data A plural noun, it normally takes plural verbs and pronouns. However, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary notes that while it is a plural noun, it can be singular or plural in construction. As an abstract mass noun (like information), data takes a singular verb and singular modifiers (as this, much, little), and is referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard.
database
dates Always use Arabic figures, without st, nd, rd, or th (July 8, not July 8th).
Separate years from month and day with commas. They married January 15, 1988, in Oberlin.
Use commas when including the day. She was born Tuesday, September 14, at 7:17 p.m., but not with month and year only, January 1988.
Do not abbreviate names of days or months in running text.
Avoid using a dash with from or between. Incorrect: The symposium takes place from March 30-April 2. Correct: The symposium takes place from March 30 to April 2. Correct: The symposium takes place March 30-April 2.
It is not necessary to repeat the month in citing a range of dates. May 7-14.
daylight saving time (not daylight savings time)
days Do not abbreviate days of the week except when necessary in lists or charts.
When necessary, use the following abbreviations: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. The three-letter format without periods facilitates placement in tabular material.
Dean, Office of the See also administrative offices. When referencing the appropriate office in either the College of Arts and Sciences or the Conservatory of Music, use the singular, non-possessive form “dean.” Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Office of the Dean of the Conservatory
If the division (college or conservatory) is clear, it is sufficient to use simply Office of the Dean.
On secondary and subsequent references, dean’s office is acceptable for both the college and conservatory deans’ offices.
When the context implies the involvement of multiple deans in the office, it is permissible to use constructions such as conservatory deans office. Possessive form is generally not necessary in these instances.
decades Use Arabic figures to indicate decades. Use an apostrophe (option-shift-right bracket on a Mac computer) to indicate that numerals are left out. Show plurals by adding the letter s, without an apostrophe: the 1890s, the ’90s, the mid-1930s. See formatting, contractions.
degrees, academic Capitalize the names and abbreviations of academic degrees whether they follow personal names or stand by themselves. Do not use periods in the abbreviations. (John Doe, Doctor of Law; Mary Smith, DEng; She recently earned a PhD.)
Do not use degree designations with names unless the degrees are relevant to the story.
Refer to it as a bachelor’s, a master’s, a doctoral degree; or an associate degree, not his or her associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
The plural form of a degree is the same as the singular: They have master’s degrees.
Oberlin style is to use the phrase earned a degree at, and not received a degree from.
Oberlin style generally reserves the use of the title Dr. for medical doctors only. The title is generally not used for someone who holds a PhD degree. However, the Oberlin Alumni Magazine will use degree designations and courtesy titles particularly in obituaries. See titles, honorific; names of people; titles, academic and professional.
Oberlin currently awards the following degrees: