A
adware
One word.
Web reference: Spyware and adware
a.m., p.m. (also see the times entry)
(Before noon is "ante meridiem". Afternoon/evening is "post meridiem".)
- Always use periods and lowercase on the abbreviations.
- Use noon (not 12 p.m.). Use midnight (not 12 a.m.).
antivirus
No hyphen on the generic term. (This word has transitioned from hyphen form to no hyphen.)
When referring to the university's software, use K-State's antivirus software instead of the specific brand.
On proper names of software products, use each one's specific capitalization, punctuation, and spacing.
Examples:
- K-State's antivirus software is required on all computers connected to the K-State network.
- In 2006, K-State changed from Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition to Trend Micro OfficeScan.
Web reference: antivirus.k-state.edu
audio conference, audio conferencing
Two words.
Web reference: telenet2.k-state.edu
Source: Kansas Regents Network/sw
B
blacklist, blocklist
Use blocklist whenever possible. Originally two words, it's transitioning to one. (Also see RBL.)
brand names, software
Follow the manufacturer's official style. See the right sidebar for common software names used at K-State.
back up (verb), backup (n., adjective)
No hyphen (this is an exception to Webster's).
You must back up important files. My backup is gone. The backup disks are full.
C
campuswide
One word, no hyphen.
CATnet
Follow the capitalization style. CATnet is the "K-State Digital Library".
Web: catnet.k-state.edu/index.shtml
CatPack
One word.
Web: www.k-state.edu/infotech/catpack
cellphone
One word. (It's transitioning from two words to one, so use the end product.)
checkbox (noun, adjective)
One word.
Mark the first checkbox. The checkbox section is at the bottom.
check-in (noun, adjective), check in (verb)
Use a hyphen on nouns and adjectives. Two words on verbs.
Check-in was fast. The check-in process was fast. Check in at the front desk.
checkmark (noun, adjective, verb)
One word.
Where's the checkmark? There's no checkmark symbol on the keyboard. Checkmark the first box on the list.
checkout (noun, adjective), check out (verb)
No hyphen. Two words on verbs.
Checkout is at 3 p.m. Stop at the checkout counter. Check out the new staff.
Source: Webster's New World College Dictionary.
checkup (noun), check up (verb)
No hyphen. Two words on verbs.
The checkup showed my PC was vulnerable. Check up on my dog while I'm gone.
Source: Webster's New World College Dictionary.
class vs. course
Use course when referring to a subject or unit of study.
Use class when referring to a group of people taking a course, or a specific section of a course.
The Biology 101 course is hard. My class meets Tuesday. The lecture class of my Biology 101 course has 400 students.
Web: courses.k-state.edu
Source: K-State Registrar's Office.
click
Don't say click on. Example:
Click the Next button.
Computing and Network Services (CNS)
Don't use. This unit merged with Telecommunications in 2006, and the new unit is
Computing and Telecommunications Services (CTS on second reference).
Web: www.k-state.edu/cts
CSS
Use Cascading Style Sheets on first reference. Official K-State webpages can use the
university CSS resources:
D
data center, IT Data Center
Use the official name on first reference: IT Data Center or K-State IT Data Center.
Thereafter, use data center or the center.
Source: CNS/ht
double-check (noun, verb)
Use a hyphen.
Source: Webster's New World College Dictionary
double-click (noun, verb)
Use a hyphen.
Source: Associated Press Stylebook.
drop-down (adjective)
Use a hyphen, as in drop-down menu.
Source: Based on Webster's New World College Dictionary, which uses
drop-dead and drop-front adjective forms.
Web: Webster's drop-down entry.
DSpace
It is open source software developed by MIT and Hewlett-Packard.
More about DSpace is on the www.k-state.edu/grad/etdr site.
E
e-
Use a hyphenated "e" for "electronic" on all compound forms. Capitalize at beginnings of sentences, but
not on proper names such as eProfile.
Don't capitalize any letter after the hyphen unless it is part of a proper name.
