Welcome to the BCIT Style Guide, which outlines standards on writing style issues such as spelling, punctuation, and formatting for BCIT documents intended for external audiences.
As our readers have different ages, educational backgrounds, and nationalities, our writing should be clear and simple. Adherence to consistent writing standards ensures BCIT external publications are seen as professional, and can be written and edited quickly and with confidence.
All writers of Marketing and Communications materials and bcit.ca content are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the BCIT Writing Guidelines and Style Guide and writing to them.
Style questions, updates, additions, or can't find what you need? Please email Andrea_Bellamy@bcit.ca.
Website production, image or template questions? Find Marqui how-to articles in the BCIT Knowledge Base. Can't find what you need? Email Stephanie_Hobson@bcit.ca with questions about production guidelines.
Questions on logos, fonts, colours, photos, or publication templates? See the Marketing and Communications BCIT Graphic Standards Manual.
If you don’t find the information you need in this guide, consult the following, in order of priority. In this guide, when expanded information is available, the authority is cited by acronym; COD, CMS, or MMS.
Departments or writers should obtain at least a paperback Canadian Oxford Dictionary, as it is the official BCIT dictionary. It is available at the BCIT Bookstore.
Exceptions to the published sources should be specifically noted, extremely rare, and for very good reason, in order to make rules easier to remember and follow, and to minimize endless debate.