Editorial Style Guide for Print and Web

Use this style guide for content created for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), including print materials and website content. The conventions below apply to both formats unless a print-specific or web-specific distinction is noted.

General Editorial Standards

Acronyms and Abbreviations

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).

When an acronym is used as a noun in second reference or as a modifier, no the is needed.

• Examples: MPC was established ...; Anderson is a great MPC leader.

Use the full name of an organization on first reference unless otherwise specified in this guide.

Do not use UMB Police and Public Safety as an acronym; spell out the name.

See also Organizations and Acronyms.

Bulleted and Numbered Lists

Format lists consistently and use parallel construction.

• If some items are complete sentences, all items should be complete sentences.
• If items begin with verbs, all items should begin with verbs.
• Use a period at the end of a bullet only when it is a complete sentence.
• When introducing a list with a lead-in:
  • Start each bullet with an uppercase letter.
  • Do not use a comma or semicolon followed by and in the second-to-last bullet.

Example:

The University's core values are the following:

• Respect and Integrity
• Well-Being and Sustainability
• Equity and Justice
• Innovation and Discovery

Cities

Include the U.S. state or foreign country with the first reference to a city unless Associated Press style allows the city to stand alone in datelines. In those cases, the city can stand alone in body copy, too.

See also States and Countries.

Quotations

Use brackets instead of parentheses inside a quotation.

• Example: "I'll be back at 3 [a.m.] to get my things."

Courtesy titles such as Mr., Miss, and Dr. are acceptable in quotations even though they should not be used in running text.

Capitalize Professor in a direct quotation when the speaker uses it in place of a name.

See also Ellipses and Quotation Marks.

General Writing Preferences

• Use "before" instead of "prior to."
• Avoid "almost never." Use "seldom" or "hardly ever."
• Avoid "in order to." Use "to."
• Avoid "etc." when possible. It may be used when readers are expected to extrapolate many possibilities from a brief list. Do not use it after "including" or "for example" when providing only a few examples.
• Do not use "entitled" to refer to the title of a book, article, or presentation. Use "titled."
• Use "high blood pressure" instead of "hypertension" when appropriate.
• Use "advisor," an exception to Associated Press style.
• Avoid describing someone as “disabled” or “handicapped” unless it is clearly relevant to the story. If a description must be used, try to be specific.
• An event cannot be described as annual until it has been held in at least two successive years.

Grammar and Sentence Structure

That and which

Use "that" without commas and "which" with commas when introducing a nonessential clause.

• Correct: The debriefing form that was printed on letterhead was provided after the session.
• Correct: The debriefing form, which was printed on letterhead, was provided after the session.

Whereas, while, and although

Use "although" or "whereas" to express contrast rather than using "while" ambiguously.

• Use "although" when introducing a contrast or concession.
• Use "whereas" when directly comparing two contrasting facts or situations.
• Avoid using "while" when its meaning could be interpreted as either time or contrast.

Example:;

• Correct: Although the data in Reeder and Pryor's (1992) first study was collected from undergraduates, their 1995 study used data collected from the community at large.
• Also correct: Whereas the data in Reeder and Pryor's (1992) first study were collected from undergraduates, their 1995 study used data collected from the community at large.

Over and More than

• Do not use "over" as a synonym for "more than" except when referring to physical position.
  • Example:
    He raised his arm over his head.
    She has been a medical student for more than six years.

e.g. and i.e.

• e.g. means "for example." Follow with a comma.
  • Example: Students are required to take several core courses in their first year, e.g., mathematics, science, and literature
• i.e. means "that is." Follow with a comma.
  • Example: I am on a strict diet, i.e., no sugar or carbs.

Names, Titles, Degrees, and Affiliations

Academic and Professional Titles

Capitalize an academic or professional title only when it directly precedes an individual's name, except where a specific UMB convention states otherwise. Lowercase titles when they follow a name or are used in a general reference.

