Table of Contents

Writing and Editing Style Guide

Markette Pierce Updated by Markette Pierce

Writing and Editing Style Guide

Find below details about writing and editing copy for eCornell.

AP Style

AP Stylebook is eCornell’s preferred reference manual; we use AP Style for general writing in all eCornell courses. Copy editors use this style as a guideline when reviewing the final courses.

You can access the online AP Stylebook through the Cornell Library using your NetID.

Defer to the AP Stylebook for spelling and grammar questions. Any exceptions at eC to the AP Style are listed below.

Exceptions to AP Style

Very few exceptions exist where eCornell's style differs from AP style, and they are as follows:

  1. Serial comma — eC does use the serial (or Oxford) comma, where AP style errs on the side of avoiding unnecessary commas.
  2. Citations in MLA style — Because AP style assumes citations will be occurring in text and therefore has not developed a format for citations, eC uses MLA style when creating citations.
See more information about MLA style citations on the OWL at Purdue.
  1. Lists — In many cases, we do not end items in a list with periods. Use the templates provided in the Master Template Course to ensure compliance with this style variation from AP.
  2. Bold and Italic Text — AP does not use bold or italics in news stories; eC uses them as follows:
    1. Bold, or rather the <strong> tag, is used for the titles of buttons students are called to interact with within the course. In most cases, this has been built into the Master Course Template, as on the project submission page.
    2. Bold, again via the <strong> tag, is also used to draw attention to content-specific terminology, glossary words, etc., the first time they occur in a course.
    3. Italics, or rather the <em> tag, is used to emphasize words or phrases. It is important to use the <em> tag — if coding in html rather than using the rich content editor in Canvas — to ensure assistive technology also is able to emphasize as needed.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

AP style requires we define a term on first use, followed by the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses. We also include the term, followed by the acronym or abbreviation in parenthesis, in the course glossary.

See this helpful article from the AP Stylebook about abbreviations and acronyms for more guidance on working with acronyms or abbreviations.

Active Voice

Strive in all cases to use the active voice instead of the passive voice.

Active voice: Once you configure TCP/IP on the server, you can enable the DHCP Server service.
Passive voice: Once TCP/IS is configured on the server, the DHCP Server service can be enabled.

Calls to Action

When directing students to take action within a course, such as by interacting with a button within the course, put the name of the button in bold. Direct users to click the button, rather than to click on it.

Example: Click the Start button.

Cornell

Cornell University is a collective noun, and as such, should be an “it.”

Example: Cornell leverages its world-class faculty in online learning.

Culturally Neutral Language

eCornell courses are targeted to a global, corporate audience at the master's level. It is therefore important that the content be performance-based, relevant, and applicable to an international audience without undue emphasis on American contexts and situations, e.g. the IRS, American history and politics, American sports etc.

Avoid idioms and colloquialisms. These terms may be unfamiliar or confusing to a non-US or non-native-English audience. If necessary, remind faculty that the courses have an international audience. Examples: “800-pound gorilla,” “all the bells and whistles”

Industry jargon is fine if the intended audience uses that language and will expect to hear it included within the context of the course. Jargon that will be wholly unfamiliar to most learners should be defined formally within the course content; consider adding supplemental material if you think the learners will appreciate it.

Given the global audience for eCornell courses, it is important that cultural and locational references be as neutral as possible given the context. As a rule, references to personal contexts should be avoided. Particular areas of concern are:

  • Marriage and relationships
  • Religion
  • History and politics
  • Cultural norms
  • Seasons and holidays
  • Race awareness
  • Gender roles
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Food and diets

Gender-Neutral Language

LSG uses the singular they/them as the default pronoun in course development.  Use people’s stated or known pronouns as usual, and use they/them when gender is not specified or not relevant and when they/them are a person’s pronouns.

See these helpful articles from the AP Stylebook for guidance in accomplishing this task:
Gender-neutral language
Gender and sexuality
They, them, their

Note the difference between discussing biological sex (e.g., male, female) and gender (e.g., man, woman), and be sure to use the right terminology for both discussions.

Lists

All lists should be unordered (bulleted) unless you’re indicating items in sequence, sequential steps in a process, step-set instructions, etc. Initial cap all items.

See this helpful article from the AP Stylebook for guidance in building lists. Remember that eC deviates from the AP Stylebook regarding punctuating lists.

Second Person

Address students directly.

Example #1: In this module, you will investigate…
Example #2: Now that you have successfully completed this module…

508 Compliance

Where possible, content pages should conform to 508 compliance issues.

How did we do?

Cornell University Branding

Faculty and Expert Naming Conventions in Courses

Contact