EDITORIAL STYLE GUIDE

The Florida Atlantic Division of Public Affairs follows The Associated Press Stylebook (AP). This guide is a reference for the FAU community to ensure consistency, clarity, and accuracy among print and online publications. Its purpose is to help the university community present unified and consistent external messages. 

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QUICK REFERENCE

 

UNIVERSITY NAME

Use the complete name Florida Atlantic University, or Florida Atlantic, on first reference for external audiences. Florida Atlantic, FAU, or university (not capitalized) can be used on second reference in print or other written materials. Florida Atlantic is the suggested second reference for broadcast media. 

ACADEMIC DEGREES

When listing degrees – and the subject areas in which degrees have been issued – capitalize. Preference is to abbreviate the degree. The word degree should not follow a degree abbreviation.

Examples: He earned a B.S. in Biology. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Capitalize the title of degree. For example: Bachelor of Science; Master of Arts. But lowercase when generally referring to degree. For example: a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s.

 

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS/COLLEGES/OFFICES

Official name is capitalized. (Examples: College of Engineering and Computer Science; Office for Students with Disabilities).  Use full name on first reference and “college” on second reference, not capitalized.

ALUMNUS, ALUMNA, ALUMNI, ALUMNAE

  • Use alumnus when referring to a man who has attended a school (alumni is the plural)
  • Use alumna for similar references to a woman (alumnae is the plural)
  • Alumni is used when referring to a group of men and women
  • John Smith ’75 (NOTE: closed quote mark, a.k.a. apostrophe)
  • The class of ’75 (NOTE: closed quote mark, a.k.a. apostrophe)
  • John Smith, B.A. ’75 (NOTE: closed quote mark, a.k.a. apostrophe)

BUILDINGS

  • The Breezeway is the walkway running north/south through the middle of the Boca Raton campus.
  • The Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium is located in the Student Union on the Boca Raton campus.
  • The Student Union, previously the University Center, is located on the Boca Raton campus.
  • The Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena is located on the Boca Raton campus.
  • The FAU/HBOI Marine Science Building is located at FAU Harbor Branch.
  • Flager Credit Union Stadium (do not use “the” before the name) is located on the Boca Raton campus.
  • The Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni Center is located on the Boca Raton campus.
  • The FAU/BCC Higher Education Complex is located at the Fort Lauderdale campus. 
  • Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence.

CAMPUSES/LOCATIONS

FAU currently has six locations. Names listed in bold below are preferred in the first use. Subsequent listings offer additional acceptable uses.

Florida Atlantic Boca Raton

Boca Raton campus

Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton

Florida Atlantic Dania Beach

Also known as SeaTech

Florida Atlantic University at Dania Beach

Florida Atlantic Davie

Davie campus

Florida Atlantic University at Davie

Florida Atlantic Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale campus

Florida Atlantic University at Fort Lauderdale

Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI)

Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

(site is located in Fort Pierce, Fla.)

Florida Atlantic Jupiter

John D. MacArthur Campus at Jupiter

Florida Atlantic University at Jupiter

NOTES: When appropriate, “Broward campuses” or “Northern campuses” grouping may be used. The Broward campuses are Dania Beach, Davie and Fort Lauderdale. The Northern campuses are Harbor Branch and Jupiter.

List in alphabetical order when listing more than one campus.

Always spell out “Fort Lauderdale” and “Fort” Pierce. Always abbreviate Port “St.” Lucie.

When using the “campus” in text, lowercase “c.” (Example: I met my wife at the Jupiter campus.)

 

PRESIDENT Adam Hasner

Always use full name on the first reference. 

SEMESTERS

Use lowercase for seasons of the year, but uppercase when referring to a semester. (Example: I started classes at FAU last fall during the Fall 2007 semester.)