Consistency in how we write and refer to ourselves strengthens the Minnesota Carlson brand. This style guide ensures clarity, professionalism, and alignment across all communications. It helps everyone — from staff to partners — write with one unified voice.
In most cases, Carlson adheres to Associated Press Style rules when preparing its written documents. The Carlson style guide provides clarifications or exceptions to AP Style that apply exclusively to Carlson documents.
As a general rule for written communications, use Minnesota Carlson on first reference. Examples include articles, web pages, emails, ad copy, printed materials, etc. Use Minnesota Carlson or Carlson in further references.
In formal settings, use Carlson School of Management on first reference and Minnesota Carlson on second reference. Formal settings include commencement, formal event invitations, program acceptances, etc.
Common Writing Style Questions
Academic degrees
When abbreviating a degree, do not use periods. The grad year should precede the degree when referencing Carlson alumni. The apostrophe used before the numerals of the grad year should be a closing apostrophe, with the opening of the curve facing away from the numbers, like this: ’20. When written within a sentence, a comma should come immediately before and after the degree referenced. If you are referencing someone currently enrolled in the school who has not yet graduated, note that they are a current student, but do not include a graduation year.
When spelling out degrees, lowercase and use an apostrophe when not specifying the specific degree name; do not use an apostrophe in a specific degree name. The terms “bachelor’s” and “master’s” should not be written by themselves. They should be followed by “degree,” “program,” “course” or the like. Exceptions to this can be made when space is limited.
Acronyms
To use an acronym in body copy, write out the full name or term on first use with the acronym in parentheses following it. The acronym can then be used for all subsequent references. If an acronym will not be used in additional references in the piece, then only the full name or term is needed.
Capitalization of titles
Capitalize job titles if they precede a person’s name in text, but do not capitalize job titles if they follow a person’s name in text. Capitalize titles if they appear in a list or a sign-off to a letter.
Class years
Capitalize the word “Class” when used as part of the proper name of a class.
Commas
Serial commas should not be used per AP Style, except when necessary for clarity.
When using an alum’s degree and degree year in a sentence, add a comma immediately after the alum’s name and after the degree.
Dates
Do not use “st,” “nd,” and “th.” 1st Tuesday is an exception. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out all months when using alone, or with a year alone.
Department names
Avoid acronyms when referring to academic departments for all audiences. Capitalize all words in department titles, including when used in a sentence. Use an ampersand (&) in place of spelling out the word “and” for Carlson School of Management department names.
The academic departments in Carlson are:
- Accounting Department
- Finance Department
- Information & Decision Sciences Department
- Marketing Department
- Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship Department
- Supply Chain & Operations Department
- Work & Organizations Department
Majors
Capitalize all academic majors, minors and specializations.
Names (usage of first and last names, nicknames, English names)
Use the person’s full name on first reference, last name on all subsequent references — unless the context calls for a more personal tone (e.g., award bios, letters of nomination, obituaries).
When mentioning a person’s nickname, place it in quotation marks between their first and last names.
When possible, such as when conducting an interview, ask people for their preferred naming convention. When not possible to ask preference, defer to the following style for mentioning an international person’s chosen English name: place it in parentheses between their first and last names.
Semesters and seasons
Capitalize the name of a season when referring to a specific semester, such as Fall 2025. Otherwise, do not capitalize seasons or semesters. See examples below.
Times
Use “a.m.” and “p.m.” Use “midnight” and “noon” when referring to 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. Use a hyphen (not an en dash) in a range of time, with no spaces around the hyphen. Do not include :00, but do include other time increments (for example, “3 p.m.” and “1:15 p.m.” are both correct, but “3:00 p.m.” is not).