Style Guide
The online Health Sciences Style Guide features the most up-to-date guidelines from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Office of Communications. UArizona Health Sciences follows Associated Press Style and University of Arizona Brand Style, with a few notable exceptions.
Designated Office of Communications staff members are available to answer any of your AP Style questions. Please direct questions to Martin Rosales at martinjrosales@arizona.edu.
For social media guidelines, please review the Health Sciences Social Media Toolkit.
The University of Arizona
Visit the Brand written style guide under “The University of Arizona” for current guidelines.
University of Arizona Foundation
Visit the Brand written style guide under “University of Arizona Foundation” for current guidelines.
Arizona Board of Regents
Visit the Brand written style guide under “Arizona Board of Regents” for current guidelines.
NOTE: The Arizona Board of Regents does not use an apostrophe in Regents Professor or Regents Grant.
First reference: University of Arizona Health Sciences
Second reference: U of A Health Sciences
Subsequent references (internal audiences only): Health Sciences
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About the University of Arizona Health Sciences
The University of Arizona Health Sciences is one of the top-ranked academic medical centers in the southwestern United States, garnering more than $400 million in research grants and contracts annually. U of A Health Sciences comprises the College of Health Sciences, College of Medicine – Phoenix, College of Medicine – Tucson, College of Nursing, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Additionally, 15 centers are dedicated to excellence in cancer, neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases, pandemic preparedness, precision health care, and pain and addiction. U of A Health Sciences employs approximately 3,000 people and has approximately 900 faculty members and 6,700 students on campuses in Tucson, Phoenix and Gilbert, Arizona. For more information: healthsciences.arizona.edu Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram
The University of Arizona Health Sciences is home to 15 centers that are dedicated to specific areas of research, clinical care, teaching and community service. The centers can be found here: https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/centers-programs
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “Center” (capitalized) may be used.
First reference: University of Arizona College of Health Sciences
Second reference: U of A College of Health Sciences
Subsequent references: College of Health Sciences
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “College” (capitalized) may be used.
Midwifery: The College has a Master of Science in Midwifery, not to be confused with Nursing’s DNP with a nurse-midwifery specialty.
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About the University of Arizona College of Health Sciences
The College of Health Sciences was established in 2023 to improve the knowledge, health and wellness of Arizona’s diverse communities by innovatively educating the next generation of adaptive health care professionals and contributing to the body of clinical translational research in society. With a focus on graduate programs, the college is committed to training students and developing a workforce of health professionals to serve the needs of Arizona’s communities with compassionate and culturally sensitive care through inclusive and innovative translational research as scientists. The college offers five graduate-level degree programs: Midwifery, Physician Assistant, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Genetic Counseling and Clinical Translational Sciences. For more information: healthsciences.arizona.edu/academics/college-of-health-sciences
First reference: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Second reference: U of A College of Medicine – Tucson
Subsequent references: College of Medicine – Tucson
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “College” (capitalized) may be used.
NOTE: The name includes a “space” followed by an “en dash” followed by a “space” between Medicine and Tucson.
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About the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is shaping the future of medicine through state-of-the-art medical education programs, groundbreaking research and advancements in patient care in Arizona and beyond. Founded in 1967, the college boasts more than 55 years of innovation, ranking among the top medical schools in the nation for research and primary care. Through the university's partnership with Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country, the college is leading the way in academic medicine. For more information: medicine.arizona.edu (Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram).
First reference: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Second reference: U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix
Subsequent references: College of Medicine – Phoenix
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “College” (capitalized) may be used.
NOTE: The name includes a “space” followed by an “en dash” followed by a “space” between Medicine and Phoenix.
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About the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to optimize health and health care in Arizona and beyond. By cultivating collaborative research locally and globally, the college accelerates discovery in a number of critical areas including cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cardiovascular disease. Championed as a student-centric campus, the college has graduated 669 physicians, all of whom received exceptional training from nine clinical partners and 2,600 diverse faculty members. As the anchor to the Phoenix Bioscience Core, which is projected to have an economic impact of $3.1 billion by 2025, the college prides itself on engaging with the community, fostering education, inclusion, access and advocacy. For more information: phoenixmed.arizona.edu (Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram).
