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well-being, wellness

When applicable, "well-being" (written with a hyphen) is the preferred term instead of "wellness." Wellness generally applies to physical health, whereas well-being takes a holistic view to include multiple dimensions of health, such as physical, emotional and mental.

game day

Two words. But write as one word if part of a formal title, e.g., ESPN's "College GameDay."

#

21st century

No superscript. Use a hyphen as an adjective, e.g., Clemson prepares students to face 21st-century challenges.

A

a.m., p.m.

abbreviations

Do not use abbreviations that a reader would not quickly recognize. Most abbreviations should be avoided in headlines.

When used after a name, an academic abbreviation is set off by commas, e.g., Jane Smith, Ph.D., spoke at the conference.

academic degrees

Generally, the full name of a degree should be used on the first reference rather than the abbreviation. The full names and abbreviations of degrees are found throughout this guide.

Examples:
She is interested in the Master of Human Resource Development program. Typically, the MHRD takes five semesters to complete.

Students can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in sociology. The B.A. program requires four semesters of a modern language.

academic semesters/terms

Capitalize all academic semesters and terms: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Summer 2024.

Capitalize when referring to semesters without the year, e.g., the Fall semester, registration for Spring classes. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

academic titles

See professor, instructor, lecturer.

acronyms

Acronyms should be used sparingly to ensure clear communication. On first reference, avoid using an acronym for Clemson colleges, departments, divisions, etc.

There is no need to provide the acronym if the organization or entity is mentioned only once in your text or if it is not well known by its acronym.

The first reference should be written out in full. Subsequent references can use the acronym.

addiction

"Addiction" is the preferred term rather than "substance use disorder." The latter might be used in medical or scientific/research contexts.

When discussing addiction, emphasize the person over the disease. Avoid terms like alcoholic, addict, user or abuser.

"Addiction" and "dependence" are not interchangeable terms.

Avoid using the term "clean" to describe sobriety.

See also person-first language.

addresses

Abbreviate Ave., Blvd. and St. in numbered addresses. Write out Drive, Road, Court and Lane in numbered addresses.

adviser, advisor

Although "adviser" was Clemson University's preferred spelling for many years, we now accept the spelling of "advisor" to achieve consistency across communications. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

African American

See also dual heritage.

ages

Always use figures, e.g., Their daughter is 4 years old.

alumna, alumnus, alumni, alum

Alumna refers to one woman who has attended Clemson.

Alumnus refers to one man who has attended Clemson.

Alumni is a group of persons — men and/or women — who have attended Clemson.

Alum(s) is acceptable if a gender-neutral term is desired.

American Indians, Native Americans

Acceptable terms in general references. If available, use the name of the tribe. Do not use Indian as shorthand for American Indians.

See also dual heritage.

ampersand (&)

Only use the ampersand (&) if it is part of an already established and official name. Otherwise, use the word "and."

Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center

The full name is required on first reference. Andy's is acceptable on subsequent references.

apostrophes

Use an apostrophe to indicate omitted text, e.g., John Smith '17.

Do not use an apostrophe for a word ending in s when it is primarily used as a descriptive phrase, e.g., farmers market. Tip: The apostrophe usually is not used if "for" or "by" rather than "of" would be appropriate in the longer form, e.g., a guide for writers (a writers guide). However, a 's is required when a term involves a plural word that does not end in s, e.g., children's hospital.

See also possessives.

Asian American

Acceptable term for an American of Asian descent. When possible, refer to a person's country of origin (e.g., Indian American) or follow their preference.

See also dual heritage.

associate degree

Not associate's degree.

Atlantic Coast Conference

ACC is acceptable on subsequent references.

B

B.A.

Bachelor of Arts

B.S.

Bachelor of Science

baccalaureate

bachelor's, bachelor's degree

Bellamy Theatre

BFA

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Black (adj.)

Clemson University follows the AP Stylebook's recommendation to capitalize Black when used as an adjective in the racial, ethnic or cultural sense, e.g., Black people, Black culture, Black literature, Black studies.

Bridge students

Bridge to Clemson program

Bridge program is acceptable on subsequent references.

BSN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The Board of Trustees, the Board

Capitalize when referring to the Clemson University Board of Trustees.

A 13-member Board of Trustees governs the University.

There are seven trustees serving as one of those appointed under the will of Thomas Green Clemson. These seven members are known as "successor trustees," and they select their successors. The South Carolina state legislature elects the remaining six trustees.

