The Times Style Guide: A practical guide to English usage

Product Information

AI on second mention and in headlines. Be careful not to overuse. An AI system is one able to improve from previous experiences or one created through training and learning rather than human coding or simple algorithms Although we loosely refer to the “average” in many contexts (eg pay), there are two useful averages worth distinguishing.

This acronym means small and medium-sized enterprises. Use SME for the singular. south, the south of England former owner of Harrods and Fulham FC (Fayed after first mention; Mr Fayed if honorific is needed); the son who died in Paris in 1997 was Dodi Fayed The Shadow Secretary of State for XXX is upper case whether or not it’s used with the holder’s name because there is only one. Use common sense to capitalise shortened versions of the Secretary of State titles: the Shadow Health Secretary. abbreviation of aggravation, and spelt thus despite the once popular terrace chant “A, G, A-G-R, A-G-R-O: agro!”Write all other numbers in numerals (including 2 to 9) except where it’s part of a common expression like ‘one or two of them’ where numerals would look strange. Our style for the prophet’s name and for most Muhammads living in Arab countries, though where someone’s preferred spelling is known we respect it, eg Mohamed Al Fayed, Mohamed ElBaradei is not a superlative of thin. Anorexia is an illness. Like schizophrenia, it should not be used as a cheap and lazy metaphor. Anyone who thinks of using a phrase such as “positively anorexic” should think again The former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee urged reporters not to “hide their biases and emotions behind subtly pejorative words” such as admit

As always, use common sense: a piece about the late film director Carlo Ponti was edited to say that in his early career he was “already a man with a good eye for pretty actors ...” As the readers’ editor pointed out in the subsequent clarification: “This was one of those occasions when the word ‘actresses’ might have been used”Do not refer to GOV.UK One Login as an account. This helps avoid confusion with other government accounts. amount refers to a quantity, number to something that can be counted, eg an enormous amount of energy was exerted by a small number of people Here not only does the reader have to ask whether the Tories paid millions or were paid millions, but also whether they paid millions of pounds or millions of people, and whether the Tories’ aim was to avoid tax or to enable the millions to avoid tax. This is very poor editing Labour warned of financial crash (did someone warn Labour of an impending crash, or did Labour warn someone else?)

Lower case in text. Upper case in titles: Spencer Tracy, Executive Director, GDS. Extended Project Qualification Use upper case when referring to the actual Construction Industry Scheme (CIS, not the CIS). Construction Industry Scheme Online/CIS Online Do not use proforma - say what it is in plain English: a template or form, for example. Be specific about what to do with it. programme Upper case. No need to explain the acronym if it’s used in content for a technical audience. human resourcesThe term “anarchist” is bandied about carelessly, often used by politicians and the media to denigrate opponents of the status quo, and should be used with care; “self-styled anarchist” should be avoided altogether Upper case when referring to the framework and method for developing products, otherwise use lower case. seasons When rules covering the EEA also cover Switzerland, say ‘the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein’. European Union vs European Community