Editorial Style
Guide
v4
We have the opportunity to build a
memorable university.
Our position has been defined. Our tools and resources are
ready to use. Now it is up to us to bring it all to life and stay
true to the people, programs and services it represents.
As we strive to capture the essence of our university in our
everyday work, it is important to stay true to our brand.
We did not choose the words in our university positioning
statement by combing through a dictionary. Our language is a
natural reflection of what we heard from our people when we
asked them what was special and unique about the U of S.
We did not choose a smattering of green blocks in our designs
based on our personal taste. Those who have soared over
Saskatchewan have surely caught glimpse of the prairie
patchwork of greens. Our signature graphic element is the
product of our pride in where we come from and who we are.
Each and every piece of our brand has been crafted with
care to reinforce our identity. We are responsible for using it
consistently in our communications to support the goals of
our university.
Our positioning statement says it best: We are a rising team
that is building the future. We have a key role to play in
ensuring that the U of S is not just a leader of today but also a
visionary leader of tomorrow.
Editorial Style
table of contents
Guide
v4
Introduction 2
6Numbers Sources consulted Audience Tone and messaging A work in progress Icons 2
2
2
3
3
1 Abbreviations, acronyms and
other shortcuts 6.1 The general rule 6.2 With four or more digits 6.3Money 6.4Fractions 6.5Percentages 6.6 Number ranges 6.7 Telephone numbers 6.8 School grades 4
1.1 Universities—ours and others 1.2 U of S entities 1.3 Other acronyms and initialisms 1.4Titles 1.5 Provinces and territories 1.6 Academic degrees 1.7 Dates and times 4
4
4
4
5
5
5
7Punctuation 7.1 Accents 7.2 Ampersand 7.3 Commas 7.4 Dashes and hyphens 7.5 Ellipses 7.6 Parentheses and brackets 7.7 Quotation marks 7.8 Spacing 6
8Spelling Heads-up, check this out, rule of thumb, different keystrokes for different key folks
Centuries, decades, months, weekdays, dates,
times, ordinals, range of dates, range of times
1.8Measurements Metric abbreviations, imperial abbreviations,
temperature, square measures
1.9 E.g. vs. i.e. 7
2Addresses 8
2.1 U of S format 2.2 Capitalization, spelling and numbers 2.3 Abbreviating provincial names 8
8
8
3Capitalization 9
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
9
9
9
9
10
To capitalize or not to capitalize A general rule for capitalization Capitalization of job and position titles Capitalization in quotations Capitalization at the U of S Academic programs, academic subjects,
building names, committee names, degrees
and other awards, unit and department
names, job and position titles, Aboriginal
4 Type styles 4.1Italics 12
14
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
15
16
16
16
16
16
17
17
17
17
18
8.1 “Our” rule 8.2 The double “L” 8.3 Truly Canadian words 8.4 Common mistakes 18
18
18
18
9 University terms 20
9.1 Alumna or alumnus or alumni 9.2 Emeritus/emerita 9.3 Go Dogs! 9.4Convocation 20
20
20
20
10 Technology terms 21
10.1 Email and web addresses 21
11 Some things are just wrong 11.1 The sentence fragment 11.2 The comma splice 11.3 Articulate 11.3 Crossing the stage 22
22
22
22
22
12
Use for emphasis, foreign words and
phrases, publications and other works
4.2 Bold face 12
A Appendix: U of S degrees
and abbreviations For emphasis, for headings
5Lists 5.1 Items in series 5.2 Vertical lists 13
13
13
25
Undergraduate, graduate
B Appendix: Tricky word list 26
Introduction
The University of Saskatchewan’s Editorial Style Guide is designed to be a
quick reference for U of S employees—both professional communicators
and others—who have style questions, or an interest in learning more about
writing. It is intended to encourage a common approach to style, recognizing
that there will always be circumstances in which exceptions must be made.
It is not intended to apply to academic, scholarly or research writing, which
rely on particular standards and guidelines. When questions of style arise
in the preparation of certain types of publications and those in specialized
subject areas, it is best to consult appropriate reference authorities.
Sources Consulted
This style guide should be used in conjunction with the most recent editions of the Oxford English
Dictionary and Oxford Canadian Dictionary, considered the spelling authorities for the purpose of this
guide. Other sources consulted include the Canadian Press Stylebook and the Canadian Press Caps and
Spelling, style guides from other Canadian institutions and those followed by a variety of journals
and publications. Also taken into consideration are particular style practices in common use at the
University of Saskatchewan.
