Regent University Marketing

Abbreviations & Acronyms

Do not abbreviate Regent University unless absolutely necessary: Rgnt. Univ. The word Regent may also be used by itself.

Regent School Acronyms: College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), College of Healthcare Sciences (CHS), Robertson School of Government (RSG), School of Business & Leadership (SBL), School of Communication & the Arts (SCA), School of Divinity (SOD), School of Education (SOE), School of Nursing (SON) and School of Psychology & Counseling (SPC). Note that School of Law (LAW) does not follow this rule.

Degrees with two initial-cap letters in the title are abbreviated: A.A., A.S., B.A., B.S., B.Ed., M.A., M.S., M.Ed., Ed.D., Ed. S., Ph.D., Psy.D., M.Div., Th.M., D.Min., J.D., LL.M. Degrees with three-initial cap letters in the title, use acronyms: BAS, BFA, DSC, DSL, MBA, MFA, MPA, MSN, MTS. Certificate titles use acronyms: CAGS, CAL, CGS, CLHE, CPDS.

Exams and tests acronyms associated with Admissions: SAT, ACT, GPA, GED, GRE, GMAT and LSAT.

Common, universally recognized acronyms, such as RSVP, FYI, ASAP, FAQ, NASCAR, NBA, NFL and PGA, do not need to be spelled out. Do not use acronyms your audience would not easily recognize unless you spell it out on first reference.

Abbreviate titles before a name: Mr., Mrs., Gov., Lt. Gov., Sen., Rev., Dr. If the person is a reverend and holds a doctorate, it should be written as: The Rev. Dr. Jill Jones. After a name, abbreviate senior (Sr.), junior (Jr.), the third (III), but do not put a comma after the last name: Daniel Lane III. If using the courtesy title esquire after the last name, abbreviate (Esq.) and place a comma after the last name: Mike Brown, Esq.

Months are generally not abbreviated, but if space is an issue, you can abbreviate these months when used with the day of the month: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.

No. should be used as the abbreviation for number in conjunction with a figure to indicate position or rank: No. 1 bestselling book.

A.D. & B.C. – Because the full phrase should read in the year of our Lord 1996, the abbreviation goes before the figure for the year: A.D. 1996. Because the full phrase should read in the year 500 before Christ, the abbreviation goes after the figure for the year: 500 B.C.

A.M. & P.M. – Use lowercase letters with periods and no space in standard copy. If the preceding copy is presented in all caps, use A.M. and P.M: JOIN US FRIDAY AT 3 P.M.

EST (Eastern Standard Time) / EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) are the acronyms we use for Regent’s time zone; usage depends on DST (Daylight Saving Time). If an event series or program is year-round or is held during a timeframe when there is a falling back or springing forward of the clock, Eastern time can be used: Tune in every Wednesday at 12 p.m. (Eastern time).

United States can be abbreviated to U.S. in the body copy of stories, however, if abbreviating United States in a headline, no periods between (US).

State names are not abbreviated in the body copy of stories or headlines. However, when referencing the District of Columbia, abbreviate to D.C. When referencing party affiliation (R-Okla., D-N.Y.) or in lists, tabular material, condensed agate type and credit lines, state names can be abbreviated: Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kan., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Mont., Neb., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.C., N.D., Okla., Ore., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.D., Tenn., Vt., Va., Wash., W.VA., Wis., Wyo. Never abbreviate Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah unless referencing a postal code.

Postal codes require the state name to be abbreviated and D.C. is presented without periods: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.

For numbered street addresses, you can abbreviate Avenue (Ave.), Boulevard (Blvd.) and Street (St.): She’s located at 120 Main St. However, if no street number is noted, do not abbreviate: She’s located off of Main Street.

Accreditation

When referring to the overall accreditation of Regent University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the following statement was formulated by SACSCOC and MUST BE USED IN ITS ENTIRETY and without changes:

Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associates, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Regent University.

For a complete listing of Regent’s accreditations and licenses, visit regent.edu/accreditation.

Acronyms

Before using an acronym or other abbreviation, spell out the entire phrase with the abbreviation following in parentheses. Subsequent references may be made using only the acronym. However, if the acronym is at a beginning at a sentence, it should be spelled out.

Examples:
She took the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) as scheduled. The GRE was challenging.
Graduate Record Exams scores are to be sent to Regent University.
A way to avoid having to spell out the acronym is to rework the sentence.

