Tearfund Brand Portal
  • Introduction
  • Visual
  • Written
  • A-Z House Style Guide
  • Tone of Voice

A-Z House Style Guide

  • a
  • b
  • c
  • d
  • e
  • f
  • g
  • h
  • i
  • j
  • k
  • l
  • m
  • n
  • o
  • p
  • q
  • r
  • s
  • t
  • u
  • v
  • w
  • x
  • y
  • z
1 / 17
Taleban #

Note spelling. Use a singular verb: The Taleban is regrouping. But: Members are threatening to hit out.

2 / 17
taxpayer #

One word.

3 / 17
team #

When listing teams or in running copy, use upper case for specific teams: Donor Care Team, Campaigns Team. Use lower case when referring to the team or when you are being non-specific eg The team is meeting to pray about the matter or Every team at Tearfund is passionate about ending poverty.

4 / 17
team-mate #

Note hyphen.

5 / 17
Tearfund #

Use a singular verb for Tearfund. So Tearfund is/has not ‘Tearfund are/have’: Tearfund is about to…  Like other aid agencies, Tearfund has recently… When mentioning Tearfund for the first time, try to follow it asap with we/our partners/staff are… Note: we are Tearfund – not ‘The Tearfund’ or ‘T.E.A.R. Fund’ or anything else.

The following agencies overseas with ‘Tear’ in their name are written as follows: TEAR Australia; TEAR Fund New Zealand; Tear Netherlands.

6 / 17
temperature #

See units.

7 / 17
Third World #

Don’t use this term. Use developing countries. No: ‘Two-Thirds World’, ‘Southern’ or ‘Third World’. Use poor countries sparingly if ever, and only when they’re in crisis rather than as a general label.

8 / 17
time #

In running copy: 10.30am, 5.15pm, five o’clock, midnight, midday. It ran from 11am to 12.15pm and 2pm to 4.30.

For listings: 5pm, 5.15am. 

For timeframes: 11am – 12.15pm. 2 – 4.30pm.
(Note en dashes and dots.)
See also en dashes.

9 / 17
titles #

Use capitals: Sir Ian Blair, Archbishop Tutu, Bishop James. See also entries for individual titles, armed forces, names and police.

10 / 17
ton/tonne #

Measure in metric tonnes (1 tonne = 1,000 kg) but talk figuratively about ‘tons of postcards’.

11 / 17
towards #

Not ‘toward’.

12 / 17
trillion #

In running copy: a trillion or 1 trillion, 2 trillion, 2.5 trillion. See also numbers. Compare million and billion.

13 / 17
try to #

Use try to never ‘try and’.

14 / 17
tuberculosis (TB) #

Use tuberculosis (TB), then TB.

15 / 17
TV #

With capitals, no dots.

16 / 17
Tweet #

To post a message/update on Twitter, it should be capital ‘T’.

17 / 17
Two-Thirds World #

Don’t use this term. Use developing nations/countries.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies
  • Privacy Policy
All content ©2017 - 2025 Tearfund. Registered Charity No.265464 (England & Wales) No.SC037624 (Scotland). Website designed & built by Rareloop.

Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.