a, an Use the article a before consonant sounds: a historic event, a one-year term (sounds as if it begins with a w), a united stand (sounds like you).
Use the article an before vowel sounds: an energy crisis, an honorable man (the h is silent), an NBA record (sounds like it begins with the letter e).
abbreviations See addresses; days; degrees, academic; dates; months; state names; time zones.
Academic All-American, All-American
academic departments and programs Capitalize the names of academic departments and programs when using their full formal names. (Department of History, Creative Writing Program). In informal references, use lowercase except for words that are proper nouns or adjectives (history department, English department, comparative American studies). Refer to the Oberlin College Course Catalog or the Oberlin College Directory. See capitalization.
academic disciplines Do not capitalize the names of academic disciplines, fields of study, majors, minors, concentrations, or interdisciplinary programs unless the names are proper nouns. Emily plans to study history and African American literature. Alex is pursuing a major in economics. Sarah is a violin performance major. See capitalization.
academic honors The phrases cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude should not be italicized. Students may also earn honors at Oberlin—honors, high honors, and highest honors. These terms are not capitalized in running text. She earned highest honors in biology. See foreign words and phrases.
academic titles See titles, academic and professional.
academic year It is correct to separate the years with a hyphen and to shorten the form for the second year in the construction: the 2017-18 academic year. This form is also appropriate for fiscal years.
accent marks See formatting.
acknowledgment Not acknowledgement.
acronyms See Oberlin Acronyms.
act numbers Use Arabic figures and capitalize act: Act 1; Act 2, Scene 2.
But: the first act, the second act.
AD, BC See eras.
addresses Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd., Ct., Dr., Rd., and St. with a numbered address, 100 Professor St., and in tabular material. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Professor Street.
The names of streets, avenues, squares, parks, and so forth are capitalized. The generic term is lowercased when used alone but capitalized when used as part of a plural name:
All similar words (alley, terrace, etc.) are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number or with two or more names; lowercase when used alone.
Always use figures for an address number:
27 E. Lorain St.
Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures with two letters for 10th and above: 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St.
Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 600 K St. NW, 27 E. Lorain St. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: West Lorain Street.
addresses in class notes In the class notes sections of college publications, use standard abbreviations and not postal abbreviations for state names. However, if the state name appears as part of a mailing address within the note, use the postal abbreviation. See state names.
addresses in running text Use commas to separate units: A native of Northridge, California, she is a member of the women’s track team.
administrative offices Capitalize the names of Oberlin College offices when using the official, formal name. Refer to the Oberlin College website for the full official names of college offices. The Office of Admissions moved recently. Speak to someone in the communications office. See capitalization.
advisor Not adviser.
affect/effect Affect, as a verb, means to influence. The president’s decision will affect the timing of the program.
Affect, as a noun, is best avoided. It is sometimes used in psychology to describe an emotion.
Effect, as a verb, means to cause: He will effect many changes at Oberlin.
Effect, as a noun, means result: The effect was overwhelming.