N - Editorial Style Guide

Feb 17 2010

N

Names: Always in full first. John Smith, then Mr Smith. If the story is light-hearted you can use Christian name only after first reference. Always try to obtain full name. Mr J Smith is not acceptable.

National curriculum: No caps as national curriculum

Nationwide: One word, no hyphen, as worldwide, countywide

 

Naturalist: Interested in nature, naturist is a nudist

NatWest:  Acceptable abbreviation

Navy: Cap when referring to the British Navy or the Navy, otherwise lower case e.g. navy blue

Near future: Use soon

Nearby: One word

Nerve-racking: Note spelling

New Year: Caps for New Year’s Day and New Year Honours list, but the new year

NHS: The Hillingdon NHS Trust but the trust, the NHS trust

NIBs: NIB headlines should be one line only

No one: No hyphen, but everyone, anyone, anybody

North Terminal: Caps as South Terminal and Gatwick Airport

Noticeable: Note spelling but notable

Numbers: Spell out one to nine then figures for 10 and above.

Use commas in amounts of 1,000 and above.

Write fractions in full with hyphens: e.g. one-third.

If you have to start a sentence with a number spell it out in full. E.g. THIRTY

Write more than 100 people, not over 100 people and fewer than 100 people not less than 100 people.

Percentages: Write in full, three per cent, 10 per cent. See measurements, money