Editorial Style

The Church Style Guide for Editors and Writers provides helpful guidance on the treatment and spelling of terms related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a few instances BYU recommends Chicago or AP style instead of Church style. This is primarily for consistency between Church and non-Church terms that often occur together. Download the Church Style Guide (6th ed.).

Back to Top

advisor, not adviser

BYU recommends this rule to be consistent with the spelling of advisory: e.g., the BYU Magazine Advisory Committee.

apostle

Lowercase apostle when used generically or as a title (17th Chicago 8.93). This is contrary to Church Style Guide 8.33, which says to “capitalize the term Apostle, even when used in apposition or as a title.”

Book of Mormon title page; title page of the Book of Mormon

The words title page should be lowercased in running text and in citations (both in-text and endnotes/footnotes). This rule is simply a clarification to Church Style Guide 8.51, not a deviation.

titles of general authorities

Lowercase all titles (president, first counselor, etc.), general authority or otherwise, when used following a name or in place of a name (see 17th Chicago 8.19). This is contrary to Church Style Guide 8.4, which says to “capitalize the names of the callings of General Authorities, General Officers, and Area Seventies.” BYU recommends this rule to avoid inconsistencies in texts between titles of general authorities and those who are not general authorities, such as “The President of the Church met with the president of BYU.”

visitors center, not visitors’ center (no apostrophe)

BYU recommends no apostrophe in all general instances to be consistent with the name of the university’s visitors center, which does not include an apostrophe: Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center. However, when using the official name of a Church visitors center, use the apostrophe (Visitors' Center), as the names are officially styled that way.