The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts

The Brooks Center is acceptable on subsequent references.

C

Call Me MISTER®

Include the registered "R" symbol in first reference.

campus buildings

On first reference, refer to all buildings by their official names rather than the informal and/or shortened names. Official names can be found on the campus map.

campuswide

capitalization

Guidelines on capitalization are addressed throughout this style guide. For additional questions, consult the AP Stylebook.

chair, chairman

Capitalize when preceding a name. Lowercase elsewhere.

Lowercase modifiers, such as department in department Chair John Smith.

chancellor

Capitalize when preceding a name. Lowercase elsewhere.

Chandler L. Burns Hall

city names

Consult the AP Stylebook for major cities that can stand alone in text without their state name.

See also South Carolina cities.

Class of ____

Capitalization is acceptable with a year, e.g., Class of 2024.

class work

Clemson alumni

Years within this current century are expressed with an apostrophe and two digits. Do not put a comma after a name.

M denotes individuals who have received a master's from Clemson. Ph.D. denotes individuals who have received a doctorate from Clemson.

Examples:

John Smith '89

Jane Smith M '13

John Smith Ph.D. '22

If an individual has a Clemson graduate degree that is not conferred as a Ph.D. — such as an EdD, an Ed.S. or a DNP — those degree abbreviations may be used instead, e.g., Jane Smith EdD '23.

Use commas to separate multiple degrees.

Example: John Smith '89, M '92, Ph.D. '97

Use four digits for graduation years of more than 100 years ago, e.g., John Smith 1919.

Clemson Alumni Association

Clemson Athletics

Capitalize University sports teams if Clemson precedes the sport, e.g., Clemson Football, Clemson Softball, Clemson Men's Golf, Clemson Women's Basketball, etc.

Clemson Children's Campus

Clemson's on-site child care center. Do not refer to it as day care.

Clemson Experience

Clemson Family

Always capitalize and do not use quotation marks.

Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex

Clemson Orange

Clemson Ring

Clemson Spirit

Clemson Tigers, the Tigers

Clemson University

On the first reference, always use the entire formal name of Clemson University. Clemson or the University are acceptable on subsequent references.

Do not abbreviate Clemson University to CU.

Clemson University Honors College

The Honors College is acceptable on subsequent references.

Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research

Use the full name on first reference and CU-ICAR on subsequent references.

Clemson World

ClemsonLIFE™

Include the trademark symbol in first reference.

coach

Like other professional titles, coach serves primarily as an occupational description and should be lowercase, e.g., On Friday, coach Dabo Swinney welcomed the recruits to campus.

See also professional, occupational titles.

College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences

Can be abbreviated as CAFLS after first reference.

College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences' Cooperative Extension Service

Can be shortened to Extension or Clemson Extension on subsequent references.

College of Architecture, Art and Construction

Can be abbreviated as CAAC after first reference.

College of Arts and Humanities

Can be abbreviated as CAH after first reference.

College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences

Can be abbreviated as CBSHS after first reference.

College of Education

College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences

Can be abbreviated as CECAS after first reference.

College of Science

colon

Capitalize the first word after a colon only if what follows is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence.

comma, serial comma

Clemson University does not use the serial (Oxford) comma in a simple series when the sentence's meaning remains clear without the comma before the conjunction. However, a serial comma is sometimes necessary to clarify or avoid ambiguity.

If an integral element of a series requires a conjunction, use a serial comma before the final conjunction.

Example:

Our varsity sports include basketball, gymnastics, soccer, and track and field. (Note: A comma is still needed before the conjunction regardless of the placement of "track and field" within the sentence.)

Include a serial comma in a simple series if omitting it would make the meaning unclear.

Example:

Jane thanked her parents, Dolly Parton, and Elvis Presley. (Since leaving out the serial comma would imply that Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley are Jane's parents, a comma is needed to avoid an unintended meaning.)

A comma can also be used before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases. It is often a judgment call by the writer to decide when a series of phrases moves from "simple" to "complex" and when a serial comma is needed to provide clarification.

When writing a day, month and year together, commas should follow the day and year, e.g., March 31, 2024, is Easter Sunday.

When writing a city and state together in a sentence, commas should be used, e.g., Greenville, South Carolina, is a great place to live.