Examples:

• University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
• Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore

Additional conventions

• Lowercase professor as a title, even when it precedes a name. It may be capitalized in a direct quotation when the speaker uses it in place of a name.
  • Example: The initiative will be led by associate professor Mark Macek.
    Example: "Professor Beardsley is a great teacher," Eddington said.
• Capitalize chief when it directly precedes a name. Lowercase when it follows a name or is used as a general title.
  • Example: interim police Chief Bill Smith.
    Example: Bill Smith, interim chief of police.
• Lowercase "former" before a title.
  • Example: former UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD.
• Do not use courtesy titles (e.g., Mr., Miss, Dr.) before a name in running text. They are acceptable in quotations.
• Use advanced degree and fellowship acronyms after a person's name in place of the courtesy title doctor.
• Follow Associated Press style for legislative titles. Abbreviate Gov., Lt. Gov., Sen., Rep., and Del. before a name on first reference.

Academic and Faculty Terminology

• Core faculty refers to all tenured and tenure-track faculty and department chairs.
• Fellow is lowercase unless part of a formal name.
  • Example: Dorcas Gilmore has been named a 2018 Skadden Fellow. As a fellow, she will receive a stipend to help defray expenses.
• Professor is lowercase except in the direct-quotation situation described under Academic and Professional Titles.
• Interdisciplinary and interprofessional are one word and can be used interchangeably with cross-disciplinary.
  • Interprofessional is the broader term.
  • Interdisciplinary, in its strictest sense, refers to specialties within medicine.

Degrees and Credentials

• Abbreviate degrees without periods.
• Use the abbreviation of an advanced degree after the full name on first reference.
• Lowercase general references to degrees and use the possessive apostrophe.
  • Example: She earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry.
    Example: He earned a master's degree in social work.
• Capitalize formal academic degree names without an apostrophe.
  • Example: Bachelor of Science.
    Example: Master of Social Work.
• Place medical degrees first, PhD second, and other degrees third.
  • Example: E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA.

Print:

• Only list advanced degree acronyms (master's degree and above) and fellowship acronyms after a person's name.
• Do not list certification acronyms or honorary degrees.
• With few exceptions, do not list bachelor's degree acronyms.
• Do not use certificate acronyms after a person's name in Universitywide communications. They create an unnecessary "alphabet soup" effect.

Web:

• Include degree acronyms after the full name on first reference for people affiliated with UMB, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
  • Example: Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN.

Alumni

• Alumna (alumnae in the plural form) refers to a woman who attended or graduated from a specific school.
• Use alumnus (alumni in the plural form) for similar references to men.
• Alumni also refers to groups of men and women.
• On first reference in publications or articles specific to a school, refer to alumni by their full, formal name followed by their degree and class year.
  • Example: Andrew Smith, DDS '65.

Departments, Divisions, Offices, and Schools

Capitalize departments, divisions, and offices only when using the full, official name. Lowercase department, division, or office when it follows the name.

Examples:

• Department of Biomedical Sciences; biomedical sciences department
• Division of Transplant Surgery; transplant surgery division
• Office of Communications and Public Affairs; communications and public affairs office

For schools:

• Capitalize the formal name of a school: School of Nursing.
• Lowercase less formal inversions: nursing school.
• Lowercase "school" when used by itself.
• Lowercase plural references: law and dental schools.
• Capitalize the names when referring to multiple schools by their formal names
  • Example: The Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy are collaborating on a program.
    Example: UMB is composed of seven schools: Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work.

University and Universitywide References

• Capitalize "University" when referring specifically to the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
• Lowercase "university" when referring to universities generally.
• Use "campus" and "campuswide" to refer to UMB's physical campus.
  • Example: UMB Police and Public Safety provides campuswide security.
• Use "University" or "Universitywide" is preferred when referring to the institution more broadly.
  • Example: Police provide security for the University.
• Do not capitalize "The" before university names unless it is part of the official name.

Capitalization

General Capitalization

Capitalize proper names and formal titles. Use lowercase for generic references unless otherwise specified.

Specific conventions

Names of Nationalities and Races

Capitalize the proper names of nationalities and races.

Do not hyphenate terms such as African American and Asian American when used as nouns or adjectives.

