{"id":640,"date":"2026-08-19T21:08:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T21:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwtest.ucf.edu\/brand\/?page_id=640"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:08:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:08:35","slug":"writing-stylebook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/brand\/writing-stylebook\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing Stylebook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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abbreviations and acronyms<\/strong> Avoid turning stories into alphabet soup. Universities have many buildings, courses, organizations, clubs, programs and titles that often are shortened for casual use, but generally spell them out on first reference. Follow a full name with an abbreviation in parentheses.It is often more clear on following references to say \u201cthe department\u201d or \u201cthe organization\u201d or use some other identifier rather than use unfamiliar abbreviations and acronyms. Some abbreviations, however, have become so universally known that they can be used on first reference, such as NCAA, SAT, GPA and ROTC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

academic degrees <\/strong>The preferred form is to use \u201cbachelor\u2019s (degree)\u201d and \u201cmaster\u2019s (degree)\u201d in place of abbreviations. Also acceptable without a possessive in this style: \u201cBachelor of Arts\u201d and \u201cMaster of Science.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbreviations can be used when the use of full terms would be cumbersome, as in a list of people. To abbreviate, use periods and no spaces between letters, such as \u201cB.S.\u201d (Bachelor of Science) or \u201cM.A.\u201d (Master of Arts). For degrees with three or more capital letters, such as \u201cMBA\u201d or \u201cMFA\u201d, omit the periods. However, \u201cPh.D.\u201d should contain periods. The word \u201cdegree\u201d does not follow a degree abbreviation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An \u201cAssociate of Arts\u201d is a two-year post-secondary degree offered by colleges. For students who transfer to UCF, the degree serves as the first two years of work for a bachelor\u2019s degree. \u201cAssociate degree\u201d is not possessive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If mention of degrees is necessary to establish someone\u2019s credentials, the preferred form is to use a phrase such as \u201cJohn Jones, who has a doctorate in psychology.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use such abbreviations as \u201cB.A.,\u201d \u201cM.A.,\u201d and \u201cPh.D.\u201d only when identifying many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. When necessary, use these abbreviations only after a full name \u2014 never after just a last name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

academic departments<\/strong> Capitalize as part of an official name as in \u201cDepartment of Political Science\u201d <\/em>and \u201cDepartment of History,<\/em>\u201d but lowercase when referring to them generically as in the \u201cpolitical science department\u201d or \u201chistory department.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic Health Sciences Center<\/strong> Organizational structure that includes the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, and College of Health Professions and Sciences. Not to be confused with the Academic Health Sciences Campus<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

academic titles<\/strong> Capitalize and spell formal titles (president, provost, dean, chancellor, vice president, professor) when they precede a name: \u201cDean Jane Doe.\u201d Lowercase job titles elsewhere, such as: \u201cJohn Doe, dean.\u201d When used as descriptors, lowercase titles when they identify something else: \u201cdean\u2019s list,\u201d \u201cprovost\u2019s office.\u201d Do not abbreviate \u201cassistant\u201d or \u201cassociate.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

accents<\/strong> Use tildes and other accent marks when spelling proper names and other words as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

accreditation<\/strong> The University of Central Florida (UCF) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. UCF received initial accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in 2025. Refer to UCF\u2019s certification of accreditation from HLC<\/a> for official documentation. From 1970 to 2026, the university was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no reason to qualify accreditation: \u201cfully accredited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acrisure Bounce House<\/strong> UCF\u2019s on-campus football stadium. Never use \u201cthe\u201d before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACT <\/strong>Use only the initials when referring to the previous American College Testing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

add\/drop<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addition Financial Arena<\/strong> UCF\u2019s on-campus arena, which hosts basketball games, commencement ceremonies, concerts and other events. Never use \u201cthe\u201d before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

administration <\/strong>Lowercase and spell out unless part of a proper name. Do not use \u201cadmin.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

advisor <\/strong>Varies from AP\u2019s \u201cadviser.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI<\/strong> Abbreviation for artificial intelligence. Acceptable on first reference. This differs from AP style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI for All<\/strong> An initiative that aims to ensure that students obtain vital AI fluency skills to succeed in the workforce post-graduation. It also encourages faculty and staff to keep current with ethical uses of modern technology. Not to be confused with the Institute of Artificial Intelligence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alafaya Trail<\/strong> UCF\u2019s main entrances are along this roadway, also known as State Road 434. <\/em>(Refer to roads<\/strong> entry.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

alma mater<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

alum, alumna, alumnae, alumni, alumnus<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n