Audience
In an organization as complex as a university, communications are produced for a wide array of
audiences—everyone from campus visitors to fellow academics, students, the media and government
officials. Obviously, written materials must be tailored to suit the audience in a way that effectively
conveys information. This guide, therefore, is not intended to dictate a particular use of language that
will hinder or constrain writers but rather to answer questions that may arise in the preparation of
their particular material. It is also not intended as a grammar book or a manual on good writing. Sound
editorial judgment should always be used in preparing communications for a particular audience.
Tone and messaging
The University of Saskatchewan’s institutional positioning statement describes how the U of S is
distinct among its competitor institutions in a way that is relevant to its key stakeholders. Supporting
that position, which describes us as resourceful, collaborative and dynamic, requires a consistent style
in our messaging —what we say­and tone of voice or how we say it.
Keep in mind that both our brand messaging and our tone of voice should convey:
• that we provide freedom and support to push the boundaries of knowledge;
• that we reach across disciplines to make connections and to think differently about the issues of our
time; and
• that we work together to experiment, to learn and to discover.
2
INTRODUCTION
A work in progress
Any guide to editorial style is always a work in progress. Language and its use are constantly evolving,
creating interesting, and sometimes frustrating, conundrums for writers and editors. Monitoring and
evaluating those changes will be part of the work needed to ensure this guide is always useful and
relevant.
Please feel free to contribute to this document by sending queries, comments or suggestions to
University of Saskatchewan Communications at 966-6607 or communications@usask.ca
You can download this style guide as a PDF file at communications.usask.ca
Icons
Heads-up
A “heads-up” icon alerts you to common style issues.
Check this out
Watch for “Check this out” icons to point you to more information.
Rule of thumb
We’ve put together a few handy and easy-to-remember tips.
Different keystrokes for different key folks
Some punctuation characters mentioned in the style guide (such as the en dash) are in the
extended character set. This means these characters cannot be found on your keyboard, but
you can type in key codes to insert them. We have included the common keystrokes for both
Mac and PC.
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1.
Abbreviations, acronyms and
other shortcuts
1.1 Universities—ours and others
Spell out “University of Saskatchewan” in first reference.
Use “U of S” (no periods) or “the university” (lower case) in subsequent references.
Refer to other institutions using full names.
University of Western Ontario
Simon Fraser University
To list a number of institutions, use the Universities of British Columbia, Alberta and Toronto but
McGill University, Simon Fraser University and Dalhousie University.
Some Canadian universities are incorporated with “The” as part of their official title; one
example is The University of British Columbia. Please refer to the website of the Association
of Universities and Colleges of Canada (www.aucc.ca) for the authoritative list of official
university names.
1.2 U of S entities
Use full names in first reference with acronyms or initialisms in brackets, then only
the acronym or initialism with no periods in subsequent references.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), then WCVM
Centre for Continuing and Distance Education (CCDE), then CCDE
Systematic Program Review (SPR), then SPR
Exception: Do not abbreviate Edwards School of Business to ESB; use Edwards or
Edwards School instead.
1.3 Other acronyms and initialisms
Use upper case with no periods for acronyms and initialisms.
NASACBC
NATORCMP
TNT
1.4 Titles
In title abbreviations that appear in upper case only, do not use periods.
VPCEO
Use periods in title abbreviations that appear in mixed upper and lower case.
Dr.Prof.
Mr.Mrs. Ms.
When abbreviating personal names, use periods and a space between initials.
P. D. James
J. R. Ewing
See more about job and position titles at the U of S in Sections 3.3 and 3.5.7
4
Abbreviations, acronyms and other shortcuts
1.5 Provinces and territories
The Canadian Press standard for abbreviating Canadian provinces and territories is mixed upper
and lower case with periods after the name of the community.
Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., N.L., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask.
Neither Yukon nor Nunavut is abbreviated.
Use Canada Post abbreviations in mailing addresses.
AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT
See also Addresses, section 2.3
1.6 Academic degrees
Universities across Canada vary greatly in their approaches to abbreviating academic degrees.
Some follow The Canadian Press style of using periods only for degrees that end in a lower case
letter (B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Agr.) but not for those that end in an upper case letter (PhD, MA, BSN).
Other institutions have done away with periods entirely (BMus, MVetSc, BA).
