TCU 360 style guide
This is the style guide for TCU 360, Image and The Skiff. It includes TCU-specific style rules for buildings, academic colleges, athletics, area features and more as well as commonly missed AP Style rules. Items are in alphabetical order. Please reach out to a member of the copy desk with any questions or suggested additions.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | TCU Sports | U | V | W | Y | Z
A
academic colleges
Capitalize school and college when they are parts of proper names
accents
AP Style: Use accent marks or other diacritical marks with names of people who request them or are widely known to use them, or if quoting directly in a language that uses them (ex: The officer asked, “Cómo estás?”). Otherwise do not use these marks in English-language stories.
AddRan College of Liberal Arts
The liberal arts college on second reference. Formerly the AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
admission office
See also: TCU Office of Admission
adviser
Not advisor
Alcohol & Drug Education center
See also: Substance Use & Recovery Services
alum, alumna, alumnus
AP Style: Use alumnus (plural alumni) for a man who graduated from a university. Use alumna (plural alumnae) for a woman. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women. TCU 360 Style: Use alum as a gender-neutral term for a person who graduated from a university for people who identify as nonbinary. Ask sources how they want to be described.
Anne Burnett School of Medicine at TCU
Formerly the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, then TCU School of Medicine; Burnett School of Medicine or medical school on subsequent references
AT&T Stadium
Formerly known as Cowboys Stadium
B
Bailey Building
Bass Building
Acceptable on all references for the Annie Richardson Bass Building
Bass Performance Hall
Bass Hall on second reference
Beasley Hall
Acceptable on all references for the Theodore Prentis Beasley Hall
Beasley House
Graduate housing for Brite Divinity School
Beckham-Shelburne Hall
Demolished
Black Alumni Alliance
BAA on second reference
Board of Trustees
The board on second reference. TCU’s governing body. One scheduled meeting per semester. List of members here: https://www.tcu.edu/about/leadership/board-of-trustees.php
Bob Schieffer College of Communication
The College of Communication on second reference. Contains the departments of Communication Studies and Film-TV-Digital Media and the schools of Journalism and Strategic Communication.
Brachman Hall
Demolished 2015
Brite Divinity School
The divinity school on second reference
Brown-Lupton Health Center
The health center on second reference
Brown-Lupton University Union
The BLUU acceptable on second reference
Brown-Lupton University Union Auditorium
The BLUU Auditorium acceptable on second reference
C
Campus Cash
An option included in TCU dining plans that allows students to use their TCU IDs to pay for meals at on-campus restaurants
Campus Commons
The Commons on second reference
Carr Chapel
Acceptable on second reference for the Robert Carr Chapel
Carter Hall
Acceptable on all references for Amon G. Carter Hall
Center for Career and Professional Development
The TCU career center acceptable on all references
Center for Instructional Services
The CIS on second reference
chairs and professorships
Named academic positions created by an endowed amount. See https://tcu.smartcatalogiq.com/current/Undergraduate-Catalog/Material-Resources/Chairs-and-Professorships for specific positions.
chancellor
Leaders of TCU were called presidents until 1959, when the Board of Trustees changed M. E. Sadler’s title from president to chancellor. The duties of president and chancellor were separate from Sadler’s retirement in 1965 until 2023, when the new president was announced. The chancellor is tasked with fundraising and outreach for the university, while the president focuses on day-to-day operations. A complete list of TCU’s chief administrators can be found at www.chancellor.tcu.edu/history.asp.
See also: Victor J. Boschini Jr.
Chancellor’s Assembly
The assembly on second reference. Part of Frogs First.
Chancellor’s Leadership Program
The CLP on second reference
charges
Do not use predictions such as “charges will be filed” or write “charges are pending” unless attributed to someone. Best: No charges have been filed. Wait until the district attorney has accepted charges against a suspect before reporting that the suspect has been charged.
Christmas Tree Lighting
The tree lighting on second reference
cities
For cities in Texas, you don’t have to put Texas, unless the city may be confused with somewhere else (like Paris, Texas).
- Common cities in Tarrant County are Arlington, Azle (which is partly in Parker County), Bedford, Benbrook, Burleson (which is partly in Johnson County), Colleyville, Euless, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grapevine (which is partly in Dallas and Denton Counties), Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, Lake Worth, Mansfield (which is partly in Ellis and Johnson Counties), North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Saginaw, Southlake (which is partly in Denton County) and White Settlement.
- Common cities in Texas are Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Dallas, Galveston, Grand Prairie, Houston, Irving, Lubbock, Mesquite, Midland, Odessa, Plano, Roanoke, San Angelo, San Antonio, Waco and Wichita Falls.
Clark Brothers Statue
The statue on second reference. Not the Founders Statue
Clark Hall
Colby Hall
College of Education
College of Fine Arts
Contains the School of Art, School of Music and School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, and the Departments of Design, Fashion Merchandising and Theatre.
College of Science & Engineering
Includes the Departments of Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Nutritional Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology and Ranch Management
colleges and universities
All colleges and universities should be identified by full name on first reference unless otherwise noted by AP or TCU Style. On second reference, college or university can be left out of the title. Abbreviations are not acceptable on second reference unless otherwise noted. Follow second reference guidelines for headlines and info boxes unless otherwise noted. Texas colleges and universities of importance include:
- Abilene Christian University — ACU on second reference
- Angelo State University — ASU on second reference. Part of the Texas Tech University system.
- Baylor University — Baylor on first reference
- Hardin-Simmons University
- Midwestern State University
- Prairie View A&M University — Part of the Texas A&M University system
- Rice University
- Stephen F. Austin State University — SFA on second reference
- Southern Methodist University — SMU on all references
- Tarleton State University — Part of the Texas A&M University system
- Tarrant County College — TCC on second reference. Identify which campus.
- Texas A&M University — Texas A&M on first reference. A&M on second reference. Note: Use of Texas A&M without a town means College Station. If referencing another campus (Galveston, Commerce, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Texarkana), mention that in the story.
- Texas State University — TSU on second reference
- Texas Tech University — Texas Tech or Tech on second reference
- Texas Wesleyan University — Do not use TWU in any reference
- Texas Woman’s University — Do not use TWU in any reference
- Trinity University
- University of Dallas
- University of Houston
- University of North Texas — UNT on second reference
- University of Texas at Arlington — UTA on second reference
- University of Texas at Austin — Texas on second reference
- University of Texas at Brownsville — UT-Brownsville on second reference
- University of Texas at Dallas — UTD on second reference
- University of Texas at El Paso — UTEP on second reference
- University of Texas-Pan American — UTPA on second reference
- University of Texas at San Antonio — UTSA on second reference
- University of Texas at Tyler — UT-Tyler on second reference
commencement
Capitalize only with proper names (TCU 2020 Spring Commencement). Use commencement on second reference.
Community Commons
Capitalized. The Commons also acceptable
Community Scholars Program
The program on second reference. Do not capitalize community scholar when describing individuals (community scholar Patrick Smith).
Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies
CRES acceptable on second reference
convocations
Fall Convocation or Honors Convocation (occurs in the spring). Use convocation on second reference.
corrections
Corrections should appear on the front page. Do not write that we regret the error or restate the error.
Give the date and page of story, say that it was incorrectly reported and give the correct information. Ex: A Page 2 story Friday about [article topic] should have reported that [insert correction here].
If there are many corrections, split them into separate sentences. Ex: The story also should have reported that [insert further correction here].
Make sure the correction is approved by the editor-in-chief as soon as it is written by the responsible party.
When possible, confine all corrections to the same box on the front page and separate corrections about different stories into paragraphs within that box. If more space is required, create another correction box.
Counseling and Mental Health Center
The counseling center on second reference
Cultural District
Includes Amon Carter Museum, Museum of Science and History, Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Casa Mañana, Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and Will Rogers Memorial Center. More information at http://www.fwculture.com/.
D
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
DFW Airport or the airport on second reference. If it could be confused with another airport, use DFW Airport on second reference.
Dallas-Fort Worth area
Not Fort Worth-Dallas. DFW is acceptable on second reference, but make sure it’s clear you mean the whole region and not the airport. Metroplex should be used sparingly.
Dallas Love Field airport
Dan D. Rogers Hall
Demolished 2020
dance concert
Not dance recital
datelines
Datelines indicate a reporter was actually at the datelined city to cover the story. If the story was written entirely on TCU’s campus, no dateline should be used. Follow AP style to determine whether to include the name of a state or nation.
The airport on second reference. If it could be confused with another airport, use Love Field on second reference.