Examples:

• African American
• African American man
• Asian American woman

Refer to the Associated Press Stylebook's race-related coverage guidance.

Academic and Organizational Names

Use the full official name on first reference when required. Follow the specific UMB naming conventions in Section 7.

Course titles

Capitalize course titles. Do not use quotation marks or italics.

• Example: Introduction to Periodontology

Other

• Capitalize holidays.
  • Examples: New Year's Day, Easter, Hanukkah.
• Capitalize "The" in the names of local publications when it is part of the publication's name; italicize the full name.
• Do not capitalize "The" before university names unless it is part of the institution's official name.
• For Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System, lowercase "the" when required by sentence construction.

Numbers, Dates, Times, and Money

Numbers

• Use numerals for credits, dollar amounts, percentages, temperatures, and other quantities.
• Use numerals for amounts and measurements in accordance with the individual entries below.
• Do not use unnecessary zeros in dollar amounts or time expressions.
• Spell out "first" through "ninth" when expressing ordinals. Use numerals beginning with 10th.
  • Example: The team came in seventh place.
    Example: Today marks the 12th anniversary.
• Use numerals for temperatures. Spell out "degrees" in text and use the degree symbol in charts and graphs.
  • Example: The temperature dropped to 4 degrees.

Dates

• Do not use ordinal endings such as "th" or "st" with dates.
  • Correct: May 21.
  • Incorrect: May 21st.
• Use an apostrophe to indicate omitted numbers in abbreviated years. The apostrophe should point toward the missing numbers.
  • Example: '99.
• Use only an "s" to make a number plural. Do not use an apostrophe.
  • Examples: '90s; 2010s
• A comma follows the year in a complete date.
  • Example: May 15, 1972, was her birthday.

Months

• Spell out months when used with a year.
  • Example: December 2013
• A comma follows the year in a complete date.
  • Example: May 15, 1972, was her birthday.
• Spell out March, April, May, June, and July when used with a specific day.
• Abbreviate January, February, August, September, October, November, and December when used with a specific day or range of days.

Print: For University events materials, spell out all months.

Times

• Use lowercase "a.m." and "p.m." with periods.
• Do not use unnecessary zeros. Write 1 p.m., not 1:00 p.m.
• Do not use 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. Use midnight and noon.
  • Example: ;Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Print:

• Use a hyphen for time-span dashes and year ranges.
  • Example: 2017-2021 strategic plan.

Web:

• Spell out the word "to" instead of using a hyphen or dash in time and date ranges.
  • Example: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fiscal Years

• Use four digits when referring to a fiscal year on first reference.
  • Example: Fiscal Year 2016.
• Two digits are acceptable on second reference.
  • Example: FY16.
• No acronym is needed after first reference.
• UMB's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.

Semesters and Academic Periods

• Do not capitalize semesters or academic periods.
  • Examples: winter semester, spring orientation, summer registration.

Credits and Grades

• Always use numerals for credits.
  • Example: He needs 6 credits to graduate.
    Example: She took a 3-credit course.
• Use capital letters for grades.
  • Example: He got an A.
• Do not italicize grades.

Percentages

• Write out "percent" in running text and use numerals.
  • Example: Spending is up 4 percent.
• Use the % symbol in charts and graphics.
• For amounts smaller than 1 percent, include a zero before the decimal point.
  • Example: 0.5 percent.

Dollar Amounts

• Do not include decimal points or cents unless necessary.
  • Example: write $60, not $60.00.
• For amounts of $1 million or more, round to the nearest $100,000 unless the exact amount is necessary for tabulation.
  • Example: $1,569,433 rounds to $1.6 million.
• Avoid constructions such as "$1 to $3 million." Write "$1 million to $3 million."

Punctuation and Formatting

Ampersands

• Use an ampersand only when it is part of a formal name or title or used as a design element.
• Do not use an ampersand as a synonym for "and" in running text.

Print:

• Ampersands are not permitted in any UMB logo or logo text lockup.

Web:

• Do not use ampersands in webpage titles. URLs are created from page titles, and ampersands can cause problems in URLs.