Use a comma to separate independent clauses in a compound sentence, but do not use a comma in a compound predicate where two verbs share the same subject.

Examples:

The animal shelter held an adoption event, and many puppies found homes. (compound sentence)

He hit the ball and ran to first base. (compound predicate)

For additional guidance regarding comma usage, consult the AP Stylebook.

See also essential and nonessential clauses.

Commencement, commencement

Uppercase when referring to the formal ceremony. Lowercase for generic uses.

See also graduation.

composition titles

Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio and television programs, works of art, etc.

Capitalize all words in a title except articles (a, an, the); prepositions of three or fewer letters (for, of, on, up, etc.); and conjunctions of three or fewer letters (and, but, for, or, so, yet, etc.) unless any of those words start or end the title.

Capitalize prepositions of four or more letters (above, after, down, inside, over, through, with, etc.) and conjunctions of four or more letters (because, while, since, etc.).

Capitalize both parts of a phrasal verb, e.g., "Turn Off the Lights in Silence."

Capitalize to in infinitives, e.g., "What I Want To Be When I Grow Up."

Examples of titles: "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "Once in a Lifetime," "Pride and Prejudice," "East of Eden," "This Is Us," "Only Murders in the Building"

compound modifiers

A compound modifier is two or more words that express a single concept and precede a noun, e.g., quick-witted student, dog-friendly hotel.

Generally, a compound modifier does not need to be hyphenated if it is commonly recognized as one phrase and if the meaning is unambiguous without the hyphen, e.g., third grade teacher, chocolate chip cookie, emergency room visit.

If needed, a hyphen should be used to clarify the meaning and avoid unintended meanings, e.g., small-business owner, better-qualified candidate.

Hyphenate well- combinations before a noun but not after, e.g., a well-known professor. The professor is well known.

No hyphen is needed to link a two-word phrase that includes the adverb very and all verbs ending in -ly, e.g., a very good season, an easily remembered rule.

Many combinations that are hyphenated before a noun are not hyphenated when they occur after a noun, e.g., Jane works full time. The children are soft spoken.

Use a hyphen in modifiers of three or more words, e.g., black-and-white photography.

Core Campus

Although it remains informally used across campus, do not use the term Core Campus to reference the area of campus that consists of Gressette, Cribb, DesChamps and McAlister halls. This was the name of the construction project and is no longer in formal use.

See also West Campus.

course names

Official University course names can be capitalized but should be lowercase when referring to a general field of study.

Examples:

I am taking Foundations of Computer Science this semester.

The degree program includes courses in data science and algorithms.

Abbreviations for course names are written as presented in the University catalog, e.g., HIST 1010, ENGL 1030, etc.

coursework

credit hours

Always use figures, e.g., a 3-credit course.

curriculum (singular), curricula (plural)

The Class of 1956 Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center is acceptable on subsequent references.

The Clyde V. Madren Center

The Madren Center is acceptable on subsequent references.

D

dates, decades and years

Always use figures, e.g., February 6, 2005; '10s; 1992. Do not use ordinal numbers for dates, e.g., March 17, not March 17th.

Deaf, deaf

Use the lowercase deaf when referring to the audiological condition of total or major hearing loss and for people with total or major hearing loss. Many deaf people who use sign language have a deeply ingrained sense of culture and community built around their experiences. The uppercase form Deaf can signify that culture and is acceptable if used by the person or group in descriptions such as the Deaf community, Deaf education, Deaf culture, etc.

Do not use the uppercase form for a person; instead, use lowercase deaf, the standard style for medical conditions, e.g., Lane, who is deaf, said the Deaf community is an important part of his life.

dean

Capitalize only when it precedes a name. Lowercase in other uses.

Death Valley

The informal name for Memorial Stadium. Only use on subsequent references.

See also Memorial Stadium.

decimals, percentages and fractions

Use figures for decimals and percentages and for fractions with numbers larger than one, e.g., .08, 9 percent, 4 ½. Spell out fractions less than one, e.g., two-thirds.

departments, schools

Use the full and formal department or school name in all references, e.g., the Department of Communication, not the communication department.

Capitalize the University's department and school names in all uses, whether or not they are part of a formal name. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

Examples:

The Department of Accountancy is housed in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business.

Most of the required classes are offered by the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences.

He is the dean of the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering.

