Words Matter: Updated McMaster style guide now available
Commas and hyphens and style, oh my! McMaster staff members who write university content for print, the web and mobile now have an updated editorial style guide for their writing and editing questions.
“Words Matter: McMaster University’s Editorial Style Guide” is posted on the Brighter World brand site, along with McMaster’s Brand Guidelines and Digital Guidelines.
Developed by communications colleagues from across the university, the revised style guide covers mechanics such as punctuation, capitalization and spelling. It also offers guidelines on writing for the Brighter World brand and how to use more inclusive language.
Note that “Words Matter” is not intended as an academic writing guide — it’s a reference tool for staff members (including interns and student co-workers) who write university content for websites, print publications and social media channels.
A few highlights:
- McMaster is always spelled with a lowercase “c” even when capitalized: McMASTER
- The Brighter World brand spells “well-being” with a hyphen
- Don’t use quotation marks around Dish With One Spoon in the McMaster land acknowledgment
“Words Matter” is meant to serve as a supplement to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary and the two guides published in English by Canadian Press: “The Canadian Press Stylebook” and “The Canadian Press Caps and Spelling.”
For more details on why (and how) words matter, register for our session on Wednesday, April 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in L.R. Wilson 1003.