Apostrophes

• Use an apostrophe to indicate dropped numbers in abbreviated years, with the apostrophe pointing toward the missing numbers.
  • Examples: '99; '90s.
• Use only an apostrophe after names ending in "s" when forming the possessive, following UMB's simplified convention.
  • Example: CBS' coverage.

See also Alumni and Dates.

Commas

• Use the serial (Oxford) comma before "and" or "or" in a series.
  • Example: He ate his peas, corn, and squash.
• Do not use a comma before Jr., Sr., Esq., or Roman numerals such as II, III, and IV.
• A comma follows the year in a complete date.

Colons

• In running text, a colon must be preceded by a complete sentence.
• If a complete sentence follows the colon, capitalize the first word. If a phrase or fragment follows, lowercase the first word.

Dashes and Hyphens

• Use an em dash (—) with a space before and after it.
• Use hyphens for compound words and unit modifiers.
• Hyphenate "self" and "well" constructions
  • Example: self-assessment, well-wishers.
• Do not hyphenate modifiers ending in "ly"
  • Example: newly formed company.
• Retain the hyphen in co- words that indicate occupation or status
  • Example: co-star, co-pilot, co-author, co-wrote.
  • Exceptions: coed, cooperate, coordinate.
• Use a hyphen in mid- when followed by a figure: mid-1930s. Otherwise, do not hyphenate unless the following word is capitalized: mid-America, mid-Atlantic, midterm.
• Use a hyphen for time-span dashes and year ranges in print.
• Use a hyphen in HIV-positive and similar constructions.
• Hyphenate e-book, e-business, e-commerce, and e-reader.
• Hyphenate grass-roots when used as a modifier.
• Hyphenate real-world when used as a modifier.
• Hyphenate high-tech.
• Hyphenate home-school as a verb and adjective.
• Hyphenate man-made.
• Hyphenate question-and-answer session.
• Hyphenate two-by-four.
• Hyphenate decision-makers.
• Hyphenate face-lift.
• Hyphenate nerve-wracking, but not in "racked her brain."

Web:

• Do not use en dashes or hyphens as substitutes for em dashes in running copy.
• This restriction does not change the rules for compound words or required hyphenation.

Ellipses

• Use an em-style ellipsis with a space before and after it. Treat it like a word.

Print:

• Use an ellipsis with a space before and after it in running copy.
  • Example: He thought he would pass the course … if he didn't fail the final exam.

Web:

• Use ellipses only in quotations to indicate text omitted from the middle of a sentence.
• Do not use ellipses to signify a pause.
• If an ellipsis appears at the end of a sentence, use a space before and after the ellipsis, followed by a period.

Italics

Print:

• Italicize publications.
• Use italics for publication names, including newspapers and magazines.
  • Example: The Baltimore Sun
• Use italics for in vitro and in utero in body copy.
• Email and web addresses in running copy should be lowercase and italicized.
• MPowering the State and MPower when referring to the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership.

Web:

• Italicize URLs when they appear in content.

Parentheses and Brackets

• Use brackets instead of parentheses inside a quotation.
  • Example: "I'll be back at 3 [a.m.] to get my things."
• Use parentheses for explanatory or identifying information, including acronyms following first references.

Quotation Marks

Print:

• Use quotation marks around titles of books, periodicals (including The when appropriate), newsletters, plays, films, art exhibitions, long poems, paintings, sculptures, comic strips, radio and television series, and long musical compositions.
• Also use quotation marks around titles of theses, dissertations, presentations, seminars, workshops, short stories, short poems, articles, essays, book chapters, song titles, other short musical works, and television episodes.

Web:

• Use quotation marks for direct quotations.

See also Quotations and Ellipses.