When referring to a specific department or school within the University, referring to it as the College, Department or School (capitalized) is acceptable on subsequent references in more formal communications, such as advancement proposal materials. Otherwise, lowercase.

dimensions

Use figures to indicate depth, height, length and width, e.g., a 4-foot fence.

directions and regions

Generally, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction and capitalize when they designate regions.

Examples:

The storm is moving east toward Clemson.

She moved to the Northeast after graduation.

With sections of states and cities, generally lowercase (eastern Michigan, southwest Atlanta) unless the area is widely known (Southern California, East St. Louis). When in doubt, lowercase.

See also South Carolina regions.

disability

In general, do not describe an individual as disabled unless it is relevant. If required, be specific about the disability or symptoms.

Disabled or disability are general terms for a physical, mental, developmental or intellectual disability.

Do not describe a disability as "a handicap."

Avoid descriptions that denote pity, such as "afflicted with" or "suffers from."

See also person-centered language.

distances

Use figures to indicate miles, feet and yards, e.g., 2 miles, 6 feet, 9 yards.

DNP

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctoral Commencement Ceremony

The proper name for the ceremony honoring doctoral graduates. The term "hooding" is no longer in use.

doctorate

dormitory, dorm

Use the term residence hall instead of dormitory or dorm.

Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Dr.

Do not use Dr. to refer to faculty with Ph.D.s. Dr. can be used to refer to medical doctors or veterinarians on first reference.

dual heritage

Do not hyphenate terms that designate dual heritage, e.g., African American.

DVM

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

E

Ed.S.

Education Specialist

EdD

Doctor of Education

em-dash

Place one space on each side of an em-dash.

emeritus (male), emerita (female); professors emer

An honorary title bestowed to faculty after retirement. Note that not all retired faculty are emeritus. Capitalize only if preceding a name.

en-dash

Clemson University does not use the en-dash (–).

Erwin Center for Brand Communications

essential clauses, nonessential clauses

An essential clause is not set off from the rest of a sentence with commas because the information contained is essential to a sentence's meaning. A nonessential clause is set off by commas because the information is not essential to a sentence's meaning.

The presence or absence of commas provides the reader with critical information about the writer's intended meaning. When in doubt, consider the implied meaning of the sentence with and without commas.

Examples:

The students, who are intelligent and curious, are eager to conduct research. (This suggests that all students eager to conduct research are intelligent and curious.)

The students who are intelligent and curious are eager to conduct research. (This suggests that only the students who are intelligent and curious are eager to conduct research.)

John's wife, Jane, is a professor in the College of Science. (This correctly suggests that John has one wife.)

John's wife Jane is a professor in the College of Science. (This incorrectly suggests that John has more than one wife.)

EUREKA!

Experiences in Undergraduate Research, Exploration and Knowledge Advancement. Can be referred to as EUREKA! in first reference.

F

Fellow(s), fellow(s); Fellowship, fellowship

Capitalize fellow and fellowship only as part of a formal name/title. Use the lowercase in other uses.

Examples:

She is part of the Watt Faculty Fellows Program.

She is a fellow in the program.

The fellowship is for one academic year.

first-year student(s); freshman (n., adj.), freshmen (n.)

Clemson University prefers the gender-neutral term first-year student(s) instead of freshman/freshmen.

Founders Day

fraternities, sororities

The full name should be used on first reference. Abbreviations are acceptable on subsequence references.

G

game day

Two words. But write as one word if part of a formal title, e.g., ESPN's "College GameDay."

Garrison Sales Lab

gay, lesbian

These terms are preferred over homosexual.

gender

Gender is not synonymous with sex. Gender refers to a person's social identity, while sex refers to biological characteristics.

gender-nonconforming (adj.)

An acceptable term in broad references to people who do not conform to gender expectations. When discussing individuals, be specific about how a person describes or expresses gender identity and behavior. Gender-nonconforming is not synonymous with transgender.

Global Black Studies

graduation

For consistency and clarity, refer to Clemson graduation ceremonies by the month they take place rather than the academic semester: May graduation, August graduation, December graduation.

Greek Life

Gunnin Architecture Library

The Graduate School

Capitalize when referring to the Clemson University Graduate School.

H

Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine

Full name required on all references. Do not shorten. 

headlines, subheads

For print publications and articles on the Clemson News platform, use sentence case for both headlines and subheads. In sentence case, only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.

