​Rules snapshot

  1. Universities Canada does not use the oxford comma. When listing items, do not put a comma before the last and, or or nor.

    2. ​High schools, colleges and universities

  2. Headings and subheadings are not capitalized.                                     

    3. ​Fair dealing at Canadian universities (article heading)
    Addressing Canada’s biggest challenges at Accelerate 2024 (article heading)
    Equity, diversity and inclusion (page heading)
    What universities are doing (page subheading)

  3. In exception to CP style, we capitalize formal and professional job titles and degrees.

    4. ​President of Saint Mary’s University
    Provost and Vice-President, Academic of St. Thomas Moore College
    She has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature

  4. Also in exception to CP style, degree abbreviations do not take periods.

    5. ​BA, BComm, MSc

  5. When providing a complete date (such as a deadline), keep in mind these rules:
    • Abbreviate the month except for March, April, May, June and July
    • Offset the year with commas
    • Do not include “nd” or “st” after dates

    6. ​The deadline to apply is Dec. 2, 2024.

    ​Please submit your application by June 16, 2024, for consideration.

  6. When including time, write in figures and include time zones if they’re needed for clarity.

    7. ​Please apply by Aug. 4, 2024, 10 a.m. EDT (not 10:00 a.m. or AM)

  7. Write out whole numbers up to nine and use figures for 10 and above.

    8. ​Three students, 13 professors, the fifth sentence, 97 universities

  8. Don’t translate university or city names from French to English or vice versa. If the name is bilingual, use the version that corresponds to the language you’re writing in.

    9. When writing in English:

    ​Correct:       Université Laval was founded in 1663.
    Incorrect:    The University of Laval was founded in 1663.

    Correct:       Montreal, Quebec
    Incorrect:    Montréal, Québec

  9. Don’t use double spaces between sentences.