Style & Grammar Glossary

Glossary

• A

  advisor

  • Not adviser

   

  addresses

  • For numbered addresses, always use figures. Abbreviate Ave., Blvd. and St. and directional cues when used with a numbered address.

   

  alumnus, alumni,  alumna, alumnae

  • Use these terms to refer to former students of the University. Students need not have earned a degree to be considered alumni.  
    • alumnus: man (singular)
    • alumni: men; and a group of men and women
    • alumna: woman (singular)
    • alumnae: women (plural)
  • Note: In University of Denver Magazine and DU Newsroom articles, first references to alumni often include the degree(s) they earned and the year(s) in which degrees were awarded. Set off this information with parentheses:
    • Sally Smith (BS ’96); Bob Jones (BA ’98, MBA ’99); John Johnson (attd. 1993–95); Frank Albright (Hon. PhD ’01)

   

  amicus, amica, amici 

  • Use these terms to refer to former employees of the University who have earned this honorary distinction.
    • amicus: man (singular)
    • amica: woman (singular)
    • amici: men and women (plural)

   

  ampersand

  • Do not use in place of the conjunction unless it is part of an entity’s official name.
    • The Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness.  

   

  Anderson Academic Commons

  • This building, which opened in spring 2013, houses the University of Denver Library, including the Penrose Collection, and a number of services focused on teaching and learning. On subsequent references, refer to it as the Academic Commons or the library.

   

  annual fund

  • Capitalize references to the University of Denver Annual Fund; lowercase annual fund when used without the official title designation.

   

  awards

  • Use the full formal name for the following annual faculty awards:
    • Distinguished University Professor
    • Distinguished Teaching Award
    • Distinguished Scholar Award
    • Ruth Murray Underhill Teaching Award
    • Faculty Service Award  
    • United Methodist Church Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award (Teacher of the Year on second reference)
    • University Lecturer (sponsored by the provost’s office) 
• B

  Board of Trustees

  • Capitalize Board of Trustees when it refers to the DU governing organization, but lowercase board when it stands alone.
  • See Trustees entry for information on use when referring to members.

   

  Boettcher Scholars

   

  buildings, facilities, gardens and greens

  • Capitalize the formal name of campus buildings and facilities on first reference in all documents.
  • Exceptions: the Ritchie Center, the Chambers Center, Nelson Hall and the Newman Center are acceptable on first reference when the publication audience is familiar with the DU campus.
  • On subsequent references, some building names may be shortened. Capitalization should be retained when the proper noun is used. Examples below:
    • The meeting is scheduled for the Sie Complex. Students love the complex for its many inviting spaces.
  • University Park buildings and facilities (first and second references) 
    • Ammi Hyde Building
    • Anderson Academic Commons, the Academic Commons, the library
    • Anna and John J. Sie International Relations Complex, the Sie Complex    
      • Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy, the Sié Center 
    • Boettcher Center /BECH-ər/
    • Buchtel Bungalow /BUCK-tel/
    • Buchtel Memorial Tower
    • Burwell Center for Career Achievement, the Burwell Center
    • The Cable Center
    • Carnegie Green
    • Campus Green (between Sturm Hall and the Frank H. Ricketson Jr. Law Building)
    • Centennial Halls, Halls
    • Centennial Towers, Towers
    • Chamberlin Observatory
    • Chester M Alter Arboretum, Alter Arboretum
    • Clarence M. Knudson Hall, Knudson Hall
    • Columbine Hall
    • Community Commons
    • Craig Hall
    • Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness, the Ritchie Center
      • Barton Lacrosse Stadium
      • Benjamin F. Stapleton Jr. Tennis Pavilion, Stapleton Tennis Pavilion
      • CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium (CIBER Field on subsequent references)
      • Coors Fitness Center
      • Diane Wendt Sports Fields                    
      • El Pomar Natatorium
      • Gates Field House
      • Hamilton Gymnasium
      • Joy Burns Arena
      • Magness Arena
      • Pat Bowlen Training Center
      • Williams Tower
    • Daniels College of Business, the Daniels College, Daniels (Do not use DCB.)
    • Dimond Family Residential Village /dim-ond/
    • Driscoll Green
    • Driscoll University Center
    • Evans Memorial Chapel
    • Facilities Service Center
    • Fisher Early Learning Center
    • Frank H. Ricketson Jr. Law Building
    • Frontier Hall
    • F.W. Olin Hall, Olin Hall
    • Harper Humanities Gardens
    • Iliff School of Theology
    • International House
    • John Moye Hall
    • Johnson-McFarlane Hall, J-MAC
    • Joy Burns Center
    • Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall, Ruffatto Hall
    • King Lee and Shirley Nelson Residence Hall, Nelson Hall
    • Margery Reed Hall, Margery Reed
    • Mary Reed Building, Mary Reed
    • Mass Communications Building
    • Merle Catherine Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women, the Chambers Center
    • Nagel Art Studios
    • Nagel Hall
    • Physical Education Building
    • Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, the Newman Center
      • Joy Burns Plaza
      • June Swaner Gates Concert Hall
      • Elizabeth Eriksen Byron Theatre, the Byron Theatre
      • Frederic C. Hamilton Family Recital Hall, Hamilton Recital Hall
      • Trevorrow Hall
      • Williams Recital Salon
    • Shwayder Art Building
    • Sturm Hall
    • University Hall (formerly Old Main)
      • University Technology Services Building
  • Off-campus buildings 
    • Chamberlin Observatory (see separate entry)
    • Denver Tennis Park (a partnership with Denver Public Schools and Denver Tennis Park Inc.)
    • Margaret Rogers Phipps House, Phipps House (not Phipps Mansion)
      • The University sold this facility in 2010.
    • Meyer-Womble Observatory
• C

