Editorial Styleguide

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F

faculty

Lowercase unless it is part of a specific name.

Faculty Senate

Uppercase.

fax

It is no longer necessary to use "facsimile" on first reference. Note, however, that "fax" is not an acronym and should therefore never be spelled all uppercase: She received the fax earlier today.

Fax also is used as a verb: Please fax me the results as soon as possible.

Fellow

For clarity, capitalize this honorary designation denoting outstanding achievement or service: He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Fellowship, fellowship

Use uppercase for a named fellowship and lowercase for generic use: She received a fellowship from the institution. He was awarded the Founders Fellowship in 1999.

FERPA

FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law applying to educational agencies and institutions that receive funding under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Under FERPA, schools must generally afford students who are aged 18 or over, or are attending a postsecondary institution, access to their education records, an opportunity to seek to have the records amended and some control over the disclosure of information from the records. At UofL, responsibility for authorizing the release of student information rests with the director of the University Archives and Records Center http://library.louisville.edu/uarc/stupriv.htm.

Briefly, the FERPA rules governing the disclosure of education records say that a school must:

• have a student's consent prior to the disclosure of education records
• ensure that the consent is signed and dated and states the purpose of the disclosure

A school may disclose education records without consent when:

• the disclosure is to school officials who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests as set forth in the institution's annual notification of rights to students
• the student is seeking or intending to enroll in another school
• the disclosure is to state or local educational authorities auditing or enforcing federal- or state-supported education programs or enforcing federal laws that relate to those programs
• the disclosure is to the parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes
• the disclosure is in connection with determining eligibility, amounts and terms for financial aid or enforcing the terms and conditions of financial aid
• the disclosure is pursuant to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena
• the information disclosed has been appropriately designated as directory information by the school

For full details, visit FERPA's Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco/ferpa.

fewer, less

Use "fewer" when referring to items that can be counted: He said that fewer than 10 responses would not provide an adequate sample for his survey. "Less" refers to an uncountable bulk or quantity: Less than half of the blood supply was usable.

financial aid office

The formal name is Office of Financial Aid.

foreign words and phrases

In campus periodicals use italics on first reference for all but the most familiar and follow (if needed) with an English translation of the word or phrase in parenthesis: "Asante sana [thank you] for the many exciting experiences I had in Africa as part of the University Honors Program," the student wrote in a letter to her professor.

forgo, forego

"Forgo" is the preferred spelling when meaning "to overlook or neglect" or "to do without or give up."

formal vs. occupational titles

Formal titles generally denote a scope of authority, professional activity or academic accomplishment so specific that the designation becomes almost as much an integral part of an individual's identity as a proper name itself. Capitalize when they appear before a name: The session was led by President George Bush.

Founder's Day

Commemorates the drafting of an agreement to establish the university on April 3, 1798.

fractions

Spell out when used in text; use numerals in charts. For fractions and percentages, the verb should agree with the noun following the "of": Three-fourths of the students were English majors. Three-fourths of the project is completed.

fraternities, sororities

The full, formal name should be used on first reference: Sigma Phi Epsilon. Abbreviations are acceptable on second reference (SfE), but avoid nicknames such as SigEps.

A member is a member, never a "brother" or "sister."

In reference to a fraternity or sorority's building, the word "house" should be capitalized when it follows the name of the organization: Sigma Phi Epsilon House; fraternity house.

FYI: To locate Greek symbols in Word, go to Inserts in the menu, scroll down to and then open up Symbols and, under Font, select Symbol.

from

In a construction indicating range or extent, do not use an en dash if the word "from" has been used: He served as head of the department from 1995 to 1997. The lecture is scheduled 2:30–5 p.m.

See also range

FTE

Acronym for “full-time equivalency.” Avoid using except in the most casual circumstances, and only if you are certain that your audience is familiar with the term.

Fulbright

Uppercase as shown: Fulbright Scholar Award, Fulbright Scholar Program, Fulbright Scholars, Fulbright Scholar Grant, Fulbright Distinguished Fellow. Lowercase as shown: a Fulbright grant, a Fulbright fellowship, a Fulbright award.

FYI: The Fulbright Scholar Program was established in 1946 under congressional legislation introduced by Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Grants are awarded to Americans to lecture or conduct research abroad and to foreign scholars to visit the United States. The program is funded and administered by the U.S. Information Agency through the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

full time, full-time

Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: She is a full-time employee of the university. She works full time at the university.

fund-raiser (n.), fund raising (n.), fund-raising

Fund raising is difficult. They planned a fund-raising campaign. A fund-raiser was hired. The organization is planning a fund-raiser.

FY

Acronym for “fiscal year.” Acceptable for use in financial tables and lists; avoid otherwise.

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