Formatting

This section is included as a reminder of issues that tend to cause confusion. It includes ASU exceptions to AP style.
 

• Bold: Use sparingly in copy. (See Using fonts and typography to communicate the ASU brand)
  • In limited amounts, boldface can help readers quickly scan long-format copy for key information.
• Bulleted lists: See Lists
• Underline: Only use to indicate a link. See Links and URLs below
• Italics: Do not use 
  • Italics create readability issues for readers with visual difficulties, dyslexia or migraine disorders.
• Subscript: Avoid using subscript letters. Exception: On second reference, abbreviate carbon dioxide as CO2.
  • ✅ Do: The research team designed a new method for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere.
• Superscript: Avoid using superscript letters, such as with numerals and ordinals, because this treatment may not always display correctly. Use the same size type as the numeral:
  • ✅ Do: 21st century, 🚫 Don't: 21ˢᵗ century
  • ✅ Do: 10th floor, 🚫 Don't: 10ᵗʰ floor
    
    Exception: Trademark symbols are always superscript in text (e.g., Sun Devil^® Athletics, Go Devils™).
    
    Note: Superscript ordinals are the default in Microsoft Word. Learn how to disable this default option.
    
    See Numerals for guidelines when using ordinals.

See Titles for composition and publication formatting standards.

See Fonts and typography for body copy styling tips.
 

See Addresses and U.S. states.
 

• All expressions of headlines should be in sentence case — the first letter is capitalized, as are all proper names and nouns. Exception: The first word after a colon is always uppercase in headlines:
  • ✅ Do: ASU journalism programs hailed by New York Times
  • ✅ Do: Beta blockers may halt cancer
  • ✅ Do: BT suffers broadband failure: Small businesses are affected the most
• Use figures for all numbers, including those less than 10:
  • ✅ Do: 9 ASU students win competitive scholarship
  • 🚫 Don't: Nine ASU students win competitive scholarship
• Do not use punctuation, even at the end of a sentence, unless needed for clarity.
• If quotation marks are needed, use single quote marks.
  • ✅ Do: Is texting the language of the future? ASU linguists say ‘yes’
• Do not use periods in abbreviations unless needed for clarity.
  • ✅ Do: Gas prices rise in the EU
  • ✅ Do: ASU is the most innovative university in the US

See Fonts and typography for headline styling tips.

Whether in copy or a link on a webpage, in a presentation, in a Word or Google document or in print, links and URLs should be ASU Maroon and underlined.

In copy

• All lowercase in text — URLs are not case-sensitive. 
  • ✅ Do: asu.edu, 🚫 Don't: ASU.edu
  • ✅ Do: herbergerinstitute.asu.edu, 🚫 Don't: HerbergerInstitute.asu.edu
  • ✅ Do: asuprintonline.asu.edu, 🚫 Don't: ASUPrintOnline.asu.edu
• Do not include https:// and www
  • ✅ Do: asu.edu
  • 🚫 Don't: https://www.asu.edu
  • 🚫 Don't: www.asu.edu
  • 🚫 Don't: asu.edu/
  • 🚫 Don't: https://asu.edu
    
    Exception: Web addresses in the ASU Academic Catalog must include prefixes.
• If a URL is long or complicated enough to be confusing, consider creating an alias shorter than the full URL.
• If a web address requires two lines, make the split after a symbol.
• If a URL ends a sentence, use a period but do not hyperlink the period.
   

Links

• Do not use the words, “here,” “go” or “click” in links to digital applications. Use descriptive keywords in links, which support a better user experience and benefit SEO.
  • ✅ Do: Learn more about ASU web standards.
  • ✅ Do: The Web Standards 2.0 project prioritized user needs based on qualitative and quantitative behavioral data. 
  • ✅ Do: Read more about President Crow and his vision for the New American University.
  • 🚫 Don't: Go here to learn more.
  • 🚫 Don't: To learn more about web standards, click here.
  • 🚫 Don't: Find more details on this page.
  • 🚫 Don't: Read more on news.asu.edu. (Appropriate for print but not digital use.)

See Search Engine Optimization, User experience design (UX).
 

See Numerals.
 

• Use complete sentences that explain the activity or subject.
• Use present tense for the sentence that explains the action in the photo.
• Supply information the picture cannot.
  • ✅ Do: John Smith shoots the game-winning free throw Friday at Desert Financial Arena. Smith scored 40 points for the game.
  • 🚫 Don't: ASU basketball player.
     

See Punctuation and symbols.
 

• Do not include the word hashtag or account.
  • ✅ Do: Use #FutureSunDevils, 🚫 Don't: Use hashtag #FutureSunDevils
  • ✅ Do: Follow FutureSunDevils on Twitter, 🚫 Don't: Follow our Twitter account @FutureSunDevils
• Do not include symbols for accounts, they’re not necessary.
  • ✅ Do: Facebook page: FutureSunDevils, 🚫 Don't: Facebook page: /FutureSunDevils
  • ✅ Do: Twitter account: FutureSunDevils, 🚫 Don't: Twitter account: @FutureSunDevils
  • ✅ Do: Instagram account: FutureSunDevils, 🚫 Don't: Instagram account: @FutureSunDevils