Normandale Style Guide
Purpose
Style is all about making choices. The order of words, the patterns of sentences, the construction of paragraphs —
the number of choices available to writers is nearly limitless. All written communication mirrors an individual’s
writing style, and at Normandale Community College, it also should reflect the institution’s identity. The purpose
of this style guide is to establish a standard for clear, consistent and accurate writing in the publications,
websites and other external communication vehicles of Normandale.
We recognize that different types of publications and audiences may require different approaches. An invitation has
different stylistic requirements than does an article for a newspaper. However, the goal is for our external
Normandale publications, whether an event schedule or a magazine feature article, to communicate effectively and
consistently. While individual styles writing purposes and audiences naturally vary, using certain elements
consistently will help our writing convey a positive and accurate image for the college.
Scope
Writers throughout the college often encounter the same sorts of questions:
When do I capitalize college?
How do I spell email, with or without a hyphen?
Can I use NCC as an abbreviation?
The Normandale style guide, though not intended to answer every question, addresses issues commonly encountered
at the college so that everybody writing about Normandale is speaking the same language. It contains
recommendations for style as they relate to issues specific to Normandale. For all other style questions, refer to the
style guide recommended below:
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law
Above all, make sure to use the same style consistently throughout each written piece or publication. In instances
where the Normandale Style Guide differs from the AP Stylebook, the Normandale guide takes precedence. If you
have questions, please feel free to contact Steven Geller at 952-358-8954 or [email protected].
Last updated: February 25, 2012 1 A Abbreviations and acronyms

Avoid using abbreviations and acronyms unless they are universally recognized, such as AIDS, FBI, GPA,
NASA and ROTC. NCC is not considered an acceptable acronym for Normandale Community College.

See also Degrees
Academic and administrative titles

Capitalize and spell out formal titles such as instructor or dean when they precede a name. Otherwise
lowercase.

See also Titles and Designation
Addresses

In listing contact information: Spell out "Street," "Avenue," "Suite," etc.

Use postal codes for states, "LA," "TX," "FL."
o
Use this address format for mailing addresses:
Person’s name
Normandale Community College
Room number and building
Main office address, for example, the uptown campus address is 6823 St. Charles Avenue
City, state, ZIP
For example:
Steve Geller
Normandale Community College
C 1200
9700 France Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55431-4399

To improve speed and accuracy in delivery, the post office recommends using
the extended ZIP + 4 code.

In writing within a sentence:
o
Abbreviate "St.," "Ave.," "Ste.," etc., unless no street number is provided.
o
Use AP style for states, "La.," "Texas," "Fla."
o
Avoid using the number sign (#), use "No." instead both in listings and writing.
Administrative and professional titles

See Titles and designations
2 Alumnus

See Titles and designations
B Buildings

Uppercase when it is the formal and shortened name of the building: the Kopp Student Center.

First reference full name

o
the Jodsaas Science Building
o
the Activities Building
o
the Student Services Building
o
the Fine Arts Building
o
The Kopp Student Center
Second reference, shortened title
o
the Science Building
o
the Student Center
C Course titles

Official course titles should be all capitalized in running text. No italics or quotation marks are needed.
o

Example: Frank was hoping to get into a new business course, Introduction to Business Ethics.
When listing a course number with the departmental abbreviation, put a space between the
abbreviation and the course number and before the course name.
o
Example: ENGC 1101 Freshman Composition
Credit hours

Use numerals to refer to credit hours.
o
Example: She is enrolled in a 3-credit-hour course. (Note that hyphens are used.)
3 D Days and dates

See Numbers, dates and times
Dean

See also Titles

Capitalize in initial use as a formal title before a name. Lowercase in other uses.
o
Example: During the ceremony, Dean Michael Kirch will present the award. Michael Kirch, dean of
business, social sciences, and library, will attend the conference. The dean has published many
books on the subject.
Degrees

Omit DBA, DVM, MD, PhD, and other degrees in text after a person’s name, with the exception of formal
event materials such as formal programs and invitations, letters and donor lists. When used, do not
incorporate periods for the degree abbreviations (i.e., “PhD” instead of “Ph.D.”).

Omit abbreviations for fellowships or certifications after names (e.g., FACS), except on formal programs,
invitations, etc.

Communicate a person’s expertise and academic excellence through the use of titles and context.

Use discretion and context in determining the most appropriate descriptive terms for people with multiple
titles and professional achievements.

When referring to degrees conferred by Normandale, consult http://normandale.edu/academics/index.cfm for
proper titles and capitalization.
Departments, programs and offices

Capitalize when using the full, proper name
o
Example: “the History Department” or “the Nursing Department”
o
Example: “the Dental Hygiene Program”

Refer to http://normandale.edu/academics/index.cfm for correct department and program names.

Use the British spelling of “theatre” only when using formal names, such as the Department of Theatre and
Dance. The American spelling, “theater,” should be used in all other references. (e.g., “Students in the
Department of Theatre and Dance study theater.”)

The “Office of Admissions” or the “Admissions Office” is spelled with an “s” at the end of “admission.”
4 
The names of college offices are all uppercase when the full, formal name is used. A shortened form (i.e.,
“Office of” is dropped) used on second reference is also uppercase.
o
Example: Staff from the Office of Academic Affairs have begun the process of reviewing
applications. Once Academic Affairs completes the review, then letters are mailed out to applicants.

A “reversed” version of the full, formal name is also uppercase.
o
Example: Academic Affairs has received a record number of graduation applications.
Disabled, disability

Do not use handicapped. Use preferred “people-first” language that describes what a person has, not who
the person is.
o
Example: rather than writing “she is autistic,” instead write “she has autism.”

Avoid objectifying any persons with disabilities, e.g., instead of "autistic children" use "children with autism."

Avoid: victim of, suffers with, afflicted by, wheelchair-bound, etc.
o
Example: people with disabilities, people without disabilities, she has autism, he has a physical
disability, person with a brain injury, people with mental illness, accessible seating, accessible
parking, the disabled community.


Use separate instead of special in such phrases as separate bathroom, separate bus.
For questions specific to this area, contact Debbie Tillman, director of the Office for Students with Disabilities
and Student Support Center at 952-358-8623 or [email protected].
Diversity

Be sensitive to the implications of language and try to avoid sexist terms.

When possible, replace masculine pronouns with nouns (e.g., “Each student should hand in his paper on
time” may be rewritten as “Students should hand in their papers on time.”).

Avoid using “chairman” – instead, consider using “chair.”

Instead of “freshman” consider using “first-year student.”

Use LGBTQI Life or Office of LGBTQI Life in headline or lead. Also okay for second reference to Office of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Life.

Capitalize the specific racial, linguistic, tribal, religious and other groupings of people, such as African
American, Asian American, Caucasian, Latina/Latino and American Indian.

Native American and American Indian are both acceptable. Whenever possible, refer to a person by their
tribe affiliation.
o

Example: Mary Truegood is a Cherokee bead worker.
Avoid the potentially derogatory term Indian. Do not hyphenate as noun or adjective.
o
Example: Native American students voiced their approval.
5 F Federal

Lowercase unless part of a proper name.
o
Example: Federal Aviation Administration; federal taxes; federal loan program; federal government
First-year and freshman (adj.)

First-year is often preferred at Normandale. Note that first-year is hyphenated as an adjective.
o
Example: All first-year students are required to take certain placement tests.
Foreign students

Use international students instead.
Foreign words and phrases

Unfamiliar foreign words and phrases are usually italicized. A word that is listed in a standard English
dictionary (such as Webster’s Third New International) is probably familiar enough to not require italics.
Foundation

On first reference, always use “Normandale Community College Foundation.” On second reference use
“Normandale Foundation.”
G Gender-neutral language

See also Diversity
6 H Headings

Follow the recommendations of the Web Style Guide regarding headings

Names of departments should have each word capitalized

Generally, all other headings will capitalize only the first letter of the first word
HTTP

See Web
Hyphen

Generally, do not use a hyphen when using a prefix with a word starting with a consonant.

Except for cooperate and coordinate, use a hyphen if the prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows
begins with the same vowel.

Do use a hyphen before capitalized words or numerals or in awkward constructions that might be
misleading or difficult to read such as non-nuclear.
o
Example: multistory building, nonprofit organization, non-nuclear plant, postdoctoral research,
antiwar movement, antebellum, re-establish, pretrial hearing, pre-election debate, pre-Columbian,
pre-1914.