For official academic purposes (transcripts, parchments), the University of Saskatchewan uses
the abbreviation standard set out in the bylaws of University Council, which is to use periods in
all degree abbreviations (Ph.D., B.A., LL.B.).
A complete list of degree abbreviations can be found on the University Council website
(www.usask.ca/university_secretary/council) or in Appendix A of this guide.
The general trend, particularly with information that is posted on the internet, is to avoid
unnecessary punctuation. Therefore, in circumstances other than official academic documents
(transcripts, degree parchments), avoid using periods where possible. The key, however is to
choose an abbreviation style, then be consistent.
See capitalization of degrees, Section 3.5.5
1.7 Dates and times
1.7.1 Centuries
Spell out the first nine as words, then use digits for 10 and above.
the sixth century
the 18th century (do not use superscript)
1.7.2 Decades
Decades can be spelled out as long as the century is clear, or written in numerals.
the eighties
the ‘80s
When writing decade names in numerals, do not use an apostrophe before the “s.” An
apostrophe precedes the shortened numerical form of the decade.
the 1930s
the ‘30s
the mid-1930s
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1.7.3 Months
Abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec.
Spell out all months standing alone or with a year alone
August, August 2005, but Aug. 17, 2005
1.7.4 Weekdays
Weekdays are abbreviated to Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sat.
1.7.5 Dates
Show dates using the month first, date second and year third.
Oct. 27, 2008
1.7.6 Times
Avoid periods for lower case am and pm
10 am (not 10:00 am) but 5:30 pm
1:30-5 pm (one ‘pm’) rather than 1:30 pm-5 pm
use noon or midnight, not 12 am or 12 pm, to avoid confusion
1.7.7 Ordinals
When expressing dates without a year, do not use the ordinal form.
Nov. 8, not Nov. 8th
1.7.8 Range of dates
When expressing periods of time in years, write the numbers out using an en dash (a dash
roughly the length of the letter “n” and slightly longer than a hyphen), not a slash.
2005–2006 or 1987–89 (not ’87-’89)
The one exception is in the expression of academic years.
the 2008/09 academic year
1.7.9 Range of times
Use “from” and “to” when writing a range of times but use an en dash in tables.
The meeting went from 9 to 10:30 am
Reception, 7–10 pm
1.8 Measurements
1.8.1 Metric abbreviations
Use lower case with no periods for metric measurement abbreviations except for “litres” which
is abbreviated with a capital letter (L) to avoid confusion with the numeral 1. Use one space
between the numeral and the abbreviation.
10 km 230 ml 7 L
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Abbreviations, acronyms and other shortcuts
1.8.2 Imperial abbreviations
Abbreviate imperial measurements in lower case with a period at the end of each unit.
in., ft., sq. ft.
1.8.3 Temperature
Celsius is abbreviated with a capital letter C, no period and one space between the temperature and
abbreviation.
35 C, -6 C
Do not insert any spaces if using the degree symbol.
35°C, -6°C
1.8.4 Square measures
Square measures can be written as sq m or with the superscript (m2) for scientific or technical
text.
8 sq m or 8 m2
1.9 E.g. vs. i.e.
The abbreviation for exempli gratia is e.g., but it should be avoided. Use “for example” instead.
Use “that is” instead of i.e.
Use the abbreviation vs. only in sports schedules and the names of court cases.
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2. Addresses
2.1 U of S format
U of S mailing addresses follow Canada Post abbreviation style and include department name,
campus street address and postal code. Building name is optional.
Department of Animal and Poultry Science
College of Agriculture and Bioresources
University of Saskatchewan
51 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8
Include two spaces between province and postal code, or use an em-space
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8
Mailing addresses for individual colleges and units should follow a similar style.
2.2 Capitalization, spelling and numbers
Always write street addresses with numerals, not spelled out.
10 Downing St.
Capitalize letters that appear in street addresses.
36B Central Ave.
Spell out and capitalize street names and directional abbreviations in running text.
The house is located on Spadina Crescent East.
Spell out First through Ninth as street names. Avoid superscript for streets above Ninth.
279 Fifth Ave., 100 14th St.
2.3 Abbreviating provincial names
Use Canada Post abbreviations in mailing addresses.
AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT
Also U.S. and U.K.
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3. Capitalization
addresses | Capitalization
3.1 To capitalize or not to capitalize
Leaders in writing style standards are advocating a shift toward less capitalization and
punctuation. The Canadian Press refers to it as “a modified down style” that follows this basic
rule:
Capitalize all proper names, trade names, government departments and agencies of
government, names of associations, companies, clubs, religions, languages, nations, races,
places and addresses. Otherwise, lowercase is favoured where a reasonable option exists.