Examples: e-mail, e-commerce, e-newsletters
Educational Communications Center (ECC)
Use the full name on first reference. On second reference, use ECC or the center.
Don't use Regents Educational Communications Center (the
name changed Jan. 4, 2007).
Web: www.k-state.edu/ecc
EGS, EGS system (see Electronic Grade Submission system)
Don't use an acronym for this service.
eID, K-State eID
Short for "electronic ID".
Use K-State eID on first reference.
Lowercase "e" in all instances, including at the beginning of a sentence.
Web: https://eid.k-state.edu/eProfile
Electronic Grade Submission system
Don't use EGS system or EGS. Always use the full term or use the system as a generic reference.
Web: None available. See the first article
in InfoTech Tuesday.
Source: iTAC/rg, December 2006.
Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports (ETDR)
Use the full term on first reference (but not on headlines), and ETDR thereafter.
Web: www.k-state.edu/grad/etdr
e-mail
Short for "electronic mail".
Use e-mail on first reference.
Use a hyphen. Lowercase "e" in most instances, but capitalize at the beginning of a sentence or headline.
Do not ever capitalize the "m".
E-mail is handy. The e-mail system is fast.
Web: www.k-state.edu/infotech/e-mail
e-mail addresses
Lowercase and italicize most e-mail addresses. Capitalization can be used to distinguish words or phrases.
If the address is a link on a webpage, italics are not needed.
See also: K-State e-mail addresses.
The newsletter's address is TellTuesday@k-state.edu.
e-mail addresses, K-State
Both @k-state.edu and @ksu.edu addresses are acceptable for individual use.
For university documents and webpages, @k-state.edu is preferred since it parallels the use of "K-State"
as the institution's official logo.
History: Central e-mail change allows @k-state.edu address on From line (IT Tuesday, June 11, 2002)
eProfile
Only the P is capitalized. Lowercase the leading "e" in all instances.
eProfiles allow K-Staters to manage their IT resources.
Sign in to your eProfile to change your eID password.
Web: https://eid.k-state.edu/eProfile
F
fax
Acceptable short form of facsimile. Use lowercase fax (not FAX).
Source: CNS,AP,UP.
FERPA
On first reference, use
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
FERPA on second reference.
Web: See the U.S. Department of Education's
FERPA overview.
FSCOT
On first reference, use
Faculty Senate Committee on Technology (FSCOT).
FSCOT on second reference.
Web: www.k-state.edu/facsen/fscot/index.htm.
H
Hale InfoCommons
Don't use. See InfoCommons, K-State.
help desk
IT Help Desk is the official name since spring 2005.
Use IT Help Desk on first reference, help desk on second reference.
Web: www.k-state.edu/infotech/helpdesk
Source: Information Technology Assistance Center/rg 2005/03
homepage
One word.
hyphen use
See specific entries, but in general:
- Compound adjectives are hyphenated: full-time position, small-business men
- No hyphen with very and -ly words (that modify other words).
- Terms meaning "electronic" are usually hyphenated: e-mail, e-summary, e-forms
- Don't capitalize the letter after the hyphen unless it is part of a proper name.
I
ID center, K-State ID Center
Use the official name on first reference: K-State ID Center.
Thereafter, use ID center or the center.
Source: CNS/be
Inbox, inboxes
Capitalize when referring to an individual's primary mailbox on K-State's central e-mail server.
Lowercase when referring to two or more such mailboxes.
Web: Central e-mail services at K-State
InfoCommons, K-State
Official name: K-State InfoCommons.
On first reference, use either K-State InfoCommons or the K-State InfoCommons in Hale Library.
Use InfoCommons on second reference.
Don't use "Hale InfoCommons" because the InfoCommons belongs to K-State.
Web: infocommons.k-state.edu
Internet
Always capitalize this proper name for the worldwide network of computer networks.
iTAC
Information Technology Assistance Center on first reference and iTAC thereafter.
Lowercase the "i" in all instances, including the beginning of sentences and headlines.
