<p>Decided to try to ask this here instead, since I really need to get these invitations done and printed:</p>
<p>How is this supposed to be worded?</p>
<p>“Billy graduated Summa Cum Laude (capitalized?) from Fancy University with a Bachelor’s (apostrophed?) degree in Underwater Basketweaving.”</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>“Billy graduated from Fancy University summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in…”</p>
<p>Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>I am chair of a faculty committee and in this capacity literally write letters of recommendation for about 100 students a year. Because I am writing in an official capacity, I have been instructed to write something to the effect of “Susie Student graduated summa cum laude (in italics – it is in Latin and thus needs to be italicized) from Fancy University with a BA in underwater basket weaving.”</p>
<p>I would assume that the same convention (small letter, italics after the verb but before the university and degree) would be applicable on a party invitation. Personally, I would leave it off, but then I am from the Midwest and tend to be more quiet about such things.</p>
<p>AP stylebook would say: bachelor’s degree (with apostrophe/lower case) or Bachelor of Arts (no apostrophe/initial caps) degree. Chicago style does not capitalize bachelor of arts but does use the apostrophe in bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>Neither would italicize cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude. They all come after the word graduated.</p>
<p>I want to THANK the op for this question, as I did not know how to phrase it either.</p>
<p>Instead of starting a new thread, can I add a question?..if more than one degree is earned…do you just mention one degree or all of them?</p>
<p>-APOL-a Mum</p>
<p>APOL, I would say “Joe Smith graduated summa cum laude from ABC University with a BA in English and a BS in Math.”</p>
<p>For my money, either of the OP’s original formulations is fine. “From Fancy University” and “with highest honors” are both modifying the verb “graduated,” and it doesn’t matter which order you place them in as long as it doesn’t create ambiguity.</p>
<p>However, if you want to be technical I think summa cum laude describes the degree, not the graduation. It would be more precise to say “Billy graduated from Fancy University and received a BA summa cum laude in Underwater Basket Weaving.” At my college (and my kids’ college), there are both college-wide honors and departmental honors. So Billy may have received a BA summa cum laude with honors in Underwater Basket Weaving. </p>
<p>Or you could just say “Billy graduated with highest honors from Fancy University.” I wouldn’t stress the Underwater Basket Weaving thing too much. I might adopt a different rule for something hot, like Computational Neuroscience or Behavioural Economics. (I would definitely use that “u” in “Behavioural”. Classy!)</p>
<p>I would not capitalize the Latin honor, however, and I would probably italicize it if I weren’t being lazy. As for the degree, capitalize the actual degree or its abbreviation, but not the generic description (bachelor’s degree).</p>
<p>Thank you, Knights09.
-APOL-a Mum</p>
<p>
Mine too and it sure makes for a mouthful. When I have to, no one asks - fancy that! - I say I graduated magna cum laude from Fancy University with highest honors in Wordy Major. I was taught to italicize but not capitalize it. That said, it’s not italicized on the diploma. I also think both of the original versions sound fine.</p>
<p>D’s diploma reads “Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude.” If I were to write about it, I would say “D graduated magna cum laude from expensive U with a BA in (her major).”</p>
<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I realize I have another question: My daughter (Billy, heh) double majored, no minor. In that case is it bachelor’s <em>degrees</em> or “BA in” or “with a double major in” Underwater Basket Weaving and Behavioural Economics?</p>
<p>My alma mater eschews the Latin entirely–my degree says I graduated with “High Distinction” and highest honors in Major. Those Michiganders don’t need no stinkin’ Lateen.</p>
<p>Where are you getting this summa cum laude and departmental honors info?</p>
<p>^It’s on my diploma.</p>
<p>cottonwood, it will be in the commencement program for your kid (and on the diploma, too).</p>
<p>Sushi, a double-major is a single degree. She has a bachelor of arts degree (for example)with majors in Math and French.</p>
<p>A double-degree program is quite different. Usually taking 5 years, you graduate with literally two degrees (for example a bachelor of arts in Music with a major in Vocal Performance, and a bachelor of science in Chemistry.</p>
<p>Whoops, correcting myself. In the example above, the dual degrees would be a bachelor of music with a major in Vocal Performance and a bachelor of science with a major in Chemistry.</p>
<p>My H double majored in Biology and Philosophy. They told him to pick whether to call his degree a BA or BS, since as you say, he was only getting one degree. When he started med school a couple years later, his dad gave him a lab coat with the title “B.S. in Philosophy” embroidered on it.</p>