Dean of Students
Formerly Campus Life
Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center
The Kelly Center acceptable on second reference
Department of English
Not English Department
Dining Services
See also: TCU Dining Services
E
Ed Landreth Hall
Acceptable on all references for the Ed Landreth Hall and Auditorium
“eleven40seven”
Note the uncapitalized “e” and surrounding quotes
Erma Lowe Hall
Erma Lowe Hall acceptable on all references
F
Facilities
Formerly Physical Plant; TCU Facilities develops and manages TCU’s buildings, infrastructure, grounds and other facilities
Fact Book
Put the year before the name (2015 Fact Book). The Fact Book on second reference.
Faculty Senate
Fall Break
fall/spring
Lowercase unless with proper noun (spring 2001, spring semester, Fall Commencement)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FERPA on second reference. Federal law governing student education records. Also known as the Buckley Amendment.
Family Weekend
FERPA
See also: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
film-TV-digital media
FTDM on second reference
first-year
Not freshman
Flex 7 meal plan
The meal plan or the Flex 7 plan on second reference
Flex 12 meal plan
The meal plan or the Flex 12 plan on second reference
Fort Worth Zoo
The zoo on second reference
Foster Hall
Frances Sadler Hall
Demolished 2017
Fraternity & Sorority Life
FSL on second reference
Frog Alley Parking Garage
Frog Alley on second reference
Frog Bucks
An option included in TCU dining plans that allows students to use their TCU IDs to pay for meals at off-campus restaurants.
Frog Calls Directory
Frog Calls on second reference
Frog Camp
Camps include Alpine, Casa Nueva, Challenge and Costa Rica. See more at http://sds.tcu.edu/students/incoming/frogcamp/about-frog-camp/.
Frog Corps
Men’s choir
Frog Fountain
Froggie Five-0
Acceptable on all references for the TCU police escort service. Note that the name ends with a 0 (zero), not an O.
Froghenge
Acceptable on all references
FrogJobs
Frogs
Acceptable on all references
See also: Horned Frog
Frogs First
Frogstock
G
GPA
Acceptable on all references for grade point average
Greek
Capitalize on all references as proper noun
Greek Village
The village on second reference
Greek societies
Use the society’s full name on first reference. Commonly known nicknames are acceptable on second reference. Be sure to indicate if it is a fraternity or sorority. Note if it is a service fraternity.
Fraternities:
- Alpha Phi Alpha (Alphas)
- Beta Theta Pi (Beta)
- Beta Upsilon Chi (Brothers Under Christ or BYX) — BYX on second reference
- Delta Tau Delta (Delt)
- Kappa Alpha Psi (Kappas)
- Kappa Kappa Psi (band service fraternity)
- Kappa Sigma (Kappa Sig)
- Lambda Chi Alpha (Lambda Chi)
- Lambda Theta Alpha
- Lambda Theta Phi
- Omega Delta Phi (multicultural fraternity)
- Omega Psi Phi
- Phi Delta Theta (Phi Delt)
- Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)
- Phi Kappa Sigma (Phi Kap)
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (music fraternity)
- Pi Kappa Phi (Pi Kap)
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
- Sigma Chi
- Sigma Nu
- Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp)
Sororities:
- Alpha Chi Omega (A Chi O)
- Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi)
- Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA)
- Chi Omega (Chi O)
- Chi Upsilon Sigma (CUS)
- Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta)
- Delta Gamma (DG)
- Delta Sigma Theta (Delta)
- Eta Iota Sigma (He Is Sufficient or HIS) — HIS on second reference
- Gamma Phi Beta (Gamma Phi)
- Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta)
- Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa)
- Kappa Lambda Delta
- Phi Mu
- Pi Beta Phi (Pi Phi)
- Sigma Gamma Rho
- Sigma Kappa (SK)
- Sigma Lambda Alpha
- Tau Beta Sigma (band service sorority)
- Zeta Tau Alpha (Zeta)
H
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Harris College on second reference. Note the ampersand.
Harrison Administrative Building
The Harrison on second reference. Not to be confused with the W.A. Oliver and Nell A. Harrison Building
Hays Hall
Acceptable on all references for Marlene Moss Hays Hall
Hill House
Graduate housing for Brite Divinity School
Homecoming
Horned Frog
Not Horn Frog. Capitalize in reference to the mascot. Horned Frogs, Frog or Frogs also acceptable.
hospitals
- Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center
- Cook Children’s Medical Center
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB (Bedford)
- Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South
- John Peter Smith Hospital
- Medical City Fort Worth
Remove Texas Health and Fort Worth on second reference.
Housing & Residence Life
HRL on second reference. Note the ampersand.
Human Resources
I
iClicker
Image Magazine
Independent Greek Council
Information Technology
Institute of Behavioral Research
The IBR on second reference
Intensive English Program
The IEP on second reference
Intercultural Center
Located on the first floor of the BLUU. Contains the Community Scholars Program, Gender Resource Office, International Services, SGA and Student Identity & Engagement.
Interfraternity Council
The IFC on second reference
Interior Design & Merchandising building
The interior design building on second reference. Note the ampersand
J
Jarvis Hall
Jerita Foley Buschman Theatre
Within Ed Landreth Auditorium
See also: Ed Landreth Hall
John V. Roach Honors College
The Honors College on second reference
K
Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development
The institute on second reference
KinderFrogs School
KinderFrogs on second reference. Shares a facility with Starpoint School.
King Family Commons
KFC acceptable on second reference. Houses the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life on the second floor. Home to The Press, O’Brien’s, Caliente, Magnolias Zero 7 and The Big Purple Truck.
King Hall
Acceptable on all references for Teresa and Luther King Hall
Koehler Center
Acceptable on second reference for the TCU Koehler Center for Instruction, Innovation & Engagement
KTCU FM 88.7
KTCU on first reference. KTCU FM 88.7 in info boxes. The station’s full name is KTCU-FM 88.7 “The Choice.”
L
Leadership & Student Involvement
Formerly part of SDS; focuses on First-Year Experiences, including Frog Camp, Frogs First and First-Year Leadership Development, in addition to the Leadership Center, Student Organizations, Student Activities, Student Government, University Unions, Service Learning & Academic Initiatives and Experiential Learning & Engagement
Leibrock Village
Housing complex for Brite Divinity School and TCU graduate students
Limited 50 Meal Plan
The meal plan on second reference
Lower-Division Honors
M
Mabee House
Graduate housing for Brite Divinity School
majors
Identify all students by their majors except athletes and SGA members in stories where those titles are relevant. Do not capitalize majors unless they are proper names (Spanish and Hispanic studies major, accounting major).
For double majors, list both areas of study and clarify the student is a double major (ex: Laura McFarland, a news-editorial journalism and English double major).
For a full list of TCU majors, minors and certificates, visit https://www.tcu.edu/academics/programs/index.php/
Marion Hall
Marlene and Spencer Hays Theatre
Hays Theatre acceptable on all references. Within the Walsh Performing Arts Center.
See also: Walsh Center for Performing Arts
Martin-Moore Hall
Demolished
Mary Couts Burnett Library
The library on second reference
Mary Wright Admission Center
The admission center on second reference
Meacham International Airport
Located in Fort Worth
midterm exam
Midterm is acceptable on second reference
Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic
Acceptable on first reference for the W.C. Jack and Maude Y. Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic. Miller Clinic on second reference. Run by the Harris College of Nursing.
Milton Daniel Hall
Honors housing
Moncrief Hall
Monnig Meteor Gallery
The gallery on second reference
Moody Hall
Demolished
Moore Building
Acceptable on all references for the Jo Ann and Wayne Moore Building. Part of the Brite Divinity School
Moore House
Graduate housing for Brite Divinity School and TCU graduate students
Moudy North
Acceptable on all references for the J.M. Moudy Visual Arts and Communication Building. Houses the School of Art.
Moudy South
Acceptable on all references for the J.M. Moudy Visual Arts and Communication Building. Houses the Bob Schieffer College of Communication.
Multicultural Greek Council
The MGC on second reference
N
National Pan-Hellenic Council
The NPHC on second reference
Neeley School of Business
Neeley on second reference
O
Office of Church Relations
Supports the partnership between the university and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Organizations & Activities Fair
Orientation
Capitalize references to first-year Orientation
P
Palko Hall
Acceptable on all references for the Betsy and Steve Palko Hall
Panhellenic Council
The council on second reference. The central organizational unit for Greek sororities.
Paschal High School
Paschal or the high school on second reference. Located at 3001 Forest Park Blvd. The phone number is (817) 814-5000.