The Canadian Press continues to use “lowercase” and “uppercase” as single words, contrary to
the two-word format adopted by the Oxford Canadian Dictionary and this style guide.
This guide recommends a lower case style for several reasons supported by various sources
consulted in its preparation:
• when too many words are capitalized in text, they lose their importance and no longer attract
the attention of the reader.
• copy is easier to read when capitalized words are limited.
• lower case style does not diminish the stature or credibility of a person or department’s
position or reputation.
• judicious use of capitalization combined with white space and typeface can improve the
effectiveness of print materials.
3.2 A general rule for capitalization
Capitalize common nouns when they represent a complete formal name, and use lower
case in the partial or informal versions of the name.
the University of Saskatchewan
the Government of Manitoba
the university
the Manitoba government
the government
3.3 Capitalization of job and position titles
In running text, capitalize formal job titles when they appear directly in front of a
name and are not set off by a comma.
Director Chris Phooster
Chris Phooster, director
the director
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher, prime minister
the prime minister
Formal titles are those that could be used with the surname alone.
Bishop Williams
Also see job and position titles, Section 3.5.7
3.4 Capitalization in quotations
Capitalize the first word of a quotation that is a complete sentence.
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3.5 Capitalization at the U of S
3.5.1 Academic programs
Use the general rule of capitalization for formal academic programs within colleges and
departments.
the Ukrainian Studies Program the Vocal Studies Program
Ukrainian studies
vocal studies
3.5.2 Academic subjects
Do not capitalize academic subjects except when the subject is also a proper noun.
English, engineering, French, chemistry, law, Latin
3.5.3 Building names
Only the full and formal name of a building should be capitalized. Use lower case for informal
titles.
Agriculture Building, but ag building
3.5.4 Committee names
The names of committees, task forces and other working groups do not require capitalization.
the nominating committee
the land use task force
3.5.5 Degrees and other awards
Use the general rules of capitalization to refer to degrees and awards.
Doctor of Philosophy; doctorate
Master of Business Administration; master’s degree in business administration, MBA
Bachelor of Arts; baccalaureate or bachelor’s degree
Professional Certificate in Land Management; land management certificate
See abbreviations of degrees, Section 1.6
3.5.6 Unit and department names
Follow the general rules of capitalization.
Department of Political Studies
political studies department
the department
Facilities Management Division
FMD
the division
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Capitalization
3.5.7 Job and position titles
In running text, capitalize formal job titles when they appear directly in front of a name and are
not set off by a comma. Use lower case in other instances.
Manager of Payroll Helen Crane
Helen Crane, payroll manager
the manager
English Professor Scott Mead
Scott Mead, professor of English (capitalize English because it is a proper noun)
the professor
Toxicology Professor Sylvia Danes
Sylvia Danes, professor of toxicology
the professor
Always hyphenate the titles “vice-president” and “vice-provost”.
When making reference to U of S vice-presidents in running copy, do not set off their area of
responsibility with commas or parentheses.
William Pender, vice-president of finance and resources
Commas setting off areas of responsibility are acceptable in lists.
William Pender, vice-president, finance and resources
3.5.8 Aboriginal
The University of Saskatchewan capitalizes Aboriginal in all instances.
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4. Type styles
4.1 Italics
4.1.1 Use for emphasis
Italics should be used sparingly in running text, for emphasis.
4.1.2 Foreign words and phrases
Italics can be helpful when used for foreign words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to
readers. Follow discipline standards for scientific or research publications.
4.1.3 Publications and other works
The titles of books, journals, newspapers, movies, magazines, plays, poems, television
programs, radio programs, musical compositions and works of visual art are italicized; article
and chapter titles from within those publications and poems are not.
Use italics for the proper titles of University of Saskatchewan publications.
Renewing the Dream: University of Saskatchewan Strategic Directions
On Campus News
4.2 Bold face
4.2.1 For emphasis
Like italics, bold face should be used sparingly in running text, and only to emphasize
differences.
4.2.2 For headings
Bold face can be used in headings to divide running text.
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5. Lists
Type Styles | Lists
5.1 Items in series
Lists that appear in running copy and are introduced with the word “including” do not require a
colon.
Use of a terminal comma (a comma that precedes the final “and”) is not necessary
except to avoid confusion.
