Difference between revisions of "The englishtalk style guide"

Revision as of 13:45, 6 March 2007

The englishtalk approach to style, writing conventions, etc.

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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
englishtalk always written small. englishtalk Ltd (without dot) in formal uses
Headers
- UK: First word only capitalized (so not First Word Only)
- US: Nearly All Words in Title Capitalized
Lists
- Usually without a dot at the end of each line. Unless line contains senetences.
- Preferably with 1) 2) 3) and not not 1. 2. 3.
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. at the end of a letter, both the p and the s are lower case, with dots
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

£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 %
- Also possible 10pc of time: pc
February 28, 2007
Saturday December 5, 2007 in that order, not 05
Temperature: 34°C - no gaps, capital C
Distances
- 34km without gap
- 3200m without gap (metres)
- 16.41m without gap
- 327cm without gap
Speed
- 110 mph with gap
- 54 kph car speeds but 54 km/h for sports
Time - 12-hour clock, colons, space after time, no dots
- 10:40 am
- 10:40 pm

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.

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 * February 28, 2007
 * Saturday December 5, 2007 in that order, not 05
-* Temperature: 34°C - no gaps, capital C
+* '''Temperature''': 34°C - no gaps, capital C
-* Distances
+* '''Distances'''
 ** 34km without gap
 ** 3200m without gap (metres)
 ** 16.41m without gap
 ** 327cm without gap
-* 110 mph '''with''' gap
+* '''Speed'''
-* 54 kph car speeds but 54 km/h for sports
+** 110 mph '''with''' gap
+** 54 kph car speeds but 54 km/h for sports
+* '''Time''' - 12-hour clock, colons, space after time, no dots
+** 10:40 am
+** 10:40 pm
 == US vs UK differences at englishtalk ==