P.E. Clark Hall
Acceptable on all references for the Pamela and Edward Clark Hall
people with disabilities
Do not reference the physical, intellectual, learning or mental health disabilities or impairments of a person serving as a subject or source unless it is relevant to the story and you have the permission of the individual. Always ask how people want to be described (ex: person with autism or autistic person). For more, see https://ncdj.org/style-guide/
PepsiCo Recital Hall
The recital hall on second reference. Within the Walsh Performing Arts Center.
See also: Walsh Center for Performing Arts
plus/minus grading system
Grades are written using hyphens (B-plus, C-minus). Plurals (D-pluses, C-minuses).
Pre-Health Professions Institute
pre-major
There is no pre-med or pre-law major. Ex: Sawyer Williams is a biology major in the pre-health program.
president
TCU’s current president is Daniel Pullin, formerly the Dean of the Neeley School of Business. Pullin took office in 2023.
Leaders of TCU were called presidents until 1959, when the Board of Trustees changed M. E. Sadler’s title from president to chancellor. The duties of president and chancellor were separate from Sadler’s retirement in 1965 until 2023, when the new president was announced. The chancellor is tasked with fundraising and outreach for the university, while the president focuses on day-to-day operations. A complete list of TCU’s chief administrators can be found at www.chancellor.tcu.edu/history.asp.
See also: Victor J. Boschini Jr.
press conference
AP Style: Use news conference
profanity
Requires executive editor approval for any use. In most cases, avoid or rephrase it in direct quotes (see AP style).
professor
First level is assistant professor, second level is associate professor and third level is professor. If the person isn’t a professor, the person may be a lecturer or instructor.
programs and themes
Standing programs are capitalized. The theme for a specific program goes in quotes (The Good Editing program sponsored a “Get to Know Your Stylebook” weekend).
R
Reed Hall
Acceptable on all references for Dave C. Reed Hall
Registrar’s Office
Religious & Spiritual Life
RSL on second reference
Related content/”Read More”
All stories should link to other relevant stories on 360 when possible.
Ex: Read more: Headline with link to that story
Resident Assistant
RA on second reference
Rickel Academic Wing
Located on west side of the rec center
See also: University Recreation Center
Rollin’ n Bowlin’
Note apostrophe placement
ROTC
Only use alone as an adjective (the ROTC cadet, the ROTC program).
See also: TCU Army ROTC program, TCU Air Force ROTC program
S
Sadler Hall
Acceptable on all references for M.E. Sadler Hall
Samuelson Hall
Acceptable on all references for Kellye Wright Samuelson Hall
Scharbauer Hall
Acceptable on all references for Clarence and Kerry Scharbauer Hall
school colors
Purple and white
School for Classical & Contemporary Dance
The dance school acceptable on second reference
School of Art
The art school acceptable on second reference
School of Music
The music school acceptable on second reference
Secrest-Wible Building
Senseless Acts of Comedy
SAC on second reference
Sherley Hall
Sid Richardson Building
Acceptable on first reference for the Sid W. Richardson Building. Sid Richardson on second reference.
Smith Hall
Acceptable on all references for Steve and Sarah Smith Entrepreneurs Hall
spelling
First authority is the TCU 360 style guide for TCU-related references, second is the AP Stylebook, third is the Webster’s New World Dictionary and fourth is the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. Always run spell check.
Spencer and Marlene Hays Business Commons
The Hays Business Commons on first reference. The Business Commons acceptable on second reference.
Spring Break
Starpoint School
Shares facility with KinderFrogs School. Starpoint on second reference.
Steinway & Sons
The School of Music uses all Steinway & Sons pianos
Student Development Services
See also: Leadership & Student Involvement, Student Success
Student Government Association
SGA on second reference. Comprised of three main branches: the Frog Aides first-year leadership program; the House of Student Representatives; and the Cabinet. Funds theEnd and the Crew. SGA Cabinet and House officials do not need to have majors listed in SGA-related stories.
- Cabinet — executive branch including the three main elected positions (student body president, vice president and treasurer).
- House of Student Representatives — legislative branch. The House on second reference. Led by the Executive Board. Refer to committee heads as John Doe, chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee; Jane Smith, chairwoman of the Finance Committee. Chairperson also acceptable. For a full list of SGA committees and boards, visit https://sga.tcu.edu/committees/.
