Division of Student Affairs

Abbreviations

Abbreviations that may not be immediately understood by the reader should be defined the first time they appear in a publication or, in a long publication with a number of sections, the first time in each section. Use the full term, followed by its abbreviation in parentheses. Thereafter, the abbreviation should be used exclusively.
Example: A resident assistant (RA) is assigned to each floor. The RA can help with problems.

Branding Considerations

Case Western Reserve University should always receive at least one prominent mention in each publication. Case Western Reserve University should always be used in first reference. Case should be used in subsequent references. Never use all caps for Case. The name should always appear as Case, not CASE. The abbreviation Case and the words Case Western Reserve are not acceptable first references.

Use the Mandel School in preference over MSASS, the Weatherhead School over WSOM, and the School of Nursing or the Bolton School in preference over FPB.

Abbreviate

1. a.m., p.m.
   Example: The event will begin at 4 p.m. sharp.
2. Dr., Mr., Messrs., Mrs., Mmes., and Prof. when they precede names
3. Academic degrees when they follow names
   Example: John Jones, Ph.D.
4. North, East, South, and West in addresses only when a specific address is given.
   Example: His address is 1124 N. Stoneham Road.
   Example: He lives on North Stoneham Road.
5. Saint in geographical names, but not Fort or Mount
6. Number before figures. Never use the symbol #
   Example: Yellow dye no. 7 is used in many food products.
7. United States and United Nations when used as adjectives
   Example: The president defended U.S. foreign policy at the news conference.

Lowercase abbreviations usually take periods, particularly when the abbreviations form words. Uppercase abbreviations and acronyms usually do not take periods. Major exceptions are academic degrees.
Examples: B.S., M.S., LL.M.

Do Not Abbreviate

1. Months.
2. United States and United Nations when used as nouns.
   Example: The United Nations represents almost 200 countries.
3. Days of the week.
4. Cents, percent, or degrees of temperature.
5. Names of countries, provinces, and districts when they follow the names of towns.
   Example: The university is located in Cleveland, Ohio.
6. Feet and inches, except in technical copy that contains many references to these measurements. Then, use ft. and in.
7. Names of states, except when they are paired with names of cities in copy where space is very limited, such as charts, tables, and in class notes for alumni publications. Use the two-letter AP Stylebook abbreviations.
   Example: Many Case students live in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
8. Street, Avenue, Boulevard, Road, Place, etc.
   Example: Our mailing address is 10900 Euclid Avenue.
9. Company and corporation, except in non-narrative copy where space is extremely limited, unless the company or corporation actually uses the abbreviation in its official title.
   Example: The company decided to sue after reading the report.
10. University, college, and department.
    Example: The university has negotiated preferred pricing with many vendors.