A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
academic year: Use the full year when referring to the academic year, i.e. 2000-2001. The abbreviations '00, '02 or '03 are acceptable on second reference. Do not capitalize fall, winter, spring or summer when referring to semesters. (Also see seasons.)
academic degrees: In general, use master's degree or bachelor's degree (note apostrophes). AP also notes that with Ph.D.s, the preferred form is to say that a person holds a doctorate followed by the specialty. Lowercase all specific degrees, i.e. bachelor of arts or bachelor of science, but capitalize those containing a proper noun or adjective, i.e., bachelor's degree in English. Use B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., Ph.D., M.B.A. with no space after the first period when abbreviating. The plural of Ph.D. is Ph.D.s. Do not add the word "degree" after an abbreviation.
Incorrect: He received his B.A. degree in biology. Correct: He received his B.A. in biology.
When in doubt about the proper degree abbreviation, consult Webster's New World Dictionary and use the first reference. It is highly suggested that abbreviations not be used. Wittenberg currently offers a bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of music, bachelor of music education, bachelor of science and master of art in education.
academic departments: Lowercase all except those with proper nouns or adjectives: the department of music, the department of history, the department of chemistry, the department of English. Spell out the official department name on the first reference. The chemistry department, the English department, etc. are acceptable on second reference. (See offices.)
acronyms: In general, first spell out the name of the organization and then place the acronym immediately after it in parentheses. Do not use periods in the acronym unless an organization specifically calls for them.
administrative titles: Capitalize and spell out all titles when they precede a name. Examples include: Provost Chris Duncan and Board of Directors Chairman David Boyle. Lowercase all titles when they follow a name, e.g. Chris Duncan, provost, or Cindy Beacom, executive assistant. (See courtesy titles.) Do not use chairperson unless it's the formal title for a particular office. (See chair.)
address: The official university address is Wittenberg University, Ward Street at North Wittenberg Avenue, Post Office Box 720, Springfield, OH 45501-0720. Other addresses are used for delivery purposes. The street address for central receiving, for example, is 225 N. Fountain Ave., Springfield, OH 45504. The street address for the Benham-Pence Student Center is 734 Woodlawn Ave., Springfield, OH 45504. However, if sending a student mail, address it to the student and include his/her box number, followed by the service center box number, P.O. Box 6100, Springfield, OH 45501-6100. (See street addresses.)
Admission Office: Note the lack of an "s" in Admission and the capitalization. Use Office of Admission on first reference. (See offices.)
adviser/advisor: Although the Associated Press uses adviser, the university editor prefers advisor.
affect/effect: To affect something means "to influence or produce a change," e.g. His poem affected me greatly. Avoid using affect as a noun. Effect as a noun means the result, e.g. The experiment did not create the effect he wanted. As a verb, effect means "to cause or accomplish," e.g. The lawyers hope to effect a compromise.
African American: The Associated Press states that the preferred term is black (lowercase). According to AP, the term African-American (with a hyphen) should be used only in a direct quotation or when part of an official name. Do not hyphenate the term, however, unless part of an official name.
afterward: Note the absence of an "s" at the end.
ages: Always use figures except at the beginning of a sentence. Examples include: a 6-year-old boy; the boy is 6 years old; Six-year-old David walked home.
Albright Tennis Complex: Located to the west of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center between Bill Edwards Drive and McCreight Avenue, the complex has 12 courts, 8 of which are lighted. The courts also have Dynaflex surfaces. David B. Albright was chair of the Wittenberg Board of Directors, and the Albrights both graduated in 1940. Use David B. and Georgiana S. Albright Tennis Complex on first reference. Albright Tennis Complex is acceptable on subsequent references.
All-America, All-American: Use All-America when describing a team, e.g. the All-America football team. Use All-American when describing an individual, e.g. She was an All-American. All-Conference and All-NCAC should follow the same pattern.
alma mater: Lowercase unless it refers to a formal title. For example, Wittenberg is my alma mater, but Alma Mater Jennifer Smith spoke at the event. Alma Mater should also be capitalized and put in quotations when it refers to the college's song.
alumni: Use when referring to a group of both men and women. Use alumna when referring to a single female; alumnus when referring to a single male; alumni when referring to a group of men, and alumnae when referring to a group of women. Alumnae who have married should be listed with their maiden and married names (Julie Smith Stevens). Wittenberg has more than 32,000 living alumni. Avoid using the combination alumni/ae. Also avoid using the term "alum" unless the person is of unspecified gender.
alumni association: Organization to which all alumni immediately belong upon graduation. The official name is the Wittenberg University Alumni Association, and when used in this manner, it should be capitalized. Lowercase otherwise.
alumni board: This is the governing board of the alumni association. The official name is the Wittenberg University Alumni Board, and it should be capitalized when used in full. Lowercase otherwise.
Alumni Hollow: The green space on the northwest corner of Alumni Way and Ward Street where Hanley and South Halls once stood.
Alumni Way: Dedicated during Homecoming 2004, the former Woodlawn Avenue between Ward Street and Cassily Street is now a brick plaza where past, present and future alumni, faculty and friends of Wittenberg are recognized with honorary bricks bearing their names.
a.m./p.m.: Lowercase in all situations. (See time, date, place.)
assistant and associate: Do not abbreviate in a formal title.
athletics director: Do not use athletic director. Wittenberg has a director of athletics, but athletics director is acceptable on second reference. (Also see administrative titles.)