  campuses 

  • City Campus: The University of Denver is housed on a 125-acre site in the University Park neighborhood.  
  • Mountain Campus: The James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus is situated on 720 acres of pristine wilderness in the Colorado Rockies. 

   

  campuswide 

   

  chair and vice chair 

  • Use chair and vice chair instead of chairman, chairperson, chairwoman. 

   

  Chamberlin Observatory  

  • DU owns and operates the Chamberlin Observatory, located just a few blocks from campus at Observatory Park. Established in 1890, the observatory and its 20-inch refracting telescope are managed and cared for by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. 

   

  Cherrington Global Scholars program 

  • Established in 2002, the Cherrington Global Scholars program is a for-credit initiative designed to send every eligible junior and senior abroad for at least one quarter of study. Participants in the program are referred to as Cherrington Scholars or Cherrington Global Scholars. 

   

  Chester M Alter Arboretum 

  • Note that the middle initial is not punctuated.  

   

  classes 

  • Class of 2019, but the classes of ’90–’99. 

   

  co-curricular 

  • Not cocurricular. 

   

  College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) 

   

  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) 

   

  College of Professional Studies

  • University College was renamed to the College of Professional studies in 2025.

   

  Colorado Women’s College 

  • Until 1967, this institution was known as the Colorado Woman’s College. From 1968–72, it was named the Temple Buell College after a donor. In 1973, the name became the Colorado Women’s College. When DU acquired the school in 1983, it was renamed the Weekend College. It was named the Women’s College in 1993. A decade later, it became the Colorado Women’s College once again.  The college was reorganized in 2020 and its remaining programs were blended into other University of Denver units.  
  • After 130 years as an institution of higher education, Colorado Women’s College ceased operations in Spring of 2021 due to insurmountable budgetary challenges that pre-date COVID-19, but were exacerbated by the pandemic. The CWC Leadership Scholarship Program and Equity Labs, the current hallmark programs of the CWC, remain fully maintained and housed by other DU organizational structures to ensure that they continue to fulfill CWC’s mission beyond the immediate transition. The HerDU event series is now maintained by ODEI.  
  • When referring to alumni and faculty of the college, acknowledge the institution’s name during the period in question. Example below: 
    • Smith is an enthusiastic alumna of the Colorado Women’s College, having earned her degree in 1969, when it was known as the Temple Buell College.  

   

  commencement 

  • Capitalize when referring to DU’s ceremonies.  
  • Lowercase when referring to ceremonies at other universities. Example below:  
    • He gave the commencement address at Harvard. 

   

  committee names  

  • Lowercase generic committee names 
    • buildings and grounds committee, budget committee, search committee.  
  • Capitalize only those committees with distinctive formal names 
    • the Colorado Committee on Higher Education Reform.  

   

  convocation 

  • Capitalize when referring to DU’s fall ceremonies.  
  • Lowercase other references. 

   

  co-requisite 

   

  course titles 

  • Capitalize the full, formal title of a course.  
  • Do not place titles in quotation marks.  
  • Lowercase casual references to classes.  
    • He loved his air pollution class but really disliked photography. 

