Identity Guidelines

Editorial Style Guide

D

dashes
The two most commonly used dashes are the em dash and the en dash.

the em dash looks like this: —
(option + shift + -)

the en dash looks like this: –
(option + -)

the hyphen looks like this: -

It’s good to keep in mind that dashes separate, whereas hyphens join (see hyphens for information regarding their use). This distinction usually holds true for em versus en dashes as well.

Em dashes are frequently used to set off parenthetical phrases, especially long or complex ones where something stronger than a comma is called for. If the phrase comes at the end of a sentence, only one dash is needed to set it off—like this. If it is inserted into the middle of the sentence—like this—you need dashes on both sides:

The building—one of our oldest—will be reroofed.
NOT The building—one of our oldest, will be reroofed.

En dashes are used to represent a range between figures or words:

11 a.m.–noon, 1994–96, pages 3–12

En dashes are also used to indicate the minus sign in a grade:

C–

Also, en dashes are used in place of hyphens in open compounds:

San Antonio–based, Pulitzer Prize–winning, post–World War II

database

dates
Use numerals for years; use no punctuation if just listing the month and the year, but set the year off with commas if using the day of the month as well (see months for more information):

May 1990; a Feb. 1, 1996, deadline

Decades may be referred to in any of the following ways but should be consistent within a single publication:

the 1990s, the ’90s, the nineties
NOT the 1990’s

day care
Two words in all instances.

days of the week
Capitalize them. Do not abbreviate.

degree programs at UTSA
For an updated list of academic degrees, please refer to the current undergraduate and graduate catalogs, which are available in print and on the UTSA Web site at www.utsa.edu/ucat.

degree
Lowercase names of academic degrees (even formal names) in running text. Note that while bachelor’s and master’s end in ’s, the other generic words for degrees do not:

an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a doctoral degree or a doctorate

She earned a bachelor of music degree. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music.

He is pursuing a master of science degree in chemistry.

However, formal names of degrees may be capitalized in list format. Capitalization in names of degrees should match the registrar’s official degree list:

Bachelor of Arts
Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy

Use periods when abbreviating degrees.:

B.A., B.F.A., M.A., Ph.D., Ed.D.

Pluralize abbreviations of degrees with an ’s:

Ph.D.’s

Do not capitalize subject areas when referring to them in text:

He is an American studies major.

All students in bicultural-bilingual studies must take 3 credit hours in sociology.

In running text, minor should not be capitalized:

He plans to pursue a minor in art history.

departments/divisions
Check UTSA’s Web site for updated information on the names and locations of academic departments/divisions.

doctoral degree/doctorate
Doctoral degree and doctorate are interchangeable, but are not synonymous with Ph.D; UTSA also offers a doctor of education degree, an Ed.D. Do not use doctorate degree.