First reference: University of Arizona College of Nursing
Second reference: U of A College of Nursing
Subsequent references: College of Nursing
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “College” (capitalized) may be used.
The College of Nursing offers degree programs in Tucson and Gilbert, Arizona. When writing about a program that is offered in both locations or solely in Gilbert, it is appropriate to clarify the location.
Example: Located in downtown Gilbert, the Integrative Health Pathway blends conventional medicine with complementary approaches to well-being.
Example: Program options are available in both Gilbert and Tucson
Midwifery: The College of Nursing has a DNP with a nurse-midwifery specialty. Not to be confused with College of Health Sciences’s Master of Science in Midwifery.
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About the University of Arizona College of Nursing
Established in 1957, the University of Arizona College of Nursing has been transforming nursing education, research and practice to help people build better futures for more than 60 years. Consistently ranked among the best programs in the nation, the college is strengthening health care’s largest workforce and the public’s most trusted profession through its undergraduate and graduate programs, offered online and on-campus in Tucson, Phoenix and Gilbert, Arizona. With headquarters in Tucson, where integrative health has been pioneered, the College of Nursing is home to the only BSN degree with an integrative health focus in the country. With key focal strengths in integrative health, cancer prevention and survivorship, and nursing informatics, the college has more than 7,000 alumni worldwide promoting health and wellness in their workplaces and communities. For more information: nursing.arizona.edu (Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram).
First reference: University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy
Second reference: U of A Coit College of Pharmacy
Subsequent references: Coit College of Pharmacy
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “College” (capitalized) may be used.
The Coit College of Pharmacy offers degree programs in Tucson and Phoenix and refers to its Phoenix location as its “Phoenix Campus” or site.
Example: The PharmD program is offered at the college’s site on the Phoenix Bioscience Core.
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About the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy
The University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is the premier pharmacy college in the Southwest and one of the top in the nation focused on drug discovery, toxicology, pharmaceutics, health outcomes and sciences, pharmaceutical education, and research through interprofessional training and collaborative public/private partnerships. Preparing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in undergraduate, professional, graduate and postdoctoral programs, the college embraces an entrepreneurial spirit, providing tailored educational opportunities to broaden students' experiences. Established 75 years ago as the first health sciences college at the University of Arizona, the college has a long history of improving science and health, both in Arizona and around the world. It is currently ranked No. 5 among the nation's 143 colleges of pharmacy by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. For more information: pharmacy.arizona.edu (Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn)
First reference: University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Second reference: U of A Zuckerman College of Public Health
Subsequent references: Zuckerman College of Public Health
For internal audiences, on second or subsequent references, “College” (capitalized) may be used.
The Zuckerman College of Public Health offers degree programs in Tucson and Phoenix and refers to its Phoenix location as its “Phoenix Campus.”
Example: The Phoenix Campus of the Zuckerman College of Public Health is located on the Phoenix Bioscience Core in downtown Phoenix.
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About the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Established in 2000, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona Health Sciences delivers education, research and service programs that build healthier communities locally, nationally and globally. The only nationally accredited college of public health in Arizona, the college enrolls hundreds of students per year in degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels taught at campuses in Tucson, Phoenix and online. As a leader in public health research and promotion with a focus on health equity, the college receives significant grant funding from federal agencies. Through research, education and community engagement among diverse populations, the Zuckerman College of Public Health continues to find solutions to public health challenges across the state and around the world. For more information: publichealth.arizona.edu (Follow us: (Follow us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter).
Headquartered in Arizona, Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system owns and operates 30 acute-care hospitals, Banner Health Network, Banner – University Medicine, academic and employed physician groups, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services, including Banner Urgent Care, family clinics, home care and hospice services, pharmacies and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. Banner Health is a fully integrated system that includes the Banner Health Network, Banner Medical Group and Banner – University Medicine. For more information, visit Banner Health’s website: www.bannerhealth.com/about
Banner – University Medicine
Banner – University Medicine serves as the primary clinical partner for the University of Arizona Health Sciences. Banner – University Medicine is the academic medicine division of Banner Health, anchored in Phoenix and Tucson. This division includes three academic medical centers:
- Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
- Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix
- Banner – University Medical Center South
Formerly known as the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. All three of Arizona’s public research universities – Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona – are on the Phoenix Bioscience Core, which also is home to corporate, federal and early-stage life science leaders. For more information: phoenixbiosciencecore.com/about-phoenix-bioscience-core/
NOTE: It is correct to say “on the Phoenix Bioscience Core” (not “at the Phoenix Bioscience Core).
