Public Information Office (PIO)

Common Style Issues

Alphabetical Listing of Common Style Issues

This listing covers college-specific issues and answers frequently asked questions. For detailed information, the college uses the Associated Press Stylebook as the style guide and standard for all printed and online publications. PIO is always available to answer questions. Please contact the office.

Note: Please see the Class Schedule Entry Information Web page on entering information for the class schedule.

Academic Degrees

Follow AP Stylebook. For example, use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree but there is no possessive in bachelor of arts (note lowercase) or associate of arts.

Academic Departments

Department names are lowercase unless they are a proper noun. Example: The English and humanities departments are holding a joint meeting.

Academies

TMCC fire and police academies are approved for use.

Northern Nevada Fire and Rescue Academy
Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy

And and ampersand

Follow AP Stylebook. In text, spell out the word and. The ampersand (&) is used in a limited number of department names (Workforce Development and Continuing Education).

Arabic numerals

Follow the AP Stylebook. The numerical figures are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. In general, these figures are spelled out in text. Arabic numbers ten and greater are used in numerical form: 24, 69 and 2,437 except at the beginning of a sentence.

Board of Regents

Print this phrase in lowercase letters when used alone and capitalize when used with NSHE.
Example: The board of regents will work on the policy.
Example: The NSHE Board of Regents will present their findings on Thursday.

Buildings

  • E.L. Cord Child Care Center, abbreviated as CCC
  • IGT Applied Technology Center, abbreviated as EDSN
  • Meadowood Center, abbreviated as MDWS
  • Red Mountain Building, abbreviated as RDMT
  • Sierra Building, abbreviated as SIER
  • TMCC High Tech Center at Redfield, abbreviated as RC-B
  • TMCC/Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center, abbreviated as RPAC
  • V. James Eardley Student Services Center, abbreviated as RDMT
  • Vista Building, abbreviated as VSTA

Capitalization

Follow AP Stylebook. For example, do not capitalize room after the name for a building.
Example: The seminar will be held in the Red Mountain Building, room 314.

Clip art

Clip art is not allowed in TMCC publications, except for instruction to small children. The public information office offers low cost photographic services to the college. Please provide at least a 72-hour advanced notice when scheduling photography. To make a request, please call PIO.

College sites

Use college when referring to all TMCC sites (campuses, centers and other locations where instruction is offered).

Campuses

Dandini Campus (not main campus)

Educational Centers

TMCC High Tech Center at Redfield

IGT Applied Technology Center (Edison Way)
Note: Do not use Edison Campus.

Meadowood Center

TMCC/Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center
Note: Do not use former name, Keystone Theater. Use TMCC Performing Arts Center as a shorter reference if necessary. If clarification of location is needed use: TMCC/Nell J. Redfield Foundation Performing Arts Center, 505 Keystone Ave. (Keystone Square)

Comma in a series

Follow AP Stylebook. In a series of three, use only one comma.
Example: There are nursing, automotive and computer students in the hallway.

Cost

Follow AP Stylebook. For example, always use lower case and the $ sign in all except casual references or amounts without a figure.
Example: The book costs $4.

For amounts more than $1 million, use the $ and numerals up to two decimal places.
Example: It is worth $4.35 million.

Internet

Follow AP Stylebook.
Example: World Wide Web is abbreviated to Web (note capitalization).
Example: E-mail is always hyphenated and is a noun.

Instructor (Community College)

An instructor is a college teacher who does not have tenure.

Professor (Community College)

A professor is a college teacher who has tenure.

Telephone entries

Use the 775 prefix for all phone numbers. AP Style has changed the style for prefixes were formerly 775-673-7000 and are now listed as 775-673-7000.

Time

Follow AP Stylebook. Morning and evening are designated by a.m. and p.m. (not AM or am).
Example: The time of day is listed as 5 a.m., noon (rather than 12 p.m.), 7:30 p.m. and midnight.
Note: do not use the 11:00 style (unless there are minutes involved in the number, i.e., 11:15 a.m.).

Titles

Follow AP Stylebook. Capitalize job titles only when they precede an individual's name.
Example: Interim President Delores A. Sanford or Delores A. Sanford, interim president

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees are two different terms. In-state students pay fees only. Tuition is applied to out-of-state or non-resident students. Fees also refer to class-specific costs, such as lab fees.