This is version 4.0 of the WGU Style Guide, published on Octoboer 5, 2026. Please see the version history for information about past versions.
This guide is intended to be used for the educational products developed by or in partnership with the WGU Program Development department. However, the WGU Style Guide is not all-encompassing. In cases where the WGU Style Guide does not include a topic or entry, you should prioritize the following sources:
- For style and usage issues, consult The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition (Chicago).
- For reference and citation issues, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association Seventh Edition (APA 7). Note: Some sources may legally require a specific format that differs from APA 7. In these situations, the required format takes priority.
- For spelling issues, consult Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (M-W.com), and use the first listed spelling unless otherwise noted in this guide.
Suggestions
To submit suggestions for improving the style guide, please fill out the stand-alone intake form. For Course Code and Version Number, type 000, For Course Title or Project Name, type WGU Style Guide, for School, select Program Development, for Project ID/Project Name, leave blank, for Goliath ID, leave blank, for Role/Team, select Quality Assurance. Then click the Submit button.
Glossary
Consult the glossary from the Program Development Hub to view additional spellings and definitions.
Marketing
For WGU employees, please visit the WGU Sharepoint to learn more about the Brand Style Guide and Marketing's Editorial WGU Style Guide.
