House style guide
How to write online, including rules around grammar, capitalisation, bulleted lists, links and more.
We use the GOV.UK style guide by default.
Go to the style guide A to Z – GOV.UK
What's included in the style guide
The style guide covers a wide range of writing guidance, including:
- capitalisation
- numbers
- job titles
- bullets
- gender
- hyphens
- words to avoid
- geography and place names
- plain English
- abbreviations and acronyms
Specific to Woking Borough Council
In addition to the guide above there are some rules specific to Woking.
Do not say:
- 'the council is working hard to fix the issue'
- 'the Housing team are reviewing applications'
- 'Woking Borough Council is committed to reduce fly-tipping '
Write in the first person and say 'we':
- 'we are working hard to fix the issue'
- 'we are reviewing applications'
- 'we are committed to reducing fly-tipping'
This allows the site to have a consistent writing style, is more personal and conversational.
If you have to reference the name of the council (for example when referencing a strategy document), the official name is 'Woking Borough Council'.