Audio-Visual Services: It should be capitalized and hyphenated when used.
auditoriums: Wittenberg is home to Bayley Auditorium in Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center and Kissell Auditorium in Koch Hall. (See Bayley Auditorium, Kissell Auditorium.)
avenue: Abbreviate with numbered addresses, e.g. 123 College Ave. (See street addresses.)
baccalaureate: Note spelling and capitalize if a formal function, e.g. Baccalaureate Service.
Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center: Dedicated in 2003 the state of the art academic building is located along Bill Edwards Drive. Kuss Science Center is home to the departments of biology, chemistry, environmental studies, geology, mathematics and computer science and physics. It also houses Bayley Auditorium.
Bayley Alumni House: This is the official name of the building formerly known as the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, and it should not be confused with the Office of Alumni Relations. The center houses the Offices of Alumni Relations and Advancement. Capitalize Office of Alumni Relations and Office of Advancement, and consult the Campus Telephone Directory for other individual departments within the Bayley Alumni House. It was named after Robert '39 and Ruth K. Bayley '42 of Springfield in May 2001. (See offices.)
Bayley Auditorium: Located in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center, this 148-seat modern classroom is also the site of various lectures and presentations.
because/since: Because and since are both subordinate conjunctions. However, since should only be used when a time element is involved, e.g. Wittenberg has been around since 1845. It should not be used in the following manner: Since the house was on fire, we did not drive down the street. The correct replacement for since in this instance is because.
Benham-Pence Student Center: This is the official title of the student center. Named for Pauline Pence in honor of her husband and parents, it is home to the Bookstore, Post 95, Corner Store, Center Dining Room (CDR), facilities scheduling, Games Room, meeting rooms, Wally's, Service Center, Student Activities, student bank and student mailboxes.
Benjamin Prince House: Traditionally the president's home, the house is located on N. Wittenberg Avenue. Named for the late professor and vice president of Wittenberg, it is the home of President Laurie M. Joyner and her family.
Blair Hall: Dedicated in 1927 and located at 2 E. Campus Drive, Blair Hall is home to the department of education. A complete restoration took place in 2009-2010, and today's students enjoy learning spaces that inspire creativity and innovation and classrooms infused with high-tech features. The building earned Clark County's first-ever Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold recognition.
Bill Edwards Field/Betty Doughman Dillahunt Softball Field: (See Edwards/Dillahunt.)
board of directors: Wittenberg University has a board of directors, not a board of trustees. The official name is the Board of Directors of Wittenberg College, but Wittenberg Board of Directors is sufficient. Capitalize only when using the formal name. Otherwise, lowercase board of directors. Board members are appointed for 3-year individual terms, but their tenures cannot exceed 12 years.
books: Italicize all book titles, but use quotations for specific chapters. (See titles).
building names (see individual buildings listed alphabetically, and also see academic buildings, residence halls and Greek houses): Wittenberg has more than 25 buildings that blend traditional European classicism and contemporary architecture. Use the accompanying abbreviation on second reference.
Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center (Kuss)
Bayley Alumni House (BAH)
Benham-Pence Student Center (STC)
Benjamin Prince House (BPH)
Blair Hall (B)
Carnegie Hall (C)
Chakeres Memorial Theatre (CT)
Ferncliff Hall (FH)
Firestine Hall (FS)
Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center (HPERC)
Hollenbeck Hall (HH)
Koch Hall (K)
Krieg Hall (KRG)
Matthies House (MH)
Myers Hall (MY)
Physical Plant (P)
Polis House (PH)
Recitation Hall (R)
Recitation Hall Annex (RA)
Shouvlin Center (SC)
Synod Hall (SYN)
Student Development/Deitrick House (SD)
Thomas Library (TL)
Tower Hall (TH)
Weaver Chapel (WC)
Weaver Observatory (WO)
William A. McClain Black Culture House (BC)
Woodlawn Hall (WH)
Zimmerman Hall (Z)
Cabinet: Capitalize when referring to the President's Cabinet.
campus: Lowercase on all references, except when it refers to an official name.
Campus Circle: This is the portion of campus between Recitation and Blair Halls and Myers Hall and the fountain. (See landmarks.)
Campus Telephone Directory: Published annually, it contains a complete listing of all students, faculty, staff, departments, centers, Greek houses, organizations, etc. It should be italicized on all references.
Career Services: Located in the Shouvlin Center, Career Services provides quality services and resources that help students effectively choose, prepare for and launch meaningful and rewarding careers.
Carnegie Hall: This academic building is currently home to the departments of business, geography and sociology. WittCAM is located on the third floor of Carnegie.
Center for Civic & Urban Engagement: See Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic & Urban Engagement.
Center for Musical Development: Founded in 1996 and located in the Shouvlin Center, it offers private instruction in piano, voice, strings, winds and percussion. Affiliated with the School of Community Education, it is open to the community and to students. CMD is acceptable on second reference.
cents: Write out the word cents when the amount is less than a dollar, i.e. 6 cents. Use the dollar sign and decimals for amounts larger than a dollar, e.g. $2.50. Use numerals on all occasions.
century: Spell out when less than 10, e.g. the fourth century, except in company names where applicable.
chair: This is the preferred term, not chairperson. Chairman and chairwoman are also acceptable. If a formal title, capitalize if it precedes a name. (See administrative titles.)
