Commonly used words

York St John University

The first time you use the University's name in a piece of content, write it out in full as York St John University. After this it is ok to shorten it to 'York St John'.

We sometimes use the acronym 'YSJ', but this is mostly used when writing is aimed at current students who already know us and identify with this shortened name. If you are shortening our name to an acronym, please use YSJ not YSJU as this is more widely used.

Please do not use:

• York St John's
• York St. John University
• York St John Uni
• York Saint John University

When you are using 'the University' in a sentence, you should capitalise University.

York St John University London

The full, official name for the London branch of the University is 'York St John University London'. As with the main university name, we should avoid shortening to 'YSJ London' or 'York St John London' unless restricted by character limits.

We refer to 'courses' rather than 'programmes'. This is for consistency across all of our materials. It is easier for people to follow if we stick to one term, and 'courses' is more widely understood by our main target audiences. It also has a more specific meaning. Our research shows that most of our competitors also use 'courses' so it is the term applicants are most likely to be familiar with.

Each of our 5 Schools can be divided into subject areas, which group similar courses together.

For example, the 3 courses Digital Marketing and Data Analytics BA (Hons), Fashion Marketing BA (Hons) and Marketing BA (Hons) all sit under the subject area of Marketing and Digital Analytics.

This grouping of subjects guides how we structure the website, the prospectus, online course lists, Open Days and more. Joint Honours subjects will sometimes span 2 different subject areas.

If you feel that a subject area needs revising, please contact Marketing to discuss this. Because the groupings affect lots of different things which prospective students see in the process of applying, it may be that we need to wait until a strategic time of year to make the change.

In module lists, modules must be listed with their credit value and an indication of whether it is optional or compulsory. Write the credit value in numerals and enclose in brackets, such as '(20 credits)'.

When a course offers optional modules, we will always include a disclaimer that not all modules are guaranteed to run every year, and it may depend on interest and staff availability.

In our writing we address the reader as 'you' wherever possible. This gives the text a friendlier tone and makes the reader feel more involved. It helps applicants to imagine their future selves as the subject of the sentence, rather than other people.

Examples

Do say:

• As you progress towards your final year you will become increasingly independent in your learning.

Do not say:

• As they progress towards their final year students will become increasingly independent in their learning.

Writing about Higher Education is filled with clichéd phrases and buzzwords. It can be easy to fall back on over-used phrases, but to stand out from the crowd we should try to avoid them and find new ways of saying things.

If your writing is likely to be seen by an international audience then it is also best to avoid cultural references that might not be understood outside of the UK.

Here are some suggestions of alternative words and phrases you can use.

• You will have the opportunity to = you will
• In order to = to
• You will gain a critical understanding of = you will learn about
• Commence, initiate = start
• Assistance = help
• Wherever = where
• Concerning = about, on
• A wide range of = various, many different
• Real-world learning = practical experience, live projects, work-based learning (we don't want to imply that when they are learning in the classroom they are not in the 'real world'!)

By default, we should use UK English spellings of words. Some examples of words which are spelt differently in UK and US English are:

This blog from Collins Dictionary has many more examples: Spelling differences between British and American English.

'Practice' is a noun and 'practise' is a verb.

• On this course you will develop your professional practice.
• We will prepare you to practise as a nurse.

As with practice and practise, the rule for working out which word is correct is that effect is a noun and affect is a verb.

• The effect of global warming on the planet is extensive.
• Global warming has affected sea levels around the world.

'Of' is sometimes incorrectly used in place of 'have'.

Examples

Do say:

• I should have made sure I sorted out my accommodation.

Do not say: 

• I should of made sure I sorted out my accommodation.

• You should definitely choose York St John University.
• Folding her arms, she stood defiantly.

• We hope we don't lose the football match.
• Your shoelaces are loose.

• To assure is to claim that something is definitely true.
• Ensure means the same as 'make sure', and the latter is a more easily understood phrase.
• Insure specifically refers to taking out an insurance policy.

If something is complimentary then it is flattering. You pay a person a compliment.

Complimentary is also the spelling you would use to say that something is being given free of charge. For example, 'complimentary refreshments are available for Open Day guests'.

If something is complementary then it completes, or enhances. For example, 'the wine complements the meal'.

You should use an apostrophe when 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is'.

Example

It's easy to make grammar mistakes.

You do not need to use an apostrophe when 'its' is a possessive pronoun. 

Example

The dog wagged its tail.

Stationary is used for something which is stood still.

Stationery is used for writing materials.

The spelling for job titles is adviser. For example: Careers Adviser, Faith Adviser.

A levels

Not 'A-levels', 'A Levels' or 'a levels'

Adviser

Not advisor

Alumni

Alumni is a Latin word which refers to a group of graduates, and has several different conjugations which are not common in English.

When talking about more than 1 graduate, you should always use the word 'alumni'.

You can use 'alumnus' for 1 male graduate and 'alumna' for 1 female graduate, if you are talking about a specific known person.

'Alum' can be used for someone who uses gender neutral pronouns, or if you do not know the preferred pronouns of the person you are addressing.

Examples

• All York St John University alumni are eligible for a reduction in postgraduate fees.
• As an alum of York St John University you can continue to use our careers services'
• Folk musician and York St John University alumna Bella Hardy has released a new album.

Arrivals Weekend

Not 'Arrival weekend' or 'Arrival Weekend'.

BA (Hons)

Not 'BA Honours', 'BA Hons' or 'Ba (hons)'. 'BA (Hons)' should always follow the degree title and not precede it.

BSc (Hons)

Not 'BSc Honours', 'BSc Hons' or 'BSC'. 'BSc (Hons)' should always follow the degree title and not precede it.

campus

This is usually lower case, as in 'campus map'.

Covid

This is because this is the most commonly understood name for the pandemic. Not 'Coronavirus' or 'COVID-19'

Chatbot

This is all one word.

Clearing

We capitalise Clearing because it is an event.

clubs and societies

Not 'Clubs and Societies' or 'clubs & societies'.

courses

Always use 'course' or 'degree' to refer to our courses. Do not use 'programme'. The course title should precede the award type and not follow it. For example use 'Photography MA' not 'MA in Photography'.

Creative Centre

The official title is 'York St John Creative Centre' not 'The York St John Creative Centre' or 'York St John University Creative Centre'.

Decision Day

We capitalise event titles, including 'Decision Day'.

degree

This should not be capitalised.

Degree classifications

These should be written as 'first class', '2:1', '2:2', '3rd', 'pass' and 'other'.

drop-down menu

This is an instance in which we do hyphenate the word, because it changes the meaning of the sentence.

ebook

Not 'e-book' or 'eBook'.

email

not 'e-mail'.

Email addresses should always be lower case and formatted as clickable links. Such as website@yorksj.ac.uk.

ensuite

Not 'en suite' or 'en-suite'.

face to face

Not 'face-to-face'.

focused

Not 'focussed'.

fresher

Do not use 'fresher'. Always use 'new student'.

further education

Do not use 'FE' as this acronym is not widely known outside of our sector.

full time

Not 'full-time'.

higher education

Do not use 'HE' as this acronym is not widely known outside of our sector.

joint honours degree

Not Joint Honours degree.

login

This is the noun. For example, 'you will need your login details'.

log in

This is the verb. For example 'please log in to your account before the session starts'.

master's degree

Not masters or Masters. MA or MSc should be used in course titles and most of the time in text.

Mature Students Information Sessions

This is capitalised because it is the name of an event.

okay

Not 'ok', 'OK' or 'O.K.'

ongoing

Not 'on-going'.

online

Not 'on line' or 'on-line'.

Open Day

We capitalise names of events.

part time

Not 'part-time'.

postgraduate

Not 'Postgraduate', 'postgrad' or 'post-graduate'.

postgraduate researcher (PGR)

Not 'postgraduate research student'.

The acronym can be used after the first instance. Find out more about how we use acronyms.

pre-registration

Not 'Pre-registration'. Write as 'Physiotherapy (pre-registration)'.

Pro Vice Chancellor

Professor

'Professor' is a title and not every tutor is a professor. Job titles should always be capitalised, but generalised job titles do not need to be.

programme

Do not use 'programme' to refer to our courses. Use only 'course' or 'degree'.

research degree

This is lower case because it is a type of degree rather than a title of a course. Capitals would be used for specific titles such as Social Sciences MRES or PhD by Professional Practice.

School

If you are referring to an academic School, this can be capitalised, as it is a shortened version of a proper noun (following the same rule as University).

For example: This course draws on the expertise of academic staff from across the School.

skillset

Not 'skill set' or 'skill-set'.

sociopolitical

Not 'socio-political'.

step by step

Not 'step-by-step'.

teamwork

Avoid if possible in favour of more descriptive and specific words such as 'collaboration' or 'cooperation'. 'Teamwork' is a noun. Do not use 'teamworking'.

tutor

Use 'tutor' rather than 'teacher'.

top-up degree

This is not capitalised because it is referring to a type of degree rather than a specific course.

undergraduate

Not 'Undergraduate', 'undergrad' or 'under-graduate'.

university

Do not shorten to 'uni'. When we are talking about York St John University as 'the University' it should be capitalised. When referring to university more generally it can be lower case.

Examples

• The University is located in York city centre.
• The Students' Union will play a big part in your university experience.

The United Kingdom

Not 'UK' or 'U.K.'

The USA

Not 'the states', 'the US' or 'the United States'.

username

All 1 word, with no hyphen.

Vice Chancellor

Always write out in full, do not shorten to 'VC'.

website

Not 'web site' or 'web-site'.

web page

Just 'page' is preferred, unless the context makes this usage unclear. Do not use 'webpage'.

wellbeing

Not capitalised when referring to a person's wellbeing. Not 'well-being'.

Wellbeing team

Capitalise 'Wellbeing' when it is the name of the University team.

widening participation

Not capitalised. This may not always be the best term to use as it is not widely understood outside of the higher education sector. For more information about how best to refer to students from underrepresented backgrounds, please consult the section in our inclusive writing guide about social inclusion.

WiFi

Not 'WIFI' or 'wi-fi'.

while

Do not use 'whilst', as this is a more old fashioned version of the word and is not as widely understood.

York

Not 'the city of York'.

York Campus

Only capitalised when used as a proper noun, to differentiate from London Campus. Usually 'campus' can be lowercase.

Example

There are lots of green spaces on campus.

Yorkshire

York St John University

Unless space is very limited, always use 'York St John University' in full the first time you write it. You can shorten to 'York St John' for subsequent mentions on the same page. If a reduced version must be used, use 'York St John' or 'YSJ', not 'YSJU'.

York St John University London

This is the full official name of our London campus.

York St John Creative Centre

The official name of our Creative Centre.

York St John Communities Centre

York St John Communities Centre was formerly known as the Counselling and Mental Health Centre.

York St John University Sports Park

Not just 'Haxby Road', as this does not make it clear to people outside the University what it is. Not 'sports campus', 'sports fields' or 'sport centre'.

YSJActive

Not 'YSJ Active' or 'YSJactive'.