Phi Alpha Delta Style Guide

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International
Organizational Identity and Style Guide

 

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Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to provide consistency in printed material developed by and for Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International. Consistency and accuracy are an important part of efforts to present a credible, professional image and to be trusted by our audiences.

As most, if not all, staff members develop and produce printed material to market and communicate about the programs and services for which they have direct responsibility, this manual should provide a guide we can all use to ensure consistency of look, quality, message and tone.

Phi Alpha Delta’s visual identity centers on the use of the logo and includes standard typography and ink colors.

This manual also includes a style guide to provide consistency in the text of publications and general information about proofreading to improve accuracy.

These guidelines should be applied to all publications, correspondence, signage and other printed material.

 

Table of Contents
  1. Visual Identity and Design Guidelines
  2. General Proofreading Rules
  3. General Style for Communications
  4. Tagline, Mission, Vision, and Core Values
  5. Style Guide
  6. Logo Usage Policy

These standards are general, basic rules to provide a consistent visual identity for printed material.

 

1. Visual Identity Program

Follow these simple guidelines:

Logo

The logo should be prominently placed on all printed material, preferably on the cover. The logo should be kept proportional; it should not be expanded or condensed on the page.

Typeface

The standard typeface is Garamond. It should be used for all correspondence and printed material, including fliers, faxes, etc. If a secondary typeface must be used (for headlines, etc.), use Copperplate Gothic Bold. On the Phi Alpha Delta website (www.pad.org), the standard typeface is Arial. These typefaces should be used in their proper forms; do not condense or extend the typefaces.

Color

If the organization’s colors are chosen for a particular publication, they must conform to the designated PMS colors: PMS 2745 (purple) and PMS 611 (non-metallic gold) or PMS 871 (metallic gold). The logo can be printed in one solid color. If two colors are used, one of them should be the purple.

Design Guidelines

Sentences in type-set text should have only one space following the period. This is true for any printed piece, e.g., brochures, newsletters, fliers, fact sheets, etc. Copy typed into Microsoft Word that will be used in such a document (in Word or PageMaker) should, therefore, have only one space at the end of sentences.

The most important basic design rule is to be consistent. Consistency in spacing between elements, fonts, typefaces, the use and placement of elements on a page is important.

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General Proofreading Rules

Proofreading is an essential way to ensure the quality of written and printed material. Every piece communicates, through the accuracy of its copy, the consistency of its elements and its general quality. These are tips to improve proofreading effectiveness. Other resources include Hodges’ Harbrace College Handbook for grammar and the dictionary for spelling and hyphenation.

  • Proof for a variety of errors, some obvious, others not — grammatical, spelling, consistency (indentations, dates, style, typeface), typographical, format (memos, letters, forms), number (correct numbers, dates, prices, times, page numbers; addition errors), and content errors (usage, word choice, outdated or incorrect information).
  • Proof a hard copy of all documents as well as documents on the computer screen.
  • Proof against the last version of the document, checking that all marked changes, deletions and additions were made.
  • Read the document out loud.
  • Have someone whose proofreading you trust read the document.
  • If possible, put the document aside for a day before you proofread it.
  • Do not rely on spellchecker to ensure an error-proof document. Always proof it.
  • Typos tend to clump together; where you find one check for others.
  • Call telephone numbers to be sure they are right.
  • Check headlines, cutlines, and pull quotes very carefully. Errors in them are obvious since they are often the first items read. They are also easy to miss as you concentrate on reading and proofing larger blocks of text.
  • Before you print or mail the document do a final check: Is the date correct? Have you signed your name? Is your name spelled correctly?
  • Make edit marks with a colored pen: red, green, blue, but not black.

