Should you spell it Web site, web site or website? Is college capitalized? How do you abbreviate bachelor of science?

The Capitol College style guide attempts to answer those questions and more so that the look and tone of the college's written communications convey a consistent message and style.  Included are guideline entries that pertain to punctuation, capitalization and the preferred usage for a variety of words and phrases.

The college style guide is based largely on the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style -- the two most widely used reference materials in newswriting and publishing. The official dictionary of the Office of Communications is Merriam-Webster's Collegiate, 11th edition.

This guide should be used primarily for most external communications -- website content, the alumni magazine, press releases, letters to the college community -- as well as documents, letters, memos or other types of communication disseminated within the college. This guide is not intended for any scholarly, academic or technical work. Whatever rules faculty members have established for student work or technical papers supersede this guide.

Language evolves, and so will the style guide. The Office of Communications welcomes your suggestions for new or updated entries, as well as any questions.

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