Chakeres Memorial Theatre: Adjacent to Tower Hall and dedicated in 1983 in honor of the Chakeres family of Springfield, the 180-seat black box theatre is the site of numerous student-run productions. It is located at 905 Woodlawn Ave., and it is pronounced Chackers.
Chapel Lawn: The green space southeast of Weaver Chapel that ends along Alumni Way. The area is used for many large outdoor campus activities.
Church Relations: Officially the Office of Church Relations, it is located in Weaver Chapel. Wittenberg has a director of church relations. (See Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.)
class years: In contrast to previous publications, the new style for class years will be the following: John Smith '62 or Julie Smith '48 without a comma after the last name. Where confusion may exist, use the following: an 1890 graduate, not '90. Freshmen and sophomores may be considered first-year and second-year students or as underclass students, and juniors and seniors may be called third-year or fourth-year or upperclass students.
Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center: Located on S. Fountain Avenue in downtown Springfield, it hosts a variety of events, including some Wittenberg Series events. Most events are held in the Kuss Auditorium, however, which is located inside the center. Use the appropriate name to distinguish between the two depending on the event.
college: Capitalize when part of a formal name.
Computing Solution Center: Located in Room 13, Synod Hall, it offers technical support, computer assistance and computer instruction to the campus community. The Solution Center is acceptable on second reference.
commas: Always use a comma in the following cases (note that some of these differ from the Associated Press Stylebook):
After words in a series but not before the conjunction. Ex.: The dogs, the cats and the bunnies were set free.
After an introductory prepositional phrase: Ex.: After the storm, the sun came out.
After a second introductory prepositional phrase: Ex.: After the storm of the century, the sun came out.
After introductory adverbs: Ex.: Incredibly, she survived.
company names: Abbreviate Co. and Corp.; do not use a comma before Inc. or Ltd.
Community Service: Created in 1989 to support Wittenberg's community service requirement, the office provides a vehicle for service learning. Located at 723 N. Fountain Ave., the office helps place students in the community, and monitors and documents their service work. All Wittenberg students must complete their community service requirement to graduate.
Concerned Black Students: The group, founded in 1969, sponsors a number of events and lectures promoting diversity awareness. CBS is acceptable on second reference. The group's offices are located in the William A. McClain Black Culture House. (See William A. McClain Black Culture House.)
courtesy titles: AP recommends that Mrs., Mr., Ms. and Miss not be used. (See doctor, reverend.)
days of the week: In contrast to AP style, the days of the week may be used with the actual dates of events on invitations, posters and announcements, e.g. Thursday, May 15. Avoid this redundancy, however, in full texts. (See months.)
decimals: According to AP, use a period and numerals for decimal amounts. Decimalization should not exceed two places in textual material. (Also see numbers.)
Dillahunt Softball Field: The official title of the field where students play softball, it is named for Betty Doughman Dillahunt, a 1946 graduate who taught, coached and served as the director of women's athletics for 36 years. It is located north of W. McCreight Avenue.
doctor: AP states to use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before a person's name if that person holds a doctor of medicine. Use last name on second reference and use Drs. for the plural. (See courtesy titles.)
Earl F. Morris Track: Named for alumnus Earl F. Morris, former chair of the board of directors, the 400-meter, all-weather track is a quarter-mile long and encircles Edwards- Maurer Field. Use Earl F. Morris Track on first reference and Morris Track on subsequent references.
East Asian Studies Journal: An annual publication of original, undergraduate works meant to encourage and recognize outstanding undergraduate achievement in the area of East Asian Studies while simultaneously promoting an enlightened understanding of the nations of the East. Italicize on all references.
Edwards Field: The official title of the field where students play rugby and soccer, it is named for Bill Edwards, a 1931 graduate who was the Wittenberg head football coach from 1955-1968 and the men's athletics director from 1969-1973. It is located north of W. McCreight Avenue.
Edwards-Maurer Field: Named for former head football coaches Bill Edwards and Dave Maurer, it is the official name of the field on which the Wittenberg football, field hockey and lacrosse teams play. Use on all references.
e.g.: Abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia, which means "for example"
email: Lowercase without hyphen
emeritus/emeriti: The board of directors determines who receives emeritus status. The term emeritus should be used for both individual women and men. Use emeriti for a group of professors with emeriti status.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: The official church affiliation of Wittenberg, it can be abbreviated ELCA on all subsequent references. The main office of the ELCA is located in Chicago.
faculty: Wittenberg has 140 full-time teaching faculty members, and eight members of the administrative and professional staff have faculty rank. Of the full-time faculty members, more than 90 percent hold a Ph.D. or terminal degree.
First-Year Experience: A collaborative effort among faculty and staff to design programs focused on new students’ acclimation to campus life.
foreign words: Certain words have become commonplace in the English language, such as resumé and hors d'oeurves. These words require no explanation. However, for those words uncommon to the English language, a brief explanation should follow the term. Place uncommon foreign words in quotation marks.
Fountain: (See The Fountain, landmarks.)
freshmen: Refer to incoming students as new students or first-year students, not freshmen.
fundraising: Use one word in all cases.
