Style Guide

The CLA style guide is used to ensure consistency across all CLA department websites. It does not cover all points of grammar, formatting, style, and media. Other online publications may be able to answer those questions.

If you are not finding an answer to your question, we'd recommend consulting one of the following resources.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Resources

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities has also developed a safety communications style guide (PDF) with graphic templates and editorial guidelines for shared voice and tone, official terminology, visual identity, and social media principles

Style Questions Not Answered Through CLA or UMN Style Resources

If you have style questions that you did not find through this CLA or UMN style guides, refer to The Chicago Manual of Style first. It's the preferred style for the College of Liberal Arts.

Chicago Manual of Style

University of Minnesota employees and students can access The Chicago Manual of Style online for free through the UMN Libraries. 

Resources for Inclusivity

Many of these resources have been collected and shared by University Relations. They note that any style guide is just a well-meaning recommendation. As language and subsequent research evolve, these guidelines will (and should) change. Some guides may even contradict one another. What matters most is making informed, holistic decisions that respect those you are reporting about and to. 

For more information, check out University Relations' Tools for Communicating About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. If you have further questions, reach out to University Relations at unews@umn.edu or the Office for Equity and Diversity at oed@umn.edu.

AP Style Guide Chapter on Inclusive Storytelling

The AP Style Guide contains a useful specialty chapter on inclusive storytelling that provides guidance on: disabilities; diseases; gender, sex and sexual orientation; gender-neutral language; immigration, migration; older adult(s), older person/people; race-related coverage; shorthand descriptions; the Religion chapter; the Health and Science chapter. University of Minnesota employees and students can access the AP Style Guide online for free through the UMN Libraries.  

Carter Center Journalism Resource Guide on Behavioral Health

The Carter Center Journalism Resource Guide on Behavioral Health provides guidance on mental health and substance use issues, with the objective of encouraging media professionals to dispel stereotypes and misconceptions of traditionally sensationalized topics.

Disability Language Style Guide

The National Center on Disability in Journalism produced a disability language style guide. This style guide covers dozens of words and terms commonly used when referring to disability. 

Diversity Style Guide

The Diversity Style Guide is a resource to help journalists and other media professionals cover a complex, multicultural world with accuracy, authority, and sensitivity. It was initially a project of the Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism at San Francisco State University. It contains more than 700 terms related to race/ethnicity, disability, immigration, sexuality and gender identity, drugs and alcohol, and geography. You can browse the stylebook by letter or by category.

Language, Please

Language, Please: A “living resource” of regularly updated style guidance on hundreds of terms with in-depth context, further resources, and related terms. Their site is also home to interactive editing exercises and an independent inclusivity reader directory.  

National Center on Disability and Journalism Disability Language Style Guide

Through the National Center on Disability and Journalism Disability Language Style Guide, learn words and terms associated with disability. Developed at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, users can expect lots of empirical background which informs each recommendation.

Trans Journalists Association Style Guide

The Trans Journalists Association Style Guide was reated to “promote more accurate, nuanced coverage of trans issues and communities in the media,” this tool gives guidance on terminology, and also best practices for newsroom and source ethics and procedures. 

UMN Accessible U Style Guide

The Accessible U Style Guide contains the guidelines and resources that the Accessible U Committee used to develop their site. 
 

Email Colleen Ware (warex005@umn.edu) with any questions or concerns.