This IT unit is the first point of contact for assistance with information technology at K-State.
Web: main.itac.k-state.edu.
J
Java, JavaScript
Java is a programming language.
JavaScript (one word, capital "S") is a scripting language not directly related to Java.
Web: See Wikipedia's Java (programming language)
K
KanREN
The official name is Kansas Research and Education Network,
but KanREN is acceptable on first reference.
It's a non-profit consortium of Kansas colleges, universities, school districts, and organizations
"for the purpose of facilitating communication among them, and providing themselves with connectivity
to the Internet via a statewide TCP/IP network".
Web: www.kanren.net
Kansas Regents Network
KRN on second reference.
Web: telenet2.k-state.edu
Source: Kansas Regents Network/sw
Kansas State University, K-State, KSU
Documents for an off-campus audience must use Kansas State University on first reference,
but documents done solely for the campus can use K-State on first reference.
In all other cases, both K-State and Kansas State University are acceptable on first reference.
On second reference, use K-State.
Don't use KSU unless it is part of a unit's official name.
Background: Since the early 1990s, the university has used "K-State" instead of "KSU" on all communications
as part of its marketing. "K-State" is a registered trademark of Kansas State University. Only Kansas State
University can use "K-State" (but several other universities use "KSU").
Web:
University Publications style guide, and
www.mediarelations.k-state.edu
Sources: Media Relations/cm, University Publications/sm.
KATS
Acronym for K-State Access Technology System.
It is helpful to explain that KATS allows students to access their course schedule, grades, financial aid status, and more.
Web: kats.k-state.edu
K-State Online
Use the full, official name. (Don't use KSOL.)
K-State Online is a university technology system that delivers online instruction and
web-based resources for both traditional and distance-education classes.
Web: online.k-state.edu
K-State website
Use K-State central website when referring to the university's official site
at www.k-state.edu. In reality, K-State's website includes the central site
plus a variety of college, departmental, and unit sites on separate web servers.
KSU
Don't use KSU unless it is part of a unit's official name. See K-State.
L
labs, computing
Use university computing labs on first reference.
On second reference, use labs or computing labs.
(Don't use UCLs, a term internally used by tech staff.) For legal reasons, don't use "public labs"
because they are for use by the K-State community and are not public.
Web: lan.cns.k-state.edu/labs
LASER
LASER project is acceptable in all references to the
Legacy Application Systems Empowered Replacement Project.
This massive, five-year project started April 22, 2003, to
replace K-State's student information and financial management systems.
Web: laser.k-state.edu
Source: InfoTech Tuesday, April 15, 2003,
"LASER project kickoff April 22".
libraries
Official name: K-State Libraries.
Use the official name on all references to K-State's library system.
Use the building name/location when referencing a specific library.
K-State Libraries has more than a million books. The InfoCommons is in Hale Library.
Web: www.lib.k-state.edu
Source: Nov. 14, 2005, CNS/be: S. Kearns, library PR team, said the library has been using
"K-State Libraries" for a long time as its official name, although its homepage still has "KSU Libraries"
in five places. She said the library website will be transitioning to the new name within the next year.
list names (of LISTSERV mailing lists)
Generally, use all caps on the name to identify a list. When referring to the list's address, use lowercase on the domain.
(Exception: When identifying a list just as an e-mail channel, mixed/lowercase is acceptable:
TellTuesday@k-state.edu.)
The INFOTECHTUESDAY list is a one-way news channel. K-STATE_NEWS is the university's
official press-release list. The club's list address is RUNNINGCLUB@k-state.edu.
LISTSERV
LISTSERV is the software that manages K-State's central mailing lists.
Don't use LISTSERV or listserv as a synonym for mailing list -- instead, use
LISTSERV mailing list or simply mailing list.
Correct: My class has a mailing list. Wrong: My class has a listserv.
My class has a LISTSERV mailing list.
