person of European Spanish, or Spanish-speaking Latin, Central or South American origin, but excludes people of Brazilian origin.

Latino — a person of Central or South American origin. Includes Brazil, but excludes people of European Spanish origin. Feminine form is Latina. For groups of females, use Latinas. For groups of males or mixed genders, use Latinos

Latinx may be used when referring to a specific organization or event, or when an individual prefers the term. It should be accompanied by a brief explanation that some people use Latinx or Latine as gender-neutral terms. In general, Latinx is not widely accepted among the people it aims to describe.

Use Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (eHSI): acronyms should be used on second reference only. Include the hyphens. The word Hispanic in an HSI context includes both Hispanics and Latinos.

Note: This guidance was approved by Weber State University’s President's Council in January 2023

Native American

In reference to the interviewee/subject’s heritage, ask the person’s self-identified nation or nations. When writing about a group of people of varied heritage, ask the group what terms they would prefer collectively. Native American is a currently disputed term used to refer to the pre-Columbian occupants of the United States. Other commonly self-applied terms for this group are Indian, American Indian, First People and First Nation.

Capitalize Indigenous in reference to original inhabitants of a place. 

According to the AP Stylebook, avoid words or terms such as wampum, warpath, powwow, teepee, brave, squaw, chief, etc., which can be disparaging and offensive. If a cultural event uses a name or word that typically has an AP usage caution (i.e., WSU First Nations Society Annual Pow Wow), contact the sponsors of the event to verify the use of the term. If the sponsoring party approves, then use the term in context.

When no specific individuals exist to state race or ethnicity terminology preference, review other AP documents and materials (such as articles, publications, biographies, etc.) related to that individual or group to determine acceptable descriptors. If no information is relevant to the situation, then use up-to-date appropriate AP terminology.

University Buildings and Named Spaces

Building and Room Names: Capitalize; preferred use is to omit the word Building; note exceptions.

Barbara and Rory Youngberg Football Center 

  • Brady Fosmark & Family Office
  • C. William & Bernice C. Stromberg Strength & Conditioning Complex
  • Cam & Mandee Quayle Office
  • Dave and Nicole Hall
  • Donna & Ralph Friz Office
  • Harper Rich Office
  • Jack and Nancy Behnken Hall of Fame Plaza
  • John Fassel Office
  • Larry & Annette Marquardt-Kimball Plaza
  • Oguo Atuanya Office
  • Orin V. & Melinda Trussell Office
  • Pat Hanley & Jim McMahon Office
  • Phil Smith & Family Foundation, Nikki & Jamie Harris Office
  • Sam Slater & Greg Weigel Office
  • Sark's Boys Gateway
  • The Lewis L. Thorpe Family Office 
Browning Center (see Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts for treatment of center or campus spaces, named for treatment of theaters and rooms)
  • Lorenzo E. Peterson, Sr. CAD Lab
Community Education Center
  • Melba S. Leba Children's School
  • Melba S. Leba Children's School Observation Room
Computer & Automotive Engineering Building
 
David Eccles Conference Center
 
Dee Events Center
  • Dr. Junior Edward Rich Memorial Lounge
  • Press Room Courtesy of Ogden Standard-Examiner 
Dumke Center may be used on first reference, but officially is the Ezekiel R. Dumke Jr. & Katherine W. Dumke Center for Interprofessional Education in Healthcare (refrain from using the abbreviation IPE).
 
Elizabeth Hall
  • E. Rich & Jane H. Brewer Conference Room
Engineering Technology Building 
 
Ethel Wattis Kimball Visual Arts
  • AutoLiv Education Studio
  • Blanche B. Rich Painting Studio
  • Claramay Patterson Felt Ceramics Studio
  • David O. McKay Library
  • Harold C. & Grace M. Steed Resource Room
  • Jerry H. & Kathy Peterson Sculpture Center
  • John D. Eccles Studio
  • Kamille Corry Drawing Studio
  • Keybank Faculty Office
  • Lawrence T. Dee & Janet T. Dee Resource Room
  • Owen Cyril & Lucy Morgan Hammond Printmaking Studio  
Heating Plant
 
Hurst Center may be used on first reference, but officially is the Hurst Center for Lifelong Learning.
  • Bruce & Valerie Davis Continuing Education Suite
  • Don E. Spainhower Development Suite
  • Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Legacy Hall
  • Richard F. & Karen W. Fairbanks Conference Room
  • Stacey G. Campbell - R&O Construction Board Room 
  • Weber State University Alumni Association Conference Room 
Ice Sheet (now the Weber County Sports Complex)
 
Information Booth
 
J. Willard Marriott Allied Health Sciences Building 
  • Drs. Dale W. & Adele C. Young Nursing Education Classroom
  • Giovanni and Hazel Faver Electronic Classroom
  • The Louis S. Peery Lecture Hall 
Kimball Visual Arts Center may be used on first reference, but officially is the Ethel Wattis Kimball Visual Arts Center.
 
Lampros Hall may be used on first reference, but officially is the Jack D. Lampros Hall for Teaching, Learning & Technology.
 
Lind Lecture Hall
  • Layton P. Ott Planetarium
Lindquist Alumni Center may be used on first reference, but officially is the John and Telitha E. Lindquist Weber State University Alumni Center.
  • Louis S. and Janet B. Perry Alumni Office
  • Thomas K. & Alma H. Welch Board Room
Lindquist Hall
  • Gayle & Sharon White Computer Lab
  • Haven J. Barlow Lecture Hall
  • Lola Allred Sessions History Conference Room 
  • T. Ramakrishna Reddy Political Science & Philosophy Conference Room 
Maintenance Building
 
McKay Education Building may be used on first reference, but officially is the David O. McKay Education Building.
  • Adele & Dale Young Center for Technology Integration in Education
  • Louis F. Moench Room 
Marquardt Field House
  • Powerade Grape Zero Officials Room
  • Powerade Lemon Lime Locker Room
  • Powerade Melon Locker Room
  • Powerade White Cherry Locker Room 

Marriott Allied Health may be used on first reference, but officially is the J. Willard Marriott Allied Health Sciences Building.

Miller Administration
 
Miller Advanced Research and Solutions Center, MARS Center on second reference
 
Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building
 
Ogdan LDS Institute 
  • McKay Memorial Library
Peery’s Egyptian Theater
 
Physical Plant

Receiving and Distribution Services

Shepherd Union
 
Social Science
 
Stewart Center 
 
Stewart Library
  • Dr. Rulon F. & Margaret C. Howe Faculty Research Carel
  • Hetzel Hoellein Room
  • Thomas D. Dee Reading Room
  • Utah Construction-Utah International Room
  • William & Amanda J. H. Waterstradt Memorial Conference Room
Stewart Stadium may be used on first reference, but officially is the Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Stadium.

Stewart Stadium Sky Suites should be used on first reference, but officially is the Stewart Stadium Sky Suites & Press Boxes complex. Sky Suites may be used on subsequent references. 
 
Stewart Wasatch Hall
 
Stromberg Complex is used in reference to entire complex that houses the Swenson Building and the Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness (formerly known as the Stromberg Center). The Swenson Building is to the east and the Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness to the west. The Swenson Gymnasium is housed within the Swenson Building. Stromberg Complex may be used on first reference, but officially is the C. William Stromberg Complex.
  • Dana Thornock Rasmussen Nutrition Biochemistry Laboratory 
  • Swenson Gym 
Student Services Center
  • LaMar "C" Kap Room
Swenson Building may be used on first reference, but officially is the Reed K. Swenson Building (see Stromberg Complex for proper usage guidelines).
 