Greek houses: Wittenberg has a number of fraternities and sororities.
| Fraternities | Sororities | ||
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Alpha Phi Alpha |
Alpha Delta Pi 1019 N. Fountain Ave. |
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Beta Theta Pi 105 W. McCreight Ave. |
Delta Gamma 501 N. Wittenberg Ave. |
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Delta Sigma Phi 926 N. Fountain Ave. |
Delta Sigma Theta Inc. | ||
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Delta Tau Delta 930 N. Fountain Ave. |
Gamma Phi Beta 628 Woodlawn Ave. |
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Kappa Alpha Psi |
Kappa Delta 602 N. Wittenberg Ave. |
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Lambda Chi Alpha 923 N. Fountain Ave. |
Sigma Kappa 840 N. Fountain Ave. |
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Phi Gamma Delta 20 W. Ferncliff Place |
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Phi Kappa Psi 203 W. College Ave. |
guild: (See Wittenberg Guild).
Gymnasium: Located inside the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center, 250 Bill Edwards Drive, the old gym or field house, as it was previously called, is home to a regulation-size court and stage area. In addition to providing additional space for athletic-related needs, it also serves as the venue for a variety of student-initiated events.
he/she: Alternate accordingly but avoid s/he.
Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center: The center, located at 250 Bill Edwards Drive, houses Wittenberg's athletic facilities, including the Legends Lobby, Bob Rosencrans Fitness Center, Pam Evans Smith Arena, Gymnasium and Natatorium, which can be set up so that there are 6 - 25 feet lanes, or 8 - 25 meter lanes and includes a diving area with a 3 meter board. The department of health, fitness and sport is also located in the facility. HPERC or HPER Center is acceptable on second reference.
Hollenbeck Hall: Dedicated Jan. 28, 2000, and named for the Hollenbeck family of Springfield, this 63,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art humanities building contains 21 classrooms, a 24-hour computer lab, a three-story glass atrium, a 100-seat lecture hall and 63 faculty offices, among other features. It sits atop the north rim of Myers Hollow.
home page: Use two words, lower case. The “front” page of a particular website.
honorary degrees: Do not refer to someone who has only an honorary degree as Dr.
Hoyt-Sullivan Pressbox: This is the official name of the pressbox, which sits above the 3,000-seat grandstand at Edwards-Maurer Field. The pressbox is named in memory of long-time sportswriters Dan Hoyt and Robert Sullivan.
hyphenation: In reference to the use of co-, AP states to retain the hyphen when forming nouns, adjectives and verbs that indicate occupation or status such as co-author, co-partner, co-editor, but refrain from using the hyphen in other combinations such as coed, cooperate, etc. For other prefixes, such as pre- and re-, use a hyphen when the prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel. Consult Webster's New World Dictionary if unsure. Also, use a hyphen in coordinate adjectives, e.g. red-velvet flag, and use a hyphen in coordinate nouns such as animal-lovers.
Internet: Capitalize when used.
i.e.: Abbreviation for the Latin phrase id est, which means "that is to say."
initials: AP recommends using periods and no spaces when using initials, e.g. J.J. Smith.
Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning: Located at 737 N. Fountain Ave. adjacent to the Benham-Pence Student Center, the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning houses the Center for Musical Development, Credit Union, Evening/Saturday program, Health and Counseling Center, Off-campus Programs and School of Community Education. Use Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning on first reference. Shouvlin Center is acceptable on second reference.
Jr./Sr.: Do not place a comma after a person's last name and before the Jr. or Sr., e.g. John Smith Jr.
judgment: Do not use judgement.
Kissell Auditorium: The official name of the auditorium located on the first floor of Koch Hall, it seats up to 175 and is named for Harry S. Kissell, an 1896 graduate who was a real estate and civic pioneer. The auditorium was dedicated in 1979 and is the site of various poetry readings, lectures and faculty meetings.
Kissing Bridge: (See landmarks.)
Koch Hall: Built in 1927 and located at 5 W. Campus Drive, this hall is home to the art department, Kissell Auditorium, the Ann Miller Art Gallery and the Thompson Gallery.
Krieg Hall: Located at 632 Woodlawn Ave. and built in 1967, it houses the department of music and hosts a number of public events. Note that the "i" comes before the "e" in Krieg.
landmarks: The following landmarks can be found on campus. Follow the appropriate capitalization but do NOT italicize.
Campus Circle: the portion of campus between Recitation Hall, Blair Hall, Myers Hall and the Fountain, and in between East and West Campus Drives
Commencement Hollow: Located along West Campus Drive across and north of Ferncliff Hall, it has been the traditional site for graduation ceremonies.
Interaction: Created by Helen Bosart Morgan Wagstaff in 1975, this abstract sculpture sits in the courtyard of the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center as a symbol of the earth's changing patterns. As this is the official name of the piece, it should be italicized on all references.
Hamma Stone: The stone, located along the walkway in front of Hollenbeck Hall, was given by Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, in honor of the former Hamma Divinity School and in honor of theological education at Wittenberg.
Pass It On Commemorative Rock: A gift from the class of 2007, the rock, located in front of Carnegie Hall along West Campus Drive, was specifically selected by a local artisan to feature the university’s Pass It On logo. The rock serves as a prominent reminder of the light each person in the Wittenberg family finds, shares or possesses while at the university, which they are then encouraged to pass on in service to others.
William A. and Lenore Kinnison Presidential Garden: The garden is located along Alumni Way in honor of Wittenberg's 11th president and his wife.
Kissing Bridge: The bridge connects Ferncliff Hall to Commencement Hollow and was given by the classes of 1996 and 1997. Tradition states that the person whom someone kisses on the bridge is the person he or she will marry.
Martin Luther: The Teacher, The Musician: Created by A. Regis Milone in 1956, the sculpture, which contains images of Martin Luther, is located slightly to the south of Thomas Library. It should be italicized on all references.
