Word list

Academic terms and institutional exceptions

Academic degrees

Basic capitalization

When used as a formal degree title, capitalize the area of study. See the capitalization page for more information on how to capitalize degrees.

Formal title: Earn your BA in Applied Communication from Northern Arizona University.

When a generic reference, use lowercase.

Generic reference: Anna earned her BA in communication, but skipped the commencement ceremony.

Emphases

Use an en dash when citing the area of emphasis after the degree title. See the punctuation page in the section for dashes and hyphens for information and examples.

Running text

Spell out generic references or formal titles in running text.

Generic reference: Michele completed a bachelor’s in liberal arts in December.
Formal title: Northern Arizona University offers all classes for the Bachelor of Arts in History completely online.

Apostrophes

Master and bachelor take ’s only when used in place of “master of” or “bachelor of.” Never use the plural or plural possessive with master’s or bachelor’s.

master of applied communication
master’s in history
Abby will complete work for her master’s degree in May.
The students in the scholarship program earned bachelor’s degrees.

Discussing in-progress programs

doctoral candidate
pursuing a master’s
pursuing a bachelor’s

Associate vs. associate’s

Always use associate, never associate’s.

Honors College

In general, use “Honors College” to describe students, courses, and programs related to the Honors College. Use Honors College student, Honors College course, etc.

Exceptions:

• Do not add “Honors College” in formal degree names or other proper nouns like the “Honors Native American Summer Research Program.”
• Testimonial formatting for Honors College students does not change. See treatment of titles for more information.

John Haeger Health and Learning Center (Haeger HLC)

As of April 2022, John Haeger Health and Learning Center (Haeger HLC) is the correct name for the former Health and Learning Center (HLC). Can be abbreviated as “J. H. Health and Learning Center” or as the “Haeger HLC.”

Postgrad, postdocc, and postbacc

See abbreviations and acronyms for more information.

Institutional word list and dictionary exceptions

In general, defer to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11^th ed. However, most standard American dictionaries will work, and we recommend Merriam-Webster’s website for easy use.

acknowledgement

Always use three e’s in the word “acknowledgement,” avoiding using only two e’s in the alternate “acknowledgment” spelling. This is an institutional exception to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary.

adviser, advisor

The preferred spelling is advisor.

alumna, alumnae, alumnus, alumni

An alumna is a female graduate or former student of a particular institution; the female plural is alumnae. An alumnus is a male graduate or former student; the male plural is alumni. To indicate both sexes, use alumni.

blue and gold

Do not capitalize blue or gold unless used in an approved phrase, slogan, or proper name—like “True Blue NAU” or “Gold Axe.” See abbreviations and acronyms for guidance on ampersands.

class or course

A class is a day’s worth of material; a course is a semester’s worth.

I’m not going to class today.
I’m glad I took that course.

coursework

One word.

The students found the coursework challenging.

COVID-19

Generally speaking, we prefer COVID-19 over COVID. However, some exceptions may apply, including “COVID testing.”

Do not lowercase “covid,” “Covid,” or “covid-19.”

dean’s list

Always use lowercase.

faculty

Faculty is a singular noun describing the entire body of professors. Use faculty member(s) to refer to any individual or group of individuals within the faculty.
Note: Access listings for faculty and staff in the Northern Arizona University Information Directory and online from the NAU Directory.

first-year

When referencing students you may use both first-year and freshman, but first-year is preferred.

freshman, freshmen

Freshman can function as a noun or an adjective. Freshmen functions only as a noun.

Freshman enrollment increased.
Not: Freshmen enrollment.

GPA, grade-point average

Use either, usually with two numbers after the decimal: 4.00, 2.25.

grades

Use the capital letters. Add s to indicate plurals. To avoid confusion with the word as, use the apostrophe to designate the plural of the letter grade A:

A’s, Bs, Cs, etc.

healthcare

In our style, we write this as a single word.

homecoming

Capitalize only when a formal title: NAU Homecoming. See capitalization of formal names for more info.

JacksCard

Always use “JacksCard” using no space and with capital letters for “J” and “C.”

