Delta Gamma Style Guide desk reference 2018 DELTA GAMMA STYLE GUIDE Revised: August 2018 1 Delta Gamma Style Guide instead: “Mary Smith is graduating alcohol free vs. alcohol-free Delta with a master’s degree in Gamma uses the term “events In order to ensure that all Delta psychology.” If abbreviating degree, without alcohol.” Gamma publications and websites use capital letters and periods: “She represent the ideals and standards graduated with a B.A. in English.” Alcohol Skills Training Program of the Fraternity, such entities Capitalized, abbreviated ASTP after associated with Delta Gamma or academic departments Lowercase first reference. depicting its name, symbols, badge unless word is a proper noun (i.e. or slogans must adhere to certain “English department” or “math all right The dictionary may list standards. department.”) “alright” as an acceptable word, but it is not according to the Associated Press. The name “Delta Gamma,” academic titles Lowercase unless title precedes name: “Chancellor the Greek letters “DG,” the allude vs. elude You allude to (or crest, “Anchor Splash®,” “Most Green was a former professor of history.” Titles may be capitalized for mention) a book. You elude (or Beautiful Eyes,” “The ANCHORA escape) a pursuer. of Delta Gamma,” “Anchor certificates and addresses. Market Place,” “Anchor Girl,” academic years Always lowercase: “almost never” Do not use this “DeeGee,” “For hope. For freshman, sophomore, junior and phrase. Instead, use “seldom” or strength. For life.,” “Here for senior. “hardly ever.” Good,” “#IAmASororityWoman,” “Do Good” and the badge of accept vs. except Accept (a a lot Always two words. the Fraternity are all registered verb) means to receive. Except ( a trademarks of Delta Gamma preposition) means to exclude. alumna/alumnae/alumnus/alumni Fraternity. alumna--female, singular “actives” Incorrect when referring alumnae--female, plural The following terms are commonly to collegiate members. Instead use alumnus--male, singular used throughout Delta Gamma “collegians” or “members.” alumni--male, plural or collegiate and alumnae websites male and female mixed, plural. and publications. Use this (in adviser When an adviser stands conjunction with the Delta Gamma alone, it’s spelled with an “e.” When alumna initiate A woman initiated brand identity guideline manual) as she’s part of a team, the spelling after her undergraduate career is considered an alumna initiate; a guide when designing web pages switches the “e” for an “o” (i.e. lowercase, abbreviated “AI.” or preparing documents. Anything “advisory team chairman” or that is not covered in the following “advisory board”). Note: National alumnae association Always Panhellenic Conference uses the Delta Gamma Style Guide will be lowercase, even though it looks like handled according to AP style. “advisor” spelling in all cases. part of the title: “Albion alumnae association.” May be capitalized advisory team A team of collegiate A for certificates, titles and addresses. chapter advisers, led by the ATC. Delta Gamma does not have “alumni Always lowercase. abbreviations Abbreviations are associations.” fine for informal writing or in formal advisory team chairman Abbreviate communications as long as the alumnae chapter Always lowercase, “ATC,” but keep lowercase when first reference is spelled out:“The even when it looks like part of the spelled out. advisory team chairman served for title: “Denver alumnae chapter.” An three years. As ATC, she performed acceptable variation/alternative title affect vs. effect As a general rule, countless duties.” to refer to an organized collection of think of “affect” as the verb and members is alumnae group. May be “effect” as the noun. (There are academic courses and majors capitalized for certificates, titles and exceptions but they are rarely used.) Lowercase in all uses except addresses. languages: An engineering major, “She was affected by the decision.” a communications class, a French “The effect on the crowd was Alumnae Development Consultant major, a Spanish class. remarkable.” Always capitalized. Abbreviate “ADC” only after the full title is academic degrees If mentioning spelled out for the first usage. an academic degree in a sentence, afterward vs. afterwards Use the preferred form is to avoid an “afterward.” alumnae officers Lowercase (“vice abbreviation and use a phrase president: membership”) with 2 DELTA GAMMA STYLE GUIDE Revised: August 2018 two exceptions: “vice president: used in place of “additional;” rather, like something, you are “averse” or Foundation,” “vice president: “another” refers to a repeated noun opposed to it. If the weather is bad, Panhellenic.” Can be shortened to with the same quantity: “Ten women you could describe it as “adverse.” “vp:” Titles may be capitalized