Editorial Standards

UB and the UBSDM follow Associated Press (AP) style, with a few exceptions and additions as detailed here.

Style Guides

Copy should adhere to the practices established by the Office of University Communications for style. UB's Custom Stylebook provides details on UB's style guide, which supersedes AP Style. 

Name of the School

Depending on our target audience, the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine has different branding.

  • The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine refers to our school as an academic institution. Any content discussing research, education, outreach, and content targeting potential or current students and faculty uses "University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine."
  • UB Dental was established to create a brand recognizable to our patient population and the community of Western New York. Any content about clinical/patient care uses "UB Dental."

The full name of the school is "University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine." This should be the first/formal reference in all external uses. For internal uses, when the school's affiliation with the university is known, it is acceptable to use "School of Dental Medicine" or "SDM."

"UB School of Dental Medicine” can be used for second, third, and fourth references. This includes usage on UB websites and in social media, news releases, alumni magazine stories, UBNow stories, marketing copy in ads, viewbooks, voiceovers, captions, speeches, posters, etc. Use of "UBSDM" is permitted in cases where it would be redundant or confusing to use multiple first and second references in the same sentence.

Department, Division, Office and Program Names

UB's brand identity is supported by a clear hierarchy. In the brand identity hierarchy, departments, divisions, offices, programs, and other parts of the school are sub-brands. Names of departments, divisions, offices, and programs follow the school's name when identifying the unit in the university hierarchy.

  • First Reference
    • For internal uses, where the unit’s affiliation with the School of Dental Medicine or its parent unit is clear, it is acceptable to use the unit name (e.g., Department of Restorative Dentistry; PhD Program in Oral Biology).
  • Second, Third, Fourth Reference, etc.
    • On subsequent references, use the generic unit identifier (department, division, office, program, etc.).
  • In a List With Other Departments
    • When it is necessary to differentiate a list of the School of Dental Medicine's departments in a larger list, you may use the following construction: “... the School of Dental Medicine departments of Orthodontics, Oral Diagnostic Sciences, and Restorative Dentistry.”

Unacceptable uses include "UB Department of [any department in the School of Dental Medicine]" (e.g., UB Office of Communications).

Exceptions include units that:

  • Align with two or more entities in the university.
  • Have been named explicitly with the “UB” prefix.
  • Have a name that supersedes or exists outside the School of Dental Medicine hierarchy.

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."

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.”, as these can impede mail delivery.

Check out the university's Mailing and Delivery Guides for further instructions.