Elements of SMHS Style

Second Edition of SMHS Style Guide Available Online
An essay marked with edits in red ink

There is more to the elements of style than whether you can get away with wearing white after Labor Day. In terms of branding, marketing, and writing, style equals grammar and punctuation plus accuracy and consistency. Adherence to the principles of style won’t necessarily establish credibility with your readers, but it can preserve and enhance it. For that reason, the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Office of Communications and Marketing has released for download the second edition of the GW SMHS Style Guide.

Have you ever wondered whether it’s acceptable to use GWU? Check the common abbreviations entry on page 1 (hint: the answer is NEVER). The annually updated guide is based on The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, with selected additions and adjustments for the GW SMHS community.

We hope you find the guide useful and informative.

Latest News

The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and the GW Medical Faculty Associates (GW MFA) are pleased to announce that Jocelyn Rapelyea, MD, RESD ’00, will serve as the chair of the GW Department of Radiology. She has served as interim chair since March 2025…
Anthony S. Fauci, MD, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), delivered the keynote address to open the 12th annual George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Clinical Public…
The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) announced the appointment of Lorenzo Norris, MD, FACP, to a new leadership role, Senior Associate Dean for Education, effective Jan. 5, 2026.