Welcome to the York University Writing Style Guide. This guide should be your first stop for English-language journalistic and promotional writing and communications to both the York University community and the general public.
Using a consistent writing style is an important part of building and maintaining the University brand; it is a reflection of our culture. By using the University's writing style correctly and consistently, it builds the reader’s trust in our content and confirms its association with York.
This guide isn’t intended to be exhaustive; it is meant to answer the most frequent writing style questions and provide rules that are specific to the University’s context. It touches on items of particular stylistic concern for editors of York University publications and anyone managing a York University communications channel. For anything not included in this guide, we adhere to The Canadian Press Stylebook and The Canadian Press Caps and Spelling – available for purchase or via online subscription. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, please refer next to the Oxford English Dictionary – a free, user-friendly online version is available at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com.
These guidelines are informed by subject matter experts at the University and are founded on a number of authoritative sources, including:
- The Canadian Press Stylebook;
- The Canadian Press Caps and Spelling;
- Oxford English Dictionary;
- Talking Gender: A Guide to Nonsexist Communication;
- Elements of Indigenous Style; and
- Canadian Council for Advancement of Education English Language Style Guide.
The Spelling section addresses frequent questions and lists some of the Canadian Press exceptions to Oxford spellings. Cross references are included throughout to help you find relevant information.
Last review: February 2024