English style guide
admin | Apr 21, 2012 | Comments 0
English style guide
English has a wide variety of acceptable forms. This style guide briefly outlines the UT’s preferred language so we can present consistent and professional texts.
Decisions in this style guide are based on the following:
- Use British English as stated in 3TU. and UT language policies
(however, some American conventions are also used) - Use educational terms used by the European Commission (EC), Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), and Netherlands organization for international cooperation in higher education (Nuffic).
- Use forms that are suitable for Dutch and international audiences.
- Use the most modern standard form.
Write in an assertive and accessible style. Aim to be as clear and concise as possible.
- Use active rather than passive verbs (A decision was made = The board decided).
- Avoid nominalization (We have a preference for = We prefer).
- Avoid tautology (an added bonus = a bonus).
- Avoid redundancies (It is a fact that many students = Many students).
- Use parallelism (read texts and discussing lectures = read texts and discuss lectures).
- Avoid false subjects (There were many students = Many students were).
- Do not overuse please (please register online = register online).
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recommended language |
example of use |
avoid |
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Acronyms Use official acronym even if not English Add an explanation if required |
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) European Economic Area (EEA) Provisional residence permit (MVV) Binding Study Advice (BSA), the first-year continuation decision, is considered… |
unofficial English abbreviations |
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Ampersands (&) Always use word ‘and’ |
systems and control Ernst & Young |
systems & control Ernst and Young |
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Apostrophes (’) Use to show possession In informal text, use to show omission |
master’s programmes graduates’ theses they’re 1970s |
Do not use to indicate plurals photo’s 1970’s |
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Dates, days, time Indicate range with a dash without extra spaces Use 24 hour time with a colon |
Friday, 1 January 2010 open from Monday to Friday open Monday-Friday 13:45 |
1st of January January 1, 2010 between Monday and Friday Monday until Friday 1.45pm 13:45 p.m. 13.45 hr 13:45 hours |
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Discrimination Use gender-neutral language Use gender-neutral titles Avoid depersonalizing people |
Lecturers need their chair alumni people with physical disabilities people with visual impairments |
A lecturer needs his chairman chairperson alumnus and alumna disabled people, cripples, handicapped |
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Contact details Check other organizations official name translations |
University of Twente (UT) a university is any university the University is an abbreviated form of the University of Twente |
Twente University |
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postal address campus location or |
Faculty of Behavioural Sciences PO Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands room 123 Spiegel, Building 2 |
Institute for Behavioral Research P.O. box Holland visiting address Building Spiegel nr. 2 |
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telephone phone T facsimile fax F |
+31 53 489 1234 or 053 489 1234 |
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email E |
For information, email webredactie@utwente.nl |
e-mail |
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website internet I |
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URL |
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Foreign words italicize foreign words but not specific names |
click opslaan (save) at Het Roessingh in Enschede |
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Numbers Write zero to ten as words (except decimals, money, pages, percentages, scores) Use currency symbols Mark thousands with commas Mark decimal point with point |
five specializations €3,180 €8,635.50 18,265km 3.85g 2.4 million |
€ 3.180,- € 8.635,50 18.265 km 3,85 g 2,4 bn |
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Paragraphs Use one line return |
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Do not indent the beginning of paragraphs |
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Spelling |
adviser among behaviour cannot catalogue centre cooperation e-learning enrol, enrolment healthcare helpdesk internet knowledge labour learned login online organization part-time percent program for a computer programme of study specialize thank you workplace |
advisor amongst behavior can not catalog center co-operation elearning enroll, enrollment health care help desk Internet know-how labor learnt in-log organisation parttime per cent specalise thanx work-place |
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Quotations Use double quotation marks |
He said, “The class was good”. |
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Salutations Use modern forms |
Dear staff and students, Dear Ms Achternaam, Dear Jan Smith, Best regards, Yours sincerely, |
Dear students and employees Greetings |
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Titles If desired, retain Dutch titles but italicize to show that they are not English or use English conventions Executive Board titles Academic staff titles Use Mr and Ms without full stops The University of Twente awards undergraduate and graduate science degrees |
Prof. dr. ir. A. Achternaam drs. ir. A. Achternaam Prof. A. Achternaam, PhD MSc A. Achternaam, MSc BSc President Rector Magnificus Vice-President President Anne Flierman said, Anne Flierman, President, said Professor Associate professor Senior Lecturer Lecturer PhD candidate Mr A. Achternaam Ms A. Achternaam a Doctor of Philosophy a PhD a Bachelor of Science a BSc a Master of Science an MSc any bachelor’s programme any master’s student |
Mrs Prof Dr A Achternaam Prof. Dr. M.SC. A Achternaam Do not write same qualification twice drs Achternaam MA Mrs or Miss Mr. Mrs. Miss. Ms. postgraduate |
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English style guide
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