Updated Nov. 9, 2007

Download the guide (PDF)

For many years, writers and journalists the world over have relied on style guides to ensure correctness and consistency in punctuation, spelling, capitalization, abbreviations and usage. As its official style guide,Temple University has adopted The Associated Press Stylebook, which is derived from Webster’s New World College Dictionary.

Attached is the Temple University Editorial Style Guide (PDF), which contains style guidelines that are specific to Temple University (note that some are exceptions to the AP Stylebook.)

When writing, you should verify your style with the entries in the Temple University Editorial Style Guide, the AP Stylebook and Webster’s New World College Dictionary, in that order.

It is critical to maintain a consistent style throughout all your projects with regard to spelling, capitalization, abbreviations and usage. This helps ensure that your message is strong, clear, cohesive and professional.

When writing for academic journals/papers and industry-specific literature, please consult industry sources for the style appropriate in your publications.

For ongoing updates, discussion and questions about the Temple University Editorial Style Guide, visit http://tustyle.blogspot.com. Should you need further editorial guidance, please contact the Creative Services proofreader at proofrdr@temple.edu.

S

Schools, Colleges

See "Colleges, Schools."

Semester/Session

All instances lowercase, including seasons.

e.g., fall semester, winter session

Social Security Numbers
Refer to http://ssn2tuid.temple.edu for guidance on when to use a person's Social Security number versus his/her Temple University ID.

Capitalize in all references to the U.S. Social Security system.

See also "TUid."

Student Center

It is no longer the Student Activities Center. Do not use the abbreviation "SAC."

The part of the building located at the corner of Montgomery Avenue and 13th Street is formally the Howard Gittis Student Center. On subsequent reference, use the Student Center.

T

Temple Events

Capitalize all instances of both Commencement and Convocation.

Temple-specific References/Applications

OWLcard is the term for the card, itself; whereas TUid is the university-provided ID number that is printed on the OWLcard.

OWLnet
TUmail
TUportal
TUcalendar

Temple University

References should be formatted as follows:

Temple University
TU
Temple
the university

Time Formatting

The preferred format should be punctuated "a.m." and "p.m." however the key is consistency within a document. As far as formatting on invitations and the like, there is definite leniency with regard to art.

Titles

See "Academic and Courtesy Titles" and "Administrative Titles."

Trustee

See "Administrative Titles."

TUid

The TUid is the personal identification number assigned to all students, faculty and administrative staff at Temple; it is used in place of Social Security numbers. Note its spelling: mixed UC/lc, solid, no periods.

See also "Social Security Numbers," "Temple-specific References/Applications."

W

Web Addresses

The prefix http:// can be omitted when www. is present.

Addresses beginning with https:// or ftp:// should include those prefixes.

www.temple.edu
http://directory.temple.edu

Punctuate after a web address at the end of a sentence, but to avoid confusion consider formatting URLs/e-mail addresses differently than copy text [bold, italics, different color] to differentiate from copy punctuation.

Web addresses in lists or tabular material do not require end punctuation.

Keep web addresses on one line when possible, and break at a forward slash when necessary.

When using web-related words, note the following spelling and capitalization policies, some of which are exceptions to the AP Stylebook:

Internet, e-mail (with the hyphen), World Wide Web, the web, online (no hyphen), web site, web page, web address.