Style Guide

I

ID, ID card, IDs

  • ID is an established acronym that does not need an explanation.
  • Capitalize and do not put spaces or periods.
  • Do not capitalize card in ID card.

 instructor

  • Instructor in, not of.

 initials with names

  • Use periods and do not leave a space when an individual uses initials instead of a first name: E.H. Valsan.
  • Do not write a name with a single initial unless it is the individual’s preference or the first name is not known: C. David Welch.

 inter-, intra-

  • Generally, do not hyphenate words with inter- or intra- as a prefix.
  • Check The American Heritage Dictionary, fourth edition. If not listed, hyphenate.
  • See prefixes.

 intercontinental

  • One word; no hyphen.

 interim

  • Lowercase except when it marks the beginning of a sentence: The students met with interim President Thomas Bartlett.

 Islam, Islamic

  • Islam refers to the religion; Islamic is used as an adjective: He was interested in the study of Islam. She was fascinated by the Islamic art and architecture in Spain.
  • Always capitalize both.

 Islamic terms and holidays

  • Eid Al-Adha (capitalize, no italics).
  • Eid Al-Fitr (capitalize, no italics).
  • halal (no italics, do not capitalize).
  • iftar (italicize, do not capitalize).
  • Muslim (capitalize, avoid other spellings).
  • Quran (capitalize, no italics, avoid other spellings).
  • Ramadan (capitalize, no italics).
  • sharia (no italics, do not capitalize, avoid other spellings).

Ivy League

  • Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.
  • Always capitalize.