Common words:
o
Campuswide—one word, no hyphen
o
Chair and vice chair – two words, no hyphen (e.g., “It is the job of the chairs to select topics for the
symposium.”) Note: See the section on “Gender-neutral language.“
o
Fundraiser – not hyphenated (e.g., “The auxiliary’s espresso bar is a successful fundraiser,”
“Normandale has hired a new fundraiser.”)
o
Fundraising – one word as a noun (e.g., “She had more than 10 years of experience in fundraising at
the schools.”),
o
Fund-raising is hyphenated as an adjective (e.g., “Her fund-raising experience was limited to bake
sales.”).
o
Health care – two words as a noun (e.g., “Legislators are concerned about the cost of health care
today.”),
o
Healthcare is one word as an adjective (e.g., “Healthcare providers are equally concerned.”).
7 J Jargon

Avoid the use of technical terms and jargon whenever possible.
o
Example: “The proposed study will utilize a family intervention study design” could be re-written
as “The study will compare the health status of family members.”

If technical terms cannot be avoided, explain them briefly:
o
Example: “Johnson received wide acclaim for his writings about leaders of the nihilist movement.
Nihilists believe that there is no greater guiding purpose to life nor is faith in any divine being
justified.”
L Legislative titles

On first reference, use Rep. and Sen. before the name.

Spell out and lowercase representative and senator in other uses.

When including party and state affiliation, set off with commas (not parentheses) and use AP abbreviation
for the state.
o
Example: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., will hold a roundtable discussion on health care.
Logo

Information about the use of Normandale Community College logos is available online in the Brand Book on
page 13 of the PDF. The Brand Book is located on the Employee Portal in the Marketing Services site.
8 M Months

See also Numbers, Dates, and Time
N Names

On first reference, use the person’s full first name and last name and title. Do not use a courtesy title (such
as Mr. or Ms.), except for medical doctors and then use Dr. only on first reference.

On second reference, use only the last name, without title and without courtesy title.
o
Example: Since the recently announced federal funding, Normandale has hired Dr. Lewis Johnson
to lead the Veterans Resource Center. Johnson is taking a new approach.

See also Titles
Names of buildings and centers

In general, use the proper (complete and capitalized) name on first reference. Subsequent references may
be shortened and in lowercase if the meaning is clear.

The names of centers should be capitalized even without the Normandale name (e.g., the Kopp Student
Center). Also, it is not appropriate to insert “Normandale Community College” in the names of centers and
programs already named (e.g., Normandale Community College Kopp Student Center).
Nationalities and other groups of people

See also Diversity
Newspaper, periodical names and books

Names of newspapers and periodicals are italicized.

Capitalize the in a newspaper’s name if that is the way the publication prefers to be known.

In cases where the paper’s location is needed for clarity but is not part of the official name, use parentheses
to indicate location.
9 o
Example: The editor of The Star Tribune will participate in the panel discussion. The article about
Coach Johnson in The Bloomington Sun (Minn.) caught the student’s attention.
Normandale Community College name

Do not use NCC

On first reference, use “Normandale Community College.”

On second reference, use “Normandale.”

On third reference, use “the college” or “the school” (lowercase).

Note that context will dictate clarity of your terms.
Normandale Community College standard description

Use this description:
Normandale Community College is an urban two-year college serving primarily the communities of the
southwestern metropolitan region of the Twin Cities. Established in 1968, Normandale is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. More than 15,000
students from diverse backgrounds take courses at the college annually.
Normandale-specific names

Normandale Public Safety

the Employee Portal

Lorenz Fine Arts Auditorium

the Fine Arts Theatre

Refer to the Kopp Student Center rooms with the correct names in first reference

o
The Overlook supported by HealthPartners
o
McGraw Room
o
Premanand Room
o
Weiss Room
o
Stiles Room
Normandale Students-- On first reference, always include Normandale Community College.
o

Example: He is currently a Normandale Community College first-year student.”
If necessary, add another sentence or qualifier to explain the student’s school or department.
o
Example: Normandale Community College student Nancy Drew has received a Jack Kent Cooke
Scholarship to study early medieval texts in Great Britain. Drew, who is a second-year student, will
study at Oxford University.

Lions’ Roar not The Lions Roar
10 Numbers, dates and times

Note: The rules of noting numerals as figures versus words include several exceptions. Consult The
Associated Press Stylebook. Below are some common rules.

Ages – Use numbers for all ages (e.g., “The 2-year-old child will be 3 years of age next year.”).

Dates – When citing a specific date, usually include the day of the week on first reference.

For headings of text and for invitations, do not abbreviate the days of the week and months.
o
Examples:
Monday, August 20, 2007
August 2007
August 20

In writing, abbreviate the month when listed with a specific date:
o
Example:
Monday (Aug. 20)
Aug. 20

Dollars – Use numbers to indicate dollar amount, followed by the written designation as needed (e.g., 5
cents, $60,000, $4 million).

