Writing Style Guide

To communicate clearly and effectively in Lehigh’s publications and websites.

To ensure a unified and effective presence for Lehigh University, this style guide provides essential standards for grammar, capitalization and formatting based on Associated Press (AP) Style and university-specific conventions. This guide establishes the editorial standards necessary to communicate with impact, precision and consistency across our campus community.

Lehigh’s communications reflect a clear, confident and authentic voice aligned with its “Real” brand. Writing should be:

• Clear and concise
• Engaging and accessible
• Confident but not overly promotional

Here are some tips on shaping our brand voice:

• Give them a why: Help the reader care right away by leading with a benefit.
• Avoid jargon and hyperbole: Even when you’re writing to a specific audience, plain language is always more persuasive.
• Use inclusive pronouns: Remember: “We” speak to “you” whenever possible. Our voice is a conversational one.
• Make an emotional connection: Decide how you want your audience to feel, and write accordingly
• Show the impact of our work: Every story we tell should expose why we do the things we do.
• Reveal our character: You don’t always have to use the word “real,” but you should always evoke its spirit.

Refer to the Brand Guidelines for full voice and tone direction.

Spell out abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are referenced. Avoid abbreviations or acronyms that the reader would not promptly recognize.

Usage Notes

• Use a person’s full name and title on first reference. Set off titles that follow a name with commas. Use lowercase in most cases, except when the discipline is a proper noun.
  • Example: John Coulter, senior associate dean for research in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, spoke at the event.
• On second reference (in the body of a story), use only the person's last name.
• Do not use courtesy titles such as Dr. or Prof.
• Use the correct preposition in titles.
  • Example: Brett Ludwig, vice president for University Communications and Public Affairs
• Use commas before and after titles when they follow a name.

Capitalization

• Capitalize formal titles when they appear immediately before a name.
  • Example: President Joseph J. Helble ’82
• Lowercase formal titles when they follow a name or stand alone.
  • Example: Joseph J. Helble ’82, president of the university
• Lowercase informal or descriptive titles.
  • Example: biology professor Julie Haas
• Capitalize the full title of an endowed chair or named professorship.
  • Example: Arindam Banerjee, Paul B. Reinhold Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics

Headlines

• In headlines, a formal title may precede a name. When it does, it should be capitalized. Some titles may be abbreviated; some may not.
  • Example: Dean Robert Flowers Announces Initiative
• Follow AP Style:
  • Capitalize all words with four or more letters

Academic Years and Terms

• Lowercase terms describing academic standing or sessions and referring to seasons. When a season defines a semester, it is not a formal name and should not be capitalized.
  • Examples:
    • first-year student, senior, fall semester
    • fall 2026

• Use an apostrophe before class years: ’26
• Do not use a comma between a name and class year.
• Multiple degrees are listed in chronological order.
• When the relationship of an alumnus or parent is recognized with a letter, the letter precedes the class year (example: P’29).
• On second reference, use the person's last name only.

Degrees and Designations

In October 2025, Lehigh updated the way it represents class years and designations for graduate degrees and relationships with the university. The formula allows us to better recognize specific degrees and aligns with common practices at peer schools and institutions. If you wish to update your Lehigh information, please email askrecords@lehigh.edu.

Abbreviations:

• Parent: P
• Grandparent: GP
• Widow: W
• Honorary Degree: H
• Master’s Degree (unspecified): M
• Doctorate (unspecified): D
• Educational Specialist: Ed.S.
• Master of Arts: MA
• Master of Business Administration: MBA
• Master of Education: M.Ed.
• Master of Science: MS
• Doctor of Education: Ed.D.
• Doctor of Philosophy: Ph.D.

Examples:

• Previous style
  • John Smith ’06 ’08G ’11G
  • Marty Baron ’76 ’76G ’14H
  • Stephen Tang ’85G ’88G ’22P
• Updated style
  • John Smith ’06 MA’08 Ph.D.’11
  • Marty Baron ’76 MBA’76 H’14
  • Stephen Tang MS’85 Ph.D.’88 P’22

If none of the values listed above match the Degree field for the degree noted, use the following defaults:

• If the degree level is master’s, use M to precede the year.
  • Example: John Smith M’94
• If the degree level is doctorate, use D to precede the year.
  • Example: John Smith D’94

Individuals:

• Use a person’s full name on first reference; last name only on second reference.
• Do not include courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.).
• Include middle initials only if the individual commonly uses them.

Colleges:

These are capitalized:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Health
• P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science

On second reference, the shorthand version of the following colleges may be used:

• Lehigh Business
• Rossin College

On second reference, abbreviated versions of the colleges may be used if the first reference included the abbreviation enclosed in parentheses. These abbreviations are mostly for internal use, but may apply to external audiences in some instances.

• CAS (College of Arts and Sciences)
• COB (College of Business)
• COE (College of Education)
• COH (College of Health)
• Rossin (P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science)

In general, these are not capitalized unless the discipline is a proper name.

• Correct: the office of human resources, the office of career services, the department of history, the department of English
• Exceptions: the Alumni Association, Lehigh University Art Galleries, Zoellner Arts Center
• Correct: the bioengineering program, the biochemistry program, the American studies program, the Africana studies program
• Correct: global studies, accounting, environmental engineering
• Exceptions: intercollege programs should be capitalized, i.e., Computer Science and Business (CSB), Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences (IDEAS)

University

This should be lowercase when used on its own.

University Research Centers, Institutes and Research Labs

There are three University Research Centers. On second reference, this phrase may also be abbreviated as URCs if it is enclosed in parentheses after first use.

