Editorial Standards

Copy for your department or program’s website should follow Associated Press (AP) style, with a few exceptions and additions as detailed here.

Web copy should adhere to the practices established by the Office of University Communications for style. 

Name of the School

Dean's Title

The correct title is “Marcelo W.B. Araujo, DDS, MS, PhD, dean and professor, UB School of Dental Medicine.”

Keep the title lowercase in newsletters and news releases. 

If you include the full name of the school in your copy before introducing this title, shorten the school’s name in the title. For example:

The School of Dental Medicine added 35 faculty positions in 2013, said Marcelo W.B. Araujo, DDS, MS, PhD dental school dean and professor.

Other School-Specific Style Guidelines

Academic departments

Capitalize when using an official department name: “Jane Green works in the Department of Oral Biology.”

Lowercase department in plural uses, but capitalize the proper name element: the departments of Oral Biology and Restorative Dentistry.

Otherwise, use lowercase: “Matthew Jones applied to the oral diagnostic sciences department.”

Prepositions and articles should be lowercase in all instances.

 

Academic degrees and titles

Do not use the courtesy title “Dr.” except in direct quotes: “Dr. Smith has published many papers in peer-reviewed journals this year,” said John Hunter, DDS.

When abbreviating degrees, do not use punctuation: “BS,” “DDS,’’ “PhD” and so on.

Mailing Addresses

Mailing addresses should include the following elements:

  • department or program name
  • building name and room number
  • “University at Buffalo,” not “SUNY,” “SUNY-Buffalo” or other variations

Do not use “South Campus” or street addresses such as “3435 Main St.” These can impede mail delivery.