Semi-colons
Use to mark a pause longer than a comma and shorter than a full stop. Use them to distinguish phrases after a colon if commas will not do the job clearly. But remember that semi-colons should not appear in a bulleted list.
Singular and Plural
For collective nouns, the plural verb should be used when the emphasis is on the individual membership. For example: 'the committee were unable to agree'. Use the singular verb when the emphasis is on the body as a whole. For example: 'The council was elected'.
The word 'data' takes a plural verb. For example: 'data are available on studentships'
Government and its departments should take singular verbs. For example: 'the Cabinet Office has decided'.
Commercial entities should be singular as is a country, even if it looks plural.
ESRC should always be singular.
Spelling
Use English spelling rather than American. For spelling, The Concise Oxford Dictionary is recommended.
Be aware that computer spell-checkers may be based on American usage. Check that your spell-checker uses UK English.
For verbs use 'ise' rather than 'ize' - watch spell-checkers.
Superscripts and Subscripts
Avoid using these if possible. They look odd in the middle of running text as well as interfering with lines above and below.
That and The
Are too often omitted. Sometimes omitting 'the' reads like jargon.
Titles and Honours
Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, (note no full stops), but Professor in full. Mrs, Miss or Ms: Use whichever the woman in question prefers; if you don't know try and find out; if that proves impossible use Ms.
Barons and Baronesses are Lords and Ladies, even at first mention (Lady Thatcher, Lord Healey).
Honours given by royalty take precedence over others. For example: Reginald Fishpool CBE, FREng, FRS. Other honours such as FREng and FRS should appear in alphabetical order. On news, comment and feature pages use: Tony Blair or Sir Bobby Charlton on first mention, thereafter Mr Blair, Sir Bobby etc. Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor (first time), Lord Irvine after. Surnames after first mention are acceptable (for press release etc) but judgement should be used.
Britain has built up an arcane system of hereditary titles. For details of how you should address an Earl, Lord, Archbishop or Irish Chieftains both formally and informally you should consult Debrett's Correct Form (available from the Debrett's website).
Tone and Style
This guide does not impose a style on writers. The writers' copy will, after all reflect their personality and the work of their division. The tone and style of your copy will be dependent upon your audience. The style of the latest news section will differ from the guidelines given to people applying for funding, just as a serious news article will differ from the sports pages and feature pieces in a newspaper.
All copy should be clear, informative and simply written, and remember:
- do not be stuffy
- use the language of everyday speech
- do not be arrogant
- do not be too chatty
- do not be sloppy in the construction of your paragraphs and sentences
- keep it simple - long sentences and paragraphs can confuse the reader.
Try to use of the active rather than passive voice: "The centre acknowledges" rather than "it is acknowledged by the centre that..."