A&M System Written Style Guidelines
The Texas A&M University System Communications Office has developed the following style guidelines to help you write and edit text. Our goal is to ensure consistency in A&M System publications and websites, especially those intended for an external audience.
The A&M System uses the Associated
Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, Webster's Third New International
Dictionary, and Strunk and White's The Elements of Style (fourth edition) as primary sources.
For additional help with style issues, contact Amy Halbert.
Referencing the A&M System
When referencing the A&M System, use "The Texas A&M University System" on first reference (with a capital "T" in "the") and "the A&M System" or "Texas A&M System" on second reference. Do not put a space between the letters and the ampersand (i.e., A & M).
| Correct: | The Texas A&M University System |
| Second reference: | A&M System or Texas A&M System |
| Incorrect: | TAMUS |
| TAMU System |
To prevent confusion in publications for external audiences, always use "the A&M System" or "Texas A&M System" on second reference, not just "system" alone.
In publications for internal audiences, the word "system" can be used alone on second reference. In this instance, lowercase "system" unless beginning a sentence.
- A&M System employees involved in the project were elated.
- They were proud that so many system members could pull together on a single project.
Website Address
The website address for the A&M System should always be listed as "tamus.edu" or "www.tamus.edu."
Suggested Tagline
Following is a "tagline" that can be used in whole or in part and added to the end of news releases or other documents.
The A&M System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $3.04 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, seven state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the A&M System educates more than 109,000 students and makes more than 15 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. Externally funded research brings in almost $676 million every year and helps drive the state’s economy.
Referencing other A&M System members
When listing other universities, agencies and the health science center, always use the institution's complete name on first reference and its acronym or abbreviation on second reference.
| Institution | Preferred Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Prairie View A&M University | PVAMU |
| Tarleton State University | Tarleton |
| Texas A&M International University | TAMIU |
| Texas A&M University | Texas A&M |
| Texas A&M University at Galveston | TAMUG |
| Texas A&M University at Qatar | Texas A&M at Qatar |
| Texas A&M University-Commerce | A&M-Commerce |
| Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | Texas A&M-Kingsville |
| Texas A&M University-Texarkana | A&M-Texarkana |
| West Texas A&M University | WTAMU |
| Texas A&M University-Central Texas | A&M-Central Texas |
| Texas A&M University-San Antonio | A&M-San Antonio |
| Texas AgriLife Research | AgriLife Research |
| Texas AgriLife Extension Service | AgriLife Extension |
| Texas Engineering Experiment Station | TEES |
| Texas Engineering Extension Service | TEEX |
| Texas Forest Service | TFS |
| Texas Transportation Institute | TTI |
| Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory | TVMDL |
| The Texas A&M Health Science Center | Texas A&M Health Science Center |
Correct: Texas A&M University-Corpus
Christi
Second reference: A&M-Corpus Christi
Incorrect: TAMU-Corpus Christi
Communicating A&M System affiliation
- System institutions without the A&M affiliation in their name should add the phrase "a member of The Texas A&M University System" to their stationery, business cards and other external publications.
- All A&M system universities, agencies and health science center institutions should be referred to as "members" of the system, not parts or components.
- All universities, agencies or health science center institutions should reference their affiliation with the A&M System in text in the following manner: Tarleton State University, a member of The Texas A&M University System, . . .
Referencing A&M System administration
Following are correct references for the A&M System Board of Regents:
- Board of Regents
- The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
- Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System
- the A&M System Board of Regents (on second reference)
- Texas A&M System Board of Regents (on second reference)
Lowercase "board" and "regents" if used separately.
- The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today approved new degree programs at three A&M System universities.
- At its regularly scheduled meeting, the board discussed the importance of collaboration between A&M System universities and agencies.
Referencing specific members of the Board of Regents
Regent first name last name.
- Regent Gene Stallings said the new program would be beneficial.
Also see chairman
Referencing system executive officers and offices
The offices in the A&M System building in College Station should be referred to as "System Offices." (These offices were formerly called the "System Administrative and General Offices" or "SAGO.") "System Offices" take a plural verb.
- The System Offices provide support for the members of the A&M System.
Uppercase a title when it comes before a name, but lowercase a title when it comes after a name.
- Chancellor Michael D. McKinney
- Michael D. McKinney, chancellor of the A&M System
Uppercase names of offices.
- Office of the Chancellor
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
