Names and titles
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
In general, at first mention use a person’s full name without title: Boris Johnson. In news reports, at subsequent mentions always use the title and surname: Mrs May.
Stylebook
Foreign words and phrases
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
Foreign words and phrases go in italics unless completely absorbed into the English language: In the café they ordered some pains au chocolat. Italics also for Latin scientific terminology: Branta canadensis (Canada goose).
Initials and acronyms
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
An acronym is a pronounceable name made from initial letters, eg Unesco (for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Nato, Aids, Ucas.
Abbreviations
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
Most units of measurement are abbreviated: a 5cm gap; she drove at 70mph.
Numbers
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
The numbers one to nine are written as words; 10 and above are written as figures.
Quotes
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
Quote marks are almost always double (“ ”) even when used for things other than quotes: “Bodies”, as extras are known in the film business, earn about £80 a day.
Punctuation
Katie Hall
23 April 2020
An apostrophe indicates either a contraction (isn’t for is not) or a possessive (the department’s stylebook for the stylebook of the department).