Style Guidelines

The Marketing and Communications Department is charged with establishing and maintaining continuity of branding, style and voice across all media created by Mott Community College. Please consult the guidelines presented here for direction in crafting print and electronic media.

Associated Press Style Guide

For print and electronic communication, Mott Community College abides by the Associated Press Stylebook (AP Style) and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. For your convenience, please consult the following list of some commonly used style conventions.

Commonly Used Style Guidelines

ACADEMIC DEGREES

Associate degree is singular and not possessive. (eg. “The student earned an associate degree.”)
Bachelor’s degree and master’s degree are singular and possessive. (eg. “The student earned a bachelor’s degree.”)
When referenced in general, degree titles are not capitalized.
When referenced as part of an official title, degree titles are capitalized. (eg. “The student earned an Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistance.”)
Academic degrees are not mentioned in connection with specific individuals unless relevant to the text, and are abbreviated: BA, BS, MA, MS, MBA, PhD., etc.

ALUMNI

Alum is singular.
Alums is plural.
Alumni is plural and formal, typically used to identify College organizations (eg. The Alumni Association).

TIMES, DATES, and TERMS

Times are expressed in figures with the exception of noon and midnight. Use lower case letters with periods to indicate ante- and post-meridian. (eg. 11 a.m., noon, 2:30 p.m.)
Weekdays are only included when previewing an event or when referring to office hours and are not abbreviated.
Dates are expressed in “Month Date, Year” format (eg. Jan. 8, 2024)
When previewing an event, the time and weekday precede month, date and year. (eg. “The career fair will be held 3-6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.”)
Months are capitalized. (eg. “The College will host many events next January.”)
Abbreviate months only when referring to a specific date, and only for the months of Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. (eg. The College will host career fairs on Jan. 8 and July 10.)
Do not use ordinal date suffixes such as “st,” “nd,” “rd,” “th”.
Years are by default not included in references to present year dates. (eg. "The career fair will take place on Jan. 12.") Years are included in references to past and future year dates. (eg. “The memorial was dedicated on Jan. 12, 2001.”)
Commas offset years in association with a specific calendar date (eg. Jan. 8, 2024) but not in association with a specific month (eg. January 2024).
Seasons are capitalized only in reference to an academic term. (eg. “The student will graduate this spring. She completed her degree requirements last Fall Semester.”)

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS

Formal departmental names are capitalized, while informal references are not. (eg. “One of our specialties is occupational therapy, and our Department of Occupational Therapy is one of the best in the country.”)

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Telephone numbers are listed in figures with area codes bracketed by parentheses and local numbers separated by hyphens. Note that this is an exception to AP Style. (eg. “The College may be reached at (810) 762-0200.”)

EMAIL

Email is formatted in plain text without mailto links. (eg. [email protected])

A NOTE ON PUNCTUATION

AP Style does not utilize the serial comma (aka “Oxford comma”); the last entry in a list of items should not be preceded by a comma. (eg. “Summer semester courses take place in June, July and August.”)

Mott Community College Style Sheet

Style Sheet

24/7: Refers to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. References should be 24/7, not 24x7.

academic degrees: Do not use academic degrees after names unless they are relevant/important to the text. Use: BA, BS, MS, MBA, PhD., etc. Do not capitalize doctorate, doctor's, bachelor's, master's, master of science, etc.

academic years: Do not capitalize or abbreviate freshman, sophomore, junior or senior.

acronyms: Spell out what the acronym stands for on first reference on a page. Follow this with the acronym in parenthesis. In subsequent references, the acronym is sufficient.

active voice: Use active voice whenever possible. Active voice means, in general, avoiding forms of "to be."

addresses: Addresses should be centered in web copy, with separate lines for name; street address; and city, state and ZIP.

adviser: Not advisor, per AP Style.

affect/effect: Don't use "effect" as a verb. "Effect" is more commonly used as a noun. "Affect" is the verb meaning to modify or take on.

alum, alums, alumni: Alum is singular and alums is plural. Alumni is formal and plural, typically reserved for College organizations, such as the Alumni Association.

