Style Guide - International Coach Federation

Formatting Guidelines

The following general formatting guidelines have been established for use on email, website, collateral, social media and any other ICF communications. ICF follows the Associated Press Stylebook unless noted otherwise.

Body text should be 9 or 10 pt. Proximal Nova or Arial.
The official language of ICF is American English. American English will be used for all ICF communications.
Use only one space after a period.
Do not indent paragraphs.
Use one line space between paragraphs.

Names, Titles, Degrees

Use first and last name of individuals on first reference. Use first name on second and following references.
Include a person’s ICF Credential on first reference in an article or bio. Set ICF Credentials (ACC, PCC, MCC) in commas after the last name on first reference only.
EXAMPLE: John Smith, PCC, was nominated as a candidate for the Circle of Distinction.
Avoid using courtesy titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Dr.
Use degree titles after the name, but before an ICF Credential.
EXAMPLE: David Johnson, Ph.D., MCC
If you are using more than one coaching credential, the ICF Credential should be listed first.
Capitalize formal titles before the name of the individual, but not after, EXCEPT for ICF Global Board Chair (AP Style).
EXAMPLE: ICF Executive Director Magda Mook accepted the call. Magda Mook, ICF executive director, accepted the call.

Headlines, Headings, Bylines

Headlines: Headlines typically include a noun (or implied noun) and verb. Capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns or acronyms in a headline.
EXAMPLE: ICF calls for action from EMCC / Applications due August 2 / Coaches congregate in Russia for ICW
Headings: When headings do not include a verb, all words in a heading should be capitalized.
EXAMPLE: ICF News and Reminders / ICF Resource Partners
Bylines: Include the author’s first/last name, followed by ICF Credential, title (if applicable) and then country of residence in parentheses. Do not capitalized the word ‘by.’
EXAMPLE: by Meryl Moritz, MCC (USA) / by Dave Wondra, PCC, 2015 ICF Global Board Chair (USA)

Times and Dates

Months/Days: For global communications, ICF Headquarters will spell out months and days of the week.
EXAMPLE: Saturday, January 1, 2019.
ICF recognizes the needs of chapters to use locally recognized formats.
Time: Use a.m. and p.m., lowercase with periods.
EXAMPLE: 7 p.m., 9:30 a.m., 5 – 6:30 p.m., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The exception to this guideline is the 12 o'clock hour. Please write these times as 12 Noon and 12 Midnight.
Time zones: ICF Headquarters will list all times in New York time denoted in parentheses.
EXAMPLE: All calls will take place at 2 p.m. (New York) with the addition of UTC/GMT, Paris, and Hong Kong times for Virtual Education programs. ICF recognizes the needs of Chapters to provide local time zones when appropriate.

Numerals

Ordinal numbers: Ordinal numbers should be superscripted (contrary to AP Style).
Money: The official currency of ICF is US dollars noted by a dollar sign ($) preceding the amount and USD after the amount.
EXAMPLE: The registration fee is $50 USD. ICF recognizes the needs of Chapters to use locally recognized currency formats.

Past Presidents/Chairs

Prior year’s ICF Global Board Chair is immediate Past Chair, ICF Global. All prior past Chairs are ICF Global Past Chair. All past Presidents from 2012 and prior are ICF Global Past President.
Chapters may use locally appropriate terminology.
EXAMPLE: Hilary Oliver, PCC, Immediate Past Chair, ICF Global / Dave Wondra, PCC, ICF Global Past Chair / Janet Harvey, MCC, ICF Global Past President

ICF-Specific Style Elements

Association — Capitalize only in reference to ICF as in “The Association has more than 25,000 members.”

Assessor —Capitalize only after ICF, as in “ICF Assessor.”

Bridge line — Two words. Preface with “telephone” if needed.

Board — Capitalize Board when it refers to the ICF Global Board of Directors. Do not use the abbreviation BOD. Only use in conjunction with the ICF Global Board or appropriate Chapter.
EXAMPLE: The ICF Global Board met last month in Chicago. The Board votes to table the matter. / The ICF New England Board will meet next month.

Chapter — Capitalize Chapter when it refers to an ICF Chapter or is used in a proper name.
EXAMPLE: The ICF New York City Chapter is holding a meeting this week. / All ICF Chapters are invited to attend the Chapter Leader Presentations help monthly. / All ICF Chapters were represented at the ICF Global Leaders Forum.

Coaching — Capitalize coaching when it appears with a specialty.
EXAMPLE: Executive Coaching; Life Coaching; Career Coaching, etc.

Coaching World — Always capitalize and italicize.

coachfederation.org — Do not include www. before it.

Code of Ethics — Capitalize after ICF or when referring to the ICF Code of Ethics. Capitalize the word Code when it stands alone, but refers to the ICF Code.
EXAMPLE: To be Credentialed, you must follow the ICF Code of Ethics. / It is stated in the Code.

Committees — Capitalize the word Committee when it refers to a specific ICF Committee or is used in a proper name.
EXAMPLE: The ICF Education Committee is working on a new project. The Committee will finalize the project next month. There were 10 ICF Committees set up for the year. There were 10 committees set up last year.

Communities of Practice (CPs) — Spell out on first reference followed by its acronym in parentheses. Use acronym on second and following references.
EXAMPLE: See the list of ICF Communities of Practice (CPs) online. The Coaching Science CP meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

Core Competencies — Capitalize following ICF. Lowercase in general use.
EXAMPLE: The ICF Core Competencies are taught in accredited coach-training programs. / She told him about the core competencies of coaching.

Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units — Spell out of first reference followed by its acronym in parenthesis. Do not capitalize units.
EXAMPLE: Earn 3 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) units at our upcoming event. 1 CCE unit will be Resource Development.

Credential — Capitalize Credential when it refers to the ICF Credential (ACC, PCC, MCC) or ICF Credentialing Program. Lowercase in general use.
EXAMPLE: She earned an ICF Credential in 2010. / He passed his ACC Credential exam. / Clients agree that credentials are important.

Credentialed Coach Finder (CCF) — In general, spell out on the first reference with CCF in parentheses. Second references may be referred to as CCF. When using acronym, CCF, do not use "the" before it.
EXAMPLE: You can search for ICF-credentialed Members on the Credentialed Coach Finder. / Please be sure to update your CCF profile.

ICF Credential-holder — Use when referring to individuals that hold a credential.

ICF-credentialed coach member — Use when referring to individuals that hold a credential and are ICF Members.

ICF Global — Use when it is necessary to distinguish the international organization from ICF Chapters. Do not use “Global ICF.”
EXAMPLE: ICF Global staff met with ICF Australasia leaders during the conference.

ICF Headquarters — Use when referring to the physical office/address of the ICF based in Lexington, Ky. Use ICF Global to distinguish the international organization from ICF Chapters.
EXAMPLE: Send your renewal applications to ICF Headquarters.

ICF Member — Always capitalize ‘member’ when it follows ICF.
EXAMPLE: ICF Members are entitled to many benefits. Each member receives many benefits.

International Coaching Federation (ICF) — In general, spell out on the first reference with ICF in parentheses. When using acronym, ICF, do not use "the" before it.
EXAMPLE: The International Coaching Federation (ICF) has more than 25,000 members. ICF is the largest global coaching organization.

Internet — Always capitalize Internet.

Online — One word, not capitalized unless at the beginning of a sentence or used as part of a proper noun.

Nonprofit — One word without a hyphen.

Taskforce(s) — One word.

Strategic Plan — Capitalize when referring to the ICF Strategic Plan.
EXAMPLE: The Board approved the ICF Strategic Plan. / The priorities set forth in the Strategic Plan have been communicated to all staff. / They met for a strategic planning session.

Sub-committee — Always use a hypen.

website — Do not capitalize or separate into two words. Also, webcam, webcast and webmaster. But as a short form and in terms with separate words, the web, web page and web feed.

ICF Brand Manual