Example:
Send GRE scores to Regent University.

Acting Dean

When referring to the position of acting dean, capitalization is not necessary unless immediately preceding the name of the individual, in which case only the word Dean is capitalized.

Examples:
The announcement was made by acting Dean Jane Briley.
The announcement was made by Jane Briley, acting dean.

Active duty

Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier. When used as a noun, active duty is two words.

Examples:
Spouses of active-duty service members can recieve a tuition discount.
She is able to pursue her degree while being on active duty.

A.D., B.C.

The rules for using A.D. (anno Domini, year of our Lord) and B.C. (before Christ) are not the same.

The rule for A.D.
Because the full phrase should read in the year of our Lord 1996, the abbreviation goes before the figure for the year: A.D. 1996.

The rule for B.C.
Because the full phrase should read in the year 500 before Christ, the abbreviation goes after the figure for the year: 500 B.C.

Ages

Use figures at all times to describe a person’s age, even if the age is a single digit. Ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun use hyphens.

Examples:
Todd is 3 years old.
I met 3-year-old Todd.
David is in his 30s. (no apostrophe)

Alumni

Use the word alumni when referring to a group of men and women who have attended the school. Use the word alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a man (or men) who attended the school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for similar references to a woman.

a.m., p.m.

Always use lowercase letters with periods and no space.

Ampersands (&)

When referring to university courses, programs and schools, use an ampersand (&) rather than and.

Examples:
The School of Divinity is offering a new course called Life Principles & Values.
The School of Psychology & Counseling offers the Doctoral Program in Counselor Education & Supervision.

Apostrophes

An apostrophe is used to show possession and also to indicate missing letters or numerals.

Examples:
Regent’s faculty is among the nation’s finest.
The ’90s will be a decade of change and challenge.
An apostrophe is not used to make a year plural.

Examples:
The 1990s will be a decade of promise.
An apostrophe should be used to make single letters plural.

Examples:
She expected to receive A’s and B’s.
One does not use an apostrophe for plurals of multiple-letter combinations or numerals. Use an apostrophe in plural versions of degrees (M.A.s, MBAs, Ph.D.s).

Examples:
The young students practiced their ABCs.
Thousands of TVs were tuned in to the program.
He would have two MBAs if he could.
When using an apostrophe to replace the first two numerals in a year, the apostrophe goes before and faces away from the remaining numerals.

Examples:
He called the ’60s his decade.
Use an apostrophe in the names of these academic degrees: bachelor’s degree, master’s degree. However, not with associate degree. (Regent offers top-quality associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.)

Asterisks

When asterisks are used for notation, the following placement should be used:

Example:
The College of Communication & the Arts also offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Journalism* and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
*Some tracks available online.
Please note that the asterisk comes after the punctuation mark, if one is used.

Example:
The College of Arts & Sciences offers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Organizational Leadership & Management,* and is scheduled to begin in the spring semester of next year.**
*Offered on campus only.
**Pending SACSCOC accreditation.

Attorney-in-residence

Hyphens should be used when referring to attorney-in-residence.

This is in line with AP Stylebook: Compound nouns – Hyphenate compounds when needed to avoid confusion: merry-go-round, sister-in-law, hand-me-downs, so-and-so.

Bible, Biblical, Biblically

(See also Holy Scriptures, Scriptures and scriptural)

Bible is always capitalized in reference to sacred Christian writings comprising the Old Testament and New Testament. However, when using to describe a publication that is preeminent in authority or readership, do not capitalize bible. (Ex. This manual is the bible of the gourmet world.)

Do NOT capitalize the words biblical and biblically. The phrase biblically based is often used in our Regent University copy. Please note that there is no hyphen in this phrase.

Black (adj.)

Regent follows AP Stylebook 2020 which states: Use the capitalized term as an adjective in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense: Black people, Black culture, Black literature, Black studies, Black colleges.

African American is also acceptable for those in the U.S. The terms are not necessarily interchangeable. Follow an individual’s preference if known. Use Negro or colored only in names of organizations or in rare quotations when essential.

Note: Black(s), white(s) (n.) Do not use either term as a singular noun. For plurals, phrasing such as Black people, white people, Black teachers, white students is often preferable when clearly relevant.

Example: White students account for 49% of the enrollment population, Black students 32% and Latino students 7%.

The plural nouns Blacks and whites are generally acceptable when clearly relevant and needed for reasons of space or sentence construction.