Numerals – Spell out numbers one through nine, and when any number begins a sentence. Use Arabic
numerals for everything equal to or greater than 10 (e.g., 40, 99).

Ordinal numbers – Spell out first through ninth when they indicate sequence in time or location. Starting with
10th use figures (e.g., “The 11th annual event will be held on the second floor.”).

Percentages – Write out the word percent after a number (e.g., “The results show that 50 percent of the
students benefited from the program.”). The percent sign (%) can be used for tables.

Phone numbers – When writing out phone numbers, separate the area code and the phone number with a
hyphen instead of parentheses (e.g., 952-865-5210). Do not add a "1" before toll-free numbers (e.g., 877862-8080 rather than 1-877-862-8080). Avoid using mnemonic words or phrases (e.g. 952-EYE-DOCS), but
if you do, then also display the numerals to accommodate the use of various mobile devices.

Times – Use figures, except for noon (12 p.m.) and midnight (12 a.m.). Use a colon to separate hours from
minutes. Do not use :00 if the time is on the hour.
o
Examples:
11 a.m.

4:15 p.m.
From noon to 1 p.m. (use "to" when the phrase includes "from")

Exceptions for formal invitations: Please join us from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., or 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Some months are abbreviated when used in an exact date: Nov. 11, 1918.

Months with fewer than six letters in their names are not abbreviated.

The following are abbreviated: Jan. Feb. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

The following are not abbreviated: March April May June July

Months are spelled out when used alone or with the year only: January 1993; notice that there is no comma
between the month and the year.

Months are not abbreviated in running text.
.
11 O Offices

See Departments, programs, and offices
P Product and company names

The use of product names or companies may be construed as a tacit endorsement by the college, thus
raising conflict-of-interest questions and other problems. Use generic titles or descriptions whenever
possible.
o
Example: Use “copy”, not “Xerox”.
Professor

Use instructor, not professor (Normandale specific).

Capitalize before a name; lowercase elsewhere. However, a named professorship is always capitalized.
o
Example: Instructor in English Eric Mein; Instructor Eric Mein; Eric Mein, instructor
in English; she is an instructor in Sociology; she is an instructor in the Sociology Department.

See also Academic and administrative titles
R Regions

In general, capitalize North, South, East, West, Northeast, etc., when they designate regions;
lowercase when they indicate compass direction.
o
Example:
He drove west.
The cold front is moving in from the east.
12 The North was victorious.
She has a Southern accent.
A storm system that developed in the Midwest is spreading eastward.
Normandale is one of the best community colleges in the Upper Midwest.
Normandale is located in the Southwest metro region.
Room

Capitalize before a room number, but do not capitalize specific room names such as theater or atrium.
o
Example:
The class is in Room S 2362.
The meeting is in the atrium of student services.
The breakfast will be in the Kopp Student Center.

Include a space between the building letter and the room number.
R.S.V.P.

Use uppercase letters with periods for this abbreviation of the French phrase repondez s’il vous plait ( =
respond if you please, please reply).
S Seasons

Do not capitalize winter, spring, summer or fall, unless part of a formal name.
o

Example: Winter Olympics
Do not capitalize seasons as part of an academic period:
o
Examples:
spring semester, spring break, spring 2011
He spent fall semester studying in Germany.
Sign-up (n. and adj.) Sign up (v.)

A sign-up sheet will be located at the entrance.

Anyone who wants to take the class can sign up now.
13 States

See also Addresses

Spell out the names of states when they stand alone in a sentence.
o
Example: More visually impaired students in Minnesota are receiving special education services
this year through Normandale Community College.

When using a city and state in a sentence, set off the state with commas.
o

Example: Jane Smith plans to return to Cleveland, Ohio, to launch the new program this fall.
Abbreviating state names: Abbreviate the following when they are used with a city: Ala. Ariz. Ark. Calif.
Colo. Conn. Del. Fla. Ga. Ill. Ind. Kan. Ky. La. Md. Mass. Mich. Minn. Miss. Mo. Mont. Neb. Nev. N.H. N.J.
N.M. N.Y. N.C. N.D. Okla. Ore. Pa. R.I. S.C. S.D. Tenn. Vt. Va. Wash. W. Va. Wis. Wyo.

The names of these eight states should not be abbreviated in running text: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho,
Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.

Do not use postal abbreviations unless giving a mailing address.

Abbreviating state names: It is preferable to spell out state names when they follow the name of a city as
well as when they stand alone. Abbreviations may be used in such instances as lists and tables, and postal
abbreviations may be used for mailing addresses.
T Technology

The word “blog” may be used to describe a web log.

