FLC Communication Style Guide

This communication style guide is the primary reference for all Fort Lewis College communications, including print, web, social media, editorial, newsletters, and marketing. It establishes consistency in brand identity, inclusive language, grammar, style preferences, academic references, building names, and more. Expectations:

  • All official FLC communications are institutional property → If staff changes occur, coordinate transitions with Marketing & Communications (MarComm) to maintain consistency.
  • Content must stay current → Outdated information harms credibility and can lead to confusion.

For web-specific or social media-specific guidance, refer to the Web Content Style Guide and Social Media Style Guide.

Of note: Spell out “Fort Lewis College” on the first mention; use “FLC” or “the College” afterward. Never say “Fort Lewis” alone, and do not abbreviate “Fort” as “Ft.”

Writing for FLC

How we communicate reflects who we are as an institution. At Fort Lewis College, our messaging should be clear, inclusive, and engaging, reinforcing our commitment to student success, faculty mentorship, and place-based learning.

Whether writing for print, web, social media, or internal communications, consistency in voice, tone, and style strengthens our brand and ensures our messages resonate with students, families, and the broader community.

Voice and tone framework
Voice & tone guidelines
Writing principles
Inclusive & community-centered language
Accessibility principles

Grammar & mechanics

FLC follows Associated Press Style as the foundation for all written content. Familiarize yourself with its rules on abbreviations, capitalization, numbers, and punctuation. For full details, refer to the Associated Press Stylebook and Merriam-Webster's Dictionary for spelling.

While we default to AP Style, FLC follows these exceptions for consistency across all communications:

Academic references
Dates & times
FLC-specific language
Formatting and punctuation