Alumni Association: On first reference use: Mott Community College Alumni Association. Following references can be MCCAA.

ampersand (&): Spell out "and" unless the ampersand is officially part of a name or title. On the web, it is acceptable to use the ampersand on buttons.
Example: AT&T

and/or: Avoid this construction.

annual: Do not use the term "first annual." Instead, note that sponsors plan to hold the event annually. An event cannot be described as annual until it has been held at least two successive years.

building names: Capitalize name and use approved building code abbreviations.

bullet points: Do not use the word "including" or "as follows" before a bulleted list. The text that follows the bullet should be in lower case if it is part of the sentence at the beginning of the list. The text that follows should start with a capital letter only if the bullet point is a complete sentence. If an individual bullet point is expressed as a complete sentence, use complete sentences for all bullet points.

calendar items: All items should include: time, date, location and event title or description. If applicable, items should include contact name, number and cost. List events on the same day in time order.

capitalization, all caps: Never use all caps unless: 1) the word is an acronym, 2) the proper/legal name is all cap, 3) relevant copy refers to a legal document posted on the web.

capitalization; College: "College" is only capitalized when used as a shorthand for "Mott Community College."

click here (and other web directional instructions): Do not use. Integrate hyperlink into appropriate text.

comma usage: Do place a comma before the concluding conjunction in a simple series (a listing of three or more items.) Do not place a comma before the concluding conjunction if the series contains a conjunction.

co-op: Hyphenate.

course names: Capitalize full academic course titles. Do not use quotation marks.

credit/credit hours: Use "term credit." Credit hours is redundant.

dashes: Used sparingly, the dash provides emphasis or suspense. Use a dash for: irony, emphasis, breaks in thought, explanatory comments.

dates/months: Spell out month and include year without separating by a comma. Abbreviate month when used with a specific date. When referring to month, date and year, offset year with commas. For web copy and calendars, include the day of the week when previewing an event.
Example: January 1972 was very cold. Jan. 29 was the coldest day. Jan. 29, 1972, hit historic lows.

days of the week: Include days of the week with dates in web copy and calendar items when previewing an event. Offset dates with commas.
Example: Monday, April 23, 2001

Disability Statement: People with special needs who need assistance to participate in this program should contact (insert department name and phone number).

double negatives: Do not use.

e-commerce: Hyphenate and lowercase.

EEO Statement: Mott Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action institution.

EEO Statement / Disability Statement: The EEO Statement and Disability Statement should appear on most materials used for publicity, recruitment (of students or staff) or information to the public.

email: One word, lower case.

ensure/insure: Insure: To cover with insurance. Ensure: To make sure or certain.

exclamation point: Use with discretion and avoid use in formal communication.

FAQ: Acronym for frequently asked questions. Okay to use solely as an acronym in web copy. Spell out "frequently asked questions" in print copy.

Foundation for Mott Community College: The Foundation for Mott Community College should be referred to by its full name on the first mention in a document, but may be subsequently referred to as the Foundation or the FMCC. Do not refer to it as "The Mott Community College Foundation" or "The MCC Foundation."

full time, full-time: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier.
Example: She works full time. He has a full-time job.

his/her, she/he: Do not use. Use the plural instead.
Example: They

homepage: One word, lower case unless starting a sentence.

internet: Do not capitalize.

intranet: Do not capitalize.

legal documents: Legal documents posted to the web should be posted as approved and distributed by the legal department.

login, logon, logoff, logout: One word, lower case.

mid: Do not hyphenante unless a capitalized word follows.
Example: Midterm, midsemester, Mid-Continent Conference

money: Use figures with the dollar sign in copy. For even dollar amounts do not add decimal followed by double zero. Spell out the word cents in lowercase, using numerals for amounts less than a dollar. Use the $ sign and decimal system for larger amounts.
Example: The cost of the book is $7. The exact amount of the bill is $7.42. The additional 42 cents charged is due to sales tax.

monthlong: One word.

months/dates: Follow AP style: Spell out month and include year without separating by a comma. Abbreviate month (Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. only) when used with a specific date. When referring to month, date and year, offset year with commas. For web copy and calendars, include the day of the week when previewing an event.
Example: January 1972 was very cold. Jan. 29 was the coldest day. Jan. 29, 1972, hit historic lows.

more than, over: Follow AP style: Either "more than" or "over" may be used in reference to numerals.

