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As writers, we need to make decisions about the information we supply; and the way in which we supply this information. This section offers advice on writing plans, quality control, decision-making and English usage. |
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Standards and house style |
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| We need to make sure we're upholding a consistent image of the British Council in our writing by following our house style and grammar standards. This can be done by following corporate editorial house style, and by checking our work for correct spelling and grammar. This section includes rulings, explanations and definitions that will be useful when preparing copy for website publication. |
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British Council house style |
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British Council house style (as defined in the Style Guide 1,897Kb PDF) is a set of conventions that aims to ensure consistency and clarity in our writing. Using plain English and a friendly, direct tone of voice, this style enables us to communicate accurately and effectively. This section explains what we mean by house style and includes guidance on web writing. |
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Plain English and jargon |
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Plain English is a style of writing we can use to guard against confusion, incomprehension and misunderstanding. If we write with simple structures and a straightforward vocabulary, we can reach more people and help to create a positive perception of our organisation. |
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English usage guidelines |
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Poor English affects our communication in two ways: it obscures meaning; and it creates a negative response in our reader. Poor English results in poor communication. This section can help prevent poor communication with tips and rules on grammar, spelling and vocabulary. |
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Writing lozenge copy |
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Once we have finished our page, we need to write a customer journey; small sections of copy that will direct our customers to the page. This is one of the easiest parts of the writing process because we simply reuse the words we've already written and the decisions we have already made. |
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Copy editing |
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Once we have a completed piece of writing, we need to copy edit; to check for correct grammar, spelling, and house style. We also need to ensure that the writing is clear and concise, and that it makes sense. This is best done with print-outs, which we can mark up. As with printed material, copy editing is an essential part of web publishing. |
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