Buckinghamshire New University style guide

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Examples of poor written English 4 Reclamation of the site will involve the identification and remediation of any pollution and contamination which may be present on the site together with the removal or treatment of hazardous features such as unstable ground and mineshafts etc. 5 The department is required to make savings of £13m next year and this objective will be achieved by efficiency savings. An evaluation of cash collection methods and procedures and identification of potential savings in this area have been conducted by senior management and determined to be part of this overall process. See page 41 for suggested improvements. introduction 16 tips on writing plain English 1 Consider carefully your purpose and message before starting to write – clear writing and clear thinking go hand in hand. 2 Wear the reader’s shoes – how would you feel in their position? 3 Plan a structure that will help the reader, perhaps with headings, bullet-points, and a pithy summary of key points at the start. 4 In letters and emails, tell the reader clearly, concisely and courteously what has happened, how the situation stands, and what they can expect next. 5 Match your writing to the needs and knowledge of the readers – some of them may be baffled by official jargon and procedures. 6 Write sentences that average 15–20 words. 7 Keep the word order simple. In most sentences, put the ‘doer’ early and follow it with an active-voice verb. 8 Take pride in using everyday English, correct grammar and accurate punctuation. 9 Where appropriate, use I, we and you to make the writing more personal. 10 Maintain the flow by starting some of your sentences with connectors like however and so. 11 Use commands when writing instructions. 12 Cut unnecessary words. 13 Check that the facts and judgement are right. Nothing compensates for inaccuracy or illogicality. 14 Ask someone else to read your documents before they are issued. 15 Apply common sense to all guidance about writing. 16 If you are asking someone to do something, put your request towards the start of the email or document. 4 Buckinghamshire New University Style Guide
Accessibility and dyslexia When preparing support material for students with accessibility issues (for example dyslexia) here are some points that you should bear in mind: • text should be left aligned • use Arial at 12 point or greater, wherever possible • keep a clear uncluttered layout • ensure words are not split between lines • avoid large blocks of capital letters • avoid italics • avoid underlining words • keep the use of punctuation such as commas, semi-colons and full stops to a minimum • make sure text is not placed over the top of an image or texture • ensure good contrast between the text and background • do not convey information solely through the use of images, diagrams or colour • maintain adequate spacing. All publications should contain the following statement: This publication is available in alternative formats if required. introduction Examples of poor written English 6 LSC and HEFCE announced today that they were launching a joint FE/HE funding initiative. One of the fundamental building blocks of this scheme is a joined up approach to creating a ladder of educational opportunity for learners of all ages. 7 In order to take ownership of the problem and impact the situation, going forward, I would like to encourage dialogue between all my colleagues and myself. Bring along to my office your shopping lists for action. See page 41 for suggested improvements. Don’t forget to ask whether participants have special requirements (physical or dietary) when you are organising a meeting or event. Buckinghamshire New University Style Guide 5
Page 1 and 2: -level audio-visual BEng (Hons) BSc
Page 3: Keep it as natural as possible Writ
Page 7 and 8: Addresses When writing addresses, a
Page 9 and 10: Branding Our new corporate identity
Page 11 and 12: Bullet points (continued) Bullet po
Page 13 and 14: Capitalising job titles (see job ti
Page 15 and 16: Dash The en-dash - is longer than a
Page 17 and 18: eg The abbreviation eg comes from t
Page 19 and 20: Email (continued) Think before you
Page 21 and 22: Faculty The University has two facu
Page 23 and 24: Gender Use non-discriminatory langu
Page 25 and 26: Hyphenation (see also dash) The hyp
Page 27 and 28: It’s and its Be careful to check
Page 29 and 30: Latin plurals Some Latin plurals ar
Page 31 and 32: Numbers • Thousands: 1,000, 10,00
Page 33 and 34: Quotation marks Check that quotatio
Page 35 and 36: Telephone numbers Do not include hy
Page 37 and 38: Underlining Don’t underline unnec
Page 39 and 40: Web addresses Only precede web addr
Page 41 and 42: Examples of poor written English -
Page 43 and 44: This guide is designed to be as com

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