Example: She helped integrate intramural sports among Blacks, whites, Latinos and Asian Americans.

Black and white are acceptable as adjectives when relevant.

Board-certified

Hyphenate when being used as a noun and as a compound modifier.

Examples:
Dr. Smith is board-certified.
He’s a board-certified surgeon.

Board of Trustees

(See also Titles)

Do not capitalize board of trustees, unless it is standing alone in a heading or invitation. In combining board of trustees with a title, refer also to rules for capitalizing titles.

Examples:
Board of trustees Chairman Jane Jones.
Jane Jones, chairman of the board of trustees.
The chairman of the board of trustees, Jane Jones.

Body of Christ

Capitalize Body of Christ as shown when referring to the body of Christians who comprise Christ’s Church.

Campus Titles

(See also Titles)

When referring to the Regent University campus, use the phrase Regent University campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, or just Regent University campus.

Do not use the following: Virginia Beach Campus or main campus. Neither of these phrases are applicable as the university no longer has an official secondary campus.

Capitalization

For general rules of capitalization, see the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. In this manual, also see guidelines for capitalization under specific entries, such as TITLES, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OFFICES OF THE UNIVERSITY, PROGRAM NAMES, AND UNIVERSITY.

Capitalize all nouns and pronouns that directly refer to the Deity.

Examples:
God sent His Son as a sacrifice for man.
His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace.
We are regents of the King, Jesus Christ.
(See also Bible, biblical and Scripture, scriptural)

Century

Always lowercase the word century as in 21st century. Spell out the years for the first through ninth centuries, and use figures thereafter.

Examples:
The 21st century begins in 2001, not 2000, which is the final year of the 20th century.
What happened in the first century?

Christ-first

Capitalize the word First when referring to Regent University’s core values within a stand-alone phrase, headline, or tagline. However, lowercase first when it is used in a complete sentence.

Examples:
Tagline: Promoting Christ-First Excellence & Integrity
Regent University honors your commitment to Christ-first excellence and integrity.

Church

Capitalize the word Church when it refers to the body of Christians who comprise Christ’s Church and when it is part of the proper name of a church. Do not capitalize it in general references to a place of worship.

Examples:
The Church is challenged by an increase in humanism.
Does she have a local church?

Christian Leadership to Change the World

(See also Mission statement)

Capitalize Regent’s mission statement as shown when the statement is standing alone. When the mission statement is used in the body copy of a sentence or article, italicize the statement.

Example:
After visiting the campus, he understood the importance of Christian Leadership to Change the World.

Commas

On April 8, 2025, Regent University’s Marketing Department officially adopted the use of the Oxford comma. All schools and departments are required to implement this change, ensuring that all written materials—both print and digital—adhere to this guideline. The Oxford comma, also known as the serial comma, is a punctuation mark placed before the conjunction in a list of three or more items. 

Example: Regent University is known for integrity, excellence, and innovation.

The Oxford comma is widely accepted in academic writing and is a standard practice in several style guides. Although Regent University follows the AP style, which does not include the Oxford comma, this change will be recognized as a style nuance and an important aspect of our brand guidelines.

After a Last Name (Sr., Jr., III, etc.)
No commas are necessary after a person’s last name/before Jr., Sr., III, etc.

Examples: John Smith Jr., John Smith Sr., John Smith IV

Before Inc., LLC or Ltd.
No commas are necessary before Inc., LLC and Ltd.

Examples: Long Company Name Inc., a major retailer, has just …
No comma, no periods: East Coast Railway LLC (same for PLLC)

Communication & the Arts, School of

Note: There is no s at the end of Communication in the phrase School of Communication & the Arts.

Composition titles

(punctuation)

Unlike Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) styles, the Regent style (following Gregg as well as AP guidelines) employs italics when referring to book titles, movie titles, play titles, song titles, television program titles (this does not include television stations), and works of art. Articles, speech titles, sermon titles and lecture titles should be put in quotation marks.

Examples:
I just read Of Mice and Men.
He chose to watch CBS Evening News.
John’s seminar was titled “How Children See God.”
Soltor’s sculpture Relentless is on display.
Evans’ article, “Go in Peace or in Pieces,” was published in The Herald.

Countries

In a sentence, if a city precedes the name of a country, then the country must be set off by commas.

Example:
Each summer, the School of Law hosts a program in Strasbourg, France, which focuses on international law and human rights.