LISTSERV mailing list home: www.k-state.edu/infotech/mailinglist
K-State LISTSERV web access: listserv.ksu.edu/web
long distance, long-distance
Always hyphenated when referring to telephone calls. In other uses, only hyphenate as a compound modifier.
Examples: called long-distance; long-distance call; traveled a long distance; long-distance trip.
Source: Associated Press. Posted: May 30, 2006.
M
MAC address
Avoid this technical term. If it must be used, write out the full meaning and provide a description.
Example: A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier for a piece of networked equipment.
Web: See Wikipedia's MAC address entry.
Macs, Macintosh, Mac OS X
Macs is the preferred term, although any of the above can be used to refer to Apple computers in general.
Do not use MAC or M.A.C.. Use Apple for older models with that specific name.
"Mac OS X" is pronounced "Mac O S ten" (not "ex"). It's not a version number, but
is part of the product name (similar to Windows 98, OS/2). The version number follows the "X".
Examples:
- Macs are easier to use than PCs.
- The Apple IIe and Apple Lisa came before Macintosh systems.
- MacOS (no space) is a generic reference (like Windows) to systems predating OS X.
- The current version of the operating system is Mac OS X 10.4.3.
Source: CNS/jcroft, Union/cl, Apple website
Web: www.apple.com
midnight (also see the times entry)
Always use midnight instead of 12 a.m. When an event begins at midnight,
say "X begins at 12:01 a.m." to prevent confusion between midnight at the start of a day and at the day's end.
MP3
All caps.
Web: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3
N
news feed, news reader
Don't use. See RSS feed, RSS reader.
noon (also see the times entry)
Always use noon instead of 12 p.m.
O
online
One word, no hyphen.
This word has transitioned from hyphenated form to one word.
Source: CNS/be, Webster's New World College Dictionary
offline
One word, no hyphen.
This word has transitioned from hyphenated form to one word.
Source: CNS/be, Webster's New World College Dictionary
P
PDF
Use all caps on the acronym for Portable Document Format. On K-State webpages, follow a PDF link
with the phrase "(PDF format)" that includes a link to K-State's PDF page,
Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).
Example:
This organizational chart (PDF) shows the complete university hierarchy.
phone
Acceptable when referring to a telephone or telephone number. See telephone numbers.
Example: Call the IT Help Desk, phone 785-532-7722.
podcast (noun)
One word.
portal, K-State's
Use K-State portal or K-State's portal on first reference.
Once the portal is in final form, the goal is to stop calling it a portal and simply say sign in to K-State.
Example: "K-State's portal went live Aug. 18, 2005. Go to the K-State homepage and sign in to K-State."
Web: connect.k-state.edu
public
Don't use public when referring to technology resources at K-State.
Most are for use by the K-State community and are not public use.
The university computing labs were once called public labs, which is no longer allowed for legal reasons.
See labs.
R
RBL
Use Realtime Block List on first reference. (Also see blacklist, blocklist.)
Web: At K-State, RBL now means "Realtime Block List" (InfoTech Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004)
Regents Educational Communications Center
Don't use. The
name changed
to Educational Communications Center on Jan. 4, 2007.
Web: www.k-state.edu/ecc
residence-hall computing labs
These resources are reserved for building residents.
Website: housing.k-state.edu/resnet
RSS, RSS feed, RSS reader
Use RSS on first reference ("Really Simple Syndication")
when referring to broadcasts available on the Internet; don't use news feed, XML, or podcast.
Use RSS reader (not RSS aggregator, news reader, news aggregator, feed reader, feed aggregator, or
search aggregator).
S
Scantron cards, test-scoring card, test-scoring equipment
Use Scantron cards or test-scoring cards.
K-State faculty refer to test-scoring cards as "Scantron cards" because they were originally
read by a Scantron card reader at K-State. The equipment is no longer Scantron, so don't say Scantron in
reference to hardware. However, IT training staff continue to use the term "Scantron cards" in deference to
faculty who understand that as the common term.
screen reader (noun), screen-reading (adjective)
Two words, with the adjective form hyphenated.
screensaver
One word. (Originally two words and is transitioning to one word.)
screenshot
One word. (Originally two words and is transitioning to one word.)
