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Editorial Style Guide

T


Tejano

Always capitalized. This is a genre of music. The term can also be used when referring to the Mexican citizens who occupied this region before Texas became a republic. It is also frequently used to informally refer to Mexican American Texas residents.


telephone numbers

Do not include 1 before the number.

210-458-4525
800-458-4600

If printed materials will be sent internationally, use the international phone number:
011 210-458-4525.

For more information, visit countrycode.org.


tense

In general, use verb tenses consistently throughout a story. However, tenses may be intermingled as appropriate to context, for example to distinguish terminated from continuing action:

"I disagree," she said. But she continues to encourage students to present new ideas.

"I disagree," she said at the meeting yesterday, but then continued to encourage students to present new ideas.

The verb form say or says suggests past as well as continuing action; verbs such as think, regard, deny and hope written in present tense can coexist comfortably with other verbs in other tenses:

She says baseball is boring.
She said she thinks baseball is boring.

that, which

Use that (without a comma) to introduce essential or restrictive clauses (important to the meaning of a sentence):

The research paper that Professor Dixson assigned is due by noon on Friday in his office.

Use which (with commas) to introduce nonessential or nonrestrictive clauses:

Professor Dixson’s assignment, which is very complicated, is due by noon on Friday in his office.

Hint: If you can drop the clause and not lose the meaning of the sentence, use which; otherwise use that.


the

Capitalize the only if it is part of a composition title (see titles of works) or name; always lowercase when used with organizations in running text:

We subscribe to The New Yorker and to the San Antonio Express-News.
The measure was approved by the University of Texas System Board of Regents.

Note: An exception to the rule is The University of Texas at San Antonio. In all cases, The is capitalized.


theater

Do not use theatre unless part of a proper name.


Tier One

Primary label/term to define UTSA’s Carnegie R1 classification for general audiences such as prospective students, the general public and UTSA alumni. This phrase is synonymous with “nationally recognized,” is used as an adjective and is preferred over its synonym, “top-tier.” It is particularly important in collateral with minimal copy—such as advertising—where there is no opportunity to define the Carnegie R1 classification.

Announcement on a banner ad in a print publication:
UTSA is a Tier One Research University
In a story meant for broad publication, including stories featured on UTSA Today:
UTSA is an urban serving, Tier One research university and a leader in cybersecurity, cloud computing and data science.

time

Use numerals in all cases; omit the zeros for on-the-hour times except in formal usage such as programs for ceremonies:

9 a.m., 11:15 p.m.

12 p.m. is expressed as noon, not 12 noon; 12 a.m. is expressed as midnight, not 12 midnight.

Avoid redundancies such as a 12 noon luncheon or 10 p.m. Monday night.

Use periods for a.m. and p.m.; also, use an en dash when a range of time is expressed:

3–4:30 p.m. or 3 to 4:30 p.m.

The word to must be used if preceded by from:

  • from 9 a.m. to noon
  • from 9 a.m.–noon

When referring to an event, the correct form is time, date and place:

The orchestra will perform at 9 a.m. April 4 under the Sombrilla.

titles of people

In general, capitalize formal titles immediately preceding a name and lowercase titles following a name. Lowercase descriptive or occupational titles such as history professor, department chair, math teacher, basketball coach.

Professor Adolfo Matamoros

BUT

engineering professor Adolfo Matamoros 
Bridget Drinka, professor of English

This rule applies not only to academic titles but also to administrative titles:

UTSA President Taylor Eighmy will give the welcome address at the university’s Fall Convocation. Eighmy, who has been president of UTSA since 2017, will accept the award.
James B. Milliken is the chancellor of the UT System. Chancellor Milliken took office in September 2018. 
Director of Athletics Lisa Campos will speak to the fans. Campos serves as UTSA’s athletics director.

An EXCEPTION to this rule is the named title:

Mohammad "Mo" Jamshidi is the Lutcher Brown Professor of Biology.

The formal title Dr. (plural Drs.) may be used before the names of individuals who hold doctorates as well as those who hold medical degrees. However, because other courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss) are rarely used in university publications, it is better to use academic and administrative titles. Magazines typically do not use any courtesy titles, unless identification of a medical doctor is necessary.

  • Assistant Professor John Alexander
  • Dr. John Alexander

titles of works

Capitalize the principal words in a title. Articles (the, a, an), coordinating conjunctions and prepositions are lowercased, unless they are the first or last word in the title.

For news releases, follow Associated Press Style for composition titles: Place quotation marks around all composition titles such as books, computer games (but not software), movies, operas, plays, poems, songs, television programs, and the titles of lectures, speeches and works of art.

For all other publications, The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition, is the first reference. For brochures, newsletters and other publications, place the following titles of works in italics: books, movies, operas (and other long musical compositions), plays, journals, television programs and art exhibits:

The San Antonio Symphony will present the world premiere of Something Miraculous Burns, a composition by David Heuser.
J. Mitchell Miller is editor of the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, the first journal to be housed in the College of Public Policy.
La Tragedia de Macario, directed by UTSA student Pablo Veliz, was accepted into the Sundance Film Festival.

BUT, place the following in quotation marks regardless of publication: titles of articles, chapters, short stories, essays, songs, theses, dissertations, lectures, papers presented at meetings, works of art and poems.

The Department of Electrical Engineering hosts a lecture, "The Investigation of the Columbia Accident at Southwest Research Institute," at 7 p.m., Tuesday, in the Science Building.

Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success

Use TRC or the center on second reference.


top-tier

Secondary label/term to define UTSA’s Tier One classification for general audiences such as prospective students, the general public and UTSA alumni. This adjective is synonymous with “nationally recognized” and is used when multiple references to the Tier One classification are needed in text. Preference is to use “Tier One.” Top-tier is not to be used as a standalone label.

In an ad for the UTSA Libraries:
Tier One libraries for a Tier One university NOT Top-tier libraries for a top-tier university
In a UTSA Today story:
The Tier One designation validates the breadth and strength of UTSA’s knowledge enterprise and aligns the university with the nation’s top-tier public and private research institutions.

Can also be used as an adjective to describe excellence.

The new academic year is bringing more top-tier students and faculty to UTSA.

toward

Not towards.


transgender

An adjective referring to a person whose gender identity is different from that commonly associated with their sex assigned at birth (assigned male at birth, identifies as a woman; assigned female at birth, identifies as a man; assigned male or female at birth, identifies as non-binary) 


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