These are capitalized. A center's acronym may be used on second reference if it is enclosed in parentheses immediately after its first use.

Examples:

• Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES)
• Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies (CDAT)
• Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience (CatModeling)

In some cases, the sequence may be reversed.

University Board of Trustees

This is lowercase.
Correct: The university’s board of trustees approved the new budget during its meeting.

Board of Trustees Chair

This is lowercase.
Correct: The chair of the board of trustees began their term on July 1.

Below are the names of some prominent campus buildings and places. This list demonstrates how these names should appear in writing.

• Alumni Memorial Building: More than an administrative hub, this is the front door for future makers and the home of the Office of Admissions, the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost.
• Business Innovation Building (BIB): The Business Innovation Building accommodates spaces for both the College of Business' undergraduate and graduate programs. It was designed to encourage collaboration, community and learning.
• Clayton University Center at Packer Hall: A central gathering place where students collaborate, refuel and build the connections that define their Lehigh experience.
  • The shorthand version, Clayton UC, may be used where appropriate.
• Forest Park: One of six distinct campus districts, this is a place to be in touch with nature, recharge your well-being and cultivate learning and exploration.
• Goodman: This campus district includes Lehigh’s premier athletic complex, including the Murray H. Goodman Stadium, where student-athletes cultivate the grit and teamwork needed to succeed on the field and in their careers.
• Health, Science and Technology (HST) Building: A state-of-the-art home for interdisciplinary research designed to foster collaboration and tackle global health challenges.
• Historic Core: This campus district is a place to experience Lehigh’s most historic architecture and public art, explore the beating heart of an arts and sciences education and connect with daily student life.
• Iacocca Hall: Home to the College of Education and a hub for international programs that prepare students to lead on a global scale.
• Linderman Library: A quintessential space for deep focus and purposeful curiosity, blending historic architecture with the resources of a modern research institution.
• Mountaintop: This campus district houses a high-energy workspace that empowers students to explore hands-on discovery and real-world impact.
• Sayre Park: This campus district is a place to build community and lifelong friendships, embedded in the natural environment of the hillside with access to everywhere on campus.
• SouthSide Gateway: A campus district that fosters experimentation through research, academics and the arts, enhanced by the vibrancy of South Bethlehem.
• Stabler Arena and Convocation Center: A versatile venue for championship athletics, community celebrations and the milestone of Commencement.
• STEPS Building: Where science, technology, environment, policy and society converge to create sustainable solutions for our world.
• Zoellner Arts Center: The premier destination for creativity, where the community experiences the transformative power of performing arts.

SouthSide

While the South Bethlehem community is warmly known by several variations—including the South Side, SouthSide, and South Bethlehem—these naming traditions reflect the deep, rich history of our local partners rather than a formalized naming convention. To help Lehigh communication partners navigate these interchangeable references with ease and accuracy, this section defines the preferred styling for specific entities within our vibrant neighborhood.

SouthSide Bethlehem: Lehigh University is located in South Bethlehem, locally referred to as the South Side. Use “the South Side” for general community, cultural or lifestyle contexts. Use “South Bethlehem” in more formal references.

Southside Commons: An official housing partner of Lehigh University, this apartment complex is adjacent to Lehigh’s campus.

SouthSide Arts District: Formalized in 2015, the SouthSide Arts District is a 501c3 nonprofit organization created by the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation in partnership with Lehigh University that strives to improve economic conditions for the district’s businesses.

The Great South Side Sale: Held annually on the first Saturday in June, the Great South Side Sale provides the opportunity for the local community to shop for items received during the Move-Out Collection Drive. Everything at the sale is priced well below thrift store pricing. All proceeds from the sale are directed back into the community to benefit children's programming in South Bethlehem, coordinated by Lehigh’s Community Service Office.

Follow AP Style:

• Do not use the serial (Oxford) comma in a simple series.
  • Example: red, white and blue
• Place commas inside quotation marks.
• Use commas:
  • Between independent clauses joined by a conjunction
  • With nonessential clauses
  • In dates and geographic names

Follow AP Style for numbers.

General Rules:

• Spell out one through nine.
• Use numerals for 10 and above.

Always Use Numerals For:

• Ages (a 20-year-old student)
• Dates (April 3, 2026)
• Times (3 p.m.)
• Percentages (5%)
• Money ($5, $1 million)
• Measurements (5 miles, 3 inches)
• Course numbers (Biology 101)
• Addresses

Spell Out:

• Numbers at the beginning of a sentence
• Fractions less than one (one-half, two-thirds)

Follow AP Style for prefixes and compound words. In general, do not hyphenate words formed with common prefixes when the meaning is clear and no confusion would result. Many terms that were once hyphenated are now written as closed compounds.

Examples:

• intercollege (not inter-college)
• nondegree (not non-degree)
• nonprofit
• postgraduate
• preprofessional
• extracurricular
• multicultural
• healthcare

Use a hyphen when:

• Omitting the hyphen could create ambiguity or misreading.
  • re-cover (cover again) vs. recover (regain)
  • re-sign (sign again) vs. resign (quit)
• The word begins with a capitalized noun or numeral.
  • post-9/11
  • non-NCAA
• AP style specifically calls for a hyphen with certain prefixes.
  • self-study
  • ex-president

Campus-specific terminology should follow institutional preferences even when those preferences differ from AP style.

• Examples:
  • student-athlete
  • problem-solving

Have a suggested addition to the Style Guide? Please complete this form. UCPA’s University Communications team will review for potential inclusion.