SIRT
On first reference, note that it is K-State's Security Incident Response Team.
Web: SIRT website
Social Security number
Use Social Security number on first reference
("number" is always lowercase) and SSN thereafter.
The program itself is Social Security.
Examples: Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security office, Social Security card.
Web: How is Social Security protecting Social Security numbers?
software names
See the right sidebar for software and hardware names, plus links to product webpages or manufacturer websites.
spyware
One word.
Web: www.k-state.edu/infotech/security/topics/spyware.html
stylesheet
One word. Example:
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a stylesheet language.
survey system at K-State
Axio Survey is the official name as of March 2007 (formerly K-State Survey System).
Web: survey.k-state.edu (redirects to https://online.ksu.edu/Survey)
Symantec AntiVirus (see antivirus)
Don't use. The university changed from Symantec AntiVirus to Trend Micro OfficeScan in 2006. Instead of
a brand name, say K-State's antivirus software.
T
Tablet PC
Capitalize in all instances.
Web: www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc
TechBytes
One word, with a capital "T" and "B".
TechBytes is a free seminar series on information technology topics for the K-State community.
Web: www.k-state.edu/techbytes
E-mail: techbyte@k-state.edu (no "S" on "techbyte")
technology classroom
On first reference, use the full term. On second reference, tech classroom or classroom is acceptable.
Web: main.itac.k-state.edu/techclass/default.html
teleconference, teleconferencing
One word. It means to hold a conference via telephone or network connection, and
includes audio and vido conferencing.
Web: telenet2.k-state.edu
Source: Kansas Regents Network/sw
TELENET 2
All caps, with a space before the "2".
TELENET 2 is a video conferencing network that has 24 Kansas sites and worldwide connectivity (IP and/or ISDN).
It started as an audio conferencing system in 1970 and continues to provide audio conferencing support.
Video conferencing was added in 1996.
Web: telenet2.k-state.edu
Source: Kansas Regents Network/sw
telephone numbers
Use phone as an informal reference to a telephone
or telephone number. See phone.
Telephone numbers should use the form 123-4567 or 999-123-4567.
The area code should be added in K-State documents and
webpages intended for off-campus use.
Example: Call the IT Help Desk, 785-532-7722. My phone number is 532-4932.
test-scoring (compound adjective)
Also see Scantron cards.
times (also see a.m., p.m. and University Publications' times entry)
- On the hour: 7 a.m., 5 p.m. (no colon or 00).
- Use midnight (not 12 a.m.) and noon (not 12 p.m.).
- Hyphenate timeframes: 7-10 a.m., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., noon-8 p.m.
- On webpages, use a non-break space ( ) to prevent line breaks after numbers.
- When something begins right after midnight, use 12:01 a.m.
U
UCLs (see university computing labs)
Don't use UCLs, an internal term used by IT staff.
Use university computing labs on first reference.
On second reference, use labs or computing labs.
Web: www.k-state.edu/infotech/labs
under way
Two words.
Example: The project is under way.
university
Lowercase when referring to Kansas State University.
The university has many technology classrooms.
Source: University Publications/sm.
university computing labs
Lowercase when referring to K-State's central computing labs.
Use the labs on second reference.
(Don't use UCLs, a term used internally by tech staff.)
Examples: The university computing labs are for use by all K-Staters. The labs
are open 24 hours a day.
university-wide
Use a hyphen. (This is an exception to campuswide, nationwide rules.)
Source: University Publications/sm 2006/01/25.
Unix
It's not an acronym, so use upper/lowercase on the proper name of the operating system.
Do not use the all-caps trademark (UNIX).
Source: The Evolution of
the Unix Time-sharing System by Dennis Ritchie (Unix co-developer),
a paper first presented in Sydney, Australia, Sept. 1979, and reprinted in
AT&T Bell Laboratories Technical Journal 63 No. 6 Part 2, October 1984,
pp. 1577-93: "Although it was not until well
into 1970 that Brian Kernighan suggested the name `Unix,' in a somewhat
treacherous pun on `Multics,' the operating system we know today was born."