The University of Arizona programs on the Phoenix Bioscience Core include the College of Medicine – Phoenix, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, the James E. Rogers College of Law and the Eller College of Management. Also part of the PBC: TGen, ASU Downtown campus, Phoenix Bioscience High School, ASU Prep, St. Joseph Dignity Cancer Center; ASU Thunderbird; and 850 PBC.
AP Style: Frequently Used & Misused
AP Style does not use italics. Scientific journal names or magazines should be in title case and regular text, without quotation marks.
- Lowercase magazine unless it is part of the publication's formal title: Harper's Magazine, Newsweek magazine, Time magazine. Check the masthead if in doubt.
EXAMPLE: The paper was published in the journal Nature Digital Medicine.
AP Style does not use title case for headlines. Headlines should be in sentence case.
- Capitalize only the first word and proper nouns in headlines that use AP style. EXCEPTION: The first word after a colon is always uppercase in headlines.
EXAMPLE: Training genetic counselors to advance precision medicine
EXAMPLE: Planetscape: Fusing art, science and technology
AP Style uses title case for composition titles, which includes scientific papers.
- Apply these guidelines to the titles of books, movies, plays, poems, albums, songs, operas, radio and television programs, lectures, speeches and works of art:
- Capitalize all words in a title except articles (a, an, the); prepositions of three or fewer letters (for, of, on, up, etc.); and conjunctions of three or fewer letters (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet, etc.) unless any of those start or end the title.
- Capitalize prepositions of four or more letters (above, after, down, inside, over, with, etc.) and conjunctions of four or more letters (because, while, since, though, etc.)
- Capitalize both parts of a phrasal verb: “What To Look For in a Mate”; “Turn Off the Lights in Silence.” But: “A Life of Eating Chocolate for Stamina”; “Living With Both Feet off the Ground.” (Note the different uses of for and off, and thus the different capitalization, in those examples.)
- Capitalize to infinitives: “What I Want To Be When I Grow Up.”
- Put quotation marks around the names of all such works except the Bible, the Quran and other holy books, and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material. In addition to catalogs, this category includes almanacs, directories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, gazetteers, handbooks and similar publications.
AP Style advises against the use of acronyms and never places them in parentheses after the name/phrase.
- In general, avoid alphabet soup. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms that the reader would not quickly recognize. AVOID AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONS: Do not follow the full name of an organization or company with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses or set off by dashes. If an abbreviation or acronym would not be clear on second reference without this arrangement, do not use it.
Department names: Unlike AP, UAHS style is to capitalize departments and unit names unless used in a generic sense. For instance, we capitalize Immunobiology when talking about the specific department within basic science departments in the College of Medicine – Tucson, but lowercase the word in this instance “He studied immunology at the College of Medicine – Tucson.”
Degree names: Capitalize when referring to specific degrees. “The college conferred 56 Bachelor of Science degrees on Saturday.” Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science.
Titles & Credentials
NOTE: This is a Health Sciences style that differs from AP Style and University of Arizona style.
First reference: Include degree designations after an individual’s name in all internal and external publications (e.g. Jane Jones, MD, or Jane Jones, PhD). Use only the highest academic degree earned, unless an individual requests otherwise.
Second reference: Use the person’s last name only (e.g. Jones, not Dr. Jones). EXCEPTION: If the communication is written in first-person style, such as a dean’s message or senior vice president message, the preference is to use “Dr. Jones,” as that is how the writer would refer to the individual if they were speaking.
Board certifications should not be listed after degrees unless an individual requests it. EXCEPTION: RN is frequently used in addition to PhD to show a person’s experience in the nursing field.