This is version 3.0 of the WGU Style Guide, published on February 12, 2024. Please see the version history for information about past versions.
This guide is intended to be used for the educational products developed by or in partnership with the WGU Program Development department. However, the WGU Style Guide is not all-encompassing. In cases where the WGU Style Guide does not include a topic or entry, you should prioritize the following sources:
- For style and usage issues, consult The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition (Chicago).
- For reference and citation issues, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association Seventh Edition (APA 7). Note: Some sources may legally require a specific format that differs from APA 7. In these situations, the required format takes priority.
- For spelling issues, consult Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (M-W.com), and use the first listed spelling unless otherwise noted in this guide.
Suggestions
To submit suggestions for improving the style guide, please fill out the stand-alone intake form. (Select "Editing" under Role and "Style Guide Updates" under Editing Task Type.)
Project-Related Links
You can find links to many of the documents referenced in this style guide as well as other project-related links on the "Project Links and Resources" page. Note that vendors might not have access to this links page or to some of the documents referenced in the guide.
Glossary
Consult the glossary from the Program Development Hub to view additional spellings and definitions.
Marketing
WGU branding and marketing information may be found in the Brand Style Guide and Marketing's Editorial WGU Style Guide.