Without a terminal comma: Huskie Athletics supports a number of university sports
including football, basketball and volleyball.
With a terminal comma to avoid confusion caused by two “ands”: Huskie Athletics
supports a number of university sports including football, basketball, track and field,
and volleyball.
Lists that appear in running text and follow a colon should have semicolons.
Huskie Athletics supports a number of university sports: football; basketball; volleyball;
and track and field.
5.2 Vertical lists
Try to avoid bulleted vertical lists in running copy but if the context requires the information
be highlighted, they should be introduced with a complete sentence followed by a colon. No
internal or terminal punctuation is required. Do not capitalize the first word of bulleted items in
a vertical list unless it is a proper noun.
The lecture series will cover a number of subject areas:
• political history of the province
• economic development
• demographics
Use internal and terminal punctuation if the list is not preceded by a complete sentence.
Students in the class can expect to learn about
• political history of the province,
• economic development, and
• demographics.
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6. Numbers
6.1 The general rule
Spell out the numbers one through nine. For 10 and above, use numerals.
There are a number of exceptions that always require numerals:
•
•
•
•
measurements that use abbreviations or symbols
percentages that include decimals—3.2 per cent
combined whole numbers and fractions
currency
Although it should be avoided, a number used to start a sentence is always
spelled out.
6.2 With four or more digits
In numbers with four or more digits, commas are used to separate three-digit groups except for
house numbers, phone numbers, years and other serial numbers.
1,000 not 1000
Avoid using too many zeros.
554.6 billion
6.3 Money
Use numerals to represent currency with the appropriate symbols. There is no space between
the symbol and the numeral.
$8.99
Very large currency amounts can be written using a combination of numerals and words with the
currency symbol but do not use $ and the word dollars.
$9.34 million, not $9.34 million dollars
6.4 Fractions
Avoid using full-sized numerals separated by a slash to express fractions. Use fraction characters
(or superscript/subscript) instead.
4¾ not 4-3/4
<Alt> + <0><1><8><8> for ¼; <Alt> + <0><1><8><9> for ½; <Alt> + <0><1><9><0> for ¾
Using MS Word with autocorrect enabled:
type <numerator></><denominator>, then <space> or <enter>
Find the fraction characters in the character palette under digits.
Spell out simple fractions that are not mixed numbers. Hyphenate only when the fraction is
considered a single quantity.
His kick carried the ball more than one-third the length of the field.
14
Numbers
6.5 Percentages
Percentages should always be expressed in numerals followed by “per cent.”
In text that includes numerous references to percentages, the symbol % is acceptable
with no space between the number and the symbol.
6.6 Number ranges
Use an en dash (slightly longer than a hyphen) between two numbers to indicate “up to and
including” or “through.”
The information is found on pages 113-126.
For number ranges preceded by “from” or “between,” use “to” or “through” and “and”
respectively.
from 1947 to 1949
between 100 and 150
6.7 Telephone numbers
The following is university style for telephone numbers with the long-distance prefix.
(306) 966-6607
Use dashes for toll-free numbers.
1-800-966-6610
Use ext. to express extensions.
6.8 School grades
Grade 7, but seventh grade
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7.
Punctuation
7.1 Accents
Refer to the Oxford English Dictionary for the accent requirements of foreign words that
have been imported into the English language.
7.2 Ampersand
The ampersand (&) should not be used in titles or names of University of
Saskatchewan academic departments or administrative units. It can be used in the
full, proper name of non-university entities such as A&W.
7.3 Commas
Use commas between elements of a series in running text.
Only use a comma before the final “and,” “or” or “nor” to avoid confusion:
Huskie Athletics supports a number of university sports including football, basketball,
track and field, and volleyball.
7.4 Dashes and hyphens
An em dash (­—) is longer than a hyphen or an en dash and is roughly the length of the letter
“m”. Use an em dash without spaces before or after to set off a phrase in running copy but use
them sparingly; unnecessary dashes create choppy copy.
<Alt> + <0><1><5><1>
<Ctrl> + <Alt> + <–> on number pad
Using MS Word with autocorrect enabled:
type <space><–><–><space> between the words you wish to hyphenate
Option + <shift> + <–>
An en dash (–) is used in number ranges.
Pages 39–50
<Alt> + <0><1><5><0>
<Ctrl> + <–> on number pad
Using MS Word with autocorrect enabled:
type <space><–><space> between the words you wish to hyphenate
Option + <–>
Use a hyphen in compound adjectives that form a separate concept and are followed
immediately by the noun they modify.
used-car dealer
second-year student
Do not hyphenate compund adjectives where the first word ends in “ly” as in highly toxic
substance.