Example:

(headline) Clemson debuts Deep Orange 11 in Las Vegas

(subhead) Vehicle prototype provides glimpse into the future of mobility

Hispanic

Hispanic is generally acceptable when referring to Latino(a)s living in the United States. Use a more specific identification, e.g., Cuban, Brazilian, Puerto Rican, when possible.

See also Latin American, Latino(a).

Historic Riggs Field

Hoke Sloan Tennis Center

Homecoming, Homecoming Week

Honors

Capitalize in the context of the Clemson University Honors College, e.g., Honors students, Honors classes, Honors seminar, etc.

Housing & Dining

Howard's Rock

Can be called the Rock in subsequent references.

hyphen

A hyphen (-) is used to show duration and to write compound modifiers. If a hyphen makes the meaning clearer, use it. Do not use it if it just adds clutter and distraction to a sentence. Use a hyphen whenever ambiguity would result, e.g., re-signed versus resigned.

Consult the AP Stylebook for spelling clarifications. Generally, do not hyphenate when using a prefix with a word that begins with a consonant. Commonly used prefixes that require hyphens include self-, all-, ex-, half-. Suffixes requiring hyphens include -free, -based and -elect.

If a hyphenated word needs to be capitalized, the letter following the hyphen should also be capitalized, e.g., "The Star-Spangled Banner."

See also compound modifiers.

the Hill

I

immigration status

"Undocumented immigrant(s)" is appropriate terminology to refer to a person.

Do not use the terms "alien," "illegal alien," "illegals," "an illegal" or "illegal immigrant." Illegal should only refer to an action, not a person.

inclusive language

Clemson University strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment, and this commitment is reflected in the language we use to describe the members of our community. We aim to convey respect when highlighting the diverse populations of the Clemson Family and beyond by avoiding language that implies negative connotations or presents a narrow view of particular groups or people.

Clemson typically follows the AP Stylebook guidelines when considering language and terminology regarding race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, addiction, mental illness, religion, age, or immigration or veteran status, etc. First, consult the various entries within the Clemson University Style Guide. If your question is not answered, consult the AP Stylebook.

Additional information regarding inclusive language and communication can be found in the AP Stylebook's chapter on inclusive storytelling.

Innovation Campus(es)

internet

IPTAY

The acronym for I Pay Ten a Year. Can be written as IPTAY on first reference.

italics

Clemson uses italics for publications/entities that publish rankings, e.g., The Princeton Review, and web addresses. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

J

Jervey Gym

Johnson Study Lounge

junior, senior

Abbreviate junior or senior after an individual's name. Do not put commas around Jr. or Sr.

The John E. Walker Sr. Golf Course

The Walker Course is acceptable on subsequent references.

L

Lake Hartwell

land-grant

Hyphenated when used as an adjective, e.g., Clemson is a land-grant university.

Latin American

It is preferable to identify people of Latin American descent first with their country of heritage and then second as "Latino/Latina/Latinx" or "Hispanic" to identify with a collective group.

For example, a person's family who is from Mexico will typically identify as "Mexican American" before identifying as "Latino/Latino/Latinx."

See also Hispanic.

Latino(a)

Often the preferred noun or adjective for a person from, or whose ancestors were from, a Spanish-speaking place or culture or from Latin America.

See also Hispanic.

Latinx

The Spanish language is constructed around gender with the use of masculine and feminine forms. Latinx has emerged as an alternative to Latino to offer a gender-neutral alternative.

Latino, Latina and Latinx can all coexist. It's a personal choice on how one identifies. Follow a person's stated preference.

legislative titles

Use Rep., Sen., Lt. Gov or Gov. before a name. Write out representative, senator or governor in full and lowercase in other uses.

LGBT, LGBTQ

Acceptable in all references to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning and/or queer.

lists

In a bulleted, hyphenated or numbered list, use a period at the end of each sentence. Do not use punctuation at the end of a single word or a phrase in each section of a list. Use parallel construction for each list item.

M

M.A.

Master of Arts

M.AgEd.

Master of Agricultural Education

M.Arch.

Master of Architecture

M.Ed.

Master of Education

M.Eng.

Master of Engineering

M.S.