Other Punctuation and Formatting Conventions

• When an individual uses initials instead of a first name, use periods with no spaces.
  • Example: H.L. Mencken.
• Use no comma before Jr.
  • Example: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• Use periods in P.O. Box.
• Use a comma before Inc. when it is part of a company's proper name.
• Abbreviate Co. at the end of company names
  • Example: Army Times Publishing Co.
• Abbreviate Corp. at the end of corporation names
  • Example: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
• Use uppercase CD-ROM.
• Use uppercase QR code on first reference to Quick Response code.
• Use Wi-Fi with a hyphen.
• Use ZIP code, with ZIP in uppercase.
• Use zeros, not zeroes.

Addresses, Locations, and Geographic References

Street Addresses

In running copy:

• Abbreviate directional ends of streets (e.g., north and south).
• Abbreviate Avenue as Ave., Boulevard as Blvd., and Street as St. when used with a numbered address or block number.
• Spell out and capitalize street names when used without a numbered address.
• Lowercase and spell out street names when referring to more than one street.
• Do not abbreviate alley, drive, road, terrace, or similar street designations.

Examples:

• 620 W. Lombard St.
• 522 W. Lombard St.
• 600 block of W. Lexington St.
• Davidge Hall is on Lombard Street.
• Davidge Hall is at the corner of Lombard and Greene streets.

Baltimore Locations

Use the following official names and references:

• 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 Exchange; no spaces around the ampersand. Events venue that opened in 2023 on Eutaw Street near the Hippodrome.
• M&T Bank Stadium; no spaces around the ampersand.
• Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
• CFG Bank Arena; the word "the" is not part of the venue's title. Formerly Royal Farms Arena.
• The Baltimore Banner; italicize the name and use on first reference.
• The Baltimore Sun; italicize the name and use on first reference.

States

• Spell out state names when used without a city in running text.
• Abbreviate state names when used with a city.
• Do not use the two-letter postal abbreviations unless the address includes a ZIP code.
• Eight states are never abbreviated: Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Accepted state abbreviations:

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.

Other Geographic References

• Lowercase "city" when used in the phrase "city of Baltimore."
• Baltimore City and Baltimore County: Use these names as written.
• Eastern Shore: capitalize.
• West Baltimore: capitalize.
• Western Maryland: capitalize.
• Westside: one word, uppercase W, referring to the area around UMB, the BioPark, and Lexington Market.
• Shady Grove, the Universities at: a campus in Rockville, Md., with programs from UMB schools of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work.

Countries

Include the foreign country with the first reference to a city unless Associated Press style allows the city to stand alone in datelines.

Korea: Do not use Korea alone. Specify South Korea or North Korea.

United States: Spell out United States when used as a noun. Abbreviate as U.S. when used as an adjective, including in formal names.

Examples:

• The United States announced ...
• The U.S. Department of Defense ...

UMB Names, Buildings, Schools, and Organizations

Use the full official name on first reference and the approved shortened name or acronym on subsequent references where specified.

University and Institutional Names

University of Maryland, Baltimore

• Use University of Maryland, Baltimore on first reference.
• Use UMB on second reference when the acronym will be used.
• Do not use UMAB; it is no longer used.
• In news releases, web stories, and similar communications, include the University of Maryland or University of Maryland, Baltimore in the first reference.
• School names generally begin with "University of Maryland," not "University of Maryland, Baltimore."
• In most cases, place the university name before the school name.
• An attribution after the fact may be appropriate in some constructions, such as "the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore."
• Never use "the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of..." or "the UMB School of..."

Examples:

• University of Maryland School of Medicine
• University of Maryland School of Social Work
• School of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

• Spell out the full name on first reference before using UMBC.

University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc.

• UMBF on second reference.
• The University's central office for raising, administering, and investing funds.

University of Maryland Medical Center

• Refers to the hospital on Greene Street.
• UMMC or Medical Center on second reference.
• Use University of Maryland Medical Center, not University Hospital.
• Capitalize Medical Center on second reference in joint stories about the University and the Medical Center.

University of Maryland Medical System

• Refers to the entire health system and all its components.
• UMMS on second reference.
• It is a private, not-for-profit hospital system.

University of Maryland Medicine

• UMM on second reference.
• Refers to collaborative efforts between the School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center.