16
Punctuation
Use a hyphen when the word following the prefix begins with the same vowel as the word with
which the prefix ends, or when the appearance of the compound word would be confusing
without the hyphen.
co-editor
co-operation
co-ordination
pre-empt
Use hyphens in compound adjectives.
12-year-old student
world-class athlete
Non-hyphenated ‘by’ words:
byelectionbylinebyproduct
bylawbypass
7.5 Ellipses
An ellipsis … is used to indicate an omission from text or a quotation. Insert one space before
and after the ellipsis. No further punctuation is required when an ellipsis ends a sentence.
7.6 Parentheses and brackets
Like capitalization, parentheses should be used sparingly and only when punctuation is not
appropriate.
Parentheses are used to enclose non-essential information, equivalents or translations.
If parentheses fall at the end of a sentence, the terminal punctuation goes outside the closing
parentheses. Punctuation that applies only to the parenthetical information goes inside the
closing parentheses.
Use square brackets [ ] to indicate material that does not belong to the original quotation. They
are also used to insert [sic] into a quotation to indicate that errors in the quotation are the fault
of the author of the quoted material.
7.7 Quotation marks
Use double quotation marks for direct quotes or to highlight a particular word or phrase.
Quotes within quotes get single quotation marks.
When punctuating a sentence that ends with a quotation, a period or comma goes inside the
quotation mark and a colon or semicolon goes outside the quotation mark.
He described the process as “environmentally neutral.”
Put an exclamation mark or question mark inside the quotation marks when it is part of the
quoted material and outside the quotation mark when it applies to the entire sentence.
“That’s a lie!” the member of parliament shouted.
7.8 Spacing
Use one space, not two, between the end punctuation of one sentence and the beginning of
the next.
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8. Spelling
8.1 “Our” rule
For words of more than one syllable in which the “u” is not pronounced, Canadian authorities
have adopted the “our” spelling as the standard. The following is a quick reference list for “our”
words.
armour labour but laborious
behaviourneighbour
colourodour but odorous
demeanourrigour but rigorous
endeavour rumour
favour, favourite, favourable
saviour
flavourvalour but valorous
harbourvapour but vaporous
honour, honourable, honoured but honorary
vigour but vigorous
humour but humorous
tremor (no ‘u’)
8.2 The double “L”
The following is a list of common words that can challenge even the best spellers with the
double “L” conundrum.
compel, compelled, compelling
counsel, counsellor, counselling
enrol, enrolled, enrolment
fulfil, fulfilled, fulfilment, fulfilling
install, instalment, installation, installing
marvel, marvelled, marvelous
signal, signalled, signalling
total, totalled
travel, traveller, travelling
tranquil, tranquillize
8.3 Truly Canadian words
The following is a list of words and their accepted Canadian spelling.
centre, centred, centring practise (as a verb)
cheque (as a method of payment)
pretence
defenceprogram
grey (colour)
sulfur (scientific standard spelling)
organizetheatre
practice (as a noun or adjective)
8.4 Common mistakes
There are a number of words that are misspelled or misused, or both, on a regular basis.
affect/effect
use affect to mean act upon, influence or imitate; use effect to mean cause, make
possible, accomplish or complete.
analyze/analyse
interchangeable but analyze is preferable.
compliment/complement
compliment is an expression of praise; complement is the quantity or number needed to
make up a whole.
18
spelling
composing/comprising
composing is to make or create by putting together (composed of A, B and C);
comprising is consisting of (comprising A, B and C).
councillor/counsellor
a councillor is elected to city council; a counsellor offers advice
defence/defense
interchangeable but defence is preferable; use defensive.
discreet/discrete
discreet means circumspect action or speech; discrete refers to something being distinct
or separate.
ensure/insure
ensure is to make certain; insure is to protect against loss.
fewer/less
if you can count it, use fewer; if you can’t count it, use less (fewer apples but less
applesauce).
historic/historical
something important is historic; something that happened in the past is historical.
i.e./e.g.
use i.e. in place of “that is”; use e.g. to cite examples
its/it’s
its is possessive (the dog licked its paws); it’s is a contraction of “it is”.
license/licence
use license as a verb, licence as a noun.
moral/morale
moral is a lesson; morale is an attitude or mental condition.
practise/practice
use practise as a verb, practice as a noun or adjective.
principal/principle
principal means head or leading figure; principle means rule, law, moral guideline or
general truth.
rational/rationale
rational is sensible; rationale is a statement of reason
re-sign/resign
re-sign is to sign again; resign is to quit
stationary/stationery
if you remain in one place, you are stationary; stationery is paper.
that/which
use that when the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence; use which, set off
with a comma, for clauses less essential to meaning.