Student Identity & Engagement
Formerly Inclusiveness & Intercultural Services
Student Success
Formerly part of SDS; includes student coaching and peer mentoring, Orientation, Parent & Family Programs and Transfer Services.
study abroad
Lowercase
See also: Center for International Studies
Substance Use & Recovery Services
Formerly Alcohol & Drug Education Center. The SURS office on second reference.
Summer Break
T
Tandy Hall
Acceptable on all references for Charles D. Tandy Hall
task force
Capitalize task force when part of the proper name of a task force (Fine Arts Task Force). Lowercase generalizations (the task force).
TCU
Use acronym in all references, except in quoted material. Always refer to the institution as a university, not a school.
TCU 360
Note the space
TCU Air Force ROTC program
the ROTC program on second reference
See also: ROTC
TCU Alert
TCU Army ROTC program
the ROTC program on second reference
See also: ROTC
TCU Bookstore
The bookstore on second reference
TCU Core Curriculum
The core on second reference
TCU Dining Services
Acceptable on all references. Sodexo is the company with which TCU has a contract.
On-campus restaurants:
- Bistro Burnett
- Caliente
- Chick-fil-A
- Kinder Cafe
- Magnolias Zero 7
- Market Square
- O’Brien’s
- The Press
- Rollin’ n Bowlin’
- Union Grounds
TCU Global
Formerly the Center for International Studies; oversees the university’s study abroad programs
TCU Marching Band
The band on second reference
TCU Information Technology
The IT department on second reference
TCU Music Center
Houses the School of Music and Van Cliburn Concert Hall
TCU Office of Admission
No ‘s’. The admission office on second reference
TCU Office of Extended Education
TCU Office of Finance & Administration
TCU financial office acceptable on second reference
TCU Office of Financial Aid
The financial aid office on second reference
TCU Online
Do not use D2L
TCU Police
Use instead of campus police. Capitalize ‘police’ with TCU (The TCU Police…) but drop capital on second reference (The police…)
TCU Police Department
The police department on second reference
TCU Press
TCU Retirees Association
TCURA on second reference
TCU Student Access & Accommodation Services
TCU Student Handbook
Contains the Interim Code of Student Conduct, effective Aug. 16, 2021. On second reference, “the handbook” and “the code”
TCU Theatre
Not theater
The Associated Press
AP on second reference
theCrew
Student-led event planning organization directed by TCU Student Activities. Only capitalize “the” when it starts a sentence; no space
theEnd
Student-led event planning organization bringing weekend entertainment to TCU. Only capitalize “the” when it starts a sentence; no space
The 109
Covers news in Fort Worth, zip code 76109. Note the capitalized “t” and the space
Time elements
Don’t use “today” or “tomorrow” except in quotes. Use Monday, Tuesday, etc. for days of the week within seven days before or after the publication date.
Tom Brown/Pete Wright apartments
The TBPW apartments on second reference. Tom Brown includes Herndon Hall and Mabee Hall. Pete Wright includes Walker Hall, Fish Hall, Britain Hall and Mullins Hall.
Tomlinson Hall
Demolished
Tucker Technology Center
Acceptable on first reference for the William E. and Jean Jones Tucker Technology Center. Tucker on second reference.
TCU Sports
Abe Martin Academic Enhancement Center
The enhancement center on second reference. Usually pairs with the Dutch Meyer Athletic Complex.
See also: Dutch Meyer Athletic Complex
athletic director
Not athletics director. Do not capitalize before a name
Amon G. Carter Stadium
The stadium on second reference. The playing field is called the W.A. “Monty and Tex” Moncrief Field.
Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center
See also: Friedman Tennis Center
behind the arc
Do not hyphenate unless used as an adjective (“hit a behind-the-arc shot”).
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 or the conference on second reference. Current members are Baylor, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University (K-State acceptable on second reference), University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, TCU, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin and West Virginia University. TCU joined July 1, 2012.
Incoming members are Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati, and University of Houston.
See also: colleges and universities
Daniel-Meyer Athletic Complex
The athletic complex on second reference. Includes the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena, the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Basketball Complex and the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility for football.
Dutch Meyer Athletic Complex
The athletic complex on second reference. Usually pairs with the Abe Martin Academic Enhancement Center.
See also Abe Martin Academic Enhancement Center
Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena
Use on first reference. Schollmaier Arena acceptable on all other references.
Friedman Tennis Center
Acceptable on first reference for the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The tennis center on second reference.
