Word Usage Academic Degrees For a university, accurate references to academic degrees are essential for credibility. Use these guidelines when referring to academic degrees. Always capitalize the formal degree titles. Example: “Master of Science in Nursing Education” Use the following informal or general references to degrees: Associate degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree Use apostrophes in informal references to bachelor’s and master’s degrees because they are possessive forms. Do not use apostrophes with associate or doctoral degrees, as these are adjectives or nouns, not possessive forms. Use lowercase for informal references, unless they begin a sentence. Directional References Avoid directional references. Do not refer to the location of content using spatial prepositions like “above,” “below,” or “on the left.” These references assume a shared visual experience, which not all students have (accessibility). Instead, refer to the content by name or function. Instead of: “See the chart below.” Use: “Refer to the chart titled Market Segmentation.” Instructor Use “Instructor” when referring to the course leader generically in student-facing content to accommodate varying faculty titles. (Don’t use professor, teacher, etc.) Learn and Understand Avoid using vague verbs like “learn” and “understand”—even in narrative or instructional text. These words imply internal processes we can’t directly observe or assess. Instead, use active, observable verbs that clearly describe what students will do or produce. Focus on what students will do, analyze, create, apply, or evaluate—not what they might “learn” or “understand.” This helps set clearer expectations and reinforces the applied nature of the course. Instead of: “You will learn how to conduct a root cause analysis.” “In this module, you will understand key leadership styles.” Use: “You will conduct a root cause analysis using a provided case scenario.” “In this module, you will compare key leadership styles based on real-world examples.” Sequence and Mastery Avoid language that assumes a particular sequence of course content or content master. Do not refer to previous lessons or activities with phrasing like: “As you learned earlier…” “In the simulation you just completed…” “Now that you understand…” Students may access course content out of order or review past lessons later. Unless the obvious goal of a page is to summarize previous content (e.g., Module Reflections, Key Takeaways), avoid using this phrasing. Also, students may not have mastered content from prior modules. Referencing previous material in this way creates assumptions that may confuse or frustrate learners. Instead of: “As you learned in the last lesson, communication is key to leadership success.” Use: “This lesson builds on key communication strategies that support effective leadership.” This phrasing acknowledges the relationship between topics without assuming the student has already “learned” or “understood” a concept. User Interface (UI) References The Microsoft Writing Style Guide offers guidelines for text that enhances user interaction within digital environments, particularly in UI elements such as buttons, labels, and prompts. Use the guide when referring to user interactions: Describing interactions with UI. PreviousFormatting and StructureNext Acronyms and Abbreviations