Sources: The Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style (14th edition). Also consulted: style guides of United Press International, Modern Language Association, and the Presbyterian Church USA, Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th edition), Webster's Third International Dictionary. In the majority of cases, the sources are in agreement on specific issues of style. When there has been disagreement, preference has generally been given to the AP guide, as it monitors changes in the use of the language more quickly than Chicago. In a few instances, most notably the proper treatment of book, film, article, etc. titles, Chicago has provided a more useful interpretation. Finally, Lafayette tradition has guided style in some cases. Please refer to AP Style Manual for answers to style questions that are not addressed in this manual.
This manual considers stylistic questions unique to the academic setting, as well as those that seem to be particular bugaboos in Lafayette publications. Consequently, a considerable amount of space has been devoted to capitalization, the correct use of commas and hyphens, constructions using prefixes, and the correct use of the relative pronouns "that" and "which." In and of themselves, each one of these concerns may seem insignificant. However, in the context of presenting a coherent public image, every matter of style is significant; in the context of presenting an image that accurately represents the quality of Lafayette College and every person who works for it, the significance of style becomes doubly important.
The guide is divided into four sections. The first deals with matters specific to Lafayette, as well as general grammar questions. The second considers punctuation, including proper typography for titles of books, music, films, etc. The third addresses more general usage questions, including race and gender, common spelling and word choice problems, and a list of proper designations for college buildings. The fourth is pertinent to the "Class Notes" section of Lafayette Alumni News.