   

  coursework 

   

  cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude 

  • Always lowercase. 

   curriculum, curricula 

• D

  Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science 

  • On second reference, use the Ritchie School. 

   

  Daniels College of Business 

  • On second reference, use Daniels College or Daniels. 

   

  dates 

  • Use Arabic figures, without st, nd, rd or th. 
  • When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, commas are required before and after the year. 
    • She will graduate on June 6, 2022, with a degree in engineering. 
  • When including a day of the week with the date, use a comma after the day and after the date. 
    • The lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, in the Anderson Academic Commons.  
  • When a phrase refers to a date but not a year, do not use a comma with the date.  
    • The hockey team will play an exhibition match on Feb. 15 at Magness Arena. 
  • When referring to just the month and year, do not use a comma and do not abbreviate the month. 
    • The program began in January 2016 with plans for rapid expansion. 

   

  degrees 

  • Do not capitalize formal names of academic degrees in general text. 
    • bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, master of business administration, doctor of philosophy, etc.  
  • Casual references to degrees require an apostrophe.  
    • He has a bachelor’s degree, but his sister has a master’s degree. 
  • When referring to specific degrees, use formal titles.  
    • She earned a bachelor of fine arts and a master of social work from the University of Denver. 
  • When listing degrees by their initials, do not use periods.  
    • BA, JD, MFA, PhD. 
  • When a degree is used as part of a person’s descriptive identity, it should follow their name and be offset by commas.  
    • Sally Smith, PhD, addressed the class on Tuesday. 
  • When writing about University of Denver alumni, list their degrees and the years they were awarded after the first reference, if possible.  
    • Sally Smith (BA ’89, MA ’91, PhD ’94).  
  • If writing about an alumnus who did not earn a degree, list the years of attendance only.  
    • John Smith (attd. 1972–73). 
  • Note: Deviations from this list should be verified with the Office of the Registrar, x2284. 

   

  departments and offices 

  • Capitalize the department or office when used as a formal name. 
    • Department of Biological Sciences, Office of the Provost 
  • Lowercase informal references. 
    • geography department, provost’s office 
    • Note: An exception is made for proper nouns.  
      • The English department met to discuss curriculum. 
  • When referring to such departments whose formal names also describe the subject matter—such as Asian Studies and Judaic Studies—use uppercase for references to the department itself and lowercase for references to the subject matter.  
    • Example: She recently joined the Judaic Studies faculty.  
    • But: She is interested in Judaic studies. That course is offered by Asian Studies. After two years as an undeclared major, Fred has decided to concentrate on Asian studies. 
  • When referring to centers and institutes, use the full name on first reference and subsequently a lowercase “center” or “institute” as appropriate.  
    • The Environmental Institute becomes the institute on second reference. 
  • For verifying formal names of departments and offices, please consult the Departments A-Z Directory at du.edu. Please note the following usages: 
    • Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures 
    • Office of Undergraduate Admission (not Admissions) 
• E

  endowed chairs and professorships 

  • Capitalize the full name of the chair or professorship.  
    • Ved Nanda holds the Thompson G. Marsh Professorship.  
  • Modified usages incorporating a lowercase chair or professorship are acceptable on second references. 
    • The Marsh professorship is a great honor. 
• F

  faculty  

  • The word “faculty” is a collective noun, singular in form but referencing a group of individuals.  
  • Use with a singular verb if emphasizing action as a unit. 
    • The law school faculty embodies the University’s emphasis on the public good.  
  • Use a plural verb if emphasizing faculty members individually. 
    • Faculty from the political science department are quoted in recent news reports about the election. 

   

  fieldwork 

   

  first-year student 

  • In most cases, this term is preferred over “freshman.” 

   

  Founders Day 

   

  Founders’ Fellows 

   

  Four-Dimensional Experience, 4D Experience 

  • At DU, students receive a multidimensional, adventure-driven education that prepares them to make a difference and thrive in a dynamic world. It’s called the 4D Experience. The four integrated dimensions are: advancing intellectual growth, exploring character, promoting well-being and pursuing lives of purpose 

   

  Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management 

  • Use the Burns School on second reference. 

