A-Z House Style Guide

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Taleban #

Note spelling. Use a singular verb: The Taleban is regrouping. But: Members are threatening to hit out.

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target population #

Target population can be seen as dehumanising and undervaluing people and could be thought of as being divisive and condescending. However, the phrase can be used at specific times when communicating directly with governments, trusts and foundations. It is better to use more respectful terms such as the people we seek to serve or communities we are reaching out to.

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taxpayer #

One word.

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team #

When listing teams or in running copy, use upper case for specific teams: Donor Care Team, Campaigns Team. Use lower case when referring to the team or when you are being non-specific eg The team is meeting to pray about the matter or Every team at Tearfund is passionate about ending poverty.

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team-mate #

Note hyphen.

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Tearfund #

Use a singular verb for Tearfund. So Tearfund is/has not ‘Tearfund are/have’: Tearfund is about to…  Like other aid agencies, Tearfund has recently… When mentioning Tearfund for the first time, try to follow it asap with we/our partners/staff are… Note: we are Tearfund – not ‘The Tearfund’ or ‘T.E.A.R. Fund’ or anything else.

The following agencies overseas with ‘Tear’ in their name are written as follows: TEAR Australia; TEAR Fund New Zealand; Tear Netherlands.

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temperature #

See units.

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Third World #

Don’t use this term. Use low-income countries, middle-income countries, fragile and conflict-affected states, the countries/regions we work in. No: ‘Two-Thirds World’, ‘Southern’ or ‘Third World’. Use poor countries sparingly if ever, and only when they’re in crisis rather than as a general label. See Developing countries.

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time #

In running copy: 10.30am, 5.15pm, five o’clock, midnight, midday. It ran from 11am to 12.15pm and 2pm to 4.30.

For listings: 5pm, 5.15am. 

For timeframes: 11am – 12.15pm. 2 – 4.30pm.
(Note en dashes and dots.)
See also en dashes.

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titles #

Use capitals: Sir Ian Blair, Archbishop Tutu, Bishop James. See also entries for individual titles, armed forces, names and police.

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ton/tonne #

Measure in metric tonnes (1 tonne = 1,000 kg) but talk figuratively about ‘tons of postcards’.

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towards #

Not ‘toward’.

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trillion #

In running copy: a trillion or 1 trillion, 2 trillion, 2.5 trillion. See also numbers. Compare million and billion.

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try to #

Use try to never ‘try and’.

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tuberculosis (TB) #

Use tuberculosis (TB), then TB.

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TV #

With capitals, no dots.

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Tweet #

To post a message/update on Twitter, it should be capital ‘T’.

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Two-Thirds World #

Don’t use this term. Use low-income countries, middle-income countries, fragile and conflict-affected states, the countries/regions we work in.