Editorial Styleguide

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S

SAC

Acronym for the "Swain Student Activities Center."

See also Swain Student Activities Center

SAT

Although SAT still officially stands for Scholastic Assessment Test, the abbreviation is sufficient even on first reference: SAT, no periods. Score totals are written without a comma: 1300. As with GPAs, federal law prohibits releasing individual student scores without the explicit written permission of the student.

See also FERPA

scholarship

Lowercase except for named awards: He received an athletic scholarship. She received a National Merit Scholarship.

School of Music

An academic unit; "music school" on second reference.

schools and colleges

See colleges and schools.

seasons

Always lowercase, even when naming an issue of a publication: the fall 2003 issue of UofL magazine.

semesters

Academic semesters are lowercase with no comma preceding a year: fall semester 2002.

semicolon

Semicolons may be used to separate the elements of a series when the elements themselves include commas. Do not use semicolons in a series if commas will work. NOTE: Using semicolons in this way does not dictate the use of a colon to introduce the series; conversely, using a colon does not dictate the use of semicolons.

When semicolons are used, include one before the conjunction at the end of the series.

Use a semicolon to connect two closely related sentences, thus avoiding comma splices or run-on sentences: We set some lofty goals when we developed the Challenge for Excellence plan in the latter half of the 1990s; five years later, we've already accomplished many of them.

spacing

For publications, single space between sentences rather than double space (as in a letter).

Speed School

Acceptable as a second reference for "J.B. Speed School of Engineering."

state names

In text, always spell out state names when they stand alone: She visited Kentucky for the first time to attend the Derby.

When used in conjunction with a city or town, abbreviate per AP style and set off with commas: Louisville, Ky., is the site of the Kentucky Derby.

Do not abbreviate Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah, unless as part of an address with a ZIP code.

stereotypes

Avoid racial and sexual references or mention of debilitating physical conditions if they are not germane to the story. The phrase "people with disabilities" is preferable to "the disabled"; the term "disabled" to "handicapped."

Don't say "afflicted with" or "the victim of"; instead: She has a spinal injury.

Don't use a disease as a descriptive: He has diabetes. NOT He is a diabetic.

EXCEPTION: Survivor of is acceptable, as in He is a survivor of cancer.

student data

Certain federal laws govern the release of student information.

See also FERPA

Student Government Association

Capitalize on first reference; SGA is acceptable on second reference.

summa cum laude

"With greatest distinction"; italicize and lowercase: summa cum laude

Swain Student Activities Center

Use full name on first reference; the popular term the SAC is acceptable after that.

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