This guide, adapted from the Texas A&M Division of Marketing & Communications’ Editorial Style Guide and the Texas A&M University System style guide, uses the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual as its primary source for questions of written style. Where the AP stylebook does not address a topic, we prefer The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed. or later), which is generally used in major publishing as well as in literary and scholarly works. Most dictionaries will suffice to address particular word usage, but we recommend the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. A supplementary resource regarding style sensitivity is the Health Writer’s Handbook (second edition) by Dr. Barbara Gastel.
VMBS-Specific Terms
College & Program Names
For formal uses and on first reference within written pieces, spell out “Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences” followed by VMBS in parentheses. On second (and subsequent) mention, use the abbreviation.
An acceptable shortened second reference is “Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.”
“Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine” or “VetMed” (when referring only to the professional program) is acceptable on second reference.
“Texas A&M Biomedical Sciences” or “BIMS” (when referring only to the undergraduate and graduate programs) is acceptable on second reference.
If you are using “college,” whether for internal audiences or on subsequent mention after you have established which college is referenced, do not capitalize “college.”
Hospital Names
The name of our hospital is the “Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital” and the acceptable abbreviation is “VMTH.”
When communicating about the Large Animal and Small Animal sections of the VMTH, please refer to them as the “Large Animal Teaching Hospital” (LATH) and the “Small Animal Teaching Hospital” (SATH). (Please note that the word “hospital” is correct, while the word “clinic” is not.)
The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine
The first mention of someone who was the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine should be as follows: “Dr. [First name][Last name], the former Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine.” Capitalize everything except “the former” and “of.”
Dr. [Last name] is always “Dr. [First name] [Last name], the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine” on first mention unless there is a very good reason to refer to them as something else. The “the” helps their title be less confusing. On second and subsequent mention, refer to them as “[Last name].”
Additional Items
Although AP Style allows for the term “vet” in headlines and on second mention, we never use the term and instead spell out “veterinarian” or “veterinary.”
Texas A&M-Specific Terms
When referencing the Texas A&M System, use “The Texas A&M University System” on first reference (with a capital “T” in “the”) and “the A&M System” or “Texas A&M System” on second mention. In publications for internal audiences, the word “system” can be used alone on second mention. Lowercase “system” unless beginning a sentence. Do not put a space between the letters and the ampersand (i.e., A & M). On first mention, use “Texas A&M University” NOT “Texas A&M.” “Texas A&M” is the appropriate abbreviated form on second and subsequent mention. Do not ever use TAMUS or TAMU.
Referencing other A&M System members
When listing other universities, agencies, and the health science center, always use the institution’s complete name on first reference and its preferred acronym or abbreviation on second mention. Find a list of all system members’ full names and abbreviations here.
Referencing A&M system administration
The following are correct references for the A&M System Board of Regents:
- Board of Regents
- The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
- Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System
- the A&M System Board of Regents (on second reference)
- Texas A&M System Board of Regents (on second reference)
Lowercase “board” and “regents” if used separately. (i.e.: At its regularly scheduled meeting, the board discussed the importance of collaboration between A&M System universities and agencies.)
More information about referencing members of the Board of Regents can be found here.
