Is it Riverwalk or River Walk? Web site or website? Do
we capitalize job titles like vice president or assistant director? Is there an
abbreviation for Convocation Center?
These are examples of style questions that may come up when creating a publication for your campus office, department or college. When editors talk about style, they mean stylistic standards and conventions that govern the writing and design of publications.
A style guide, or stylebook, makes plain the editorial conventions that promote clarity and consistency in writing and design. Stylistic consistency promotes readability and understanding.
We hope this guide will provide a ready reference for common questions about spelling, grammar and usage, as well as answer questions that come up when writing specifically about UTSA.
This guide draws from three reference books: The Associated Press Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style, Fourteenth Edition and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. For more information on style, punctuation, grammar and usage recommendations, consult these useful books. The Office of University Communications uses The Associated Press Stylebook as its primary reference on style issues. The Chicago Manual of Style is our secondary reference.
What we do not cover in this guide are field-specific or technical questions on style. For these questions, consult the above references or style manuals that are specific to your academic field.
The university's wordmark is shown here:
The acronym UTSA is set in Futura bold type. The letters in this wordmark have been stylized to overlap to form a unique representation. This cannot be duplicated with typical desktop publishing systems. Official wordmarks can be obtained from the Publications Office.
Proofs of the wordmark are on file with the UT System Office of Trademarking and Licensing. The System office prepares color proofs with an Austin-based printer and gives them out to vendors who want to develop merchandise using the mark. The System office also makes the official application to register marks with the U.S. Patent Office.
In addition to the logo and wordmark, the university is represented by the fighting Roadrunner emblem. This stylized Roadrunner is used primarily in conjunction with Intercollegiate Athletics' events and merchandising and by Student Activities and various student organizations. University Communications has prepared a number of acceptable variations of this mascot emblem and placed them on file with the System office. Any other renditions of the fighting Roadrunner must be approved by University Communications.
The university seal, which in the past has appeared on various printed materials, merchandise and in other venues, is no longer approved for general use. The use of the seal is restricted to official documents such as diplomas, certificates, plaques and presidential awards. The seal is watermarked on all official letterhead.
Any questions about the use of the university's wordmark or mascot emblem should be directed to the Publications Office, which maintains the official on-campus file for the use of these marks.
University display ads for newspapers, the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Chronicle of Philanthropy and other national publications should use the official wordmark of the university.