Class Notes Styles
Matters of Style
You may want to review past issues for some broad direction on the style used in the Quarterly regarding punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations and other points of grammar and usage.
In general, we follow the guidelines set forth in The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. A few special cases are highlighted below.
Names
Report alums' names in full, including the first, maiden and last names for married alumnae. Classmates' names should be in boldface or underlined. Names of alumnae/i not in your class should include their class year, but will not appear in bold.
Upon first mention, surround nicknames with quotation marks (i.e., Rosalind "Sunny" Smith Carter); later references need not include the quotes (i.e., Sunny Smith Carter). Upon second mention, an alum's name is not bolded.
Please proofread name spellings against the Alumnae/i Directory or a current class list that you have obtained from the college. If you need a class list, please contact the Alumnae/i Relations office or the class notes editor.
Addresses
For reasons of confidentiality, please do not list addresses. (An exception can be made for class officers' addresses.) Send address changes to the Alumnae/i Relations office at Wheaton or the class notes editor.
State abbreviations / Use of other abbreviations and acronyms
Except in addresses, the Quarterly does not use two-letter postal code abbreviations for U.S. states. Please use the longer standard abbreviations (Mass., Colo., Conn., Wash., etc.).
Please spell out the names of foreign countries. Though we understand the need to omit and/or abbreviate words to meet your space allotment, please be judicious. Too often, clarity is lost in translation.
Capitalization
When in doubt, do not capitalize.
Online Resources
A full guide to style is available on Wheaton‚s Web site at www.wheatoncollege.edu/tools
Class notes "Frequently Asked Questions" lists are available at www.wheatoncollege.edu/quarterly
This page is maintained by Office of Alumnae/i Relations and Annual Giving. Last updated on 9/5/07.
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