A*, A*s
The top grade in A levels. Use the symbol * not the word star. No apostrophe in the plural.
A level
No hyphen. Lower case level.
Abbreviations and acronyms
The first time you use an abbreviation or acronym, explain it in full on each page unless its well known, like UK, DVLA, US, EU, VAT and MP. This includes government departments or schemes. Then refer to it by initials.
Always use acronym Markdown so the full explanation is available as hover text.
If you think an acronym is well known, please provide evidence that 80% of the UK population will understand and commonly use it. Evidence can be from search analytics or testing of a representative sample.
Do not use full stops in abbreviations: BBC, not B.B.C.
the academies programme
Lower case.
academy
Only use upper case when referring to the name of an academy, like Mossbourne Community Academy. See also Titles.
academy converters
Lower case.
academy order
Lower case.
academy trust
Lower case.
Access to Work
Upper case when referring directly to the actual programme, otherwise use lower case.
accountancy service provider
Upper case when referring to the business area covered by Money Laundering Regulations. Do not use the acronym.
Accounts Office
Upper case.
Activation PIN
Upper case. Activation PIN has been changed to Activation Code on outgoing correspondence from the Government Gateway. Until all hard-coded instances of Activation PIN have been removed from the Online Services pages, use Activation Code (also known as Activation PIN).
act, act of Parliament
Lower case. Only use upper case when using the full title: Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, for example.
Active voice
Use the active rather than passive voice. This will help us write concise, clear content.
Addresses in the UK
Start each part of the address on a new line. You should:
- write the town and postcode on separate lines
- not use commas at the end of each line
- write the country on the line after the postcode, not before
- only include a country if there is a reasonable chance that the user will be writing to the address from a different country
For example:
HM Revenue and Customs - Child Benefit Office
PO Box 1
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE88 1AA
United Kingdom
Addressing the user
Address the user as you where possible and avoid using gendered pronouns like he and she. Content on the site often makes a direct appeal to citizens and businesses to get involved or take action: You can contact HMRC by phone and email or Pay your car tax, for example.
Adoption Register
Upper case when referring to the national Adoption Register.
Lower case in subsequent mentions that do not use the full term: the register.
adviser
For example, special adviser. Not advisor, but advisory is the correct adjective.
ages
Do not use hyphens in ages unless to avoid confusion, although its always best to write in a way that avoids ambiguity. For example, a class of 15 16-year-old students took the A level course can be written as 15 students aged 16 took the A level course. Use aged 4 to 16 years, not 4-16 years.
Avoid using the over 50s or under-18s. Instead, make it clear whos included: aged 50 years and over and aged 17 and under.
agile
Upper case when referring to the Agile Manifesto and principles and processes, otherwise use lower case.
allow list
Use allow list as the noun and allow as the verb. Do not use white list or whitelist.
al-Qaida
Not al-Qaeda or al-Qaida.
alternative provision
Lower case.
American and UK English
Use UK English spelling and grammar. For example, use organise not organize, modelling not modeling, and fill in a form, not fill out a form.
American proper nouns, like 4th Mechanized Brigade or Pearl Harbor, take American English spelling.
Ampersand
Use and rather than &, unless its a departments logo image or a companys name as it appears on the Companies House register.
animal health
Lower case.
