University Identity
Editorial Style Guide
General guidelines about editorial style
This guide is intended as a reference for members of the University community to help ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency in print and online publications. Reflecting the long-standing practice of University Marketing and Communications, the guide draws from University history, traditions, and conventions. Grounded in professionally regarded sources such as The Chicago Manual of Style, the guide also reflects the practices of many of Rochester’s peer universities. Publications produced by our office follow the style guide.
The guide is not meant to govern academic publications or everyday internal communications, such as email messages, syllabi, class or department handouts, and other materials. Its purpose is to help members of the University community be consistent in communicating about the University’s mission, achievements, programs, and goals among broader internal and external audiences.
Search alphabetically by topic or title
Search the style guide by keyword
University Identity
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…
Located on the River Campus. The campus center’s facilities include student organization offices, and meeting and performing facilities, such as the Stackel Room; Hartnett Art Gallery; the May Room; Havens…
Located at the Medical Center and part of UR Medicine, the institute is the main institutional home for clinical care and research involving cancer at the University. The institute encompasses…
Academic building located on the River Campus. Offices, seminar rooms, and laboratory facilities for the Institute of Optics.
Residence hall located on the River Campus.
Follow the Chicago Manual’s conventions (7.76) for references to the internet, the web, and other references to electronic resources.
Can be used for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development on first reference.
Located on the River Campus. University executive offices; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Residence hall located on the South Campus.
The organizational name for the clinical enterprise of the University, UR Medicine should not be used synonymously for the Medical Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the School of…
URLs
For references in running text to uniform resource locaters (URLs) such as websites and online resources, follow the conventions outlined in the Chicago Manual (8.186). Use of shortened versions of…
UR
Avoid as an abbreviation for the University in general publications. A few exceptions have been sanctioned.
A
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…
Located on the River Campus. The campus center’s facilities include student organization offices, and meeting and performing facilities, such as the Stackel Room; Hartnett Art Gallery; the May Room; Havens…
Located at the Medical Center and part of UR Medicine, the institute is the main institutional home for clinical care and research involving cancer at the University. The institute encompasses…
Academic building located on the River Campus. Offices, seminar rooms, and laboratory facilities for the Institute of Optics.
Residence hall located on the River Campus.
Follow the Chicago Manual’s conventions (7.76) for references to the internet, the web, and other references to electronic resources.
Can be used for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development on first reference.
Located on the River Campus. University executive offices; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Residence hall located on the South Campus.
The organizational name for the clinical enterprise of the University, UR Medicine should not be used synonymously for the Medical Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the School of…
URLs
For references in running text to uniform resource locaters (URLs) such as websites and online resources, follow the conventions outlined in the Chicago Manual (8.186). Use of shortened versions of…
UR
Avoid as an abbreviation for the University in general publications. A few exceptions have been sanctioned.
B
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…
Located on the River Campus. The campus center’s facilities include student organization offices, and meeting and performing facilities, such as the Stackel Room; Hartnett Art Gallery; the May Room; Havens…
Located at the Medical Center and part of UR Medicine, the institute is the main institutional home for clinical care and research involving cancer at the University. The institute encompasses…
Academic building located on the River Campus. Offices, seminar rooms, and laboratory facilities for the Institute of Optics.
Residence hall located on the River Campus.
Follow the Chicago Manual’s conventions (7.76) for references to the internet, the web, and other references to electronic resources.
Can be used for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development on first reference.
Located on the River Campus. University executive offices; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Residence hall located on the South Campus.
The organizational name for the clinical enterprise of the University, UR Medicine should not be used synonymously for the Medical Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the School of…
URLs
For references in running text to uniform resource locaters (URLs) such as websites and online resources, follow the conventions outlined in the Chicago Manual (8.186). Use of shortened versions of…
UR
Avoid as an abbreviation for the University in general publications. A few exceptions have been sanctioned.
C
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…
Located on the River Campus. The campus center’s facilities include student organization offices, and meeting and performing facilities, such as the Stackel Room; Hartnett Art Gallery; the May Room; Havens…
Located at the Medical Center and part of UR Medicine, the institute is the main institutional home for clinical care and research involving cancer at the University. The institute encompasses…
Academic building located on the River Campus. Offices, seminar rooms, and laboratory facilities for the Institute of Optics.
Residence hall located on the River Campus.
Follow the Chicago Manual’s conventions (7.76) for references to the internet, the web, and other references to electronic resources.
Can be used for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development on first reference.
Located on the River Campus. University executive offices; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Residence hall located on the South Campus.
The organizational name for the clinical enterprise of the University, UR Medicine should not be used synonymously for the Medical Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the School of…
URLs
For references in running text to uniform resource locaters (URLs) such as websites and online resources, follow the conventions outlined in the Chicago Manual (8.186). Use of shortened versions of…
UR
Avoid as an abbreviation for the University in general publications. A few exceptions have been sanctioned.
D
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…
Located on the River Campus. The campus center’s facilities include student organization offices, and meeting and performing facilities, such as the Stackel Room; Hartnett Art Gallery; the May Room; Havens…
Located at the Medical Center and part of UR Medicine, the institute is the main institutional home for clinical care and research involving cancer at the University. The institute encompasses…
Academic building located on the River Campus. Offices, seminar rooms, and laboratory facilities for the Institute of Optics.
Residence hall located on the River Campus.
Follow the Chicago Manual’s conventions (7.76) for references to the internet, the web, and other references to electronic resources.
Can be used for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development on first reference.
Located on the River Campus. University executive offices; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Residence hall located on the South Campus.
The organizational name for the clinical enterprise of the University, UR Medicine should not be used synonymously for the Medical Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the School of…
URLs
For references in running text to uniform resource locaters (URLs) such as websites and online resources, follow the conventions outlined in the Chicago Manual (8.186). Use of shortened versions of…
UR
Avoid as an abbreviation for the University in general publications. A few exceptions have been sanctioned.
E
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…
Located on the River Campus. The campus center’s facilities include student organization offices, and meeting and performing facilities, such as the Stackel Room; Hartnett Art Gallery; the May Room; Havens…
Located at the Medical Center and part of UR Medicine, the institute is the main institutional home for clinical care and research involving cancer at the University. The institute encompasses…
Academic building located on the River Campus. Offices, seminar rooms, and laboratory facilities for the Institute of Optics.
Residence hall located on the River Campus.
Follow the Chicago Manual’s conventions (7.76) for references to the internet, the web, and other references to electronic resources.
Can be used for the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development on first reference.
Located on the River Campus. University executive offices; Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Residence hall located on the South Campus.
The organizational name for the clinical enterprise of the University, UR Medicine should not be used synonymously for the Medical Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the School of…
URLs
For references in running text to uniform resource locaters (URLs) such as websites and online resources, follow the conventions outlined in the Chicago Manual (8.186). Use of shortened versions of…
UR
Avoid as an abbreviation for the University in general publications. A few exceptions have been sanctioned.
F
Content teams and AI: adversaries or allies?
5 steps to a simpler site redesign
5 quick fixes to help your SEO shine
Nickname for the University’s athletic teams. May be used alone if the context is clear. ’Jackets (with an apostrophe, not a single quote mark) is acceptable on second reference. Note:…
Located on the Mt. Hope Campus, the building is the official residence of the president.
Named in recognition of the late G. Robert Witmer Jr. ’59, former University trustee and board chair. Always use the title in full, capitalizing each word, on first reference. Note…