Courses

Course names are capitalized, they are not italicized, bolded and/or underlined. The word and should be changed to an ampersand (&) for space purposes.

Example:
Leader’s Life & Values

Coursework

In academia, this is being used as one word.

Curriculum, curricula

Use curriculum when referring to a single educational program. Curricula is the plural form. The same rule applies to other Latin nouns of this type: datum, data, etc.

Cybersecurity

Write cybersecurity as one word.

Decision-maker

Hyphenate in all uses.

Examples:
Regent will position you as a principled decision-maker.
XYZ is a decision-maker tool.

Decision-making

Hyphenate in all uses.

Examples:
Decision-making is a key component in business leadership.
This program will develop your decision-making skills.

Degrees

See also university degrees and programs.

Apostrophes and degrees: Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. No apostrophe in associate degree. Doctoral degree or doctorate is preferable to doctor’s degree to avoid confusion regarding medical degrees, which are commonly called doctor’s degrees.

Capitalization and degrees: If the abbreviation of the degree (i.e. Ph.D. or MFA or M.A.) or the spelled out version of the degree type (master of arts) is followed by the subject of the degree (i.e. Ph.D. in Intercultural Leadership), then the spelled out version of the degree type and the subject of the degree are capitalized.

Note: However, if one simply says, Her degree in intercultural leadership …, then the name of the degree subject is not capitalized. If one says, She has a master’s from Duke University …, then the word master’s is lowercased. The same is true for the words associate’s, bachelor’s, doctorate and doctoral.

Examples:
We confer the Master of Arts in Communication.
Think about getting a master’s degree.
She earned her M.A. in Public Policy.
Periods: Use periods after the initials in an abbreviated degree with only two capitalized letters, such as B.A., M.A., M.Div., Ph.D. If, however, the degree has three capitalized initials, then do not use periods (i.e., MFA, DSL, MPA, MTS)
Commas: After a name, an academic abbreviation is set off by commas.

Example:
Earl Jones, Ph.D., spoke.
Do not use the courtesy title Dr. for the academic degree and then follow it with the abbreviation for the degree in the same reference.

Incorrect Example:
Dr. Lucille Jones, Ph.D.

Correct Examples:
Lucille Jones, Ph.D.
Dr. Lucille Jones, a psychologist.

Directions/Regions

Lowercase the points of a compass when they are used alone. Capitalize regions known specifically by direction, such as the West, the South, the Middle East, the East, the Northeast, the Southwest.

Lowercase general directions when part of a proper name, such as southern Texas, unless the section is well known as a region, such as Southern California.

District of Columbia, D.C.

When referring to Washington, D.C., a comma must follow D.C., unless it is at the end of the sentence.

Divine, divinity

Capitalize Divine only when used in direct reference to God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, or when used as part of a proper noun.

Examples:
There is a Divine mandate to repent and be baptized.
The chocolate cake was divine.
The Divinity of Christ was not in question.
The School of Divinity is growing.
The divinity school is growing.

Doctor

Use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of medicine degree. Do not continue to use Dr. in subsequent references; use only the last name.

Example:
Dr. Jonas Salk was present. Salk developed a vaccine.
Dr. also may be used on first reference before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. However, because the public frequently identifies Dr. with physicians, care should be taken to state the individual’s specialty in the first or second reference. The only exception would be a story in which the context leaves no doubt that the person is a psychologist, minister, college professor, etc.
Do not use Dr. before the names of individuals who hold honorary doctorates only.

Eastern Standard Time (EST) / Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

In some cases, EST (Eastern Standard Time) may be placed after the time if the information is being sent nationwide. The acronym EST may be used instead of spelling it out. During daylight savings in the spring and summer months when some states “spring ahead,” EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) should be used. If you are promoting an event, class, etc., that is year-round or falls into both EST and EDT, use Eastern Time.

Example:
Christian World News airs on TBN on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. EST.

Email

Do not hyphenate email. Do not capitalize the letter e when the word email is used in a sentence.

Example:
I receive my email through AOL.
Capitalize the E in Email when the word is used at the beginning of a sentence or when used alone on a form: Email.

e-Business and e-Commerce

When using the letter e to represent the word electronic in word combinations such as e-business and e-commerce, do not capitalize the letter e unless using the word at the beginning of a sentence.

Example:
E-commerce and e-business are changing the world.

Faculty

This word is a collective noun that may refer to a group or members of a group. Regent’s default is to use the word faculty to refer to its entire group of faculty members. In this sense, faculty is a singular word, and you say: The faculty is here. If you wish to refer to a few members of the faculty, then say:

Some faculty members are here. If you wish to refer to accolades or details of several members of the group, then say: Our faculty (many individuals acting as unit) come from schools including Harvard, Yale and other prestigious institutions.

Founders Inn and Spa, The

The Founders Inn and Spa is the full title of the hotel located adjacent to the Regent University campus. Make sure the T in The is capitalized as it is part of the proper name of the hotel. Also, be sure to spell out and. The ampersand (&) should not be used in this case. When space is limited, you may use the less formal name of the Inn: The Founders Inn.

Note: There is no apostrophe in The Founders Inn.

fundraiser, fundraising

These words have a primary and secondary spelling, one using a space, one omitting a space. Regent University has chosen to follow the option listed above of one word, no space.

GI Bill*

Capitalize both words and do not use periods within GI. (This is an exception to the general rule for two-letter abbreviations.) Also, GI Bill must be accompanied with an asterisk on first reference to direct the reader to the following disclaimer, which can be placed in fine print at the bottom of the page:

*Admission requirements vary by program. “GI Bill^®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Gospel

Do not capitalize the word gospel in a general reference. But do capitalize it when referring to the books of the Bible.

Examples:
He wants to share the gospel.
The topic was the Gospel of John.

Grade Point Average

The acronym of grade point average, GPA, should be used only after the initial use of the full title. The acronym does not need periods. Note that the use of GPA is more familiar to students than spelling out the entire term. Also, the acronym UGPA should not be used; instead use undergraduate GPA.

Healthcare

Write healthcare as one word.

Homeschool

Write homeschool as one word.

Hyphens

Hyphens are used to avoid ambiguity, or to form a single idea from two or more words. For complete guidelines, check the AP Stylebook. The following are Regent-specific uses of hyphens.

When hyphenating words within a headline or subheading, words on both sides of the hyphen may be capitalized. However, in body copy, only the first word should be capitalized.

Examples:

State-Accredited Program Receives Award (headline)
Web-based learning is a growing trend. (sentence)

It is not necessary to hyphenate the phrases nationally accredited or fully accredited.

Generally, the rule is if the first word in the phrase ends in ly, then it should not be hyphenated with the word that follows.

When using the phrase state accredited, hyphenate only if the two words together are used to modify a noun and precede a noun. If they follow the noun, do not hyphenate.

Examples:

The state-accredited program is evaluated frequently.
The degree is state accredited.

Do not hyphenate joint degrees.

Hyphenate credit hour only if the two words together are used to modify a noun, such as program in the instance below.

Example:

This is a 31-credit-hour program.

The phrases pro-life and pro-choice are generally hyphenated.

Hyphenate words beginning with the prefix co in order to avoid ambiguity.

Example:

My co-worker suggested this restaurant.
I am the co-author of more than 20 journal articles.

Initials

Names with two adjacent initials should have no space between them in order to prevent them from being placed on two lines of type setting.

Examples:

T.S. Elliot
Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson

Abbreviations using only the initials of a name do not need periods.

Examples:

JFK
LBJ

Internet

(See also Net)

Do not capitalize the word internet when used in regular body copy.

Italics

Unlike Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) styles, the Regent style (following Gregg guidelines) employs italics when referring to book titles, movie titles, play titles, song titles, newspaper titles, television program titles (this does not include television stations), and works of art. Articles, speech titles, sermon titles and lecture titles should be put in quotation marks.

Examples:
I just read Of Mice and Men.
He chose to watch CBS Evening News.
John’s seminar was titled “How Children See God.”
Soltor’s sculpture Relentless is on display.
Evans’ article “Go in Peace or in Pieces” was published in The Herald.

Joint degrees

When referring to the joint degrees program, the phrase joint degrees is always plural because the student earns two degrees. (Do not hyphenate joint degrees.)

Example:

She has chosen a joint degrees program in public policy and journalism.

Jump start

Two words with no hyphen when used as a noun. When used as a transitive verb, use a hyphen.

Examples:

Give your career a jump start by pursing higher education options.
A plan to jump-start your career begins with professional development.

Kingdom of God

Do not capitalize the word kingdom in the phrases kingdom of God and God’s kingdom.

Kick start

Two words with no hyphen when used as a noun. When used as a transitive verb, use a hypehn.

Examples:

Pursing higher education is a great way to kick-start your career.
Obtaining a master’s degree gives your career a great kick start.