Master of Science

MAC

Master of Applied Computing

majors, academic subjects

Majors and academic subjects are only capitalized if they contain a proper noun, e.g., English major, genetics student.

master's, master's degree

MAT

Master of Arts in Teaching

MBA

Master of Business Administration

MCRP

Master of City and Regional Planning

MCSM

Master of Construction Science and Management

McWhorter Stadium

Melvin and Dollie Younts Trading Room

Memorial Stadium

Use this name on first reference to Clemson Football's stadium.

mental illness

The terms "mental illness" and "mentally ill" describe a broad range of conditions. Consult the AP Stylebook for guidance on specific conditions; many contain individual entries.

In general, do not describe an individual as having a mental illness unless it is relevant. If a description is required, be specific about the condition and the sourcing of the formal diagnosis if possible.

Use person-first language when discussing individuals with mental illness. Avoid descriptions that connote pity and pejorative terms.

See also person-first language.

MFA

Master of Fine Arts

MFR

Master of Forest Resources

MHRD

Master of Human Resource Development

Mickel Hall

Formerly known as Stadium Suites.

midnight

Not 12 a.m.

minority, racial minority

The term "minority" has become more scrutinized for lack of specificity and demographic inaccuracy as people of color become the majority population in many areas of the United States in the coming years. In general, avoid using this term to describe individuals of races other than white.

Alternative phrasing includes specific language, such as African American, Asian American and people of color.

MLA

Master of Landscape Architecture

MME

Master of Music Education

months

Spell out all months in full. Do not abbreviate. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

MPA

Master of Public Administration

MPAcc

Master of Professional Accountancy

MRED

Master of Real Estate Development

MRUD

Master of Resilient Urban Development

MSN

Master of Science in Nursing

MSSBA

Master of Sports Business and Analytics

MTSA

Master of Transportation Safety Administration

MWFR

Master of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

The Michelin Career Center

The Career Center is acceptable on subsequent references.

N

names

If an alumnus has a unique nickname (i.e., not a shortened version of their first name), insert the nickname in quotation marks after the middle initial and before the last name, e.g., Fred R. "Bubba" Smith '85.

national champions, national championship

Lowercase. But capitalize if it is part of the official name of a game.

Examples:

Our three-time national championship football team plays in Memorial Stadium.

The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game was between Michigan and Washington.

Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center

nonbinary

A term for those whose gender identity is not strictly male or female. It is not synonymous with transgender.

noon

Not 12 p.m.

numbers, numerals

In general, spell out numbers from zero to nine and use figures for 10 and above. If a number begins a sentence, spell it out. These guidelines also apply to ordinal numbers, e.g., fifth and 19th.

Common exceptions to this general rule include always using figures for ages; credit hours; dates, decades and years; decimals, percentages and fractions with numbers larger than one; dimensions; distances; millions, billions and trillions; monetary units; odds, proportions and ratios; rank; sequential designations; speeds; sports scores; temperatures; times; and votes. Consult the AP Stylebook for other exceptions.

Examples:

Her son is 6 years old.

This is a 3-credit course.

He finished his undergraduate degree in 3 ½ years.

She is 5 feet tall.

She ran 2 miles yesterday.

The current world population is 8 billion people.

Clemson has a 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The softball team is ranked No. 4.

We are beginning Phase 2 of this project.

The final score was 16-7.

It was 9 degrees on Thursday night.

O

Office of Admissions

Orientation

Oxford comma

See comma, serial comma.

P

Pattillo Family Foundation Classroom

percentages

The percent sign (%) is acceptable in graphics and breakout information, but percent should be spelled out in text. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

person (people) of color

Person/people of color is a generally acceptable term to describe individuals of races other than white.

person-first language

Clemson University encourages the use of person-first language, which emphasizes an individual first and their condition(s) or circumstance(s) second — e.g., saying "people with disabilities" instead of "disabled people" or "the disabled," "people experiencing homelessness" instead of "the homeless." In person-first language, a person has ___ rather than is ___.

Applying person-first language can help communicators avoid vague terms and be more precise, leading to deeper and richer storytelling.

Example:

"The clinic serves high-risk, underserved communities" could instead be written as, "The clinic serves populations at increased risk of developing diabetes due to a lack of reliable access to preventative care."

Other examples of person-first language:

John has multiple sclerosis.

Jane is a wheelchair user.

Her son has bipolar disorder.

The organization offers accommodations for people with disabilities.

The group therapy meeting helps people with heroin addiction.

Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy

phone numbers

Write with hyphens and without a "1" before the area code, e.g., 864-555-5555.

