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The preference is to spell out the name of the degree and avoid abbreviations. When spelling out the formal degree, capitalize the degree (with no apostrophe + s and do not include "degree") and lowercase the area of study.

Example: Bachelor of Science in biology

When spelling out a general degree, lowercase and include apostrophe +s for bachelor's degree and master's degree. There is no possessive for an associate degree; do not include apostrophe + s.

Use abbreviations to identify an individual's degree on first reference, in a list, on business cards and letterhead, and in a formal signature line. Use abbreviations only after a full name and set off by commas.

Do not use acronyms that the reader would not quickly recognize. An acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words.

In most cases, when using an acronym, spell out the name in the first reference, followed by the acronym in parentheses. Then you may use the acronym alone.

Example: Note taking is a service of the Learning Assistance Program (LAP). The LAP staff will assist students with recruiting a note taker in their classes.

Editorial style prioritizes readability; postal style prioritizes deliverability and automation. Use editorial conventions for published materials. Use United States Postal Service (USPS) style for mailing lists, directories, and deliverability-focused contexts.

Editorial Style for Narrative:

• Use abbreviations only for Ave., Blvd., and St. when the address includes a street number. Example: 1200 Maple Ave.
• All other suffixes—drive, road, terrace, circle, court, lane, etc.—are always spelled out in editorial text.
• Always use numerals for an address number.
• Spell out ordinal-number street names First through Ninth; for 10th and above, use figures + letters (e.g., 10th, 21st).
• Abbreviate compass points used to indicate a quadrant of a city (N., E., S., W., NW., SE., etc.) only in a numbered address. Example: 1500 E. Main St.

Affect: Affect is usually a verb that means to produce change or make a difference.

• Example: The weather can affect your mood.

Effect: Effect is usually a noun that means the outcome of an event or situation that created a change.

• Example: The effect of the weather was a change in my mood.

Always use figures.

• Examples: The college is 104 years old. The student is in her 20s.

Use hyphens when ages are used as adjectives.

• Example: He is a 19-year-old student.

• Alumnus = singular male
• Alumna = singular female
• Alumni = plural male or mixed gender group
• Alumnae = plural female
• Alum = singular (Informal/Gender Neutral)

Apostrophe + Class Year: Use an apostrophe to indicate the class year. The apostrophe should face away from the year.

• Example: Maria Torres ’25

When writing the plural of a single letter, use apostrophe + s for clarity.

• Example: There are two s’s in class.

Do not use an apostrophe in figures and numbers.

• Example: Allan Hancock College opened in the 1920s.

Possessives:

• Singular proper names ending in “s”: use only an apostrophe. Example: Socrates’ life.
• Singular common nouns ending in “s”: add apostrophe + s unless the next word begins with “s”. Example: The class’s topic, but the class’ story.