for passed; another 10 failed.” certificates and addresses. For plural, Adviser Training Academy Always use “vice presidents: finance” or “vps: annual Do not use the phrase capitalized; may be abbreviated to finance.” “first annual.” “Annual” can only “ATA” after first reference. be applied to an event that has Alumnae Officers Manual Always happened two or more years in awards Lowercase unless referring to capitalized; abbreviated “AOM.” succession. specific award:“Outstanding Senior Award” or “an awards banquet.” a.m., p.m. Lowercase, with periods. Annual Agreement Always Use figures with colons, except when capitalized, abbreviated “AA” on B listing times on the hour: “11:30 second reference. a.m.,” “1 p.m.” Avoid redundancy: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of “at 9 a.m. this morning.” anticipate vs. expect “Anticipate” Science See academic degrees. means to expect and prepare for among vs. between “Between” something; “expect” does not backward Never use “backwards.” separates only two things or people include the notion of preparation. while “among” introduces three or “They expect a record crowd. They badge Preferred name for Delta more: “The argument is between have anticipated it by adding extra Gamma golden anchor “pin.” Sally and me.” “We split the lunch seating.” among the four of us.” because vs. since Use “because” anybody, any body, anyone, any to show cause and effect: “He went Anchor Games The umbrella term one Use one word when meaning any because he was told.” “Since” refers to the various “anchor” person, non-specific: Anyone“ can indicates that time has passed. It philanthropic fundraisers Delta be a part of recruitment.” Use two can also show a cause-and-effect Gamma chapters host, including words when the emphasis is on one relationship, but the effect doesn’t Anchor Splash®, Anchor Bowl, single person or thing: “Any one of necessarily have to follow the cause: Anchor Dash and Anchor Slam. the members will be available to “He went to the game, since he had meet you.” been given tickets.” anchor girl: DG legacy The formal title of the legacy program. All apostrophe Use in place of omitted biannual Twice a year. lowercase, acceptable program letters and numbers: “I’ve,” abbreviation: “anchor girls.” Plural, “rock’n’roll,” “class of ‘72,” “the biennial Once every two years. no apostrophe. ‘20s theme.” Use to show plural of a singular letter: “mind your p’s bi, semi Bimonthly or biweekly mean Anchor Grant Program Always and q’s” and “The Oakland A’s won every other month or every other capitalized. Can use “Anchor Grants” the pennant.” Do not use to show week. Semimonthly or semiweekly when referring to the actual grants plural of multiple-letter combinations: mean twice a month or twice a week. rather than the program. “DGs” and “PROs.” bid Lowercase when standing alone. Anchor Run for the Blind Always archives Lowercase if not using full capitalized. After first reference, can and proper name: “The Frances Bid Day Always capitalize. “We use Anchor Run. Lewis Stevenson Archives.” welcomed new members on Bid Day.” Anchor Splash® Delta Gamma’s ASTP See Alcohol Skills Training official philanthropic project for Program. Bidlily Delta Gamma’s recruitment collegiate chapters is two words, management tool. The “B” should capitalized and followed by ®. (Ctrl as well as Use this preposition to add always be capitalized. Alt R in Microsoft Word.) The ® is not information to a sentence that could required after the initial use. stand alone: “John, as well as Mary, Big/Little Reveal The event during which women are paired together as took the exam today.” ANCHORA The ANCHORA of Delta big sister and little sister. Lowercase Gamma (pronounced anchor-uh) The big sister and little sister unless Association of Fraternity/Sorority Fraternity’s quarterly magazine is referring to the Big/Little Reveal Advisors Always capitalized; always all capital letters and italicized. event. Do not abbreviate little to lil. abbreviated “AFA.” another “Another” should not be blind Put the person/people first; averse vs. adverse If you don’t DELTA GAMMA STYLE GUIDE Revised: August 2018 3 Never use “blind people.” presidents: finance” or “vps: finance.” chapter incident procedure the Board of Advisers Always capitalized. procedure by which a collegiate Collegiate Recruitment Consultant Refers to past Council members chapter is assessed; abbreviated “CIP.” Always capitalized; abbreviated and Executive Directors, and is “CRC.” abbreviated “BOA.” chapter management team Always lowercase; abbreviated “CMT.” collumnae Refers to combined Board of Trustees The governing Refers to president and all vice collegiate and alumnae activities. body of the Delta Gamma presidents who lead a collegiate Foundation. Always capitalized and