Myers Hall: Completed in 1851 and modeled after a residence hall at Gettysburg College, it was the first building on campus and served as a classroom building, residence hall and cafeteria. A full-time residence hall today, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Myers Hall cupola: Lowercase cupola on all references.
Myers Hollow: A main gathering place on campus and site of various events throughout the year, it is surrounded by Koch Hall, Myers Hall, Recitation Hall, Hollenbeck Hall, Synod Hall and Zimmerman Hall. The Hollow is acceptable on second reference.
Sesquicentennial Bell: Given by the classes of 1992-1995, it hangs in the Myers Hall cupola. It rings during graduation ceremonies and milestone events on campus.
Sundial: Located in front of Carnegie Hall along W. Campus Drive, this replacement sundial was given in memory of Professor of Geography Martin E. Johnson, 1923-1976. The original sundial was stolen in the 1960s.
The Fountain: Renovated in 1984, it is made of sandstone and sits at the main south entrance of campus at the end of Wittenberg Avenue. The Fountain itself stands as a symbol of alumni loyalty flowing forever. The centerpiece looks like a pineapple because of the placement of each cement petal. The pineapple-shaped spout traditionally means welcome and friendship. It was a gift from the Class of 1928.
Treenity: Designed by Professor of Art Jack Mann, the sculpture was given to the university by the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and placed in front of Koch Hall in April 1985. Consisting of three trees joined together, the sculpture symbolizes how the university and brotherhood work together. It should be italicized.
Wally Witt: Created by Gary Ross in 1991 and located on the ledge outside the Benham-Pence Student Center along Alumni Way, the sculpture represents the Wittenberg student tradition of sitting on the ledge during the springtime. It was donated by the Wittenberg Guild, and the name should be italicized on all occasions.
Weaver Chapel tower: This 212-foot tower speaks to campus and the community of the importance of the Gospel of the Cross in the academic endeavor of Wittenberg. The tower consists of six sculptures created by A. Regis Milone in 1955. On the east side are sculptures of John Milton, Gottfried Leibnitz and Johann Sebastian Bach, which represent literature, science and music, and on the west side are Saint Paul, Saint Augustine and Martin Luther, which represent theology.
Wittenberg Seal: Found on the walkway between Recitation and Blair Halls, the Seal contains the Wittenberg motto: "Having light we pass it on to others," and it depicts the Wittenberg passing of the torch. According to legend, students who step on the Seal prior to graduation will fail their next test or not graduate. Capitalize Seal on all references.
lay/lie: According to AP, lay is the action word, and it takes a direct object, e.g. she lay the ball on the shelf. Laid is the past tense and the present participle is laying. Lie indicates a state of reclining along a horizontal plane. It does not take a direct object, e.g. He will lie down. Lay is the past tense, and its past participle is lain. Lie also means to tell an untruth, e.g. She lied to him.
Levitas: This is the title of the Wittenberg Journal of Political Science and should be italicized.
logos: See the Graphic Style Manual on when and how to use the university's official logos.
Lutheran: Capitalize on all references.
Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Convocation: This is a Wittenberg Series event that occurs in January. Do not precede Jr. with a comma.
Math Workshop: It is located on the second floor of Hollenbeck Hall.
Matthies House: Located along Alumni Way, it houses the Wittenberg Honors Program. It is named for Edith B. and Frank C. Matthies, cousins of Roland C. Matthies, former Wittenberg vice president and treasurer.
mission: Capitalize when using with Wittenberg, i.e. Wittenberg's Mission, and lowercase when it stands alone.
music: Italicize names of compact discs and long compositions, but use quotation marks around individual songs. (See titles.)
months: Use the following seven abbreviations when the month and date or the month, date and year are given, e.g. Feb. 21 or Feb. 21, 1999: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. Always spell out March, April, May, June and July. Spell out the month when used with a year alone, e.g. February 1999.
Morris Knauss Green: Group of student residences located on Ward Street.
Myers Hall: (See landmarks.)
numbers: Spell out numbers zero through nine, but use figures for 10 and up, except when referring to millions. In that case, use the number but spell out million, e.g. $5.5 million. Always spell out numbers when they begin a sentence. Also, use the abbreviation No. when referring to a ranking, e.g. No. 1 in the event or No. 5 in the nation. (Also see phone numbers, decimals.)
offices: On first reference, refer to the offices on campus as the Office of, e.g. Office of Admission, Office of Advancement, Office of the President, etc. Capitalize both Office and the official name of the office. Admission Office and Advancement Office, etc. are acceptable on second reference. They should also be capitalized.
Ohio: Always spell out. (See states.)
online: This should be one word.
Pam Evans Smith Arena: Dedicated Feb. 2, 2008, in memory of one of Wittenberg's most respected and beloved women’s basketball head coaches, administrators and faculty members, the Pam Evans Smith Arena is located inside the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center and measures 200 feet by 120 feet. In addition to providing three regulation-size courts, the facility is also used for gatherings and special events.
Pass It On: Partial phrase taken directly from the university’s official motto from which a secondary university logo resulted. Concept and logo can be found prominently in university admission literature, communications' materials and around campus to convey the light that every student passes it on from their Wittenberg experience. The phrase may not be used without the secondary (flame) logo.
pastor: Capitalize when using as a title, e.g. Pastor Joe Jones. Lowercase when describing the occupation alone, e.g. He is a pastor. (See Reverend.)
percent: Always write out unless the document contains too many such as the results of a survey. The campaign total increased by 50 percent. She wanted a 10 percent increase in pay. Also, always use figures with a percentage.
