Navigating the World of Former Student Abbreviations: A Comprehensive Guide

The terminology surrounding former students can be confusing. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and using the correct terms, abbreviations, and style conventions. We will explore the nuances of "alumnus," "alumna," "alumni," "alumnae," and the increasingly popular "alum," while also addressing related style guidelines relevant to universities and general writing.

Understanding the Core Terms

The words we use to describe former students come from Latin, reflecting the long history of education and the respect associated with graduation. Let's break down the most common terms:

Alumnus: This is the masculine singular form, referring to one male graduate. The Latin noun alumnus means "foster son" or "pupil" and is derived from the verb alere "to nourish".
Alumna: This is the feminine singular form, referring to one female graduate.
Alumni: This is the masculine plural form, traditionally used to refer to a group of male graduates or a mixed-gender group of graduates.
Alumnae: This is the feminine plural form, referring to a group of female graduates. Some higher education institutions, particularly those with a history as women's colleges or women-only universities (such as St. Hilda’s College, University of Oxford), have chosen to retain the terms alumna (FEM. SG.) and alumnae (FEM).
Alum: This is a gender-neutral, singular form that has gained popularity as a shortened version of both "alumnus" and "alumna." The words "alum/alums" and "alumn/alumns" (pronounced with a silent "n") are both pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (al-UM), as opposed to the chemical compound alum and its plural, "alums" (pron.

The Rise of "Alum" and "Alums"

While the traditional Latin terms remain technically correct, "alum" and its plural "alums" are increasingly accepted in both informal and formal contexts. This shift reflects a desire for simplicity and gender neutrality in language.

The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan recently made the decision to use “alum” more broadly, and in more formal messaging including the Alumni Association mission statement.

Practical Usage Guidelines

Choose Clarity: When in doubt, prioritize clarity and avoid potentially confusing your audience. If the context is informal, "alum" and "alums" are generally safe choices. If you're writing for a more formal audience, consider spelling out "former student" or using the traditional Latin terms when appropriate.

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Consider Your Audience: Be aware that familiarity with these terms can vary. If you suspect your audience may not be familiar with the nuances of "alumnus/a/i/ae," it's best to use simpler language.
Respect Institutional Preferences: Some universities or organizations may have specific preferences for which terms they use. Consult their style guides or communications departments for guidance. University units may determine whether they want to migrate to “alum/s,” retain the traditional terms or use a combination of both.
Maintain Consistency: Within a single document or piece of writing, be consistent in your usage of these terms. Don't switch back and forth between "alumni" and "alums" without a clear reason.
Embrace People-First Language: Always strive to adopt people-first language. Avoid defining individuals solely by their former student status.

Beyond Former Student Terminology: Style Guidelines for Universities

In addition to understanding former student abbreviations, it's important to adhere to other style guidelines when writing about universities and their communities. Here are some key points:

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Names and Titles

Full Names on First Reference: Names of organizations should be spelled out on first reference. When referring to a university, use its full name on the first mention. For example, to the university should be its full name: San José State University.
Abbreviating Names: Where space is limited, acceptable abbreviations may be used after the first full reference.
Titles: Capitalize formal titles when they precede a name. Examples: President Mary A. Mary A. Use Dr. before a faculty member’s name. directly before their name or lowercase after their name. If someone has a doctoral degree in the title, do not use both Dr. and PhD.

Dates and Times

Specific Dates: When used with a specific date, abbreviate months with more than five letters (e.g., Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.). My birthday is Jan.
Time: When describing time, do not use zeros with whole hours.

Numbers and Percentages

Numerals: Ages should always appear in numerical form, except when starting a sentence.
Percentages: Use the % sign when paired with a number, with no space, in most cases. Spell out “percentage” when referring to percentage points.

Inclusive Language

Person-First Language: Always strive to adopt people-first language. Don't refer to someone who does not have a disability as able-bodied.
Pronouns: Use a person’s self-identified pronoun whenever possible.

Academic Degrees

Abbreviations: The general trend is to omit periods from abbreviations, including academic degrees. When the abbreviation of a degree might be unfamiliar to an audience, we recommend using a generic degree (such as BA, BS, MA, PhD, MBA) along with the subcategory spelled out, or spelling out the entire degree.
Graduation Year: When including a graduation or expected graduation year with a degree, abbreviate the year with an apostrophe and include a space between the year and the degree.

Other Style Considerations

Directions: Directions are not capitalized if they refer to a compass direction.
"State": "State" when used as a generic adjective or as a noun is not capitalized. is capitalized as part of the formal names of corporate or government bodies.
Serial Commas: San José State does not use serial commas. series but not before the final conjunction.
Hyphens and Dashes: Hyphens (-) are joiners. Dashes are longer than hyphens. or to set off the attribution of a quote. En-dashes (-) are used to denote a range.

Specific Examples and Scenarios

Here are some examples of how to apply these guidelines in different situations:

Writing a news article about a university event: "The event was attended by alumni from the classes of '95, '00, and '10."
Creating a website for a university alumni association: "Welcome, alums! Stay connected with your alma mater and fellow graduates."
Referring to a specific graduate in a formal document: "Jane Doe, an alumna of the university's School of Engineering, has been appointed CEO of a major tech company."
Addressing a mixed-gender group of former students: "We are thrilled to welcome our alumni back to campus for this special reunion."

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