JacksPath

While there is some internal inconsistency within the tool, always use “JacksPath” without a space for marketing and promotional materials. Do not use Jackspath, Jacks Path, or other permutations.

NAUFlex®

Always use NAUFlex® with the registered trademark symbol when describing NAUFlex® programs.

NAUgo

When possible, italicize “go” as the proper name for the NAUgo app. Only make exceptions for spaces where italics are not supported (like alt text, web page titles, or meta descriptions).

off campus, on campus

Hyphenate only when using as an adjective, not as an adverb.

Off-campus students commute an average of 250 miles weekly.
Those who live on campus travel to visit their families three or four times per semester.

online vs. NAU Online

Lowercase online when used as an adjective but capitalize in the proper name NAU Online.

Phoenix Bioscience Core

Do not use “Phoenix Biomedical Campus.” Use “Phoenix Bioscience Core,” which is the current official name.

staff

Staff is a singular noun. Use staff members to refer to the individuals within a staff.

student classifications

Do not capitalize student classifications:

freshman, sophomore, junior, senior

semesters

Do not capitalize the common names of semesters, terms, or academic sessions.

fall semester
registration
orientation
fall 2019

scholarships and fellowships

Capitalize only official names:

Cowden Microbiology Scholarship
Arizona Broadcasters Association Scholarship

teachers college

We prefer “teachers college” over “teacher’s college” or “teachers’ college.” Our preference is based on historical usage of the term at NAU and Merriam-Webster’s guidance.

titles

1. Italicize titles of books, paintings, sculptures, films, magazines, plays, CDs or albums, operas and other long musical works, newspapers, and continuing radio and television series. (See Treatment of Titles.)
2. Use quotation marks for titles of minor works: short stories, essays, short poems, songs, articles in periodicals, chapters in books, and episodes in radio and television series. (See Treatment of Titles.)

well-being

Always use “well-being” over “wellbeing.”

Misused words and common errors

a, an

1. In general, use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound.
   Use a before a pronounced h, long u (or eu), and o as pronounced in one:

   • a one-on-one meeting
   • a history thesis
   • a euphemism
   • a union

2. Use an when the h is not pronounced, as in “an honor student.”

3. When a group of initials begins with a vowel sound (even if the first letter is actually a consonant, such as f or m), use an before the initials:

   • an MBA graduate
   • an F in calculus
   • an NAU professor

4. When preceding a number, the choice between a and an is the same as if the number were spelled out.

   • an 18 percent increase
   • a 15 percent decrease

advance, advanced

Used as adjectives, advance means “ahead of time” and advanced means “beyond others.”

advance application fee
advanced standing

affect, effect

affect

Affect is a verb, except when used as a term in the field of psychology to indicate emotive responses. Affect commonly means “to influence.”

• Study habits affect grades.

Affect can also mean “to simulate, imitate, or pretend.”

• As an international student in London, Donna affected a British accent.

effect

Effect is commonly used as a noun meaning result.

• Her attendance policy had a good effect.

As a verb, effect means “to bring into existence or accomplish.”

• Writing your congressman is one way to effect change.

among, between

Among indicates the interval, intermediate position, or relationship of more than two people or things; between implies only two:

among

• The money will be divided among the seven members.
• Andrew split the money between Joan and Harold.

between

Note: One item in a pair may be a group of individuals.

• Sandra raved about the rapport between Professor Summerfield and her students.

Between may also indicate pairs of relationships among more than three items.

• The debates continued between the student pairs.
  (Note that several debated, but only in pairs.)

and, but

You may use and or but to begin a sentence. Used sparingly, these conjunctions can provide effective transitions between closely related sentences.

assure, ensure, insure

assure

Assure means to convince someone or set a person’s mind at ease.

• Her professor assured her that she could enroll in the course.

ensure

Ensure means to guarantee or secure.

• Good study habits ensure better grades.

insure

Insure generally means to establish a contract involving money.

• Though she drove only on campus, her brother persuaded her to insure her car.

bad, badly

Bad is an adjective: She recorded a bad track. Badly is an adverb: She sings badly.
A common error is use of the adverb in constructions with linking (transitive) verbs, such as look, taste, and feel.
Use the adjective to modify subjects taking linking verbs:

I feel bad about the outcome.
(Since feel acts as a linking verb, the adjective bad modifies the pronoun I.)

century

Lowercase: eighth century, 15th century, 21st century.

complement, compliment

complement

As a noun, complement means something that completes, fills out.