URL (see web address)
Acronym for Uniform Resource Locator.
Use web address instead. If URL must be used for technical purposes, explain the acronym.
Examples:
- K-State's web address is www.k-state.edu.
- A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, has both a numeric and name association.
- A web address (URL) is a site's location on the Internet.
V
Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology
vice provost for Information Technology Services
The unit name changed July 1, 2007.
Capitalize the official unit name: Information Technology Services. Use lowercase "vice provost"
when referring to the position.
Web: www.k-state.edu/vpast changed to www.k-state.edu/its
The vice provost for Information Technology Services is K-State's top IT administrator.
Wrong: "vice provost of..."
video conference, video conferencing
Two words.
Web: telenet2.k-state.edu
Source: Kansas Regents Network/sw
W
Web, web
Use either World Wide Web or the Web when referring to the entity.
Use lowercase web when referring to web-related elements: webpages, websites, web authors, webcasts, etc.
web addresses
- Don't use "http://" on web addresses in text.
- Don't display an end slash ( / ) in visible text, but use it in links at the directory level to speed up computer handshaking.
- Short web addresses are OK as link text, especially when the goal is to help readers remember it.
On longer addresses, use the topic or headline of the destination page.
- Use www.k-state.edu when referring to K-State's central website, to distinguish it as a web resource
as opposed to an e-mail address of @k-state.edu.
- Department/unit/service web servers: If an address works without www., delete that to emphasize the resource name.
(See also: K-State web addresses.)
Examples:
- The IT homepage is at www.k-state.edu/infotech.
- Many K-Staters use WebMail Help.
- K-State's antivirus site is antivirus.k-state.edu.
- Housing's site is
www.housing.k-state.edu.
- Course-related information is at courses.k-state.edu.
web addresses, K-State
- K-State's central website is www.k-state.edu as the preferred form since August 2005.
(Note that K-State also has www.ksu.edu under grandfather rights, so it continues as a workable address.)
- The "http://" part is not needed in text.
- Use "k-state.edu" instead of "ksu.edu" whenever possible, to mesh with the university's public relations and logo marketing.
- Verify all web addresses, because:
- Using the wrong address will cause a broken link.
- Some department/unit web servers require "www." and others don't.
- Some department/unit web servers use ksu.edu and don't work with k-state.edu.
History note: Local newspapers cover move to www.k-state.edu (IT Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002)
Website: K-State HTTP Servers
web author
Two words.
webcam
One word.
webcast
One word.
WebMail
The proper name of K-State's web-based e-mail service. One word, capital "W" and "M".
Website: webmail.ksu.edu
[Editor's note: Don't use webmail.k-state.edu until the WebMail system is converted
to use that address. As of 2007/08/15, it still forwards to webmail.ksu.edu.]
webpage
One word.
website
One word.
web stream, web streaming
Two words.
wireless
On first reference to a computer network, use "wireless computer network" if space allows;
otherwise use "wireless network". This avoids confusion with wireless telephone service and wireless radio.
If several types of wireless technology are being referenced, precede each one with "wireless".
web addresses/URLs, K-State
The K-State Office Directory and the
K-State HTTP web servers are good references
for up-to-date web addresses at K-State. Note these newer address changes:
WSUS
On first reference, use the full name -- Windows Server Update Services -- or an acronym link on "WSUS" with the full name.
K-State uses Microsoft's WSUS service for managing security patches on computers running Microsoft Windows. See the Jan. 29, 2008 article:
K-State purchases Microsoft Windows Server CALs.
Historical note: Microsoft discontinued its free Software Update Services (SUS) software in July 2007 and replaced it with WSUS.
Web: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/default.aspx
X
XML, XML feed
Don't use when referring to a broadcast feed on the Internet. See RSS.
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