Mott Community College: Do not use “Mott” alone to refer to Mott Community College. Acceptable forms are "Mott Community College," "the College" or "MCC."
Example: Mott Community College was founded in 1923. Mott College serves more than 10,000 students. MCC has a branch campus in Fenton.

names: Individuals should be referenced by their full name on first reference of each (web) page. Use last name only for all subsequent references. Do not include courtesy titles in the first or following references.

names; junior, senior, II: Use Jr., II, etc. only on first reference with the individual's full name. Do not set off abbreviations with commas.

names; middle initials: Use middle initials in full name reference only if the person uses it regularly.

noon, midnight: Use noon or midnight. Do not use 12 a.m. or 12 p.m.

numbers: Spell out numbers nine and under. Use numerals for numbers 10 and higher. Exceptions include units of measurements and percentages which are represented with numerals. See money.

offices, departments, divisions: Capitalize office, department, division, program, institute, center, etc., when they are part of official titles. Otherwise, use lowercase.
Example: The Office of the Dean. The dean's office.

offline, online: One word, lower case.

parenthesis: In general, unless identifying an acronym, parenthesis complicate written copy. If your copy has parenthesis, review the material and consider reorganizing or omitting the parenthetical information.

part time, part-time: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier.
Example: She works part time. She has a part-time job.

passive voice: Avoid when possible.

percent: When spelled out, it is one word.

percent sign: Use the % symbol in web copy with the numeral when in copy. Use the sign with numerals in table. Spell out in all other cases.
Example: The survey received a 73% response. There was a five percent increase in enrollment.

phone numbers: All phone numbers should include ten digits. Use parentheses for the area code and a hyphen after the first three numbers of the basic number.
Example: (810) 762-0200

room numbers: Use building code and figures. Capitalize specific rooms with names.
Example: The seminar will be in MMB 1045. Lunch will follow in the Applewood Café.

rooms: Capitalize the names of specifically designated rooms.
Example: We will meet in the Genesee Room.

seasons: Do not capitalize seasons unless they designate an issue of a periodical or a specific academic term.
Example: The winter of 1978 was the coldest on record. Have you seen the Fall issue of College Clamor? The students will register for the Fall 2023 semester.

semesters: References to semesters should be uppercase.
Example: The Spring 2004 semester.

sentence length: When possible, use short, direct sentences.

state names: When standing alone in copy, spell out the name of the state.
Example: Mott Community College is best community college in Michigan.

state names, abbreviations: Use AP accepted state abbreviations in copy. Use two-letter postal abbreviations with full address and ZIP code.
Example: AP state abbreviations: Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kan., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Neb., Nev., N.C., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.D., Okla., Ore., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.D., Tenn., Vt., Va., Wash., W. Va., Wis., Wyo. Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah are not abbreviated.

time: Use a.m. and p.m. to designate day or evening times. Use midnight or noon instead of 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. For full hour times use only the first number.
Example: 8 a.m. not 8:00 a.m.

time reference/days: Do not use "today," "tomorrow," or "yesterday" in copy unless as part of a direct quote.

titles, books, publications, TV shows, movies, magazines, etc.: Follow AP style:Capitalize all words except articles (a, an, the), conjunctions of less than four letters (for, of, on, up, etc.) and conjunctions of less than four letters (and, but, for, nor, etc.) unless these start or conclude the title or are part of a phrasal verb or an infinitive. Use quotation marks in reference to all published work except holy books, software/digital titles, or sculptures.

titles; academic: Like other professional titles, formal academic titles should be capitalized when they immediately precede an individual's name. When following an individual's name, titles are offset with commas and written in lower case. Shortened versions of titles are acceptable in web copy.
Example: Vice President of Administration and Student Services Scott Jenkins. Michael Kelly, executive director of Public Information.

titles; college president: On first reference use full name and title. On subsequent references use last name only.

today: Do not use in copy unless as part of a direct quote.

tomorrow: Do not use in copy unless as part of a direct quote.

tonight: Do not use in copy unless as part of a direct quote.

U.S.: Use as an adjective, but not as a noun. Spell out United States when used as a noun.

under way: Two words when functioning as an adverb or predicate adjective (eg. "The voyage was under way," but one word as an adjective preceding its noun (eg. "Our underway voyage was interrupted.")

underline: Do not underline text in web copy unless indicating hyperlink.

web: Lowercase.

web browser: Two words, lower case.

web page: Two words, lower case.

website: One word, lower case.

webcast: Online broadcast. One word, lower case (per AP style).

webmaster: One word, all lower case (per AP style).

weeklong: One word.

