The Institute Editorial Style Guide addresses some of the most frequently encountered style issues — most typically regarding capitalization, punctuation, and proper word usage.

It is based primarily on the Associated Press Stylebook. However, some guidelines have been borrowed from The Chicago Manual of Style, and there are some cases where usage reflects what has been established as the Institute’s preference. This is why we refer to our in-house approach as modified AP Style. Merriam-Webster online is our preferred dictionary.

This guide should be used as a reference for all written materials — except those such as legal documents, research reports, and invitations, which are governed by special guidelines. As with the AP Stylebook, this guide has been organized alphabetically like a dictionary, but because this digital platform supports the "Find" feature, using Ctrl+F (Windows/PC users)/Command+F (Mac users) is the most practical way to navigate this document.

Questions?

Call 404.894.0870 to speak with an Institute Communications editor.

Covid-19 Style Sheet

Updated June 24, 2020

• To ensure a consistent voice across the Institute in all communications related to Covid-19 and our road to recovery, we ask that you follow the AP Coronavirus Topical Guide.
• There are, however, some cases where our usage reflects what has been established as the Institute’s preference. So be sure to follow Georgia Tech's Covid-19 style sheet guidance — even when contrary to AP’s recommendations.

President Cabrera Style Sheet

Updated Sept. 12, 2019

• For editorial style guidance pertaining to Georgia Tech’s 12^th president, Ángel Cabrera, and first lady, Beth Cabrera, please download the Office of the President Style Sheet (.DOC).
• For guidance on finding and updating presidential references on your website, please visit the Guide to Updating Presidential References on Your Website

General Reminders

Autonomous vehicles
Also can be called self-driving. The term driverless should not be used unless there is no human backup driver.

Historic takes the article a not an.

Flyer (NOT flier) for references to the handbill.

Zone Improvement Plan
Use all-caps for the term ZIP (meaning Zone Improvement Plan), but always lowercase the word code. Never insert a comma between the state name and the ZIP code.

To align with the style applied by one of the Institute's partners, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, healthcare should be written as one word.

Use bullet points as separators between the various elements in the copyright line on print pieces.

Things to Avoid

Do not double space following a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. Use a single space. Double spacing after periods is a defunct practice from the era of typewriters.

Do not use the ampersand in place of and, unless it is part of an official name.

• Procter & Gamble Co.
• School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Avoid beginning sentences with There is or It is.

• Instead of: There are 35 colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia.
• Try: The University System of Georgia includes 35 colleges and universities.
• Instead of: It is Joe’s car that will win.
• Try: Joe’s car will win.

Avoid the passive voice. Your writing will be clearer and livelier if you ensure the subject is performing the actions rather than having the action being done to it.

• Instead of: The bill was approved by the House.
• Try: The House approved the bill.

Do not use impactful/impact (as a verb), given that these terms are widely considered jargon and prone to upsetting sensibilities.

While the use of nicknames is generally discouraged, their use is acceptable in cases where an individual is known primarily by a nickname or strongly prefers the use of the nickname. The format to be used is formal first name (or initial), middle name or initial (if desired), nickname enclosed by quotation marks, and last name.

• G.P. “Bud” Peterson
• Georgia Tech Alumnus Francis S. “Bo” Godbold