   

  Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management 

  • Use the Knoebel School on second reference. 
• G

  gender-specific language 

  • Avoid gender-specific language whenever possible.  
  • Opt for neutral nouns and pronouns instead.  
    • They or the student, instead of he or she.  
  •  Use male or female only when referring to the sex of an individual or animal. 
• H

  Homecoming 

  • Capitalize when referring to DU’s fall event.  

   

  Honors/honors 

  • Lowercase cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude. 
  • Capitalize Honors when used to describe students in the University Honors Program.  
    • Sally, who is an Honors student, takes a demanding course load each quarter. 
  • Capitalize Honors when used to describe projects prepared for the program and classes offered under the program.  
  • Lowercase honors when it refers to departmental achievements.  
    • Sarah Hamm earned honors in biology. 
• J

  Josef Korbel School of International Studies 

  • Formerly named the Graduate School of International Studies, the school was renamed in May 2008 after its founder and one of its most famous scholars.  
  • On second reference, use Josef Korbel School.  
  • On subsequent references, it’s acceptable to use the Korbel School. 
• K

  Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging (KIHA) 

• L

  living and learning communities 

  • The acronym LLC is acceptable on second reference. 
• M

  Morgridge College of Education 

  • Use the Morgridge College on second and subsequent references. 
• O

  on-campus, on campus 

  • Use on-campus as an adjective.  
    • We promote on-campus events.  
  • Use on campus as a prepositional phrase.  
    • We promote events on campus. 

   

  onstage 

• P

  Partners in Scholarship (PinS) 

   

  phone numbers 

  • Use periods to separate the area code and exchange.  
    • 303.871.2000 

   

  Pioneers 

  • University’s official moniker.  
  • Usage should be determined on case-by-case basis. 

   

  post 

  • Words beginning with this prefix are usually closed, with no hyphen, unless the root word is a proper noun. Example: postdoctoral, postmodern, post-Obama.  

   

  pow wow  

• Q

  quarters, quarter hours 

  • Lowercase fall, winter and spring quarters, summer session and interterm in general copy. Use numerals to express quarter hours. Example: Students traveling to Mexico will earn 2 quarter hours of credit.

   

  quotation marks 

  • Use single quotation marks in news headlines and for quotes within quotes.  
  • “Smart” quotes, not "straight" quotes, should be used.  
  • Semicolons and colons go outside quotation marks.  
  • Periods and commas go inside the closing quotation mark. 
  • Use quotation marks for book, dissertation and thesis titles, as well as articles, poems, short stories, book chapters, essays, individual lectures, blog entries, podcasts, and TV and radio programs.  
  • No quotation marks or italics are needed for academic course titles, apps, awards, websites, political documents (such as the Constitution), scriptural works (the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud), or musical compositions whose names contain a musical form (such as concerto, symphony). 
• R

  Reiman School of Finance 

   

  residence hall 

  • Not dorm or dormitory. 
• S

  School of Art and Art History 

   

  Sturm College of Law 

  • On second reference, use “Sturm College” or “Denver Law” 
• T

  Theater/theatre 

  • Use the British spelling when referring to the University’s Department of Theatre.  
  • In other references, it is preferable to use theater.  
    • Theater majors use the Byron Flexible Theatre as a laboratory for developing their skills. 

   

  titles 

  • Capitalize the following but do not italicize or place within quotation marks: 
    • blog titles 
    • course titles (see course titles for further guidance) 
    • software 
    • TV and radio stations 
    • websites (the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast)  

   

  T-shirts 

   

  transgender 

  • Not transgendered.  

   

  Trustees 

  • Capitalize trustee as a title before the name:  
    • Trustee Allan Phipps 
  • Lowercase when used as a descriptor in sentence. 
    • As a trustee, Allan Phipps served the University Board of Trustees well. 
• U

  University of Denver  

  • Capitalize University of Denver.  
  • Capitalize second references to the University when the University of Denver is implied.  
  • DU is acceptable on second reference.  

   

  University College 

  • Before 1987, University College was known as the New College. In 2025, University College was renamed to the College of Professional Studies. 

   

  University Honors Program 

  • Always capitalize the full formal name.  
  • Use Honors Program on second reference.  
  • Casual references should capitalize Honors.  
    • Sally is an Honors student. 
• W

  work-study 

• Y

  years 

  • Let context dictate usage.  
  • Either 1946 or ’46 may be appropriate.  
  • When discussing a span of years, it is acceptable to use the shortened version for years in the same century. 
    • 1946–52; 1998–2003