Our Words

Inclusive Language Guidelines

Inclusive language promotes respect, fairness, and belonging.

General principles:

• Be respectful and accurate.
• Avoid assumptions.
• Use people-first language (e.g., “students with disabilities”).
• Ask individuals how they wish to be identified.
• Avoid deficit-based language.

Writing about specific communities:

• Gender & Sexuality: Use gender-neutral terms; “they” as singular; accurate 2SLGBTQIA+ terms; only reference identities when relevant.
• Disability: Say “person who uses a wheelchair,” not “wheelchair-bound”; avoid pity language.
• Race, Ethnicity, Indigeneity: Capitalize identities; avoid unnecessary mentions; use accurate Indigenous names.
• Age: Use neutral terms (e.g., “older adults”).
• Socioeconomic Status: Avoid judgmental terms; provide context.

Practical tips:

• Avoid slang or regional expressions.
• Consult communities when in doubt.
• Provide context for uncommon terms.
• Check for unconscious bias.

General Style Guidelines

• Use “University of Windsor”; “UWindsor” only as a modifier.
• Use “the University” for additional references.
• Don’t attribute feelings to institutions.
• Distinguish student (course phase) from candidate (thesis phase).

Acronyms

• Avoid unless widely known.
• Spell out first reference; provide acronym in parentheses.
• Use acronym or common noun thereafter.

Alumnus / Alumna

• Alumna: female graduate
• Alumnae: group of female graduates
• Alumnus: male graduate
• Alumni: mixed or male group

Graduand: Completed requirements but not yet graduated. Grad year: Jane Doe (BA 1985) or Jane Doe (BA ’85); use proper apostrophe.

Capitalization

• When in doubt, don’t capitalize.
• Capitalize universities, faculties, departments, schools, centres on first reference.
• Lowercase “faculty,” “department,” “college,” “board,” “senate” when used alone.
• Capitalize “University” when referring to UWindsor.
• Capitalize disciplines only when proper nouns or part of official names.

Italics & Quotation Marks

• Italics: Plays, films, books, poems, newspapers, magazines, dance works, records, music, videos, TV, radio, non-English words.
• Quotation marks: Articles, academic papers, book chapters.

Numbers, Dates & Times

• Numbers: Spell out under 10; figures for 10+.
• Per cent: Use figures + “per cent.”
• Phones: 519-253-3000; ext. 3242.
• Currency: $48,000; $1 million; don’t use “M” for million.
• Dates: March 17; 18th century (no superscript).
• Months: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. (with dates); spell out March–July.
• Times: 3 p.m., not 3:00 p.m.; use “to” (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Titles & Honorifics

• Use Dr. (PhDs) or Prof. (non-PhDs) on first reference; surname after.
• Don’t capitalize job titles in running text.

Modifier Position

• Example: “He is only one of 450 people…” ≠ “He is one of only 450 people…”
• Example: “I only love you” ≠ “Only I love you” ≠ “I love only you”

University Buildings

Examples: CAW Student Centre, Rm. 108; Vanier Hall, the Oak Room

List: 300 Ouellette Ave.

Alan Wildeman Centre

Alumni Hall

Alumni Stadium

Anthony P. Toldo Centre

Assumption Hall

Biology Building

Cartier Hall

CAW Student Centre

Centre for Automotive Research

Centre for English Language Development

Chrysler Halls North/South/Tower

Dillon Hall

Dr. Murray O’Neil Medical Education Building

Ed Lumley Centre

Energy Conversion Centre

Erie Hall

Essex Centre of Research

Essex Hall

Education Gym

Human Kinetics Building

Jackman Dramatic Art Centre

Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre

Kerr House, Lambton Tower

Laurier Hall

Leddy Library

Leonard and Dorothy Neal Education Building

London Life Great Lakes Environmental Research Centre

Maintenance Building

Memorial Hall

Odette Building

Psychological Services and Research Centre

Residence Hall West

Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law Building

School of Creative Arts - Armouries

Toldo Lancer Centre

University Computer Centre

Vanier Hall

Stephen and Vicki Adams Welcome Centre

Windsor Hall

Territorial Acknowledgment

Long version: Boozhoo, Sge':no, Kuwiingu neewulohmwa The University of Windsor is situated on the lands and waters traveled, inhabited, and cared for by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. We honour the wampum treaties—agreements among the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Lenni Lenape, and allied nations.

Short version: The University of Windsor is situated on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy — the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi.