Style Guide Reminders

As the 2024-25 school year wraps up and we all prepare communication materials for the summer and 2025-26 school year, we want to take some time to provide a refresher on the NC State editorial style guide. 

Below are several NC State and AP Style elements that we commonly see written incorrectly, in hopes of providing more clarity on their proper use going forward. 

Italics vs. Quotes: NC State differs from AP Style with regard to italics. Use italics for unfamiliar foreign words and phrases that are not proper nouns:

Example: The indigenous people of that region subscribe to a Weltanschauung that views the health of the people as dependent upon the health of the land.

Titles of large works – exhibits, plays/shows, books, journals, magazines, newspapers, albums, television shows and the like – are italicized. Song titles, chapter titles, etc. should be placed in quotations rather than italics. 

Examples: The Gregg Museum of Art & Design’s latest exhibition, Amazing Grace: Confronting the Enduring Legacy, is now open. Tickets for University Theatre’s production of Seussical are available now. 

NC State program and event proper titles require first letter capitalization but not quotes or italics.

Example: Join the Campus Health team for The Nature Experience on Thursday, April 24.

Ampersands: Do NOT use ampersands unless they are part of the proper name of a place/program/event and/or an approved exception.

Incorrect: NC State prioritizes students’ health & wellness. 

Incorrect: Students can engage in fitness classes through Wellness & Recreation.

Correct: The reception will be held at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. (approved exception)

Oxford Commas: Oxford commas should not be used unless their omission changes the meaning of a sequence. 

Example: DASA’s locations include Park Shops, Talley Student Union and Pullen Hall, not: Park Shops, Talley Student Union, and Pullen Hall.

Capitalization of Titles: Titles should only be capitalized when they are formally used in front of a person’s name. 

Example: Kevin Howell is NC State’s chancellor. NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell said that he’s excited to get started. 

Dr.: Both AP Style and NC State discourage the use of “Dr.” as a title in front of someone’s name in most cases. It’s preferable to state the person’s academic rank and field of expertise. 

Example: Holly Hurlburt, associate dean of University College and professor of history

Dates and Times 

• Other than March, April, May, June and July, months should always be abbreviated when used as part of a proper date, and written out when referring to the month as a whole. Do not use st or rd with dates.
  • Examples: NC State will be closed on Jan. 1, 2025 and July 4, 2025. The month of February features several Black History Month celebrations on campus. The academic year begins in August 2025.
  • Correct: April 3
  • Incorrect: April 3rd
  • Correct: May 1
  • Incorrect: May 1st
  • Times should be written numerically in lowercase with periods (a.m. and p.m.) and the :00 omitted for even hours.Example: The NC State basketball game will start at 7 p.m. The program will start at 9:15 a.m.
• 12 p.m. and a.m. should be written as “noon” and “midnight”
• Spans of time:
  • When both the start and end time are a.m. or p.m., a dash can be used between the times. Example: The annual DASA kickoff will run from 9-11:30 a.m.
  • When the start and end time span both a.m. and p.m., the time should be written as such: The DASA summer cookout will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Years of Students: First-year student, second-year student, etc. is preferred to freshman/sophomore/junior/senior.

For additional guidance, review DASA’s editorial style guide as well as NC State’s full editorial style guide. University Communications offers in-person Using NC State Editorial Style training sessions throughout the year.