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General Style for Communications

For its general style guide, the association uses the Associated Press Stylebook. This manual provides a guide to questions of style including spelling punctuation and usage. These are examples of the AP style that you are likely to use often.

titles - In general, confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual’s name. Use lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an individual’s name: The president issued a statement. Use lowercase and spell out titles in constructions that set them off from a name by commas: The vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, declined to run again. This includes position titles for staff, board members, etc.

courtesy titles - In general, do not use the courtesy titles Miss, Mr., Mrs. or Ms. on first and last names of the person: Betty Ford, Jimmy Carter. In second and subsequent references, use the last name only, unless the person has stated a preference for using a particular courtesy title.

comma (,) - IN A SERIES: Use commas to separate elements in a series, but do not put a comma before the conjunction in a simple series: The flag is red, white and blue. Use a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series, however, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction: I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast. Also, use a comma before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases.

numbers - The general rule is to spell out numbers from one to ten and to use figures (20, 32, 98/-) for all others. There are many exceptions to this rule when using numbers as ages, fractions, dates, etc. Check the AP style manual for these rules. For ordinal numbers, spell out first through ninth; starting with 10th use figures.

percentages - Use figures: 1 percent, 30 percent. For amounts less than 1 percent, precede with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.5 percent. Repeat percent with each individual figure: He said 10 percent to 30 percent of the electorate may not vote.

state - Lowercase in all state of constructions: state of Massachusetts, the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Do not capitalize when used as an adjective to specify a level of jurisdiction: state Rep. Sarah Smith, the state Department of Transportation. Apply the same principal to phrases such as the city of Acton, the town of Chelmsford, etc.

state names - Spell out the names of the 50 U.S. states when they stand alone in textual material. Otherwise, use old post office abbreviations: Ala., Ariz., Ca., etc. A full listing of abbreviations can be found at www.stateabbreviations.us. The names of eight states are never abbreviated: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.

initialisms and acronyms - Spell out on first reference with initialism in parenthesis. You can use the initialism or acronym on subsequent references: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on first reference: MIT acceptable on subsequent references.

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Tagline and Positioning Statement

The tagline and positioning statement are important in maintaining consistency in the basic description of the general purpose and activities. Their use is important to build awareness among various publics about what it does and to reinforce this awareness with each contact an individual has with the association.

Tagline

Service to the student, the school, the profession and the community.

(Use P.A.D. tagline on all appropriate printed materials: letterhead, business cards, signage, etc.)

Mission, Vision and Core Values

Mission: Phi Alpha Delta is a professional law fraternity advancing integrity, compassion and courage through service to the student, the school, the profession and the community.

Vision: We are the preeminent law fraternity promoting the bonds of fraternalism, and we are the leader in the development and advancement of professional ideals.

Core Values: Bound together by tradition and our common interest in the law, we share these core values: Integrity, Compassion, Courage, Professionalism, Service, Diversity and Innovation.

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Style Guide

501 (c)(3) or (c)(6) - No spaces between (c)(3) and (c)(6)

area codes - Always use the area code when printing a telephone or fax number.

affiliate membership - Refers to a membership category for suppliers.

directors and officers liability

email – Do not hyphenate, i.e. e-mail

Executive Office – Capitalize.

insurance - Do not capitalize.

International Executive Board - Capitalize.

member benefits - The group of programs that save members money. This is not a Phi Alpha Delta program and should not be characterized as such. The word “benefits” is plural unless used to identify one of the programs, for example: “members have access to a member benefit that offers student loan consolidation.” Lowercase in text.

nonprofit - Do not hyphenate.

P.A.D. – Periods after each letter.

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Logo Usage Policy
  • Use of Phi Alpha Delta’s distinctive logo (the P.A.D. crest) is a benefit of membership. You are encouraged to promote P.A.D. and what it stands for by using the logo on forms, business cards, stationery and in advertisements.
  • The logo, and any marks associated with P.A.D., are the property of P.A.D. and are protected by state and federal laws. Use of the logo is contingent upon your agreeing to the following licensing provisions:
    • The logo is the property of P.A.D.;
    • Members in good standing may use the logo on stationery and in advertising to indicate membership;
    • Members may not use the logo to state or imply that P.A.D. has endorsed their company or their company's products or services;
    • Members will indemnify and hold P.A.D.  harmless for any damages, including attorney's fees, incurred by the member as a result of use of the logo;
    • Members agree to cease using P.A.D.’s logo upon request of the Executive Office and/or International Executive Board; and
    • Members agree to pay P.A.D. all costs and attorney's fees incurred by P.A.D. in any action against a member to enforce the terms of the license agreement.

If you need copies of the Phi Alpha Delta logo, please contact the Executive Office at 410-347-3118 or info@pad.org. Be sure to specify high- or low-resolution, as well as what file format you would like.

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