Brand Foundations
Style Sheet
This style sheet, available at the button at right, is a guide for creating consistent communications across all school platforms—from newsletters and social media posts to experiential learning reports and event materials. It’s a living document, one that reflects a series of decisions, rather than the letter of the law. At best, it’s helpful, answering questions that we all have, such as the use of hyphens in the name of the chapel, or consistent use of the serial comma. It ensures our messaging reflects our institutional voice. By following these guidelines on spelling, punctuation, formatting, and tone, we present a unified front that resonates with students, families, and alumni.
This is also a tool that we can supply to any vendors who are working on publications, documents, and presentations, and feel free to pass it along.
This is also a tool that we can supply to any vendors who are working on publications, documents, and presentations, and feel free to pass it along.
Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at gherbert@rsgc.on.ca
Spelling
A
after-school care
air-conditioned but air conditioning (Oxford)
after-school care
air-conditioned but air conditioning (Oxford)
B
backup (i.e. support)
before- and after-school care
before-school care
brand new
backup (i.e. support)
before- and after-school care
before-school care
brand new
C
camp-outs
cellphone
chat room
cleanup (noun)
co-curricular
co-operate, co-operation, co-operative
co-ordinate, co-ordination, co-ordinator
coed, not co-ed (Oxford)
coeducational (Oxford)
counsellor
curriculum; curricula (not curriculums; CP)
camp-outs
cellphone
chat room
cleanup (noun)
co-curricular
co-operate, co-operation, co-operative
co-ordinate, co-ordination, co-ordinator
coed, not co-ed (Oxford)
coeducational (Oxford)
counsellor
curriculum; curricula (not curriculums; CP)
D
day-care centre
decision-making (CP)
directions, in address: SE, SW, NE, NW (no periods, no comma before street address; Canada Post)
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
day-care centre
decision-making (CP)
directions, in address: SE, SW, NE, NW (no periods, no comma before street address; Canada Post)
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
E
ellipses (space before and after)
email
enrol, enrolment, enrolled, enrolling (CP)
extracurricular
ellipses (space before and after)
enrol, enrolment, enrolled, enrolling (CP)
extracurricular
F
first-hand (adj., adv.)
focused
French baccalaureate
fulfill
first-hand (adj., adv.)
focused
French baccalaureate
fulfill
G
getaway (Oxford)
Grade 3 (capitalize when set as a proper noun)
gymnasiums, not gymnasia (Oxford)
getaway (Oxford)
Grade 3 (capitalize when set as a proper noun)
gymnasiums, not gymnasia (Oxford)
H
handheld, not hand-held (when referring to computers)
Headmaster (when set as title; lowercase when not)
I
In-depth
in-line
instill (Oxford)
interdisciplinary
International Baccalaureate Programme
International Baccalaureate (IB) World School
Internet, the Net
K
Kindergarten (u.c. when referring to a specific class, as in Grade 1), Jr. / Sr. Kindergarten
knowledge base
L
life skills
lifelong
lifetime
long-lasting
long-term (adj; e.g. long-term care)
Lower School (capitalize)
M
Mac (computers)
March break
midtown
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ministry-inspected
mountain biking/bike
moviemaking
multimedia
N
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Net (short for Internet)
non-denominational
note-taking (not in CP or Oxford)
O
office hours (not a proper noun)
on board
on call
on side (in agreement with)
online
on-site (Oxford)
Ontario Long Term Care Association (w/o hyphen)
P
p.m.
phys-ed
P.O. Box
post-secondary
practice (the actual doing of something; a way of doing something that is common, habitual or expected; e.g. usual practice)
practise (perform habitually, carry out in action; do repeatedly as an exercise to improve a skill; e.g. practise reading)
pre-kindergarten
preschool
problem solving (whether n. or v., two words)
Q
quinzhee
R
risk-taking (adj.; e.g., risk-taking behaviour) n
rock climbing (Oxford)
R.R. #2 (note: periods and spaces/no spaces)
S
school board
self-defence (Oxford)
self-esteem (Oxford)
seniors’ housing, residences, services, etc.
-sized (not -size; e.g. Olympic-sized; full-sized)
singalong (Oxford)
singsongs (Oxford)
single parent(s) (Oxford)
SMART Boards
special needs (adj; no hyphen, e.g. camps, children)
St. Alban the Martyr
staff-to-student ratio
standardise
street names: write out in full (e.g. Eglinton Avenue West)
student-to-teacher ratio
T
team building
teamwork (Oxford)
tripping (as in canoe-tripping; OR outtripping)
U
university degrees:
abbreviations (p 190-191 CP), main ones: BA, B.Ed., B.Sc., B.Comm. etc.; MA, MBA, M.Ed., M.Sc., M.S.Ed., etc.; PhD, EdD; Dip.Ed.; Cert.Ed.; P.Eng.
bachelor’s or master’s (not caps, plural)
master or bachelor of arts/etc.
V
vice-principal
W
water polo (Oxford)
waterskiing
the web
website, but web page, web address
well-being
whitewater
Y
year-round (Oxford)
Z
zip line
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