The englishtalk style guide
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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 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
- car park: UK. Parking lot: US.
- colour: UK. Color: US.
- envisage: UK. Envision: US.
- estate car: UK. Station wagon: US.
- labour: UK. labour: 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.