Libraries

Regent University has two separate libraries. Use University Library when referring to the general collections library. Use Law Library when referring to the collection of law materials. When referring to the library system as a whole, use Regent University Libraries. Do not capitalize library when used by itself.

Mission statement

Regent’s mission statement should always appear as follows in italics: Christian Leadership to Change the World.

Months (and commas)

When a sentence uses only a month and year, do not separate with a comma. When referring to a month, day and year, set off the day and year with commas.

Examples:

March 1994 was colder than usual.
April 28, 1957, was the day she was born.

Moot Courtroom

Courtroom should be spelled as one word and should be capitalized in reference to the Moot Courtroom.

Net

(See also Web)

Abbreviated form of Internet. The term Net is no longer commonly used. Avoid if possible. Use web instead.

New Testament

New Testament is always capitalized, but need not be placed in quotes or italics.

Nondiscriminatory statements

Regent University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. Visit regent.edu/nondiscrim for more information.

Regent University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, age or veteran status in admissions, treatment or access to its programs and activities, or in the administration of educational policies, scholarships, loan programs, athletics or other University programs.  In addition, Regent does not discriminate based on religion, except as necessary to comply with Regent’s Standard of Personal Conduct and Statement of Christian Community and Mission.

Nonsexist references

Use equal standards for men and women in deciding whether to include specific mention of personal appearance or marital and family situation. Copy should not assume maleness when both sexes are involved.

Incorrect Example:
Jackson told newsmen.

Correct Example:
Jackson told reporters.
Treatment of the sexes should be free of assumptions and stereotypes. Words such as mankind and humanity are still proper choices.
The use of he/she is acceptable, but often clumsy. S/he is often used now.

Numbers

When referring to numbers in regular body copy, the numbers one to nine are spelled out. Numbers 10 and up are written in numerical form. The parallel structure of ratios is an exception to this rule. When a number is used in a headline or title use the numerical form.

Examples:
They had eight registrants, but 11 showed up.
The ratio of students to faculty is 12-to-1 (not 12-to-one).
When a number is used to begin a sentence, it is always spelled out. (Years are an exception to this rule.)

Example:
Two hundred thirty-three students received their degrees at the university’s 11th commencement.
Years are written in numerals even when they begin a sentence.

Example:
1989 was a pivotal year for the organization.
Percentages: Use the % sign when paired with a numeral. Always use numerals even if the number is from one to nine.

Examples:
We have seen a 7% increase over last year.
Financial aid is available to 70% of our students.
The only exception is if the numeral is at the beginning of a sentence.

Example:
Fifty-three percent of student internship placements are in government settings and 12% are in political campaigns.

Offices of the university

The titles of official offices of the university are capitalized.

Examples:
Office of the President
University Marketing
Shortened versions of the official office titles may be used, and also should be capitalized.

Examples:
President’s Office
Communication Admissions Office
Uses that refer to the work done in an office or to the title of a person who works in an office are not capitalized. (See also Titles)

Examples:
Pick up an admissions packet in the Admissions Office.
The executive vice president will have the information you need.

Old Testament

Old Testament is always capitalized, but does not require italicizing.

On campus

The phrase on campus can be used in two ways — one with a hyphen, one without. If the phrase modifies an immediately following noun, then it is hyphenated. Otherwise, it is not.

Examples:
I attend school on campus.
I am enrolled in the on-campus program.

Online

Do not hyphenate online.

Example:
Regent has several online programs.

Periods

Periods always go inside quotations marks.

Example:
My latest journal article is called “Biblical Pacification.”
Note: Use a single space after a period at the end of a sentence.

Political parties & affiliations

Capitalize both the name of the party and the word party if it is customarily used as part of the organization’s proper name: Democratic Party, Republican Party, etc.

Capitalize Communist, Democrat, Republican, Socialist, etc., when they refer to the activities of a specific party or to individuals who are members of it. Lowercase these words when they refer to political philosophy.

Examples:
Barbara is a Democrat.
Michael subscribes to republican ideals.
When referring to affiliations, use R- for Republicans, D- for Democrats and three-letter combinations for other affiliations.

Example:
Rep. Angela Baxter-Parsons, R-Va., was not available for comment.

Problem solver

Do not use a hyphen if the term is used as a noun phrase. Only use a hyphen if the term is used as an adjective.

Examples:
Develop your skills as a problem solver.
XYZ is a problem-solver tool.

