91ֿ

Web Content Style & Language Guide

This web page provides at-a-glance suggestions, tips and guideline reminders that all 91ֿ web editors should become familiar with.

Copy Tips

University Style, Date and Time Guidelines
  • Ampersand (&)

    • University style uses “and,” not an ampersand unless an ampersand is part of the proper name of a nonuniversity entity or if it is being used as a navigation or design element in the website
    • Use "and" — avoid & (ampersand) — in names of 91ֿ programs, offices, departments, schools, colleges and divisions.
  • Commas
    • University style does not use a comma before the conjunction in a simple series, commonly known as a serial or Oxford comma (e.g., “blue, gold and white”). A comma may be added only when needed for clarity – for example, when the last item in a list could be interpreted as part of the preceding item, potentially causing confusion.
      • “As a first-year student, she registered for English literature, Intro to Psychology, and Fiber Arts.”
  • Emails
    • Kent state email address, email is one word and all lowercase.
  • Phone numbers
    • xxx-xxx-xxxx (use hyphens, not parentheses).
  • Day/time treatment
    • 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
    • 8:15 a.m.–noon.
    • noon is not capitalized.
  • Date/month treatment
    • January 2010 (not abbreviated without a date).
    • Jan. 15, Feb. 21, March 7, April 12, May 24, June 13, July 8, Aug. 22, Sept. 23, Oct. 31, Nov. 11, Dec. 12 (abbreviated with a date).
University Lingo
  • Advisor
    • Use the –or ending, not –er
  • Catalog
    • Referenced as catalog, not graduate catalog or undergraduate catalog.
  • Eight-campus system
    • Copy should be eight-campus system, not eight campus system, 8-campus system or 8 campus system.
  • FLASHcard
    • Not flashcard, flash card, flash-card, FLASHCard, flashCARD, or FLASHCARD.
  • FlashLine
    • Not flashline, flash line, flash-line, FLASHLine, FLASHline, flashLINE or FLASHLINE.
  • Kent Core
    • Not Kentcore, Kent core, or Kent-core.
  • 91ֿ ID Number
    • Not 91ֿ ID # or other variation.
  • KSU

    • When referring to the university, avoid KSU. Spell out 91ֿ on first reference, and then use 91ֿ or university in subsequent references.
    • When university is used alone to mean 91ֿ, it is in lowercase.

Names

Building Names
BUILDING NAME CHANGES
CorrectIncorrectNotes
The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental DesignThe Center for Architecture and Environmental Design  
Design Innovation Hub (DI Hub on second reference)Design Innovation HUB(Hub not all capitalized)
Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center on second reference)MACC or M.A.C.C.  
Ritchie HallOscar Ritchie Hall(One-name policy for named halls)
Schwartz CenterMichael Schwartz Center(One-name policy for named halls)
Lefton EsplanadeEsplanade 
McGilvrey Hall (Frequently misspelled)
Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship (Ambassador Crawford College on second reference)ACCBE(No acronyms)
MACC AnnexGym Annex 
University LibraryMain Library or Library(For the name of the building)
MAC CenterMACC or M.A.C.C. 
Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center (center on subsequent references)SWRC; Rec(No acronyms)
University Auditorium in Cartwright HallCartwright Auditorium 
KivaKIVA(Not capitalized)
Kent Student Center

91ֿ Center or 91ֿ Student Center

Kent Student Center Hub/HUB

(Hub not all capitalized)
Department Names

On first reference, full department names are written out in entirety and capitalized (i.e., Department of Biological Sciences). On second reference, it may be shortened and lowercased (i.e., the department, NOT biological sciences).

Departmental Name Changes

Office of Strategy Management (“of” to be in lowercase)

Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship 
- second reference: Ambassador Crawford College

- acronym: ACCBE 


 

Recent Department Name Changes
Departmental Name Changes
CorrectIncorrect
The Department of Earth SciencesDepartment of Geology
Department of Sociology and CriminologyDepartment of Sociology
Office of Strategy Management Enrollment Management Operations & Administration - Division of Enrollment
Graduate CollegeDivision of Graduate Studies
Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship
- second reference: Ambassador Crawford College
- acronym: ACCBE 
College of Business; ACCBE
Fraternity and Sorority LifeGreek Life
Information TechnologyInformation Services
Office of University Events and ProtocolOffice of University Ceremonies
School of Peace and Conflict StudiesCenter for Applied Conflict Management
Leadership, Department Name and Location Changes

Read press releases that contain information that may need updated on your website. Mark your calendar to make the update within a week of the change.

Division administrators should review the University Leadership site every semester to confirm the information is up to date.

If a department name or location changes, please  and select “Website Name Change or New Website Request” from the Request Type Details section.