Pholeos: This is the annual publication of the Wittenberg University Speleological Society (WUSS) produced through the biology department. It should be italicized on all references.
phone numbers: In contrast to previous years, the new style for all phone numbers is: 937-327-6231.
Physical Plant: Located at 225 N. Fountain Ave., the Physical Plant houses the Wittenberg Warehouse, the buildings and grounds offices, shipping and receiving, accounts payable and the purchasing office.
Police/Security: The university has 12 full-time Wittenberg police officers and one full-time security officers. In addition, the university works with the Springfield Police Department to patrol the campus. For emergencies only, dial 6363 (Campus Security) on campus; and for non-emergencies, dial MAD-1 (6231) for the campus switchboard. The Office of Police/Security is headquartered on the ground floor of the Recitation Hall annex and includes a walk-up window to serve the public.
Polis House: Located in the former Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, the house is a special-interest residence hall. Named after the Greek word polis, which means city-state, the house currently offers students an international living and learning residence. It should be pronounced Pole-liss. The American International Association is located here.
Post 95: Café-style dining area in the Benham-Pence Student Center, which opened January 2005, and was named for Martin Luther's posting of the 95 theses on the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct. 31, 1517. The name was selected because the space is not only a place where the community can gather for friendship, fun and conversation, but also for the exchange of ideas throughout the university.
postal addresses: When addressing envelopes, the U.S. Post Office requests that all words be capitalized and that no punctuation appear between state abbreviations. State postal abbreviations are: (also see states.)
State Abbrev.
Alabama: AL
Alaska AK
Arizona: AZ
Arkansas: AR
California: CA
Colorado: CO
Connecticut: CT
Delaware: DE
Florida: FL
Georgia: GA
Hawaii HI
Idaho ID
Illinois: IL
Indiana: IN
Iowa IA
Kansas: KS
Kentucky: KY
Louisiana: LA
Maine ME
Maryland: MD
Massachusetts: MA
Michigan: MI
Minnesota: MN
Mississippi: MS
Missouri: MO
Montana: MT
Nebraska: NE
Nevada: NV
New Hampshire: NH
New Jersey: NJ
New Mexico: NM
New York: NY
North Carolina: NC
North Dakota: ND
Ohio OH
Oklahoma: OK
Oregon: OR
Pennsylvania: PA
Rhode Island: RI
South Carolina: SC
South Dakota: SD
Tennessee: TN
Texas TX
Utah UT
Vermont: VT
Virginia: VA
Washington: WA
West Virginia: WV
Wisconsin: WI
Wyoming: WY
presidents: Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., began her tenure as Wittenberg's 14th president on July 1, 2012. The 13 presidents before her include:
Ezra Keller (1844-1848)
Samuel Sprecher (1849-1874)
John B. Helwig (1874-1882)
Samuel Alfred Ort (1882-1900)
John M. Ruthrauff (1900-1902)
Charles G. Heckert (1903-1920)
Rees Edgar Tulloss (1920-1949)
Clarence Charles Stoughton (1949-1963)
John Nissley Stauffer (1963-1968)
G. Kenneth Andeen (1969-1974)
William A. Kinnison (1974-1995)
L. Baird Tipson (1995-2004)
Mark H. Erickson (2005-2012)
Recitation Hall: The main administrative building on campus and also the second oldest, it was completed in 1886. Recitation is currently home to the following offices:
Academic Services
Accounting Services
Admission
Business and Finance
Controller
Copy Center
Faculty Development
Financial Aid
First-Year Experience
Human Resources/Payroll
Mail Room
President
Provost
Registrar
Student Accounts
Student Employment
University Communications
Recitation Hall Annex: A two-story structure linked by a second floor hallway to Recitation Hall. The addition was added during the 1950s, and today it houses admission offices, motor pool, police/security headquarters and the campus switchboard.
residence halls: Wittenberg has seven residence halls. A new residence hall opened fall 2006, which houses new students. Additional halls include:
Ferncliff Hall
Firestine Hall
Myers Hall
Polis House
Tower Hall
Woodlawn Hall
resumé: Note the one accent acute.
Reverend: Because this description does not stand for a noun, it should be preceded by "the" when used before a person's name. Also, as this is a title, not a noun, the phrase "She is our reverend," is not acceptable. The abbreviation The Rev. is acceptable on first reference when it precedes a name. (See courtesy titles, pastor.)
Room number format: When referring to any room on campus, write the number of the room first, followed by the name of the building, e.g. 101 Recitation Hall or 200 Hollenbeck Hall.
School of Community Education: SCE is acceptable on second reference.
seasons: When referring to a time of year, e.g. fall, winter, spring, summer, lowercase the season. When referring to an issue date, such as Wittenberg Magazine, Spring 1999, capitalize.
sexist language: Avoid. Key tips for avoiding include the following: making the sentence plural, using articles such as "a," "an" or "the" or rewriting the sentence. For example, instead of writing "The pilot flew his plane," you should write "The pilot flew the plane."
Shouvlin Center: (see Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning.)
Spectrum: Written and edited by Wittenberg students, this annual journal contains non-fiction prose on a variety of subjects. Italicize on all references. (See titles.)
states: Eight states should always be spelled out in text: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah. (Also see postal addresses.) AP states that the following abbreviations should be used for the remaining states:
State Abbrev.
