The staff of the Office of Communications has compiled and published this guide to promote consistency in Oberlin College and Conservatory publications and websites, especially those intended for external audiences. Employing a single editorial style creates a consistent and professional voice for Oberlin and assures our readers that the many materials they receive from us or view on the internet are indeed coming from the same institution.
The web has its own language, of which some terms are constant while others are fluid. However, the same editorial standards and guidelines for the written or printed word apply to the internet.
When editors and writers talk about editorial style, they are referring to the guidelines they use in capitalizing, abbreviating, punctuating, and spelling. When they talk about usage, they are referring to using words and grammar in a way that will best convey a text’s information to readers.
A style guide is not intended to be a static record. Rather, it is a living document that may change as both organizational standards and communications best practice evolve. With that in mind, we strive to maintain and update this guide as warranted.
Entries are organized alphabetically. Some entries stand by themselves; in these cases, the entry represents the correct spelling or usage.
You should use the Oberlin College and Conservatory Guide to Editorial Style and Usage in conjunction with the sources used for this guide. They include the Associated Press Stylebook, the Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, and the Diversity Style Guide.
Should you have questions about this guide or any other matters of style and usage, please contact us.
Office of Communications Professional Services Building 247 W. Lorain St., Suite C Oberlin, Ohio 44074 440-775-8474 [email protected] [email protected]
6th edition, March 2021