The englishtalk style guide

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
• 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
• P.S.
• Slash
  • No gap between/after the slash and following word (so not like / this)
• Tel: or Fax: (not Tel.: with added .)

US vs UK differences at englishtalk

• Apart from: UK. Aside from: US.
• Asking someone to d 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

• car park:UK. Parking lot: US.
• colour: UK. Color: US.
• envisage: UK. Envision: US.