Problem-solving

Hyphenate problem-solving in all sentence structures.

Examples:
Problem-solving is an important skill to possess.
The problem-solving process requires teamwork.

Program names (capitalization)

Capitalize the names of programs when they appear in body text and as headlines.

Example:
The school’s Master Teacher Program is enjoying a record enrollment.

Punctuation

For general rules of punctuation, refer to the AP Stylebook. (See specific entries, such as Apostrophe, Commas, Degrees, Italics, Quotation Marks, Periods.)

Quotation marks (structural use)

Periods and commas go inside quotation marks; semi-colons and colons go outside quotation marks.

Question marks may go either outside or inside quotation marks, depending on the context. If quotation marks contain the title of an article and the article title includes a question mark, then the question mark goes inside the quotations marks. If the overall sentence is a question, then the question mark goes outside the quotation marks.

Examples:
John Gray’s article “What are Medical Emergencies?” was published in the local newspaper.
Have you read the chapter by Henry Martin called “Instructions for Travel”?
Also, put quotation marks around words that are used to indicate irony.

Example:
The “feast” turned out to be a slice of melon.
Articles, speech titles, sermon titles and lecture titles should be put in quotation marks. Do not put book titles, magazine titles, newspaper titles, movie titles, play titles, song titles, television program titles (not television stations) and works of art in quotation marks — these should be in italics.

Examples:
John’s seminar speech was titled “How Children See God.”
Evans’ article “Go in Peace or in Pieces” was published in The Herald.
I just read Of Mice and Men.
He chose to watch CBS Evening News.
Soltor’s sculpture Relentless is on display.
ABC is my favorite news channel.

Race

(References to; see also Nondiscriminatory statements)

Identification by race is sometimes pertinent, as in the following:

In biographical and announcement stories, particularly when they involve an accomplishment that has not routinely been associated with the members of a particular race.

As a general policy, reference to one’s race is unnecessary, unless it provides the reader with a substantial insight into conflicting emotions known or likely to be involved in a demonstration or similar event.

Regent (defined)

A regent is one who represents a king in his absence. In this same spirit, Regent University and its graduates are representatives of their King, Jesus Christ. Regent need not be capitalized when used as a general noun. Always capitalize when referring to the university.

Resume

The correct spelling is resume without any accents.

Sacraments

While the word sacrament is not capitalized, we do capitalize the following: Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper. The elements — bread and wine — are not capitalized.

Schools of the university

(See School Names)

After the formal name is given initially, subsequent references to the entities may employ less formal titles: Regent University School of Divinity or divinity school.

Capitalization: It is not necessary to capitalize the name of the school when it is reduced to the area of study.

Example:
She is in the divinity program.
Referring to Regent University’s schools of study: Do not capitalize the word school when using it alone in text.

Example:
The school offers this degree online.
When referring to Regent University: Do not capitalize the word university when using it alone in text.

Example:
The university will be closed the day after Thanksgiving.
Listing the schools: Schools must always be listed in alphabetical order.

Example:
Regent offers 10 schools of study:
College of Arts & Sciences
Robertson School of Government
School of Business & Leadership
School of Communication & the Arts
School of Divinity
School of Education
School of Healthcare Sciences
School of Law
School of Nursing
School of Psychology & Counseling
Note: When referring to a subject of study without the use of the official title of the school, do not capitalize the subject area and do not use the ampersand (&).

Example:
Regent offers programs of study (undergraduate and graduate) in the areas of:
Arts & Communication
Business & Leadership
Divinity & Theology
Education
Law, Government & History
Nursing & Healthcare
Psychology & Counseling
STEM
Plus Leading-Edge Training & Certifications in Cybersecurity.

Scripture, scriptural, scripturally

According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word scripture may be capitalized or left lowercased. However, at Regent we capitalize the noun when used as another name for the Holy Bible. Adjective and adverb forms may be left lowercased.

Examples:
He opened the Scriptures and read.
Barney’s assertion was not scriptural.
According to Scripture, David danced in a linen ephod.

Seasons

Seasons of the year are not capitalized except when they title a particular semester that includes the year.

Examples:
The course is only offered in the spring semester.
Register for Fall 2020 classes today!
She transferred to Regent fall 2019.

Semesters

Fall semester, spring semester, summer session, etc., may be capitalized when referring to a specific semester. General references to semesters should be lowercased. Seasons of the year are not capitalized.

