Why a Style Guide?
The new online Columbia College Editorial Style Guide is, we hope, an easy-to-use reference to the certain language conventions that are specific to Columbia College. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use this resource as we strive to appropriately and consistently represent the College in printed material as well as on the Web.

In addition, basic guidelines are included for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage issues that commonly arise. We have followed most closely The Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual, with additional citations from the Chicago Manual of Style. For answers to other questions of style and spelling, please consult those references as well as American Heritage Dictionary, and Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary.

This guide is designed primarily to address questions related to journalistic writing. The guide is NOT intended as a style reference for students writing for their academic disciplines. As Dr. Nancy Tuten points out, “AP deviates on many points from MLA, Chicago, and APA, the three style manuals most [faculty] ask our students to use. Two differences that come to mind include the use of the colon (AP allows one in places that no other style book does, such as in the middle of a clause) and the use of the serial comma (AP says don’t use it; all the others encourage it).”

As matters of style and usage continue to evolve, we will continue to review and update the guide. We encourage you to become familiar with the Editorial Style Guide and to apply its rules to any text you write on behalf of Columbia College. Please contact us with your comments or any matters you feel should be addressed in future updates.

Contents 

I. Columbia College

A. General

II. Capitalization

A. When in Doubt,
     Do Not Capitalize
B. Capitalize
C. Do Not Capitalize

III. Abbreviations

A. When in Doubt,
     Spell the Word Out
B. Abbreviate
C. Do Not Abbreviate

IV. Punctuation

A. Apostrophes
B. Bullets
C. Commas, Semicolons,
     Colons, Periods
D. Dashes
E. Ellipses
F. Hyphens
G. Quotation Marks

V. Figures

A. Write Out Numerals Nine and Under
B. Use Numerals for
C. Avoid Unnecessary Ciphers
D. Use Hyphens to Set Off Fractions

VI. Names and Titles

A. Names
B. Titles

VII. Italics

A. Italicize Latin Names
B. Do Not Italicize
C. Italicize Specific Names
D. Titles
E. Emphasize Words and Phrases

VIII. Bibliography and Footnotes

A. Placement of Numerals
B. Reference Marks
C. Be Consistent

IX. Spelling and Usage

X. Miscellaneous

A. Addresses
B. Electronic Conventions
C. Year 2000 and Beyond
D. Specifying B.C. or A.D. (also, B.C.E. or C.E.)
E. Degrees Listed with Alumnae/i Names

XI. Copy and Image Preparation 

XII. College Publications

XIII. College Logos and Seal

XIV. Letterhead/Envelopes/Business Cards 
        Name Badges