Editorial Style Guide

Check the official styles for abbreviations, punctuation, citations, titles and more.

The official WashU Style Guide outlines editing, writing and formatting conventions for communicators across the university. The guide is maintained by University Marketing & Communications in collaboration WashU Medicine Marketing & Communications. Updates related to the new WashU Medicine brand may not yet be included in the official style guide.

Inclusive language

The AAMC’s Health Equity Guide provides recommendations and ideas for centering equity in communication, as well as a glossary of key terms.

The Inclusivity Style Guide by the American Chemical Society is a handy reference guide for recognizing and respecting diversity in all its forms.

Key excerpts from the WashU Style Guide

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Nomenclature for the university, medical school, departments, centers and institutes

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
This is the formal name of the medical school within the context of the university. It should be used in press releases on first reference.
→ Second reference: WashU Medicine

WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is the preferred name for the entire medical institution and should be used in all references in marketing and communications.

  • “School of Medicine” or “medical school” should only be used when referencing the educational mission of WashU Medicine
  • Avoid these references: WUSM, WU, SOM, WUM, Washington University (use “WashU”)
  • When referencing ” the university,” “the school,” “the department,” “the center,” etc. on its own, do not capitalize

Washington University Physicians
Washington University Physicians is the brand name used when referring to the practicing medical group (Faculty Practice Plan) in connection to BJC, its hospitals, and the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center.

Examples:

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital is staffed by Washington University Physicians.
  • … Washington University Physicians at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
  • … together with Washington University Physicians.

Individual WashU Medicine physicians should be identified by their specialty. The place where they practice can be included as the location (e.g., Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Siteman Cancer Center):

Examples:

  • Susan Smith, MD, WashU Medicine neurologist …
  • WashU Medicine neurologist Susan Smith, MD, who treats patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, …

General references to groups of physicians and/or clinical providers within WashU Medicine should be referenced as WashU Medicine physicians or specialists.

Examples:

  • WashU Medicine specialists treat patients …
  • WashU Medicine physicians treat patients …

Washington University Medical Campus
Washington University Medical Campus is the location for institutions affiliated with WashU Medicine. Use Washington University Medical Campus when the topic involves a location.
Second reference: the Medical Campus

Example:

  • A reception for WashU Medicine graduates will take place on the Washington University Medical Campus.

Departments, Divisions, Programs, Offices, Institutes, Centers, etc.
For specific wholly owned units within WashU Medicine, the first reference should read WashU Medicine [Unit Name], spelling out the full name of the unit on first mention.
→ Second reference: Can refer to the department, division, program, office, center or institute independently

Examples:

  • WashU Medicine Department of Psychiatry
  • WashU Medicine Bernard Becker Medical Library
  • WashU Medicine John T. Milliken Department of Medicine
  • WashU Medicine School of Medicine (used when referencing the educational mission of WashU Medicine)
  • WashU Medicine Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology
  • WashU Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Labs
For labs, the first reference is [Lab Name] at WashU Medicine.
→ Second reference: Can drop “WashU Medicine” modifier

Examples:

  • Gordon Lab at WashU Medicine
  • Sensory Regeneration Lab at WashU Medicine

Clinical Practices
Clinical practices will not shift naming until branding is determined for the affiliation agreement.

Phone numbers and email

  • Phone numbers are hyphenated and include the area code: 314-555-5555
  • In digital materials, the email address itself — rather than the person’s name — should be made into an email link
  • “Email” is neither hyphenated nor capitalized (except when, like this, it’s the first word of a sentence)

Time of day

  • Use a.m. and p.m. with periods
  • Use single-digit times for hours (8 a.m., not 8:00 a.m.)
  • Time ranges are hyphenated (10 a.m.-1 p.m.; 3-5:30 p.m.)

Names, degrees and titles

Full name, degree(s), title
Second reference: Last name only

  • Example: Marge J. Simpson, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and immunology, is pioneering a new weapon against cancer. Simpson and her team ….

Degrees:

  • Avoid using Dr., except when part of a specific communications strategy
  • No periods in degree abbreviations (e.g., MD, PhD, MPH)
  • If a person has multiple degrees, list degrees in the order specified in the Bulletin

Titles:

  • Do not capitalize academic titles like dean, professor, etc., unless they precede a person’s name (e.g., Dean David H. Perlmutter, MD)
  • Correct titles are:
    • Department: head (preferred over chair)
    • Division: director
    • Section: chief
  • To prevent difficult sentences, a person’s title may be included in a follow-up sentence instead of with the first reference

Health care v. healthcare

Two words in all cases.

  • Noun: health care
  • Adjective: health-care

Scientific citations

Lastname XX, Lastname XX. Title of article. Name of Journal, Month Year; Vol(#):PP-PP. Example: Lourido S, Shuman J, Zhang C, Shokat KM, Hui R, Sibley LD. Calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 is an essential regulator of exocytosis in Toxoplasma. Nature, May 20, 2010; 11(5):421-423.

URLs / web addresses

All URLs should be tested before they are published. A reader should be able to type the URL, as published, into a browser and get to the intended page.

Drop the following from the URL, unless required to access the page:

  • http:// or https://
  • www.
  • final slash (/)
  • .htm or .html

medicine.washu.edu — not www.medicine.washu.edu/

Related: Visit sites.wustl.edu for information about using URLs in your communications.

Looking for more?

The official WashU Style Guide outlines editing, writing and formatting conventions for communicators across the university. Updates related to the new WashU Medicine brand may not yet be included in the official style guide.

View the full style guide »