External Communication Efforts
߲ݴý University’s external communication efforts conform to the current edition of the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. While the AP Stylebook answers most questions of style and usage, the following exceptions are unique to TROY or higher education in general.
ABD
ABD means all but dissertation. It is not a degree and should not be treated as such.
Academic Designations
Note that the following terms have specific meanings and may not be used interchangeably: degree, program, major, minor, option, track, concentration and specialization. Check the context of the use and/or contact the registrar for additional information if needed.
For example:
The art major has concentrations in 2D Studio, 3D studio and photo studio, but the
communication arts major has tracks in speech communication and theatre. The biology
program requires 55 hours, and the biology major requires 43 hours. The word “certificate”
has a formal meaning, much like the word “degree.” TROY offers a Certificate of Taxation.
Avoid informal uses of the word certificate (such as “certificate of completion”)
to prevent misunderstanding.
Accreditation Statements
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and other accrediting bodies provide direction regarding the use of their respective accreditation statements. Consult respective websites for the latest guidelines.
Alabama World Affairs Council
The acronym ALWAC may be used on subsequent mention.
Buildings and Locations
The term “location” can apply to any physical place where ߲ݴý University operates and provides teaching or services. The following three terms are used to described ߲ݴý University locations: campus, support center and teaching location. They have specific meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.
Campus
The term “campus” only applies to ߲ݴý University’s four locations in the state of Alabama. Only capitalize after the name of the city as a direct reference to the location.
- Always: ߲ݴý Campus, Dothan Campus, Phenix City Campus and Montgomery Campus.
- Never: the Campus in Phenix City
Degree Names
See the AP Stylebook for additional guidance on academic degrees. Use caution to ensure that we promote degrees and the names of programs, majors and minors exactly as they are officially named at troy.edu/academicprograms.
- Associate of Science, associate degree.
Never: associate’s degree - Bachelor of Science, bachelor’s degree, baccalaureate degree.
Never: bachelor’s degree of science - Master of Arts, master’s degree.
Never: master’s degree of arts, masters degree - Education Specialist Degree.
Never: Educational Specialist’s Degree or Specialist’s Degree - Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Nursing Practice, doctoral degree. Never: doctor’s degree
First Lady
Use “First Lady of ߲ݴý University,” not “߲ݴý University First Lady.” First Lady is capitalized on subsequent mention when referring to a specific person, such as Mrs. Hawkins.
GI Bill®
Must have trademark symbol on first usage. Use of the registered trademark symbol is not required on subsequent uses of the term GI Bill. The following trademark attribution notice must be prominently visible when using GI Bill®: “GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official .”
Graduation Year
The TROY Today Magazine, and some other publications, require standardization regarding graduation years. Each person mentioned in the magazine should have his or her graduation year(s) indicated. In AlumNotes and most situations, indicate the abbreviated year in parentheses after the name. For example Rob Drinkard (’09). If more formality is needed, write the sentence so that the full year is included. For example: Rob Drinkard graduated in 2009 with a degree in graphic design.
Military Titles
It is traditional at ߲ݴý University to capitalize military titles in all instances, whether they precede or follow a name. A military rank may be used in first reference before the name of an officer who is retired. Per the AP Stylebook, do not use the military abbreviation Ret. prior to the name, use “retired” just as “former” would be used before the title of a civilian: They invited retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Walter D. Givhan. The construction “Major General Walter D. Givhan, USAF, Retired” should be used in formal invitations or correspondence when military rank is appropriate. See the AP Stylebook for military titles, but note the following specific preference:
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Walter D. Givhan, USAF. Casual, verbal use of the military title is “General Givhan” not “Major Givhan.” Written use of the title on subsequent mention: (formal) “Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Givhan, (informal/personal) Gen. Givhan
Oxford Comma (Serial Comma)
The Oxford and Chicago styles require a comma before the last item in a simple list of things, and the Associate Press style does not.
For example:
Oxford and Chicago styles: The flag is red, white, and blue.
AP Style: The flag is red, white and blue.
The AP Stylebook does permit the use of the comma if omitting it would make the meaning unclear, such as in these examples: This book is dedicated to my parents, Ayn Rand and God. Among those interviewed were Merle Haggard’s two ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall.
For our purposes, we must use the serial comma if omission changes the meaning. We may use the serial comma at will, particularly when ghostwriting for someone who prefers it and when omission makes a sentence appear out of context to the remainder of a publication. Make effort to be consistent within a publication.
Pro Tem / Pro Tempore
The AP accepts both spellings, so seek to be consistent within a publication. Capitalize when used before a name, as in President Pro Tempore C. Gibson Vance. In an exception to AP rules, also capitalize when used following a person’s name and/or when they are used to refer to a specific person. See also: Titles, special rules.
Support Center
The term “support center” applies to any ߲ݴý University location in the United States outside the state of Alabama. It is capitalized only after the name of a city as a direct reference to the location.
Always: Atlanta Support Center or Pensacola Support Center.
Never: TROY has Support Centers in Georgia and Florida.
TB&T Entrepreneurship Program
This program is unique in that it is formally named for a donor. The above description refers to an interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Minor designed to provide students with a strong understanding of business and entrepreneurship theory, practices and application. The program was supported by a $500,000 donation from TB&T and will be housed in the ߲ݴý University IDEA Bank.
Note: In alphabetical listings such as those for academic programs online, drop TB&T.
Teaching Location
The term “teaching locations” applies to ߲ݴý University locations outside of the United States where ߲ݴý University offers teaching in partnership with a military base or international institution. It is never capitalized.
Example: ߲ݴý University operates a teaching location at Kadena Air Base in Japan.
Terracotta
One word, not capitalized (terracotta) unless a part of a proper noun (ex: ߲ݴý University’s Terracotta Warrior Exhibit).