T
T&Cs
Acronym for terms and conditions. If we ever use this term, there’s no need to explain what T&Cs stand for.
Tailored Investment Bond
When we’re talking about our product, it’s always capitalised. If we’re talking generally about tailored investment bonds, there’s no need to capitalise it.
take-home pay
Not take home pay or take-home-pay
taxpayer
Not tax payer or tax-payer.
tax credits
Lower case and plural.
tax-efficient
Tax-efficient is hyphenated – but ‘tax efficiency’ and ‘tax efficiently’ isn’t.
tax-free
You could take your ‘tax-free cash’ or get a ‘tax-free lump sum’ (hyphenated) – but some of your pension is tax free (no hyphen).
The Pensions Regulator
The ‘the’ in The Pensions Regulator is officially part of the name so should always be capitalised alongside Pensions and Regulator.
till
Can be used as an alternative to until. Not til or ‘til.
times
Use the 12-hour clock, followed by am or pm (for example, 2.15pm not 14:15).
Put a full stop between the hour and minutes (not a colon) and don’t put a space between the numbers and am or pm.
absolute dates and times
Use a clear date and timestamp on messages sense directly to an individual customer.
Follow the formats above. The time and date can be separated with a comma or line break:
3:05pm, 13 Sep 2027
relative dates and times
We some also use relative dates and times on customer messages.
Use the following pattern:
|
|
Format
|
|
Under 2 minutes |
Just now |
|
0–59 minutes |
3 minutes ago |
|
1–24 hours (if same calendar day) |
X hours ago |
|
1 calendar day |
Yesterday |
|
2–6 calendar days |
X days ago |
|
7+ calendar days |
Use date instead (see above) |
Relative dates and times help users follow a conversation, but we always combine them with absolute dates and times for clarity.
This is because relative dates and times can be ambiguous on their own (eg if someone takes a screenshot and emails it to us later).
top up
Not top-up.
turnover
Not turn over or turn-over
U
UK
No need to write out the United Kingdom in full. If Northern Ireland isn’t included, say Britain or Great Britain instead – and ideally make it clear that Northern Ireland isn’t included.
UK English
Of course, as a UK company, we use UK English rather than US English.
up to date
The style guide is up to date (no hyphens) but it’s an up-to-date style guide (hyphenated).
username
Not user name or user-name.
V
VAT
Always capitalised. No need to explain what VAT stands for.