Wheelchair: Use terms like wheelchair access or wheelchair use. Avoid using limiting terms such as bound, handicapped, impaired, etc.

World Wide Web: Can be shortened and referred to as "the web."

year: Do not use the year in copy when referring to a date within the present calendar year.
Example: The competition is Monday, April 23.

yearlong: One word.

yesterday: Do not use "today," "tomorrow," or "yesterday" in copy unless as part of a direct quote.

Business Stationery and Graphics

Business Card

Standard Vertical

This is the preferred official business card; it is a 2-sided vertical card.

To request business cards please send your information and choice of card to Michael Tews at [email protected].

Information needed for card:

Your First and last name (and middle initial, if desired)
Title
Department
Room/Office Number
Telephone Number
Fax Number
Email

If you do not make a vertical or horizontal card selection, the vertical card will be chosen for you. Please allow 3-5 days for business card proof during peak request times.

Standard Horizontal

This is an alternate official business card; it is a 2-sided horizontal card.

Note: While the consistent use of the official business card design (the front side, especially) is important in preserving and maintaining the integrity of the MCC brand, the backside of the card may be customized with the following: (1) Program or specific course information in text form (i.e., list), and/or (2) Credential information (in the form of text or a credential logo) for faculty or staff. Requested modifications to the backside of the business card should be made to Sarah Ignash, Marketing Manager, at [email protected] or at (810) 232-2554.

Letterhead

Note: MCC sign-in credentials required to access/view/download documents or forms as indicated with this icon:

Generic Informational Letterhead

This letterhead template is a generic MCC template meant to be used for informational letters that do not need to be attributed to a specific department. For example: A generic thank you letter sent to a business for sponsoring an event.

Download Generic Informational Letterhead Template

Office Specific Informational Letterhead

This letterhead template is meant to be used for informational letters that are from a specific department. For example: A financial aid award letter where students would need to contact the Financial Aid Office with questions.

The template includes fields within the black bar at the top to allow the user to create office specific letterhead. It is recommended that at least 3 of the following fields are included: Name of the Office, Telephone Number, Email address for the point of contact, and/or Room number.

Download Office Specific Informational Letterhead Template

Ceremonial Letterhead

This letterhead is meant to be used for ceremonial or executive purposes only. For example: a letter announcing that a student has won a scholarship or a letter from the Office of the President or the Vice Presidents. It can be customized for the specific sender.

Download Ceremonial Letterhead Template

Logos

The Mott Community College service mark has been registered with the State of Michigan. The identification number assigned to this mark is M06285.

Note: MCC sign-in credentials required to access/view/download documents or forms as indicated with this icon:

Special Logos

Add MOTT Email Signature Logo

From the Gear Icon in Gmail > See All Settings
Scroll down to "Signature"
Place cursor in the text box at the location you want the logo.
Select the Insert Image icon (Mountains in a box) on the widget toolbar.
Select "Web Address (URL)".
(When future versions are updated by using the URL method the logo will update automatically.)
Paste: https://www.mcc.edu/_resources/images/email-signature.jpg
Select button.
Save Settings button at bottom of settings window.

Horizontal Logos

H1_A Black Type

Application: Web, Powerpoint, Video
- login required JPG - RGB - White Background
- login required PNG - RGB - Transparent Background
Application: Word, Print Media
- login required EPS - CMYK

H1_B White Type

Application: Web, Powerpoint, Video
- login required JPG - RGB - Black Background
- login required PNG - RGB - Transparent Background
Application: Word, Print Media
- login required EPS - CMYK

Vertical Logos

H1_A Black Type

Application: Web, Powerpoint, Video
- login required JPG - RGB - White Background
- login required PNG - RGB - Transparent Background
Application: Word, Print Media
- login required EPS - CMYK

H1_B White Type

Application: Web, Powerpoint, Video
- login required JPG - RGB - Black Background
- login required PNG - RGB - Transparent Background
Application: Word, Print Media
- login required EPS - CMYK

Zoom Background Images

Note: MCC sign-in credentials required to access/view/download documents or forms as indicated with this icon:

Zoom Background Image Thumnail - MCC Changing Lives/Mott Strong Themed — MCC Changing Lives/Mott Strong Themed

Download the "Changing Lives/Mott Strong" Background Image

Zoom Background Image Thumnail - Welcome in Different Languages Themed — Welcome in Different Languages Themed

Download the "Welcome in Different Languages" Background Image