Phyfer Auditorium

possessives

Consult the AP Stylebook for guidelines on possessives. In general:

The possessive of most singular nouns is formed by adding 's, e.g., library's books, professor's lecture, campus's beauty, dress's hem.

The possessive of plural nouns ending in s is formed by adding ', e.g., students' classes, teams' colors.

The possessive of plural nouns not ending in s is formed by adding 's, e.g., alumni's donations, women's health.

The possessive of singular proper names ending in s is formed by adding ', e.g., Clements' speech.

postdoctoral

postgraduate

pound sign (#)

The pound sign (#) is acceptable in graphics and breakout information when discussing rankings. However, write No. in text.

Prater Classroom

presidential titles

Capitalize titles like president, vice president and associate vice president only when they precede a name.

presidential titles (University)

President Jim Clements is the preferred first reference in media releases, news stories, etc. President Clements is acceptable on subsequent references.

A more formal designation for the president is President James P. Clements, Ph.D.

Other formal titles, to be used sparingly, include President and Mrs. James P. Clements and President James P. and Elizabeth S. Clements.

Prisma Health-Upstate

Formerly known as Greenville Health System.

professional, occupational titles

In general, confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual's name. (A formal title generally denotes a scope of authority, professional activity or academic activity: President Jim Clements, Provost Bob Jones, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Colin Powell.)

Lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an individual's name, e.g., The president spoke on Monday.

Lowercase and spell out titles in constructions that set them off from a name by commas: Jim Clements, president of Clemson University, began his tenure on December 31, 2013.

Most other professional titles serve primarily as occupational descriptions. They should be lowercase in all uses regardless of if they precede a name: director of marketing Jane Smith, communications coordinator John Smith, director of communications John Smith, academic advisor Jane Smith.

professor emeritus

Capitalized as a conferred title before a name.

professor, instructor, lecturer

It is acceptable to capitalize professor, associate professor, assistant professor, etc., when immediately preceding a name. Otherwise, these titles should be lowercase.

Use the terms instructor or lecturer when referring to others engaged in the occupation of teaching students. Do not capitalize when preceding a name.

professors

Refer to professors by their first and last name on first reference and last name only on subsequent references. Do not use Dr. to refer to faculty with Ph.D.s unless it is part of a direct quotation.

pronouns, gender pronouns

Avoid constructing sentences that have the effect of emphasizing one gender over another, e.g., defaulting to he/his/him. Usually, it is possible — and always preferable — to reword the sentence to avoid a specific gender.

Example: Researchers work to protect the integrity of their studies instead of A researcher works to protect the integrity of his studies.

See also they/them/their.

provost

Capitalize only when it precedes a name.

pull quotes

In testimonial pull quote attributions, lowercase majors/degree programs unless the subject is a proper noun.

Example:

"Coming to Clemson was the best decision of my life." Jane Smith, marketing '22

The Princeton Review

Italicize in all uses. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

Q

quotations

Use for titles of books, movies, plays, poems, albums, songs, operas, radio and TV programs, magazine articles, lectures, academic papers, speeches and works of art.

While academic paper titles are written in quotation marks, the AP Stylebook categorizes academic journals as reference materials, like dictionaries and encyclopedias, which do not use quotations.

Use single quotation marks in headlines and subheads.

Periods and commas go inside closing quotation marks.

Colons and semicolons go outside closing quotation marks.

When quotes span more than one paragraph, use opening double quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph, and use a double quotation mark only at the end of the last paragraph of the quoted remarks.

R

R.M. Cooper Library

Cooper Library is acceptable on subsequent references.

rankings

Using the date is optional when discussing University rankings in the context of the ranking source, e.g., The Princeton Review ranks Clemson No. 7 for Best Career Services.

However, when citing the source in parentheses, the date must be used, e.g., Clemson is ranked No. 7 for Best Career Services (The Princeton Review, 2024).

Clemson italicizes the names of all publications/entities in the context of rankings. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

residence hall

Use the term residence hall for on-campus living accommodations instead of dormitory or dorm.

Richardson Atrium

Ring Ceremony

Rock Norman Outdoor Track & Field Complex

S

seasons

Capitalize when referring to an academic term, e.g., the Spring 2022 semester. Lowercase when referring to a time of year, e.g., Her favorite season is fall.

semicolon

Use semicolons to separate elements of a series when the items in the series are long or contain material set off by commas.

sequential designations

Capitalize the first letter for a single designation and use figures, e.g., Phase 1, Category 3, Type 2. Use lowercase for plurals, e.g., verses 5 and 6.

Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex

Solid Orange

South Carolina Botanical Garden

Garden on subsequent references.

South Carolina cities

Except for Clemson, when referring to a South Carolina city, include South Carolina with the city name on first reference.

South Carolina regions

Capitalize the regions of South Carolina: Upstate, Piedmont, Midlands, Lowcountry.

State House

Two words. The building located in Columbia, South Carolina, that serves as the seat of state government in South Carolina.

state names

Spell out the full names of all 50 states in text.

Summer Session(s)

Name for the Summer course offerings program, including Summer I, Summer II and Summer minimesters.

Swann Fitness Center at Fike Recreation Center

term

def

T

that vs. which

That and which should be used when referring to inanimate objects or animals without a name. That is used in essential clauses and without commas. Which is used in nonessential clauses and with commas.

the Tiger

Capitalize when referring to the mascot.

theater, theatre

Theater is the American English spelling recommended by the AP Stylebook. However, the Department of Performing Arts uses the British English spelling of theatre for its program concentration. Use the American English spelling when not referring to this program or a proper noun that includes Theatre.

they, them, their

Acceptable in limited cases as a gender-neutral pronoun when alternative wording is awkward or clumsy. Arguments for using they/them as a singular pronoun sometimes arise with unspecified or unknown gender, e.g., The winner will collect their prize. This is acceptable use.

When a subject identifies as neither male nor female or asks not to be referred to as he/she, him/her: Use the person's name in place of a pronoun, or otherwise reword the sentence, whenever possible. If they/them/their use is essential, explain in the text that the person prefers a gender-neutral pronoun, and be sure that the phrasing does not imply more than one person.

When they is used in the singular, it takes a plural verb, e.g., Taylor said they need a new car.

Tiger Paw

Tigertown, Tigertown Bound

Tillman Hall

times

Use figures for the time of day except for noon and midnight. Spell out numbers less than 10 standing alone in modifiers.

Examples:

"Killers of the Flower Moon" is a 3-hour, 26-minute movie. (Per the AP Stylebook's Ask the Editor, 3 would be written as a figure here according to their guidance on time sequences.)

I will leave in five minutes.

We have a standard eight-hour workday.

The hostess said it would be a 25-minute wait for a table.

Do not use :00 for exact hours, e.g., The game starts at 8 p.m.

Title IX and related policies

Clemson University must provide disclaimer language about Title IX and related policies in marketing and communications pieces that directly recruit prospective students and employees.

The following statement has been reviewed and approved for this purpose. Please do not alter this statement in any way: "Clemson University's Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, of any employee, student, guest or visitor pursuant to Title IX and other applicable federal or state laws. Additional information and contact information for Clemson's Title IX coordinator can be found at tig.rs/title-ix. Retaliation against individuals making complaints of discrimination is prohibited."

**If you have questions about whether your piece should include this language, please contact the University's Title IX coordinator and executive director of equity compliance.

transgender (adj.)

Describes people whose gender identity does not match the sex they were identified as having at birth. Use the name by which they live publicly.

Do not use transgender as a noun, such as referring to someone as "a transgender," or use the term "transgendered."

U

U.S. News & World Report

Italicize in all uses. (This is an exception to AP Style.)

University

Capitalize in all instances when referring only to Clemson University.

Universitywide

UPIC

University Professional Internship and Co-Op Program. Can be referred to as UPIC Program on subsequent references.

W

The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business

Full name required on all references. Do not shorten to Powers College of Business. 

web addresses

Italicize in print. There is no need to write "www" or "https://" in front of most URLs. Some Clemson webpages do not work if .html is removed at the end of a web address. If the URL works without .html, it can be removed.

webpage

website

well-being, wellness

When applicable, "well-being" (written with a hyphen) is the preferred term instead of "wellness." Wellness generally applies to physical health, whereas well-being takes a holistic view to include multiple dimensions of health, such as physical, emotional and mental.

West Campus

The area of campus that includes Gressette, Cribb, DesChamps and McAlister halls. The West Campus area also includes the "shoeboxes" (Benet, Cope, Geer, Sanders and Young), Mickel Hall, the fraternity and sorority quad, and Holmes and McCabe halls.