University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State

• Refers to the structured partnership between UMB and the University of Maryland, College Park.
• Italicize MPowering the State and MPower on second reference.
• MPower Professors and MPower Early Scholars Investment Fund are exceptions and are not italicized.

University System of Maryland

• USM on second reference.
• The system was formed in 1988 by consolidating the former five-campus University of Maryland network (Baltimore, College Park, Eastern Shore, University College, and Baltimore County) with the State College and University system (University of Baltimore, Bowie, Coppin, Frostburg, Towson, and Salisbury).
• The system includes 11 degree-granting institutions and two research units: the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
• The University System of Maryland is described in the source guide as a 13-institution system.

UMB Schools and Campus Locations

School of Dentistry

• First reference: University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
• School of Dentistry is acceptable on second reference.
• Do not use University of Maryland Dental School, Dental School, or Baltimore College of Dental Surgery unless writing a historical piece about the school's founding in 1840.
• The school was formerly known as the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and the University of Maryland Dental School.

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

• Use the full name on first reference.
• The school became the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in fall 2011 after a $30 million gift from the W.P. Carey Foundation.
• Use Maryland Carey Law on second reference.
• Do not use School of Law or University of Maryland School of Law.

University of Maryland School of Medicine

• Use the full name on first reference.

University of Maryland School of Nursing

• Use the full name on first reference.

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

• Use the full name on first reference.

University of Maryland School of Social Work

• Use the full name on first reference.

School of Graduate Studies

• Use the formal name.

Campus Buildings, Facilities, and Organizations

• 4MLK: Building opened in 2025 on the corner of West Baltimore and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
• Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center: Use the full name.
• BioPark, University of Maryland: Originally called the UMB BioPark. It opened with Building One in 2005. Building Two opened in August 2007. The Maryland State Forensic Medical Center debuted in September 2010, and the Maryland Proton Treatment Center opened in fall 2015. The entity managing the BioPark is the UMB Research Park Corp. Its official name is UMB Health Sciences Research Park Corp., but UMB Research Park Corp. is preferred for marketing and communications.
• Campus Center, Southern Management Companies (SMC) Campus Center: Capitalize both words in Campus Center. First reference: Southern Management Companies (SMC) Campus Center. Second reference: SMC Campus Center. "The Campus Center" is acceptable in quotations.
• Community Engagement Center: CEC on second reference.
• Discover Auditorium: Gathering spot in the BioPark.
• 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.
• Koester's Lot: Parking lot located in front of the Saratoga Building.
• Lexington Building: Houses the offices of the School of Graduate Studies, Academic Affairs, and Research and Development. Lowercase "the" before the name.
• Lion Brothers Building: Use the full name.
• Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center: Include "University of Maryland" before the center's name.
• Nathan Patz Law Center: The law school is housed in this state-of-the-art building, which opened in 2002.
• Pharmacy Hall Atrium: The School asks that Atrium be capitalized.
• R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center: No period after the R. Use Shock Trauma on second reference.
• Saratoga Building: Houses the Office of the President, Office of Community and Civic Engagement, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, and other administrative offices. Lowercase "the" before the name.
• Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry: National Museum of Dentistry is acceptable on second reference. Lowercase "the" before the name.
• Southern Management Companies Campus Center: See Campus Center entry above.
• T. Sue Gladhill Board Room: Use the full name.
• UMB Research Park Corp.: The entity that manages the University of Maryland BioPark. The official name is UMB Health Sciences Research Park Corp., but UMB Research Park Corp. is preferred for marketing and communications purposes.
• University Square: Area directly across from the main entrance of the University of Maryland Medical Center.
• Westside: One word, uppercase W, for the area around the University of Maryland BioPark and Lexington Market.

Other UMB and Baltimore Organizations

Board of Regents

• A 21-member Board of Regents, including two full-time students, governs the University System of Maryland.
• The governor appoints the regents.
• The Board oversees the system's academic, administrative, and financial operations; formulates policy; and appoints the USM chancellor and presidents of its 13 institutions.
• Except for the two student members, each regent is appointed for a five-year term and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Catalyst Campaign

• UMB's multiyear $750 million fundraising campaign, which concluded in 2022.

Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity

• Research center founded by the School of Medicine's Institute of Human Virology.
• Ciheb is the preferred abbreviation.

Institute of Human Virology

• IHV on second reference.
• Do not use "the" before IHV.

Institutional Review Board

• IRB is the acronym for Institutional Review Board.

Maryland Brand pharmacist

• No hyphen; lowercase p.

MVP Program

• Maryland CardioVascular Promotion (MVP) Program.

P3 (Maryland)

• P3 (Patients, Pharmacists, Partnerships) Program. The School of Pharmacy offers the program through its Center for Innovative Pharmacy Solutions (CIPS). Use superscript P3 when possible.

PGY1

• Postgraduate year one.

Pharmaceutical Research Computing Center

• PRC on second reference.
• Provides computing and support, including data warehousing and data analysis, to faculty within and outside the University.

The Grid

• Second reference for the Graduate Research Innovation District.

UniverCity Partnership

• An effort to redevelop and revitalize Baltimore City's Westside.

University of Maryland Research Park Corp.

• See the BioPark entry above.

University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State

• See the institutional names section above.

University System of Maryland

• See the institutional names section above.

Additional Baltimore References

• 4MLK: Building at the corner of West Baltimore and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
• Baltimore City and Baltimore County: Use these names as written.
• Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center: Use the full name.
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport: BWI on second reference.
• Light Rail: Capitalize when referring to the Baltimore-area Light Rail system.
• Maryland Transit Administration: MTA on second reference. Oversees Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC train, and the bus system.
• Metro SubwayLink: Baltimore's subway line. Runs Monday through Saturday from Owings Mills to Johns Hopkins Hospital.
• One Card: Two words for the UMB funding card.
• Shady Grove, the Universities at: See geographic references.
• VA: See Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Organizations and Acronyms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• CDC on second reference.
• Takes a singular verb.
• Refer to CDC resources for the names of individual centers.

Food and Drug Administration

• Spell out on first reference. Use FDA on second reference. Do not include U.S. before the name.

National Institutes of Health

• NIH on second reference.
• An agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Takes a singular verb.

Web, Email, and Phone Formatting

URLs and Web Addresses

Print:

• In running copy, put email and web addresses in lowercase italics.
• Addresses stand alone; do not use email address or web address to introduce them.
• Do not use http:// if followed by www.

Web:

• Do not include http:// or www. when writing URLs.
• Italicize URLs when they appear in content.
• Use lowercase URLs where applicable.

Examples:

• umaryland.edu
• elm.umaryland.edu

Other Web References

• "Website" and "webpage" are each one word.
• "Homepage" is one word.
• Use lowercase for web-related terms except when they begin a sentence.
• Use lowercase "web" in web copy, webpage, web tools, webcam, webcast, and webmaster.
• Online is always one word when referring to the internet and computer networks.
• Capitalize World Wide Web.
• QR code is acceptable on first reference to Quick Response code.

Email

• Email is one word, lowercase, and has no hyphen.
• Use lowercase unless it begins a sentence.
• Email addresses stand alone in running copy.
• Italicize email addresses in running copy.
• Do not use "email address" to identify an address when the address can stand alone.
• In print running copy, email addresses should be lowercase and italicized.

Phone Numbers

Print:

• For internal publications, use the campus or hospital extension only:
  • 6-0000 for the University.
  • 8-0000 for UMMS.
• For publications with an off-campus audience, use the 10-digit phone number.
• In running copy, separate numbers with hyphens (410-555-0000).
• Periods may be used as a design element on materials such as business cards and invitations (410.555.0000).

Web:

• On-campus phone numbers: 6-XXXX.
• Off-campus phone numbers: 410-706-XXXX.

Word Usage and Spelling

Reference Resources

Consult these resources when additional guidance is needed:

• Associated Press Stylebook, including its guidance on race-related coverage.
• Maryland Manual for governmental bodies and Maryland agencies.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the names of individual CDC centers.
• National Institutes of Health website for the names of individual NIH institutes.