Technical Education Building

Tracy Hall Science Center should be used on first reference. Tracy Hall may be used on second reference. The building also may be referred to as the science center (note the lowercase usage) on second reference. 
  • Mary Hall Carver Lab
University Village: comprising of Building 1, Building 2, Building 3, Building 4, Building 5 and a community center. Never reference a University Village building on its own.
Right: Building 1 in University Village
Right: University Village, Building 1
Wrong: Building 1  
 
Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts or Val A. Browning Center on first reference. Browning Center may be used on second reference. (see campus spaces, named for treatment of theaters and rooms)
  • Anya L. Kenley Teaching Studio
  • Austad Stage
  • Barry D. and Kathy S. Mower Practice Studio
  • Byron H. and Ruth C. Petersen Performing Arts Education Room
  • Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ogden Practice Studio
  • Darlene H. Hobson Practice Studio
  • Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Teaching Studio
  • Farrell R. Collet Administration Complex
  • Frederic Dixon Lounge
  • Gene Browning Ellis Family Teaching Studio
  • Grace Ann Hall Walling Theatre Costume Studio 
  • Harold C. and Grace M. Steed Practice Studio
  • James E. Morrin Practice Studio
  • John A. and Telitha E. Lindquist Practice Studio
  • John B. and Geraldine W. Goddard Practice Studio
  • Junior E. and Blanche Browning Rich Teaching Studio
  • Kevin S. and Tanya Y. Garn Scene Shop
  • Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery
  • Melanee Corry Ardizzone Piano Practice Studio
  • Norman C. and Barbara L. Tanner Practice Studio
  • Ray L. Kimber Music and Sound Recording Studio
  • Robert P. and Mary H. Evans Practice Studio
  • Roland Parry Recital Hall
  • Seldon John Olsen Performing Arts Technology Room
  • Standard-Examiner Practice Studio
  • U. Edwin and Mary K. Garrison Choral Room                                                                                                              
Wattis Business may be used on first reference, but officially is the Edmund Orson Wattis Business Building.
  • Bill Child Startup Center
  • Smith Lecture Hall 
Weber State Downtown Houses a branch of Wildcat Stores, the WSU app lab and classroom space on Washington Boulevard in downtown Ogden (opened November 21, 2013).
 
Weber State University Davis should be used on first reference (also see Weber State University Davis). WSU Davis may be used on subsequent references.
 
Weber State University Davis - Stewart Center
  • Ashgrove Computer Lab
  • Holcium US, Inc. Concrete Lab
  • Kier Construction Corporation Classroom
  • Lawrence and Janet Dee Nursing Suite
  • Parson Classroom
  • R&O Construction Classroom
  • Wadman Corporation Classroom 
Wildcat Center for Health Education and Wellness (formerly known as the Stromberg Center) is a remodeled expansion of the Stromberg Complex that includes a three-lane suspended track, an elevated pedestrian walkway, two group exercise studios, strength training areas and day-use locker rooms. It opened in fall 2013. 
 
Wildcat Village (see Wildcat Village for proper usage guidelines)
 
William P. Miller Administration Building
  • Betty Hess Lampros Board Room 

Former buildings:
 
LaSal Hall (demolished in 2010)
 
Promontory Tower (demolished in 2012)

Science Laboratory (moved to Tracy Hall Science Center in 2016)
 
Stansbury Hall (demolished in 2011)
 
Wasatch Hall (demolished in 2011) replaced by Stewart Wasatch Hall (opened 2012)
 
Campus Spaces, Named  Capitalize generally, but note exceptions

Ada Lindquist Plaza

Alan & Jeanne Hall Development Suite

Allred Theater (see Browning Center Allred Theater)

Annie Taylor Dee Simulation Center (use Dee Simulation Center on second reference)

Austad Auditorium (see Browning Center Austad Auditorium)

Browning Center Archives

Browning Center Allred Theater may be used on first reference, but officially is the Browning Center M. Thatcher Allred Theater

Browning Center Austad Auditorium may be used on first reference, but officially is the Browning Center Mark Evans Austad Auditorium

Browning Center Eccles Theater may be used on first reference, but officially is the Browning Center George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater

Browning Center Garrison Choral Room

Crime Lab

C. William & Bernice C. Stromberg Strength & Conditioning Complex 

Davis Hospital & Medical Center Nursing Laboratory, Weber State University Davis

Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Legacy Hall

E. Rich and Jane H. Brewer Conference Room, Elizabeth Hall

Eccles Field may be used on first reference, but is officially the George S. Eccles Field

Eccles Theater (see Browning Center Eccles Theater)

Dr. Elmer H. Erickson Memorial Classroom, Elizabeth Hall

Garrison Choral Room (see Browning Center Garrison Choral Room)

George S. Eccles Lecture Hall in Elizabeth Hall

Haven Barlow Career and Technical Education Suite

Haven J. Barlow Lecture Hall in Lindquist Hall

Haven J. Barlow Student Commons, Weber State University Davis

Hetzel-Hoellein Room, Stewart Library

Marjorie Ann Miner Faculty Office for Weber: The Contemporary West

Marquardt Field House may be used on first reference, but officially is the  Robert L. and Annette Marquardt Field House

Melba S. Lehner Children’s School, McKay Education (Children’s School acceptable after first reference)

Ott Planetarium may be used on first reference, but officially is the Layton P. Ott Planetarium

Petersen Plaza

Richard F. & Karen W. Fairbanks Conference Room

Robert L. and Annette Marquardt Gallery

Rocky Mountain Power Faculty Office

Shaw Gallery may be used on first reference, but officially is the Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery

Shepherd Union may be used on first reference, but officially is the J. Farrell Shepherd Union Building

Shepherd Union Art Gallery

Shepherd Union Atrium

Shepherd Union Ballroom

Shepherd Union Skyroom, now Shepherd Union Room 404

Shepherd Union Fireplace Lounge

Shepherd Union Food Court

Shepherd Union Lair

Shepherd Union Moench Executive Suite

Shepherd Union Pillar Plaza

Shepherd Union Wildcat Room

Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater

Smith Lecture Hall may be used on first reference, but officially is the Dee Glen Smith Lecture Hall

Stacey G. Campbell - R & O Construction Board Room

Stanfield Conference Room

Stevenson Athletics Offices, Stewart Stadium

Stewart Bell Tower Plaza

Swenson Gymnasium, located in the Swenson Building in the Stromberg Complex; stands alone in text. (Use Swenson Gym on second reference)

Swenson Natatorium

Tracy Legacy Plaza

Weber State Credit Union Atrium

Weber State University Alumni Association Conference Room

Weber State University Police Department

William & Julia Reagan Media Presentation Room

Willard Z. & Rona Lee Maughan Meeting Room, Elizabeth Hall

Centers, Campus: Capitalize

Applied Technology Education Center

Bioremediation Center

Boyd K. and Donna S. Packer Center for Family and Community Education

Center for Aerospace Technology

Center for Chemical Technology

Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) (formerly Community Involvement Center)

Center for Environmental Services

Center for Science & Mathematics Education

Center for the Study of Poverty & Inequality

Center for Tax Education & Research

Community & Economic Partnership

Counseling and Psychological Services Center

David Eccles Conference Center

Dee Events Center

Educational Technology Center

Eccles Literacy Center

General Motors Training Center

Hall Global Entrepreneurship Center

Health and Physical Education Center

Jerry & Vickie Moyes Center for Supply Chain Excellence

Learning Support Center

Museum of Natural Science

Multicultural Student Services Center

Science Education Center

Social Science Computer Center

Small Business Development Center

Student Health Center

Student Support Center

Student Success Center

Sustainability Practices and Research Center (SPARC)

Technology Assistance Center

Testing Center

Tracy Hall Science Center

Utah Center of Excellence for Chemical Technology

Utah Center for Aeronautical Innovation and Design (UCAID)

Veterans Services (not to be confused with Veterans Upward Bound)

William H. Child Center for Entrepreneurship (Center for Entrepreneurship acceptable in all references)

Writing Center

WSU Outdoor Program (Outdoor Program is acceptable after first reference)