The UA Little Rock Office of Communications and Marketing follows the AP Stylebook for press releases, publications, the website, and more. The stylebook guides spelling, language, punctuation, and word usage. Any exceptions or house rules that depart from AP style are noted in some sections below.

General Rules

  • Do not include https:// or www. in a URL when it’s clear that it’s a web address.
  • The possessive of Arkansas is Arkansas’s. This is a departure from AP style.
  • Use only one space between an ending period and the first letter of a new sentence. In other words, avoid double spaces.
  • On first reference, always use the full name of a person, place, program, department or event. Avoid using acronyms that aren’t commonly known by the general public. Instead, on second reference, use a shortened version of the name. Example: The Office of Communications and Marketing could be shortened to the communications office rather than OCM.
  • Telephone numbers should have dashes, not parentheses or periods: 501-916-3397.
  • When necessary, make a distinction between first-time entering freshman and freshman. First-time student is also acceptable.
  • Lowercase fall, winter, spring, and summer unless referring to a formal name. Examples: The spring semester begins in January. Many vendors will attend the Fall Career Fair.
  • Use international students, not foreign students.
  • Use residence hall, not dorm or dormitory.

University Name

  • The official name of the university is the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
  • In most cases, use the full formal name on first reference. You may use UA Little Rock (no periods) or the university (lowercase u) on second and subsequent references. UA Little Rock is acceptable on first reference for internal or central Arkansas audiences, although news releases should spell out University of Arkansas at Little Rock on first reference. (This also applies to colleges, departments, institutes, centers, programs, etc.)

The following are not acceptable:
University of Arkansas @ Little Rock
University of Arkansas – Little Rock
U.A. Little Rock
UA-Little Rock
UA: Little Rock

Common Words

The following list includes the correct use of commonly misspelled or stylized words.

  • email, home page, web page, website, internet, NetID, online
  • advisor – not adviser (a deviation from AP style to reflect the spelling used in higher education)
  • alumna – feminine single form
  • alumnae – feminine plural form
  • alumnus – male or gender-neutral singular
  • alumni – masculine or mixed-gender plural
  • capital refers to cities that are seats of government, such as Little Rock, and when used in a financial context.
  • Capitol refers to the building. Example: The legislators met in the Capitol.
  • catalog – not catalogue
  • coursework – not course work
  • fieldwork – not field work
  • fundraising/fundraiser – not fund raising or fund-raiser
  • toward – not towards
  • work-study – not workstudy
  • yearlong – not year long

More Editorial Style

The following style sections are grouped in alphabetical order. Note: Commas are in the Quotes and Commas section.