P

Parents Weekend (Council, Fund) Not Parent’s Weekend or Parents’ Weekend
   
percent One word. Avoid use of symbol except in financial or tabular material. Use numerals: “Only 8 percent of our students failed to come.”
   
percentage Meaning portion. “Give him a percentage of the profits.”
   
Performing Arts Department Not Department of Performing Arts
   
Photographic Services, Office of  
   
Poet Laureate  
   
police

On first reference, use the Washington University Police Department. University Police is acceptable in later references. Do NOT use Campus Police.

Don Strom’s title is chief of police.

Also, campus safety escorts are known as Police Service Aides.

   
postdoctoral  
   
prefixes

Generally, use a hyphen if the prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel (e.g., pre-eminent).

Use a hyphen if the word that follows the prefix is capitalized.

Use a hyphen to join doubled prefixes (e.g., sub-subparagraph).

Also see Hyphens.

   
pre-law, pre-med, pre-professional  
   
professor

Professor, like all professional titles, is capitalized only when preceding the name. Use lowercase when succeeding a name or when used without a name:

“He came with Professor of Philosophy Andy Clark.”
“Andy Clark, professor of philosophy, is here.”
“Professor Andy Clark introduced the associate visiting professor.”

Also see named professorships for their different style treatment.
   
pronouns Avoid using he as a generic term (see he). Also avoid use of the first person I.
   
Public Affairs, Office of The Office of Public Affairs includes Office of University Communications, Publications Office, Marketing and Strategic Planning, Major Events and Special Projects, Photographic Services, Product Licensing, Commencement, and Medical Public Affairs.
   
Publications Office