Frog Horn
Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium
The stadium on second reference
head coach
Do not capitalize. Ex: soccer head coach (not head soccer coach)
Jane Justin Field House
The field house on second reference. Within the Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
John Justin Athletic Center
The athletic center on second reference
Lowdon Track and Field Complex
Acceptable on first reference for the Robert and Maria Lowdon Track and Field Complex. The track complex on second reference.
Lupton Baseball Stadium
Acceptable on first reference for the Charlie and Marie Lupton Baseball Stadium. The stadium on second reference. The field is the Williams-Reilly Field.
mascots
Sports stories can refer to teams by their mascots as long as the school name is used on first reference (Ex: The Baylor Bears played the Horned Frogs yesterday. The Bears fell to the Frogs by 20 points)
numbers
Points and distances will be written as numerals even for values of 0-9. Examples: Lauren Heard had 7 points, seven assists and two rebounds; Bane hit a 3-point shot to seal the game; The ball was on the 5-yard line.
redshirt
No space
“Riff Ram” chant
“Riff Ram” on second reference
sand volleyball courts
The courts on second reference
Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility
The practice facility on second reference. The field is Cox Field.
Schollmaier Arena
Acceptable on first reference for the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. The arena on second reference.
Schollmaier Basketball Complex
Acceptable on first reference for the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Basketball Complex. The basketball complex on second reference.
soccer
Teams play matches, not games. TCU has a women’s varsity team only.
sports abbreviations
AP Style: It is not necessary to spell out the most common abbreviations on first reference: NFL, AFC, NFC, NBA, NHL, NCAA, PGA, LPGA, USGA, NASCAR, MLB, AL, NL, FIFA.
sports: colleges and universities
For sports only, follow AP and ESPN headlines – e.g., University of Texas at Austin can be Texas on first reference.
SuperFrog
TCU mascot; capitalized, no space
TCU Rangers
The Rangers on second reference
TCU Rifle Range
The rifle range on second reference
TCU Showgirls
The Showgirls on second reference
TCU sports
Use lowercase for all TCU official athletics teams (ex: TCU football, TCU track and field)
team sports
TCU teams are singular. Ex: “TCU basketball is preparing for a game Monday night. The team will compete for its chance to participate in March Madness.”
timeout
Do not hyphenate
tipoff
Do not hyphenate
U
Ultimate Flex 19 meal plan
The meal plan on second reference
university
TCU on first reference. Lowercase university in all references unless part of a proper name.
University Recreation Center
The rec center on second reference
Updating stories
For adding something that does not change the nature of a story, like a comment or embedded tweet:
Click the Publish date and time and change to when you’re making the update. At the top of the story, add: This story was updated at 4 p.m. July 14 to include a copy of the Chancellor’s document.
Except in the case of fast-breaking news (a fire in a campus building, tornados bearing down on TCU), stories should NOT be updated with new blocks of text sitting on top the original story; it’s better to rewrite your lede and a few other grafs to make one cohesive story. In this case, be sure to change the headline to reflect the new information or angle.
Sometimes it’s better to rewrite the original story post; sometimes it’s better to have a new post. When in doubt, talk with your editors or Jean Marie.
upperclassman
upper-division honors
V
Van Cliburn Concert Hall
The concert hall on second reference
Veterans Plaza
No apostrophe
Victor J. Boschini Jr.
Chancellor Victor Boschini on first reference. Use Boschini for all other references.
W
Waits Hall
Acceptable on all references for the E.M. Waits Hall
Walsh Performing Arts Center
Acceptable on first reference for the Mary D. and F. Howard Walsh Center for Performing Arts. Walsh Center on second reference. Includes the PepsiCo Recital Hall and Hays Theatre.
What2Do@TCU
The website is what2do.tcu.edu
Wiggins Hall
Demolished
Winter Break
Winthrop Rockefeller Building
Acceptable on first reference for the Winthrop Rockefeller Building for Ranch Management. The Rockefeller Building on second reference.
Winton-Scott Hall
Acceptable on all references for the Winton-Scott Hall of Science
Worth Hills
Wright Hall
Acceptable on all references for the Mary and Robert J. Wright Residence Hall
Writing Center
Acceptable on all references for the William L. Adams Center for Writing
Y
y’all
Not ya’ll. Do not use unless in a column or a quote.
Z
ZIP code
The university’s ZIP code is 76129