Edit Page
Effectively communicating the University’s messages in harmony with the College’s identity, mission and vision.

Office of Communication & Marketing

Editorial Standards - T

Alphabetical Entries: T

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

 

T

telephone numbers See the AP Styleguide's telephone entry.

television programs See the composition titles entry.

that, which See AP Styleguide's that, which, who, whom (pronouns) entry.

the Capitalize as the first word of a composition title (see composition titles entry); lowercase when used with an organization if it it not part of its official name: The findings were reported in The New York Times. The measure was approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees (not The SUNY Board of Trustees). She works for the Dow Chemical Co. (not The Dow Chemical Co.).

theater The spelling for all generic references to auditoriums and the theatrical arts. Use the spelling "Theatre" only if part of proper name of a performing arts facility or company – as is the case with all SUNY New Paltz theatres:  Julien J. Studley Theatre, McKenna Theatre, Parker Theatre, as well as the Department of Theatre Arts.

time Per AP, always use figures, except with noon and midnight. Use lowercase type and periods with no spaces: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 that afternoon, noon, midnight, 10 - 11 a.m., 10 a.m.-3 p.m., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. See the AP Stylebook's times and time of day entries.

titles In general, capitalize formal or courtesy titles before a name and lowercase after a name: President Bill Brown; Bill Brown, president; Professor John Jones; Trustee Les Heringer. Lowercase descriptive or occupational titles: teacher, attorney, professor, history professor, department chair, coach, softball coach in all cases.

  • ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL TITLES Jim Smart, chancellor; Chancellor Jim Smart; Vice Chancellor Susan Smart; Susan Smart, vice chancellor; history professor Iben Thayer; Iben Thayer, professor of history; department chair John Booker; Professor Emerita Celeste T. Wright; Celeste T. Wright, professor emerita of English; President Emerita Alice Chandler; Alice Chandler, president emerita; Dean John Smith; Deans Diane Nicks and William Smart; public relations lecturer Dilbert Tell. See lecturers, lectures, lectureships entry, Chicago 7.22 and the AP Stylebook's academic titles entry.
  • For proper names of endowed chairs and professorships at SUNY New Paltz, consult appropriate academic departments.
  • On first reference in press releases, use the formal title Dr. (plural Drs.) only before the names of individuals who hold a degree in medicine, veterinary medicine or dentistry (M.D., D.V.M., M.P.V.M., D.D.S. or equivalent): Dr. Sarah J. Woerner or Sarah J. Woerner '72, M.D. '76; but not Dr. Sarah J. Woerner '72, M.D. '76. ("Dr." and "M.D." are redundant.) See doctor entry.

town names See the city, town entry.

trademarks When possible, use generic equivalents, but if a trademark is used for emphasis or effect, capitalize it. Observe the capitalization schemes of individual trademarks or service marks, but be aware that ordinarily capitalization of only the first letter of a brand name is necessary; do, however, capitalize all letters composing acronyms: BASS/Ticketmaster, for example, stands for Bay Area Seating Service. Trademarks are proper names that identify the products of a business; service marks perform the same function for services. Trademark names should be accompanied by generic terms to fully describe the product: Kleenex tissues. A trademark should not be used as a verb: Don't say I Xeroxed this; instead say I photocopied this or I made photocopies of this. Do not pluralize trademarks: Instead of saying He used three Kleenexes to blow his nose, say He used three Kleenex tissues. However, some trademarks are registered in the plural and should always be used that way even if the common noun following them is singular: a Baggies plastic bag.

Symbols signifying a trademark (TM), a service mark (SM) or a registration with the U. S. Patent Office (®) are primarily for the use of the owner to indicate rights; use of the symbols is not required in journalistic publications. Former trademarks that became generic terms through abuse include trampoline, raisin bran, linoleum, lanolin, yo yo, escalator and nylon.

trustee Treat this as a formal title when appropriate and capitalize in such cases if used before a name: Trustee Les Heringer; but Les Heringer, trustee of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation.