Difference between revisions of "The englishtalk style guide"

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(englishtalk conventions)
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== This page covers==
 
* '''General englishtalk conventions'''
 
* '''Numbers/currency/dates'''
 
* '''UK vs US phrases'''
 
* '''UK vs US spelling'''
 
* '''Hyphenation/line breaks'''
 
* '''Links to useful style guides and other sources'''
 
  
 
== englishtalk conventions ==
 
== englishtalk conventions ==

Revision as of 09:59, 4 March 2007

The englishtalk approach to style, writing conventions, etc.

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englishtalk conventions

  • Addresses:
    • Paul-Schäfer-Strasse (not Paul-Schäfer-Straße)
    • 70173 Stuttgart, Germany (not D-70173 Stuttgart)
  • Colons
    • After the colon: lower case letter in the first word
  • Email (not E-Mail or e-mail)
    • UK: things are sent by email. US: things are sent via email.
  • Etc without a dot afterwards. "Red, blue, green etc, including standard...."
    • At end of list delete if preceded by "such as/for example ..... "
  • For example:
    • e.g. in formal documents
    • eg, in more modern contexts
  • Headers
      • UK: First word only capitalized (so not First Word Only)
      • US: Nearly All Words in Title Capitalized
  • Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr
    • Mr. with dot after title only in formal titles and addresses
    • In the middle of sentences write Mr Smith without dots
    • Dear Mr Smith
  • Per cent with gap, not percent
  • P.S.
  • Slash
    • In most cases with just two words no gap between/after the slash and following word (so not like / this)
    • If numbers and currencies are involved, sometimes with a gap for clarity, eg £54 / €81
  • Tel: or Fax: (not Tel.: with added .)
  • Versus: England vs Germany without dot after vs

Numbers/currency/dates

  • £10.00: UK. $10.00 US. Or £10 / $10 in less formal context
  • £100.00: UK. $100.00 US. Or £100 / $100 in less formal context
  • £1000.00: UK. $1000.00 US. Or £1000 / $1000 in less formal context
  • £10,000.00: UK. $10,000.00 US. Or £10,000 / $10,000 in less formal context
  • 1000 - 9999 without a comma
  • 10,000 + with comma
  • £2 million or £2m in tight spaces
  • % wherever possible, 98% of the time: without gap between number and %
  • February 28, 2007

US vs UK differences at englishtalk

  • Apart from: UK. Aside from: US.
  • Asking someone to do something: UK:Ask them to do xxx. US: Have them do xxx.
  • Email: UK: things are sent by email. US: things are sent via email.
  • Telephone:
    • UK: please ring on 0123 782136
    • US: call at this number
  • Weekend:
    • UK: at the weekend
    • US: on the weekend
  • While in most documents. Whilst in very formal UK usage.

Words/spelling

  • brackets:UK Parentesis: US. = (xxx)
  • brackets:US = [xxx]
  • car park: UK. Parking lot: US.
  • colour: UK. Color: US.
  • envisage: UK. Envision: US.
  • estate car: UK. Station wagon: US.
  • full stop: UK. Period: US.
  • grey:UK. Gray: US.
  • labour: UK. labor: US.
  • metre: UK. meter: US.
  • mobile phone: UK. cell phone: US.
  • open day: UK. open house: US.
  • saloon (car): UK. sedan: US.
  • tyre: UK. tire: US.

Links & external style guides