• The lab work is a complement to the lecture class.

As a verb, complement means to suit, make complete.

• The lab work complements the lectures.

compliment

As a noun, compliment means an expression or act of praise or flattery.

• After Ana read the poetry, members of the audience offered compliments.

As a verb, compliment means to praise or flatter.

• The professor complimented Yvonne on the outcome of her research.

comprise, compose

Comprise means consist of or include. The whole comprises the parts. Don’t confuse comprise with words of nearly opposite meanings: compose, constitute, make up.

The whole comprises the parts.
The parts compose the whole.
The university comprises six colleges.
Six colleges constitute the university.

continual or continuous

continual

Continual means a repeated occurrence, something that happens over and over.

• The students engaged in continual debate throughout the course.

continuous

Continuous means unbroken or without interruption.

• The professor lectured continuously while the students took notes.

co-op

Hyphenate co-op (cooperative) to avoid confusion with coop (a small enclosure). Similarly, hyphenate other words to avoid misunderstanding:

re-admit
re-enroll
re-creation

country, nation

Use country to refer to a geographical area; use nation to designate the people who share the language and culture of a sovereign government.

data, datum

Data is the plural of datum. Datum refers to a singular piece of information. Data refers to multiple pieces of information. However, data can take either a singular or plural verb in standard English.

database

Use as one word.

dos and don’ts

These verbs act as nouns. Don’t include an apostrophe in dos.

email

Do not hyphenate this word. Capitalize if it starts a sentence or precedes the address in a list. For NAU email with names, use capitals to enhance readability. See the addresses page for more information on formatting.

• Jane.Doe@nau.edu

ensure

See assure.

entitled or titled

entitled

Entitled means one has the right to something.

• After successfully completing all her coursework, she is entitled to her degree.

titled

Titled introduces the name of a publication, speech, musical composition, etc.

• The professor’s speech, titled “Boredom,” drew few listeners.

farther or further

Farther refers to distance; further refers to time and quantity:

• He drove five miles farther down the road, missing the turn.
• Projecting further into the future, she saw herself advancing up the corporate ladder.

fax

Use fax in lowercase unless it begins a sentence.

fewer, less

Use fewer for countable objects; use less for observable amounts:

• Due to his research activity, he is teaching fewer courses this semester.
• She has less coursework than many of her peers.

foreign words and phrases

Italicize foreign words and phrases, except for those familiar to the reader. As a general rule, avoid using foreign words that are unfamiliar to your readers.

Many say this is the annus mirabilis for the university.

formal vs. informal Spanish

Generally, we recommend sticking with the informal “tu,” even for adult learners. While some Spanish-speaking regions (e.g., Medellín, Colombia) prefer formal language, the majority prefer and expect informal, especially when it comes to Spanish-language marketing in the US.

I, me

I functions in the subjective case, me in the objective:

• Correct: Mary and I enrolled early.

• Incorrect: Mary and me enrolled early. (Not: “Me enrolled early.”)

• Correct: She thought that John and I would attend the seminar.

• Incorrect: She thought that John and me would attend the seminar. (Not: “Me would attend.”)

Do not overcorrect and use the subjective I in the objective case.

• Correct: The admissions office sent the forms to Mary and me.

• Incorrect: The office sent the forms to Mary and I. (Not: “They sent the forms to I.”)

• Correct: The lecture dates changed, surprising my friends and me. (Not: “The dates changed, surprising I.”)

Indigenize

Indigenize, v., is the preferred alternative to the verb “decolonize.” Capitalize in all cases, as you would with Indigenous, Tribal, etc.

important, importantly

Always use important with more or most to modify a whole clause or sentence.

• New buildings on campus are economically efficient. More important, they reduce toxic emissions.

Do not use more or most before importantly.

internet

Do not capitalize.

irregardless

Since irregardless is not preferred to use, use regardless.

its, it’s

As a possessive, its has no apostrophe. As a contraction for it is or it has, use the apostrophe to indicate omitted letters: it’s.

• Northern Arizona University’s strengths include its student-centered approach. It’s a university with a student-centered approach.

lay or lie

lay

The verb, to lay, meaning “to put or set down, to place, to spread on a surface” is commonly misused. Lay is a transitive verb.

• Maria lays the book on the desk.
• She laid five dollars on the counter.
• Serena laid the paint on the canvas with passion.

lie

The verb, to lie, meaning “to be or to stay at rest in a horizontal position, to be inactive,” is an intransitive verb.

• The books lie on the shelf.
• After she left, her five dollars still lay on the counter.
• The canvas had lain undiscovered in the attic for years.

myself, me, I

Myself is a reflexive (intensive) pronoun reflecting back to I. Do not use the reflexive pronoun myself in the subjective (I) or objective (me) case:

• Correct: I wrote the paper myself.

• Incorrect: Myself wrote the paper.

• Correct: The provost gave the report to Alberto and me.

• Incorrect: She gave the report to Ralph and myself.

The same applies to herself, himself, yourself:

• She bought the book herself.
• Do the research yourself.

online

Do not hyphenate this word. Do not capitalize online unless it’s part of a title, e.g., NAU Online

pre and post

Most words beginning with the prefixes pre and post are not hyphenated. Refer to the Chicago Manual of Style section 7.89 for appropriate spellings.

résumé

Use accents to avoid confusion with “resume.”

seasons

Lowercase seasons and derivatives unless they begin a sentence or are part of a formal name:

• spring, summer, fall, winter
• wintertime, springtime
• 2024 Summer Olympics

statewide campuses

Certain statewide campuses require specific punctuation. Refer to the punctuation page for the list.

that or which

1. That refers to persons or things, who to people or animals, and which only to things or non-human entities:

   • The person that teaches Greek is my sister. Or: The person who teaches Greek is my sister.
   • The course that draws the most students is Contemporary Film.
   • She bought Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, which details many rules.

2. That introduces restrictive clauses. Which or that may introduce nonrestrictive clauses, but in current usage, which is more common:

   • We will visit the canyon that harbors 277 miles of the Colorado River. (Since we do not name the canyon, the clause is restrictive—it identifies it.)
   • We will visit the Grand Canyon, which harbors 277 miles of the Colorado River. (Since we identify the Grand Canyon, the clause is nonrestrictive.)

toward

Use toward. Towards is not used in American English.

webmaster, webpage, website

One word.

who, whom

1. Use who in the subjective case.

   • Subject: Who took the report?
   • Predicate after a linking verb (often a form of to be): She is the exceptional student who earned a merit scholarship.

2. Use whom in the objective case as the object of a verb or preposition:

   • Tom wrote the paper for whom?
   • The professor failed whomever he found cheating.

3. When unsure about which to use, substitute he/she, her/him, or they/them for who or whom. If he, she, or they is correct, use who; if him, her, or them is correct, use whom. See the inclusive writing page for more information on pronouns.

   • The student, who (she) has a 4.00 GPA, earned the scholarship.
   • Tom wrote the paper for whom (him)?

veteran/veterans

Always lowercase “veteran” when describing a former member of the armed forces. Per Chicago Manual of Style, do not capitalize other military-related nouns (including president, general, etc.) unless used as formal titles preceding a name or in a proper noun like the “Veteran Success Center” or “Veterans Day.”

• Jane Doe is a veteran.
• A speech was made by President Biden.
• Joe Biden, president of the United States, made a speech.

web

1. Capitalize World Wide Web, the formal name.
2. Lowercase for other uses: web, webmaster, website.

www

When providing a URL for marketing purposes, omit the http://www. Most users are savvy to web language, so to reduce clutter in your text, omit when possible.
Note: To simplify an existing URL, submit a friendly URL request at nau.edu/redirects.

As with telephone numbers, always test URLs before publishing.

90/30

Use the slash when writing about NAU’s 90/30 degree programs. The catalog will not accept 90/30, so you may often see 90-30 in the catalog:

Correct: 90/30
Incorrect: 90-30