University Libraries Section (ULS): Using LibGuides

We want our content to be consistent, accessible, and approachable. Follow these guidelines to keep our LibGuides as nice as can be.

Guidelines are based on Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition as well as good old-fashioned web writing practice.

Use the serial comma 

“When a conjunction joins the last two elements in a series of three or more, a comma—known as the serial or series comma or the Oxford comma—should appear before the conjunction” (CMS 6.19). Example:

1. “Ask questions and raise issues, ideas, and suggestions.”
2. “It’s also useful for some committee members to attend ALA Annual to help in physically picking up the award plaque and check, attending lunch with the award winner, presenting the award (if needed), and/or attending the ULS Social to toast the award winner.”

Em dashes and en dashes

Use the actual dash rather than one or more hyphens; see hyphens and dashes to learn the distinction. Note that no spaces are used before or after the dash. Examples:

1. “The bylaws need a vote to be updated—this LibGuide is updated by the current Exec Committee.” Or “Start early—finding an affordable and well-located venue can be challenging.” These are em dashes (see CMS 6.85–6.92).
2. “8:30 a.m.–10 a.m.” or “The fiscal year is September 1–August 31.” This is an en dash (see CMS 6.89).

Spell out smaller numbers

Per CMS Chapter 9, in general all numbers from zero to one hundred are spelled out. Numbers starting at 101 and going up use numerals. There are numerous exceptions to this rule, however, so see CMS for detailed guidelines. Example:

1. “Post the date, time, and agenda publicly to ALA Connect (at least ten days before the Midwinter virtual meeting and two weeks before the Annual in-person meeting).”

Use numerals for time

Expressions of time: CMS 9.37 calls for the use of numerals in exact expressions of time, except for noon or midnight, which are always expressed in words. The colon and zeroes in expressing an exact time are unnecessary if times are on the hour. Examples:

1. “Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.”
2.  “8:30 a.m.–10 a.m.”

CMS 7.1 recommends use of Merriam-Webster Unabridged or MW Collegiate. If more than one form of a word is given, use the first one listed. Do not rely on spell-checkers for MS Word or LibGuides.

Hyphens

Follow CMS guidelines on hyphenation. In particular, see the Hyphenation Guide in 7.89. Examples of commonly hyphenated terms:

1. “Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect”
2. “Members-at-Large”
3. “Past-Chair”

Examples of commonly nonhyphenated prefixes:

1. “non” as in “nonmember” or “nonlibrarian”
2. “co” as in “coconvener” or “cosponsor”
3. “sub” as in “subgroups”

Use the generic terms e-mail list or e-mail distribution list rather than the trademarked name Listserv, and note that the hyphenated form e-mail is preferred per MW Collegiate. All of ALA’s e-mail distribution lists use Sympa e-mail list management software, not Listserv software, so using Listserv is not accurate when referring to ALA e-mail lists.

Use numbered lists for chronological instructions or steps in a process. Use bulleted lists for lists of examples or options.

• For detailed guidelines on vertical bulleted or numbered lists, see CMS 6.127–6.132.
• All list items should begin with a capital letter. They should be grammatically parallel (i.e., if one item is a complete sentence, then all items should also be complete sentences; if one item starts with an imperative-voice verb, then all should).
• “If the items in a vertical list complete a sentence begun in the introductory text, semicolons or commas may be used between the items, and a period should follow the final item” (CMS 6.131).
• If list items are not complete sentences and do not complete a sentence begun in the introductory text, do not use any punctuation after each item (CMS 6.130).
• If list items are complete sentences, they should be followed by periods or other sentence-ending punctuation.

Use sentence case for titles and headings

Use sentence case rather than title case for titles and headings. This means you only capitalize the first letter of the first word (except for proper nouns). It's easier to read and to skim. For example: "List of members" rather than "List of Members." 

Use lowercase for titles of offices and types of committees

Do not capitalize titles of offices such as chair, vice-chair, secretary, or members-at-large unless they directly precede a name. Example:

• Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States (or President Abraham Lincoln of the United States); President Lincoln; the president
• Alexandra Rivera, chair of ULS; Chair Rivera; the chair

Do not capitalize “committee” or “discussion group” if the terms are not used as part of the official title. Example:

• “The discussion group also supports the ULS Executive Committee by brainstorming means through which ULS might better support university librarians in the future.”

Use titlecase for proper nouns

• Names of conferences, for example, ALA Annual and ALA Midwinter.
• Names of committees and discussion groups, for example, Communications Committee and Current Topics Discussion Group.