Editorial Style

Consistent writing style enhances audiences’ understanding of the university.

Consistency of style is a hallmark of professionalism and the sign of a unified organization. This guide will help all communicators at The University of Texas at Austin be consistent in matters such as punctuation, capitalization and how we refer to ourselves and our many components.

We follow AP style for degrees and specialties. Use periods in degrees, e.g., B.A. and Ph.D. Degree abbreviations with more than two letters (other than Ph.D.) do not get periods, e.g., MBA, BBA, MSTC, MFA. Formal degree names (Master of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts) are capped and not possessive, but degree specialty/major is not capped:

Correct: The Cockrell School offers a Master of Science in engineering management.
Correct: The Cockrell School offers a master’s in engineering management.
Correct: The Cockrell School offers a master’s in practically any type of engineering you can think of.
Correct: The Cockrell School offers numerous master’s degrees.

Using full years in conjunction with degrees is preferable. After all, we have now awarded degrees in three different centuries. “He’s part of the Class of 2021.” Using the final two digits of a year is acceptable in some cases, but be sure the apostrophe points down and to the left, e.g., Class of ’28, B.A. ’28.

Capitalize formal titles (those that indicate authority) used immediately before a name and not set off by commas: President Jay Hartzell, UT President Jay Hartzell, but “UT’s president, Jay Hartzell.” When titles are long, it often helps readability to use them after a name, set off by commas, e.g.,  “Sharon L. Wood, UT’s executive vice president and provost, …”

Use lower case for titles that are set off by commas, titles not used with a name, and titles that refer to occupation. AP views “professor” as an occupation instead of a title, therefore it’s professor Lopez, associate professor Gwen Lopez, assistant professor Gwen Lopez. Exceptions to this rule occur when “professor” is paired with an honorific modifier, such as Professor Emeritus Joshua Ball, Regents Professor Natalia Mbewe or Distinguished Teaching Professor Kevin Cokley. Endowed professorships should be capitalized all the way through, e.g., “He is the Robert Elliott Professor of Dance.”

The above rules apply to in-line copy. In tabulated or non-copy use, such as in a program or on a name tag, titles such as Assistant Professor would be capitalized.

The University’s full legal name (since 1967) is The University of Texas at Austin. Use our full name on first reference in almost all cases.

In subsequent uses, use:

  • “the University …” Whenever the word refers to UT, whether as a noun: “the University transforms lives …”  or an adjective: “Tomorrow, University staff are invited…” it should be capitalized. When referring to UT, University should be capitalized even following possessive adjectives, as in “our University” and “your University,” as well as when it follows the demonstrative pronoun “this”: “this University.”
  • UT (when it will not be confused with the UT System).
  • Texas (when unlikely to be confused with the state, and often with the construction “at Texas”).
  • And, sparingly, UT Austin (no hyphen), especially to distinguish from other UT System universities. When writing for internal audiences familiar with the University, it is acceptable to refer to the University as UT Austin.)

UT’s tagline or slogan is “What starts here changes the world.” Do not call it a motto. (See below.) In most cases, “slogan” works best. If it doesn’t, try recasting the sentence: “At UT, we like to say …” When used in copy, treat it like any other sentence. Do not use italics, boldface, all caps, exclamation points or any other embellishment.

When used outside of copy, standing alone, it either can be styled in all caps, if that makes sense graphically, or in title case with no period: What Starts Here Changes the World

“What starts here changes the world” is not UT’s motto. UT’s motto, approved by the Board of Regents in 1905, is “Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.” This is known as a terse Latin rendering of a favored saying of Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar: “Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy.”

UT’s Core Purpose

“To transform lives for the benefit of society”

UT’s Mission

“The mission of The University of Texas at Austin is to achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service. The University provides superior and comprehensive educational opportunities at the baccalaureate through doctoral and special professional educational levels.

“The University contributes to the advancement of society through research, creative activity, scholarly inquiry and the development and dissemination of new knowledge, including the commercialization of University discoveries. The University preserves and promotes the arts, benefits the state’s economy, serves the citizens through public programs and provides other public service.”

  • Longhorn Nation (capitalized), not “the Longhorn Nation.”
  • Longhorn if it’s UT-specific, but longhorn for the cattle breed.
  • Hook ’em! (note space after Hook and apostrophe direction).
  • Hook ’em Horns! (no comma).
  • Costumed mascot: Hook ’Em (note case); Live mascot: Bevo.
  • The campaign name: What Starts Here, or the What Starts Here campaign (note capitalization). Do not italicize.
  • The campaign tagline: “What starts here starts with you.” Also acceptable: “What starts here changes the world. What starts here starts with you.”
  • Avoid using the inaccurate term “capital campaign.” “Comprehensive fundraising campaign” is both accurate and self-explanatory. 

Forty Acres (not 40, despite AP style on numbers). Capitalize Tower when referring to UT’s Main Building. Use “UT Tower” if externally facing or ambiguous. Main Building. Main Mall (plaza in front of the Main Building), South Mall (grassy area south of Inner Campus Drive), West Mall, East Mall.

Use J.J. Pickle Research Campus on first reference so it does not sound like a place where we do research on pickles. Also, beware not to call it the J.J. Pickle Research Center, which was its name years ago.

Use quotation marks around the names of courses.

Capitalize specific semesters, as in “Fall 2022 semester” or “Spring 2023.” When not attached to a year, “fall” and “spring” should be lower case even if referring to a semester, as in, “The fall semester will begin with a bang.” Likewise, write “the winter term,” but “Winter 2024,” and “May term” generically but “May Term 2024.”

Lowercase “commencement” when used as a common noun. “We’re looking forward to commencement.” Uppercase when referring to a specific ceremony: Winter Commencement, UT’s 145th Spring Commencement.

An alumnus is anyone who attended a given school; they need not have earned a degree to be an alumnus. These are loanwords from Latin, and it is proper English to observe the Latin plural and singular forms:

  • Alumnus: Singular, general or male.
  • Alumna: Singular, female.
  • Alumni: Plural, general or males. The cringiest mistake in higher education writing is to call someone “an alumni.” The word “alumni” is always plural.
  • Alumnae: Plural, females.
  • Alum/alums: Slang. Avoid unless quoting.

“Texas Ex” and “Texas Exes” are acceptable terms for alumni of UT Austin on second reference, bearing in mind the audience. UT’s alumni association is the Texas Exes. Correct: “… the Texas Exes alumni association …” or “the Texas Exes, UT’s alumni association, is sponsoring …”

The title Distinguished Alumnus is capitalized only if referring to a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, given by the Texas Exes.