University of Saskatchewan
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9. University terms
9.1 Alumna or alumnus or alumni …
alumni
is a group of people who have graduated from university
alumnus
is an individual male graduate
alumna
is an individual female graduate
alum
informal unisex abbreviation
9.2 Emeritus/emerita
The honorifics emeritus (male) and emerita (female) denote faculty and university officials who
have retired but retain their rank or title.
9.3 Go Dogs!
University of Saskatchewan Huskies
Huskie Athletics
the Huskies but Huskie football
9.4 Convocation
Convocate is not a verb. Students graduate from the university at a ceremony called
convocation.
A graduand is one about to receive a university degree.
A graduate is one who has received a university degree
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10. Technology terms
University terms | technology terms
The terminology related to technology changes almost as quickly as the technology itself.
Current practice in spelling and capitalization includes
Adobe Acrobat, JavaScript
internet, the net
cyberspaceonline
desktopthe web
email (no hyphen)
web browser
high-tech web page
home pagewebcam
inboxwebsite
10.1 Email and web addresses
Email addresses should include the “at” symbol, but no capital letters.
ocn@usask.ca
Web addresses that appear in print should not include the prefix “http://”. Ensure the URL is
properly punctuated.
www.usask.ca
The use of “www” is discretionary. Many addresses will connect to the page without typing
www in the address bar.
Do not underline either email or web addresses in written copy. In web documents,
underlining indicates a hot link.
Try to avoid the situation where a URL breaks at the end of one sentence and continues on
another. If it is unavoidable, create the break at a slash within the address.
University of Saskatchewan
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11. Some things are just plain wrong
11.1 The sentence fragment
A sentence fragment is a sentence that lacks a subject or a verb, or cannot stand on
its own. Like this one or the next one. Because it doesn’t. Sentence fragments should
be avoided.
11.2 The comma splice
When a sentence contains two principal or co-ordinate clauses (phrases that could
stand alone as separate sentences), it is always wrong to connect them with a comma.
Here is an example of a comma splice:
Sheep are great, they live on grass.
To correct a comma splice, choose one of three options:
1. Insert a period after the first phrase and start a new sentence
Sheep are great. They live on grass.
2. Introduce the second clause with “and”, “or”, “but”, “because” or a similar word
Sheep are great because they live on grass.
3. Use a colon, semicolon or dash to separate the phrases. Never use a comma.
Sheep are great; they live on grass.
11.3 Articulate
Used as a verb, articulate means to pronounce distinctly, to utter a speech sound by
making the necessary movements of the speech organs, or to express in coherent
verbal form. It is therefore impossible to articulate (verb) in writing although one
can create an articulate (adj.) essay.
11.4 Crossing the stage
Please see Convocation, section 9.4. Convocate is not a verb; our students graduate.
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Notes
some things are just plain wrong | notes
University of Saskatchewan
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Notes
24
A. U of S degrees and abbreviations
Undergraduate
Graduate
Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.Sc.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Bachelor of Arts Three-year (B.A.)
Master of Agriculture (M.Agr.)
Bachelor of Arts Four-year (B.A.)
Master of Arts (M.A.)
and Advanced Certificate
Appendices
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Bachelor of Arts Honours (B.A.)
and Honours Certificate
Master of Continuing Education (M.C.Ed.)
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.)
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Master of Environment and Sustainability (M.E.S.)
Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
[B.Mus.(Mus.Ed.)]
Master of International Trade (M.I.T.)
Bachelor of Science Three-year (B.Sc.)
Bachelor of Science Four-year (B.Sc.)
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
Master of Mathematics (M.Math)
and Advanced Certificate
Master of Music (M.Mus.)
Bachelor of Science Honours (B.Sc.)
Master of Nursing (M.N.)
and Honours Certificate
Master of Physical Therapy (M.P.T)
Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness
[B.Sc.(Agbus.)]
Bachelor of Science in Renewable
Resource Management [B.Sc.(R.R.M.)]
Master of Professional Accounting (M.P.Acc.)
Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.)
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.E.)