Examples:
Registration for Fall Semester 2020 begins tomorrow.
Spring semester classes are still available.
Note that semesters are properly titled as follows: Fall Semester 2020; Spring Semester 2021.

Spaces (between sentences, after colons)

There is one space between sentences and after a colon.

State names

The names of the 50 U.S. states should be spelled out when used in the body of a story, whether standing alone or in conjunction with a city, town, village or military base.

U.S. Post Office abbreviations should be used only in mailing addresses.

Telephone/fax numbers

Do not use parentheses around area codes in any documents when citing a telephone/fax number, unless it is on letterhead or business cards. Do not put the number 1 before an area code; it is implied. The Regent style prefers not to use hyphens between digit sequences. Use periods instead. (See Toll-free numbers)

Example:
757.226.4035

Theater/Theatre

Regent prefers the traditional English spelling theatre to theater.

Examples:
Regent Theatre presented several plays last year.
The performance was held in the Studio Theatre.

Time

On the hour times do not need a colon, only when minutes greater than 0 are involved. Time should note either a.m. or p.m. in lowercase unless the line of copy is in caps. Periods are used between a.m. and p.m.

Examples:
The concert starts at 6 p.m.
Doors open up at 5:30 p.m.
JOIN US FRIDAY, MARCH 27 AT 6 P.M.

In some cases, EST (Eastern Standard Time) may be placed after the time if the information is being sent nationwide. The acronym EST may be used instead of spelling it out. During daylight savings in the spring and summer months when some states “spring ahead,” EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) should be used. If you are promoting an event, class, etc., that is year-round or falls into both EST and EDT, use Eastern Time.

Titles

Capitalize titles of position only when they appear directly before a name and are not separated from the name by a comma. Lowercase for all other uses.

(See also Offices of the university.)

Examples:
Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, founder, chancellor and CEO of Regent University, shared his testimony.
Founder, Chancellor and CEO Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson shared his testimony.
Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, executive vice president for Academic Affairs, addressed the issue.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño made the decision today.
Dean of the School of Education Dr. Kurt Kreassig  spoke to the graduating class.
The chair, Dean Perry, rescheduled the meeting.

Toll-Free Numbers

Do not add the number 1 to a toll-free number; it is implied. The Regent style prefers not to use hyphens between digit sequences. Use periods instead.

Example:
800.373.5504

Do not add the words Toll-free number or Toll Free before an 800 or 888 number; it is implied.

Example:
Call 888.773.5504 for more information.

United States

Spell out when used as a noun. Use U.S. (no space) only as an adjective, and use periods between the letters.

Examples:
The United States sends many products overseas.
Many U.S. products are exported.

University, school, center

Capitalize the words university, school or center when a part of the proper name.

Examples:
Regent University began in 1977.
The School of Communication & the Arts is growing.
Regent’s School of Business & Leadership has a bright future.
Regent recently established the Institute for Cybersecurity.
Do not capitalize the words university, school or center in a second reference when referring to the proper name.

Examples:
The university offers fully online programs.
The school operates on the principle of God’s truth.
The center has many supporters.

Vice president

Do not hyphenate. (See Titles for capitalization.)

Videoconferencing

Write videoconferencing as one word.

Virginia

When abbreviating Virginia in a postal address, use the Post Office abbreviation VA (without a period). In the body copy, however, the state should never be abbreviated.

Examples:
Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a coastal community.
Virginia is a beautiful state.
Mail your donation to: Regent University, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Web

(See also Net)

Do not capitalize web when used in a sentence.

Website

Website is one word with no space. Capitalize only at the beginning of a sentence. Also, you do not need to include “www.” when promoting a website.

Examples:
See our website for more information.
Visit regent.edu to enroll.

Word of God

Capitalize as shown when referring to the Bible.

Worldview

Worldview is one word.

Example:
We hold and practice a biblical worldview.

worshiper/worshiping

Although acceptable to spell these variants of worship with one or two p’s, Regent University prefers one p.

www.

Since the World Wide Web has grown in recognition, the use of www. as a URL prefix is no longer necessary. In general, Regent does not use www. when promoting the website. However, you may see www. used in fine print copy such as disclaimers/legal documents. Because we don’t use www. as a URL prefix, vanity URLs must be tested by Regent’s IT department first to ensure they link properly.

Examples:
Visit regent.edu today!
To learn more about Regent’s School of Psychology & Counseling, visit regent.edu/spc.