The classification of a person as male or female. At birth, infants are assigned a sex, usually based on the appearance of their external anatomy.
(Source: GLAAD Media Reference Guide)
sex reassignment, gender confirmation
The treatments, surgeries, and other medical procedures used by transgender people to match their sex to their gender. The preferred term over gender reassignment; do not use the outdated term sex change. Sex reassignment or gender confirmation surgery is not necessary for people to transition their gender.
(Source: AP Stylebook)
sexual orientation
An individual’s enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or different gender, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations.
Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer. For example, a person who transitions from male to female and is attracted solely to men would typically identify as a straight woman.
Include sexual orientation only when it is pertinent to a story, and avoid references to sexual preference or to a gay or alternative lifestyle.(Source: GLAAD Media Reference Guide, AP Stylebook)
sic
used in roman text, with brackets, following an incorrectly used word or phrase to indicate that it’s a mistake made by the person who’s quoted, not by the writer; frequently written as [sic]
singular they (use of)
In most cases, a plural pronoun should agree in number with the antecedent: The children love the books their uncle gave them. They/them/their is acceptable in limited cases as a singular and/or gender-neutral pronoun, when alternative wording is overly awkward or clumsy. However, rewording usually is possible and always is preferable. Clarity is a top priority; gender-neutral use of a singular they is unfamiliar to many readers.
Arguments for using they/them as a singular sometimes arise with an indefinite pronoun (anyone, everyone, someone) or unspecified/unknown gender (a person, the victim, the winner). Examples of rewording:
All the class members raised their hands (instead of everyone raised their hands)
The foundation gave grants to anyone who lost a job this year (instead of anyone who lost their job).
Police said the victim would be identified after relatives are notified (instead of after their relatives are notified or after his or her relatives are notified).
Lottery officials said the winner could claim the prize Tuesday (instead of their or his or her prize).
In stories about people who identify as neither a man or a woman or ask not to be referred to as he/she/him/her: use the person’s name in place of a pronoun, or otherwise reword the sentence, whenever possible. If they/them/their use is essential, explain in the text that the person prefers a gender-neutral pronoun. Be sure that the phrasing does not imply more than one person. Examples of rewording:
Hendricks said the new job is a thrill (instead of Hendricks said Hendricks is thrilled about the new job or Hendricks said they are thrilled about the new job).
Lowry’s partner is Dana Adams, an antiques dealer. They bought a house last year (instead of Lowry and Lowry’s partner bought a house last year or Lowry and their partner bought a house last year).
When they is used in the singular, it takes a plural verb: Taylor said they need a new car. Again, be sure it’s clear from the context that only one person is involved.
(Note for UW–Madison communicators: Additional techniques for achieving gender neutrality in your writing can be found in Section 5.255 of the Chicago Manual of Style.)
(Source: AP Stylebook)
sleeved
use sleeved vs. sleeve with adjectives: long-sleeved T-shirt
spacing after end punctuation
one space, not two
speakers bureau (renamed Badger Talks in 2019)
no apostrophe; it is not possessive
Special student
capitalize Special
spirit squad
lowercase unless it’s the UW Spirit Squad; see also UW Spirit Squad
lowercase freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior when referring to an individual student or to the class as a whole: She is a senior history major; The senior class sponsored the lecture
Avoid using the phrase committed suicide. Alternate phrases include killed himself, took her own life, or died by suicide. The verb commit with suicide can imply a criminal act. Laws against suicide have been repealed in the United States and many other places.
(Source: AP Stylebook)
use an en dash except as noted below; uppercase System with UW System institutions, which comprise four-year campuses, 13 UW Branch campuses, UW College Courses Online, and UW Extended campus; see also CMS 6.81
Four-year campuses
UW–Eau Claire
UW–Green Bay
UW–La Crosse
UW–Madison
UW–Milwaukee
UW Oshkosh
UW–Platteville
UW–Stevens Point
UW–Stout
UW–Superior
UW-Whitewater
UW Branch campuses
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire–Barron County
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Marinette Campus
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Washington County
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Waukesha
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fond du Lac
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fox Cities
University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County
University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Marshfield