Alabama: Ala.
Arizona: Ariz.
Arkansas: Ark.
California: Calif.
Colorado: Colo.
Connecticut: Conn.
Delaware: Del.
Florida: Fla.
Georgia: Ga.
Illinois: Ill.
Indiana: Ind.
Kansas: Kan.
Kentucky: Ky.
Louisiana: La.
Maryland: Md.
Massachusetts: Mass.
Michigan: Mich.
Minnesota: Minn.
Mississippi: Miss.
Missouri: Mo.
Montana: Mont.
Nebraska: Neb.
Nevada: Nev.
New Hampshire: N.H.
New Jersey: N.J.
New Mexico: N.M.
New York: N.Y.
North Carolina: N.C.
North Dakota: N.D.
Oklahoma: Okla.
Oregon: Ore.
Pennsylvania: Pa.
Rhode Island: R.I.
South Carolina: S.C.
South Dakota: S.D.
Tennessee: Tenn.
Vermont: Vt.
Virginia: Va.
Washington: Wash.
West Virginia: W.Va.
Wisconsin: Wis.
Wyoming: Wyo.
Stoughton Lawn: Located along Alumni Way and north of the Benham-Pence Student Center, the lawn is named for Wittenberg's eighth president Clarence C. Stoughton. It is typically the site of Greek Week events, Witt Fest and other larger campus activities.
street addresses: According to AP, abbreviate only street, avenue and boulevard when used with a numbered address, e.g. She lived at 100 Wittenberg Ave. Spell out street, avenue and boulevard when not used with a numbered address, e.g. Wittenberg Avenue. Spell out all similar words such as alley, drive, road, circle, court and lane on all occasions. (Also see states, postal addresses.)
Student Development: The overarching umbrella for all offices stemming out of the division including Residence Life, Student Involvement, Conduct, Multicultural Affairs, Health & Counseling. The offices are housed in the Dietrich House and the Benham-Pence Student Center.
Student Involvement: Name of the office that is comprised of the following functional areas: Student Organizations, Student Programming, Club Sports, Recreation Groups, Fraternity & Sorority Life, New Student Days, Student Center (Founders, Doppelgangers, Service Center), Leadership Programs
Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic & Urban Engagement: The Center for Civic & Urban Engagement was established in 2008 to bring together Wittenberg faculty, staff and students with community members to address the opportunities and challenges of the Greater Springfield area. The center is located at 723 N. Fountain Ave. In 2011, the Center received a $6,000,000 endowment from Wittenberg Alumna Susan Hirt Hagan '57 and the name was changed in her honor. The Office of Community Service is located in the Center.
Synod Hall: This building houses Information Technology Services, the Solution Center and the Department of Economics.
teenage, teenager: Do not use a hyphen, e.g. teen-age or teen-ager. Instead, write as one word.
theatre: In contrast to the Associated Press Stylebook, theatre should be spelled with an "re" at all times unless the "er" spelling is part of a formal name. Capitalize only when it is part of an official name, e.g. Chakeres Memorial Theatre. Do not capitalize when used with the department name, e.g. department of theatre and dance.
The Fountain: Accented with a pineapple-shaped spout, it sits in the center of the campus' main entrance along N. Wittenberg Avenue.
The Witt: This is the official name of the Wittenberg yearbook. The yearbook office is currently located in Weaver Observatory. The name should be italicized.
The Wittenberg History Journal: This journal is produced through the history department on an annual basis. It should be italicized on all references.
The Torch: This is the weekly student-run newspaper for the Wittenberg community. The Torch office is in the lower level of the student center. The name should be italicized. Torch is acceptable on second reference.
Thomas Library: Built in 1982, the library, located at 807 Woodlawn Ave., contains 430,000 volumes, 68,000 bound periodicals, 16,000 current periodicals (both print and electronic), 17,000 sound recordings and a collection of DVDs and videotapes. It has an automated catalog that provides access to the library’s collections and through its Web page provides access to nearly 200 citation and full-text databases. The library is a member of OhioLINK which provides access to the other OhioLINK members collections, the ability to check out many items from their holdings and access to additional resources. As a member of OCLC the library provides the ability to request materials from libraries throughout the country.
Tigers: The official nickname of Wittenberg athletics, the Tigers are members of the North Coast Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III. When referring to a specific sport, use Tiger in the singular, i.e. Tiger field hockey or Tiger football. Always use the plural verb form when referring to Tiger activities, i.e. "The Tigers are No. 1," but use the singular verb form when using the term "team," e.g. "The team was victorious."
time: Avoid redundancy. Do not, for example, write that the meeting will be at 12 a.m. midnight. Use one or the other. The same applies to the use of noon. Also, do not use colons for times on the hour as in 4:00 p.m. Instead, write 4 p.m. Use colons only for times other than on the hour, e.g. 4:30 p.m. or 5:15 p.m.
time, date, place: When referring to a specific activity, always give the time first, followed by the date, followed by the place it occurred or will occur. For example, "More than 50 students gathered at 10 a.m., March 10 at the Student Center."
titles: Wittenberg will abide by the following rules concerning the use of italics and quotations in titles. Note that these rules differ from the Associated Press Stylebook.
