When you are creating content, please follow these style rules. They are required conventions for all content published on University of Maryland, Baltimore websites.
Acronyms
In most cases, follow a first reference with its acronym in parentheses when it is referred to later in the story.
Example: The Maryland Poison Center (MPC)
Addresses
Rules
- Abbreviate numbered street addresses
- Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St. with numbered street addresses
- Spell out and capitalize unnumbered street addresses
- Lowercase and spell out addresses with more than one street name
- Always spell out alley, drive, road, and terrace
Examples of Correct Formatting
- 620 W. Lombard St.
- Davidge Hall is on Lombard Street
- Davidge Hall is at the corner of Lombard and Greene streets
Ampersand
Its use is acceptable when part of a formal name (Baltimore & Ohio Railroad) or as a design element
- Do not use in web page titles: URLs mirror page titles and ampersands are problematic in URLs
- Do not use as a synonym for “and” in running text
Baltimore Locations
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – BWI on second reference
Fells Point (no apostrophe)
Hippodrome Theatre (part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center)
M&T Bank Stadium (no spaces around ampersand)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Credits
Always use numerals
Example: He needs 6 credits to graduate.
Commas
Rules
Use the serial comma with “and” and “or”
Examples of Correct Formatting
- lions, tigers, and bears
- cats, dogs, or parrots
Dashes
In web copy use the mdash (—) with a space on either side, do not use ndashes or hyphens
Dates and Times
Rules
- Do not use “th” or “st” with dates
- Place periods between a.m. and p.m.
- Spell out the word "to" instead of using a hyphen or dash
- Spell out noon and midnight
- Use an apostrophe for dropped numbers with the apostrophe pointed in the direction of the missing numbers
- Use an “s” for plural numbers
Examples of Correct Formatting
- Jan. 9
- May 21
- 9 a.m.
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 6 to 8 p.m.
- Noon to 1:30 p.m.
- ’99
- '90s or 2010s
Degrees and Titles
Rules
- Abbreviate degrees without periods
- Include degrees after the full name in the first reference for people affiliated with UMB — students, faculty, staff, or alumni
- Lowercase name of degree in a general reference and use possessive apostrophe
- Capitalize name of degree in formal reference
- Titles should be included after degrees and not capitalized
- Example: School of Nursing Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN
Examples of Correct Formatting
- PhD
- Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN
- She earned a master’s degree in chemistry.
- She earned a Master of Science degree.
- Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing
- School of Nursing Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN
Departments, Divisions, and Offices
Capitalize the name of departments, divisions, and offices only when you use the full, official name
- Example: Department of Biomedical Sciences
Lowercase when the word department, division, or office comes after the name
- Example: biomedical sciences department, communications and public affairs office, transplant surgery division
Dollar Amounts
Rules
- Do not write out decimal points in dollar amounts
- For $1 million and above, round to the nearest 100,000, unless the number is necessary for tabulation
- $1,569,433 rounds to $1.6 million
- Avoid the construction $1 to $3 million — that means one dollar to 3 million dollars; use $1 million to $3 million instead
Examples of Correct Formatting
- $60
- $1.6 million
- $1 million to $3 million
Ellipses
- Use only in quotations with a space before and after ( … ) to take the place of text left out in the middle of a sentence
- If the ellipses comes at the end of the sentence, use a space before and after, and a period ( … .)
- Do not use ellipses to signify a pause
Etc.
Avoid using etc.
Health care
Two words as noun and adjective; no hyphen
Holidays
Capitalize holidays.
- Example: New Year’s Day, Hanukkah
Interdisciplinary and Interprofessional
- Both are one word
- Both can be used interchangeably with cross-disciplinary
- Interprofessional is the broader term
- Interdisciplinary refers to specialties within medicine in its strictest sense
Login, Logon, and Logoff
Noun: one word
Verb: two words
Months
Rules
- Abbreviate all but March, April, May, June, and July when used with a date: Jan. 9
- Spell out when used with a year: December 2013
- A comma follows a complete date: May 15, 1972, was her birthday.
- Abbreviations
- January (Jan.)
- February (Feb.)
- August (Aug.)
- September (Sept.)
- October (Oct.)
- November (Nov.)
- December (Dec.)
Examples of Correct Formatting
- Jan. 9
- December 2013
- May 15, 1972, was her birthday.
Percentages
- Write out "percent" in text and use numerals (volunteer hours are up 4 percent)
- Use "%" symbol in charts and graphics
- For amounts smaller than 1 percent, use a zero before the decimal point (0.5 percent)
Semesters and Academic Periods
Do not capitalize semesters or academic periods
- winter, spring, summer, fall
- semester, orientation, registration
States
Rules
- Spell out state names when used without a city in running text
- Abbreviate state names when used with a city
- Never abbreviate Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii
- Do not use the post office’s abbreviations for states unless you also are using a complete address with a ZIP code
Examples of Correct Formatting
- Tennessee is beautiful in the spring.
- LaPlata, Md.
- Accepted abbreviations are: 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., and Wyo.
- Eight state names are never abbreviated: Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii
University Locations
Southern Management Corporation Campus Center
- First reference: Southern Management Corporation (SMC) Campus Center
- Second reference: SMC Campus Center
- In a quotation, “the Campus Center” is acceptable
Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center
University of Maryland School of Dentistry or School of Dentistry
- Incorrect: University of Maryland Dental School, Dental School, and Baltimore College of Dental Surgery (unless it’s a historic piece on the school’s founding in 1840)
Health Sciences and Human Services Library
- HSHSL on second reference
Health Sciences Research Facility I, II, and III
- HSRF I, HSRF II, and HSRF III on second reference
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- Incorrect: School of Law or University of Maryland School of Law
- Second reference: The law school prefers Maryland Carey Law
the Lexington Building
houses the offices of:
- School of Graduate Studies
- Academic Affairs
- Administration and Finance
- Research and Development
R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
- (no period after R), Shock Trauma on second reference
the Saratoga Building
- houses the Office of the President and other administrative offices
The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry
- National Museum of Dentistry on second reference
University of Maryland Medical Center
- (hospital on Greene Street), UMMC or Medical Center on second reference
University of Maryland Medical System
- (entire health system), UMMS on second reference
Westside
- one word, upper W, for area around the University
University vs. Campus
Campuswide refers to the physical campus
- Example: The UMB Police Department provides campuswide security.
University is preferred
- Example: Police provide security to the University.
URLs, Web, Email, and Phone Numbers
Rules
- Don’t use http:// or www. when writing URLs
- Italicize urls
- website and webpage are one word— lower w, unless starting a sentence
- email is lowercase, unless starting a sentence
- Phone numbers should appear as follows:
- On campus: 6-XXXX
- Off campus: 410-706-XXXX
Examples of Correct Formatting
- umaryland.edu or elm.umaryland.edu
- web copy, webpage, web tools
- On-campus phone number: 6-XXXX
- Off campus phone number: 410-706-XXXX