Abridged style guide for English
When translating, please do not copy the style of the source text. Please adhere to the style below and implement it consistently throughout the text even if the source is inconsistent or includes errors in style. The translation should read as naturally as possible—as if it were written in the target language.
Capitalization
Upper/lowercase letter after a colon: | Lowercase, unless followed by multiple sentences |
Figure in captions begins with upper/lowercase: | Uppercase, Figure 1 |
Figure in running text begins with upper/lowercase: | Uppercase, Figure 1 |
Labels in diagrams/images begin with upper/lowercase: | Uppercase |
Footnotes begin with upper/lowercase: | Uppercase |
Punctuation
Dash type (without spaces): | 30 countries—one quality standard |
Curved double (outer)/single (inner) quotation marks: | “The ‘MOBILITY FOR HEROES’ initiative … ” |
Slashes without spaces: | 2020/21; and/or |
Parentheses within parentheses: | (hydrogen [H2] and water) |
Numbers
Thousand separator: | 9,000; 260,000 m2 |
Decimal separator: | 2.4 ml |
Exponents are superscript: | 100 m2 |
Atomic numbers in compounds are subscript: | CO2 |
En dash for number ranges: | 30−75 kg |
Unit of measure with number ranges: | 115°C−130°C; 5%−10% |
En dash for minus signs: | −52.2 |
No space between numbers and +: | +14.2% BUT: 10 + 4 |
No space between numbers and >/<: | >50 km BUT: 60 > 50 |
No space between numbers and °C: | 32°C |
No space between numbers and %: | 14.2% |
The abbreviation for approximately: | approx. |
The abbreviation for circa: | ca. |
Currency code before or after the number: | EUR +53.8 million |
Short date [DD]/[MM]/[YYYY]: | 25/01/2021 (UK); 01/25/2021 (US) |
Long date [D] [month] [YYYY]: | 25 January 2021 (UK); January 25, 2021 (US) |
Time of day [HH]:[mm]: | 21:30 |
Lists
In general, bulleted list items begin with a capital letter and only end in a period if all items form a complete sentence.
Note: Each list should be capitalized and punctuated consistently even if there is a mix of complete and incomplete sentences. If the list contains mostly incomplete sentences, then no item should end in a period.
Advantages:
- Two units to choose from
- Connectivity via Wi-Fi
- App control
- Remote Service
- Large color display
- Intuitive user experience