The following should be placed in italics:
Titles of books
Names of magazines
Names of newspapers
Movie titles
Names of television series
Titles of paintings or other works of art
Names of ships, space shuttles
Titles of theatrical productions
Legal cases
Books of the Bible
Long compositions, titles of record albums and compact discs
The following should be placed in quotations:
Poem titles
Song titles
Book chapters
Episodes of television series
Short story titles
Newspaper headlines
Article titles in a publication
toward: Do not use towards.
university: Lowercase at all times except when using in a formal title, e.g. Wittenberg University.
vice president: Do not join with a hyphen. (See titles.)
W.A.G.E. Womyn's Center: (Womyn Advocating Gender Equity) Located at 640 Faculty Court, the center offers opportunities for discussion of women-related issues. This is the official name and spelling of the center.
Wally Witt: (See landmarks.)
Weaver Chapel: Dedicated in 1956, the chapel is located along E. Campus Drive. During academic semesters, the chapel offers chapel services, Sunday worship services, Ash Wednesday worship service with the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion, informal study and fellowship opportunities. The organ in the chapel is a three-manual instrument with 52 ranks of pipes. The Offices of University Pastors and Church Relations are housed here, and the stained glass windows were designed by Oliver Smith of Bryn Athyn, Penn. The windows have enjoyed critical acclaim as they are designed using a somewhat non-traditional method of construction. Instead of the picture being presented on glass, the graphic portion is made of lead and the glass stays only in the background.
Weaver Observatory: Located along W. Campus Drive, it contains a 24-foot rotating dome telescope with a 10-inch lens, which is used mainly for astronomy and physics courses. Wittenberg's The Torch, student newspaper, and The Witt yearbook also have offices in the observatory.
Web page: Keep as two words, and capitalize the "W."
website: Keep as one word, and do not capitalize the "W."
Webmaster: Keep as one word and capitalize only when used in front of the name.
which/that: According to AP, use that to introduce an essential, dependent clause, e.g. The house that caught on fire. Use which to introduce a non-essential dependent clause, e.g. The house with the shutters, which he painted blue, caught on fire.
while/although: While refers to time, e.g. While she was reading, the phone rang. It should not be used in the following manner: While the team lost, the players went home happy. In this case, while should be replaced with although.
who/whom: Use when referring to human beings or animals with a name. To determine the correct pronoun to use, try the following test courtesy of Brian Brooks, James Pinson and Jean Wilson in Working with Words:
Begin reading the sentence immediately after the point at which you have a choice between who or whom, whoever or whomever. Then insert he or him, she or her, they or them wherever it makes sense. If he, she or they works best, use who or whoever. If him, her or them works best, use whom or whomever.
Examples:
Who did you say wrote the book?
Did you say he wrote the book?
To whom are you speaking?
Are you speaking to them?
-wide: Always close compounds ending in wide, i.e. nationwide, citywide, countywide unless to do so would look awkward as in universitywide. Add a hyphen for university-wide.
William A. McClain Black Culture House: Dedicated in honor of Judge William A. McClain, class of 1934, during Homecoming 2004. McClain was the only black student on campus in the 1930s and has described his defining moment at Wittenberg as winning the National Intercollegiate Oratorial Contest his senior year, making him one of the best orators in the school's history. The house is located at 825 Woodlawn Avenue and houses the offices for the student organization Concerned Black Students.
Wittenberg Center for Applied Management: The center is affiliated with the department of management in Carnegie Hall. WittCAM is acceptable on second reference.
Wittenberg Guild: Founded in 1940 by then President Edgar Rees Tulloss, the Wittenberg Guild has supported Wittenberg through scholarships, campus landscaping, artwork and other fund-raising initiatives. Since its inception, the guild has raised more than $1 million. Guild on second reference is acceptable.
Wittenberg Review of Literature and Art: This publication provides a forum for student poetry, short fiction and artwork, and accepts submissions from any discipline. Italicize on all references.
Wittenberg Seal: Capitalize Seal when used alone. (See landmarks.)
Wittenberg University: Use the abbreviation WU without periods on second reference only in athletic materials when absolutely necessary such as box scores. Do not use Witt unless it refers to The Witt, the official name of the Wittenberg yearbook, Witt Fest or WittCAM.
Wittenberg University Academic Catalog: Published online every two years through the Office of the Assistant Provost for Academic Services, the catalog lists all the courses offered at Wittenberg and provides profiles of faculty members. As this is the official title, it should be italicized. Academic Catalog is acceptable on second reference. (See titles.)
Wittenberg University Speleological Society: Group for those who enjoy caving. WUSS is acceptable on second reference.
World Wide Web: Capitalize on all references. Wittenberg's official website is at www.wittenberg.edu.
Writing Center: Located on the first floor of Hollenbeck Hall, it offers writing assistance and a host of resources to students and professors across disciplines.
WUSO: These are the call letters for the university's student-run FM radio station, which can be heard on 89.1. The station is located in Firestine Hall.
Zimmerman Hall: This hall houses the department of psychology and is located on West Campus Drive.
References consulted for this guide
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual (1998), ed. Norm Goldstein (New York: The Associated Press).
Castle, L. (1998). Style Meister: The Quick-Reference Custom Style Guide.
Brooks, B., Pinson, J. and Wilson, J. (1997). Working with Words: A Concise Handbook for Media Writers, (New York: St. Martin's Press).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition (1993), (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press).
Style guides from Beloit College, The Pennsylvania State University, California State University at Chico, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and the University of Cincinnati.
