Journalism

News style guide

Audiences expect the BBC to demonstrate the highest standards of English because well-written stories are easier to understand. This section of the College of Journalism website is the current style guide for all BBC News output. Although it is only a guide for journalists, it details many of the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar. It also covers accuracy, fairness and impartiality. The Oxford English Dictionary is otherwise the preferred reference.
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News style guide - searchable version

A fully searchable A-Z version of the BBC News style guide that is designed to be used for all output

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Grammar, spelling and punctuation

Capitals - A few titles are always capped up, whether you name the person or not (eg the Queen, the Pope, Archbishop of XX)...

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Military

Army - The UK army is simply the Army (ie initial cap). But if there is a need to distinguish it from other armies it should be lower case...

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Names

Places - Do not at first reference say eg: 'the North East' if you mean north-east England - it could as well mean north-east Scotland...

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Numbers

Words or digits? - For the most part, we use words for single-figure numbers, digits for anything above nine (ie eight, nine, 10, 11)...

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Religion

Church/church - Lower case for the actual buildings; otherwise Church. No human being should be referred to as ‘Head of the Church’...

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A

A/an - Pronunciation is the key. Use 'an' before any word or abbreviation beginning with a vowel sound... The News style guide has been compiled to assist producers and journalists

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B

BA - (for British Airways) ie both caps. It should be used only after a first reference where the title is given in full...

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C

Cabinet - (grouping of senior ministers) ie lower case...
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