Accepted Word Styles
The following word styles apply to William & Mary websites. A broader editorial guide for all communication platforms is available in the university brand guidelines.
When Referencing William & Mary
Acceptable
- William & Mary (required first reference)
- the university (preferred second reference)
- W&M (use as second reference and can alternate with William & Mary)
Do Not Use
- WM
- the College
- William and Mary
- College of William and Mary
- College of William & Mary
- The College of William and Mary
- The College of William & Mary
Other W&M Word Styles
Class Year
Include a student’s or alumnus’ class year after their name on first reference.
- Jon Stewart ’84
- Ginger Ambler ’88, Ph.D. ’06
College of Arts & Sciences
Capitalize with the ampersand when referring to the group of academic units. "Arts & Sciences" is acceptable on second reference (preferred over A&S).
Departments
Capitalize departments when their proper names are used; do not capitalize when they are referred to informally.
- example: Department of History, but history department
- example: Office of Undergraduate Admission, but admission office
- example: W&M Police, but police department
Historic Campus
Refers to the section of campus that includes the Wren Building, President’s House and Brafferton. Some refer to this area as Ancient Campus, but Historic Campus is preferred.
Public Ivy
Capitalized and in quotes on first reference (“Public Ivy”); lowercase, not in quotes on second references (public ivy).
Raymond A. Mason School of Business
- use the full name on first reference
- “the business school” or “school of business” are acceptable on second reference
- do not use Mason School
- housed in Alan B. Miller Hall (or Miller Hall on second reference)
Sunken Garden
Never plural.
William & Mary Athletics
- “W&M Athletics” is acceptable on second reference
William & Mary Law School
- not “the” William & Mary Law School
- “the law school” is acceptable on second reference
- avoid using Marshall-Wythe School of Law (except in formal documents)
William & Mary School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics
- the “school of computing, data sciences & physics” is acceptable on second reference
William & Mary School of Education, the
- "the school of education" is acceptable on second reference
William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS
- use the full name if only one reference
- when multiple references:
- use "William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS" on first reference
- use "the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS" on second reference
- use "the Batten School & VIMS" on subsequent references
- exceptions:
- when referencing where a degree is earned, reference only the Batten School
- when referencing a service, etc. that pertains only to VIMS the state agency, reference only VIMS
William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science
- when referencing a service, etc. that pertains only to VIMS the state agency
- VIMS is acceptable on second reference
Wren Building, the
Appropriate first-reference form used for all but the most formal references to the Sir Christopher Wren Building. The Wren is the oldest college building still standing in the United States.
General Styles
Avoid the Serial (or Oxford) Comma
The serial comma is not used unless preceded by a compound construct, or clarity demands it.
- Example: red, white and blue
- Example: pastrami, peanut butter and jelly, and turkey
Italicized Items
- book titles
- journal names
- titles of movies
- titles of television shows
Phone Numbers
When writing phone numbers, use the following style: 757-555-5555.
State vs. Commonwealth
The word state can be used when referring to Virginia (even though Virginia is a commonwealth).
Web Terminology
The words website, webpage and homepage are each one word, no capital (unless they are the first word in a sentence).