Who needs to use this editorial style guide?

This guide is intended for McMaster University employees who are writing or editing text for print publications, websites, mobile, promotional and other content for internal and external audiences.

This document has been developed by staff members from across the university and is published by Communications and Public Affairs (CAPA) at McMaster University.

Like most Canadian universities, we follow the style of Canadian Press (CP) and its two publications for the English language:

• The Canadian Press Stylebook, a reference guide for journalists; and
• The Canadian Press Caps and Spelling, a more specialized manual that focuses on technicalities of the English language.
• These publications can be purchased in printed form or with an online subscription at The Canadian Writing Press.
• The Canadian Oxford Dictionary is also a valuable reference.

This editorial style guide is meant to serve as a supplement to these three reference books.

For guidelines on how to work with the Brighter World brand online (including web code and visual elements), please use the McMaster Digital Brand Standards Manual.

Both are available at McMaster’s Brand Guidelines.