The College uses the IU Editorial Style Guide for guidance on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. But, we do want to call attention to a few common formatting and punctuation issues.
Formatting & Capitalization
Capitalization of schools, departments, and offices
Official names are capitalized. Unofficial, or generic names, are not. This rule applies to names of offices, buildings, schools, departments, programs, institutes, centers, and so on. Therefore, the noun in a phrase such as the school, the institute, or the new museum is not capitalized.
Examples
the School of Global and International Studies, the school
the Office of the Dean, the office, this office
the University Graduate School, the graduate school
the Department of Physics, the IU Physics department,
the Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, the center
the Human Biology Program, the program
Exception: You do capitalize “The” in “The Media School” even in the body of text.
As a general rule, you will capitalize the name of a department, even when shortening the official name, when referring to the department proper. But, if you are referring to the discipline rather than the department, the discipline should be lowercase.
Examples
The Department of Anthropology is accepting applications for scholarships. We are accepting scholarships in the Anthropology department. In Anthropology, you can gain experience both in and outside of the classroom. IU Anthropology is considered among the best programs in the nation. We take a holistic approach to the study of anthropology.
Capitalization of courses
Capitalize official course titles (except for articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions), whether or not the course number is used.
Examples
E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics
S 250 Graphic Design I
A new course, Basic Algebra for Finite Mathematics, is appropriate for many students.
Capitalization of formal titles
Personal titles immediately preceding a name are capitalized; those following a name or set off by commas are not. This rule applies not only to academic titles, but also to administrative titles. Do not capitalize a qualifying word that precedes a capitalized title.
Exception: a “named” title is capitalized.
Examples
The latest discovery by Professor John Q. Doe . . .
John Q. Doe, associate professor of geography, has discovered . . .
A professor of geography at IU since 2015, Doe studies . . .
Associate Dean Jane Doe, the associate dean
Doe, who has been an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences since 2011 . . .
Karma Lochrie is the Ruth Halls Professor of English at IU.
Today, staff members honored former Dean of the Faculties Anya Peterson Royce.
The College of Arts