Editorial Style Guide for the Web

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”

Dashes

In web copy use the mdash (—) with a space on either side, do not use ndashes or hyphens

Dates and Times

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

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

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

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.