Cellphone and smartphone are single words.

Email is not hyphenated. Use a hyphen with other e-terms: e-book, e-commerce.

Internet is capitalized.

Online is not hyphenated.

Tweet (n. and v.)— Lowercase; describes the act of sending a message on Twitter (to tweet) as well as the
message that is sent (a tweet).
o

Example: Normandale sent a tweet about the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony.
Twitter (n. and adj.) — Uppercase; describes the community-based message-distribution system.
o
Example: Court Reporter Schools recently included a Normandale professor’s Twitter feed in their
list of “100 Best Twitter Feeds for Your Political Education.” Graduating students can follow
Commencement activities on Twitter.

Log in (v.) Login (n.)
o

Example: Use your VUNet username to log in. If your login is unsuccessful, contact ITS.
Log on (v.), Logon (n. and adj.) — Use log on to, not log onto.
14 o
Example: log on to our site, to execute a logon, the logon command

The word listserv is lowercase. Note that there is no “e” at the end.

Upload is one word.

Videoconferencing is one word.

Voice mail is two words.
Telephone numbers

See Numbers
Theater, theatre

Use theatre in reference to Normandale’s Department of Theatre, as this is their preferred spelling.

For general purposes, use theater.

In proper names of programs and buildings, maintain the spelling used by that entity.
o
Example: The English department has a partnership with The Guthrie Theater.
Time

See Numbers, Dates, and Time
Titles and designation

Without a name – In general reference, titles remain lowercase when a name is not used, including “pope”
and “president.”

Before a name – Uppercase when a formal title precedes the name (e.g., Pope John Paul, President Joe
Opatz).

After a name – Lowercase when following the name (e.g., “George W. Bush, president of the United States”
and “Jeff Judge, dean of humanities”).

Definition – To be considered a Normandale alumnus or alumna a person must have completed 1 course at
Normandale. “Alumnus” is not the same as “graduate” – a graduate must have earned a degree from
Normandale.

Gender and plural forms – When referring to alumni, note that “alumni” includes both men and women; the
singular male is an alumnus, the singular female is alumna; and “alumnae” refers to a group solely
composed of women.

School and year of degree – In text, graduates' names may be followed with a parenthetical note of their
degree/primary area of study at Normandale Community College and the year of degree, followed by all
subsequent schools and years – e.g., Tom Sawyer (A ’65).

In first reference, refer to individuals by their preferred full name, and include appropriate terms to describe
their specialties or professional titles (first or second reference).

Use "Dr." in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual e.g., Dr. Jonas Salk. Do not
continue the use of "Dr." in subsequent references.
15 
On subsequent references, refer to a person by last name – e.g., Lash Larue, chair of the communication
department (first reference); Larue (subsequent references).

For all references: Omit “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Miss,” etc., regardless of gender, except in letters and donor lists.
U United States

Although the abbreviation U.S. is acceptable as both noun and adjective, it is often
preferable to spell out the name of the country as a noun.
o
Example: The United States continues to experience economic growth.
W Web

Capitalize this shortened form of World Wide Web. But the following web-related compounds
are treated as one word, lowercase: webcam, webcast, webmaster, webpage, website.
o
Examples:
Students can find schedules for all Normandale clubs on the Web.
She serves as assistant director of Web-based learning.
The department always includes their Web address on their publications.
The best place to learn about Web design is the Web itself.
Go to the Normandale website to register for classes.

The Normandale home page always should be written: www.normandale.edu

When listing a website, it is best to use the address for a home page.

URLs should not be underlined in text. Where hypertext is a possibility, such as on a web page, addresses
may be underlined for technical reasons.

Check that the website address works and appears in text exactly as it appears online – it’s a good idea to
test the URL.

In text, do not leave off www in an address that has one or add www to an address that does not because
this may result in technical problems accessing the website. (See also: HTTP)

The term Web, when referring to "the Web" short for the World Wide Web, should be capitalized.

The terms web page, web log and home page are two words, not capitalized, nor hyphenated.

The word website is not capitalized, nor hyphenated.
16 
When listed as part of a URL, use lowercase. For most uses, if the URL begins http://www, eliminate http://.
However, if http:// is not followed by www, then retain the http://.
o
Example: Visit our website at www.normandale.edu/calendar/index.cfm
When you enter a URL in your browser, this sends an HTTP command to the Web server.

hypertext transfer protocol. When standing alone, HTTP should be uppercase.

See also Technology
17