Master of Sustainable Environmental
Management (M.S.E.M.)
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology [B.Sc.(Kin)]
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N)
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition [B.Sc.(Nutr.)]
Master of Veterinary Science (M.Vet.Sc.)
Post-Graduate Diploma (P.G.D.)
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (B.S.P.)
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
Post-Degree Specialization Certificate (P.D.S.C.)
Please note: This list of abbreviations is used for official academic purposes by the U of S. As stated in
Section 1.6, the trend in general writing is to avoid periods in degree abbreviations.
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B. Tricky word list
Aboriginal
long-range, long-standing, long-term
Aboriginal Peoples (all of Canada’s Indians, Inuit
and Métis)
masterful (domineering), masterly (skilful)
accommodation (double ‘m’)
adviser (not –or)
adverse (unfavourable)
averse (reluctant)
aging (not ageing)
barefoot
bona fide (adj. – genuine; adv. – genuinely)
bona fides (n. – proof of status)
medium, media (pl.)
Métis
metre, metric but diameter
midterm
misinterpret
month-long
mould (not mold)
benefit, benefited, benefiting
multicultural, multilateral, multimedia but multiyear
changeover (n.); change over (v.)
naive, naiveté
decision-making
noncommittal
dependant (n.); dependent (adj.)
non-profit
diameter
no one
dissociate (not disassociate)
nucleus, nuclei
e.g. (exempli gratia, but avoid using)
occur, occurred, occurrence, occurring
follow-up (adj.); follow up (v.)
online
fundraise, fundraiser, fundraising
organize
half, one-half, half a dozen, a half-dozen
paralyze, paralysis
heads-up
part time, a part-time job
health care (n.); health-care (adj.)
highlight
honourable, honour but honorary and honorific
i.e. (use ‘that is’)
implement (n. and v.), implementation
in-depth (adj.)
Inuit
keynote
kilo (avoid as an abbreviation for kilogram or
kilometer)
26
meager
paycheque (one word)
payday (one word)
pay off (v.), payoff (n.)
per cent, percentage
plus, pluses
playwright, but playwriting
policy-maker
post-doctoral
post-secondary
prerogative
likable (not –eable)
prevalence, prevalent
loath (unwilling)
provincewide
loathe (despise)
public, publicly
Appendices
questionnaire
usage
question period
verbatim
reassess
vie but vying
re-examine
willful
reopen
withdraw, withdrawal
resumé
workforce, workload, workplace
rollcall (one word)
write off (v.), writeoff (n.)
roof, roofs
X-ray
semi-annual
YouTube
semifinal but quarter-final
zero, zeros
set up (v.), setup (n.)
zigzag (no hyphen)
side-effect
spin off (v.), spinoff (n. and adj.)
stand by (v.), standby (n.)
stand in (v.), stand-in (n.)
startup
storey, storeys
subtle
supersede
task force
teepee
telltale
tenterhooks (not tender-)
thesis, theses
think-tank
time-slot
top-notch (adj.)
town hall
tremor
tying (not tieing)
unco-operative
unco-ordinated
unforgivable
usable
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most important
“My
piece of advice to all you
would-be writers: when
you write, try to leave out
all the parts readers skip.
– Elmore Leonard
28
”
Institutional Positioning
Statement
for whom
dedicated visionaries who believe innovation is born of collaboration
what we offer
support
connections
impact
we provide freedom
and support to push the
boundaries of knowledge
we reach across disciplines, into
our communities and around
the globe to build life-changing
connections and to think
differently about the issues of
our time
we work together to
experiment, to learn and
to make ground-breaking
discoveries that will change
Saskatchewan, Canada and
the world
who we are
we are a rising
team that is
building the
future
our personality
our ambition
we will get there using
resourceful
collaborative
dynamic
to be among the most
distinguished universities
in Canada and the world
our determined spirit
Approved June, 2010 by the
President’s Executive Committee
our dedicated and flexible support
our diverse perspectives
our leading-edge understanding
of human and other living systems
The Editorial Style Guide has been developed for
those responsible for the creation of communication
materials at the University of Saskatchewan. The
responsibility of University Communications is to
assist individuals and departments to ensure their
communications are on strategy, use the correct
communication medium, and meet high quality and
professional standards.
For enquiries, please contact:
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
501-121 Research Drive
Saskatoon SK S7N 1K2
(306) 966-6607
communications@usask.ca
communications.usask.ca
129-11 / MAY 2012