Content style guide

A

abroad

‘Abroad’ and ‘overseas’ can cause confusion. Try to use plain English. For example, ‘apply from outside the UK’ or ‘working in another country’.

account

Use ‘create an account’ rather than ‘register an account’ or ‘set up an account’.

acronyms

See guidance on abbreviations and acronyms in the GOV.UK style guide.

alter

Use ‘change’ rather than ‘alter’, ‘modify’ or ‘switch’.

B

biometrics

When using ‘biometrics’ or ‘biometric information’ in public-facing services, explain what it means first. For example, ‘you'll be asked to provide your fingerprints and photo (biometric information)’.

biometric residence permit (BRP)

Lower case. You can use the acronym ‘BRP’ after the first full mention.

biometric residence card (BRC)

Lower case. You can use the acronym ‘BRC’ after the first full mention. Also called a ‘UK residence card’ or ‘EEA biometric residence card’.

Border Force

Capitalised.

border control

Use ‘border control’ rather than ‘passport control’ or ‘primary control point’.

British overseas territories

Write ‘overseas territories’ in lower case.

British overseas territories citizen

Write ‘overseas territories citizen’ in lower case.

C

capital letters

See guidance on capitalisation in the GOV.UK style guide.

casework

Not ‘case work’.

caseworker

Not ‘case worker’.

certificate of sponsorship (CoS)

Lower case. You can use the acronym ‘CoS’ after the first full mention.

check

Use ‘check’ rather than ‘verify’ or ‘validate’. For example, ‘check how long you’ve lived in the UK’.

clandestine

Do not refer to people as ‘a clandestine’ or ‘clandestine entrant’. Try to be specific, like ‘a person hidden in a vehicle, ship or plane’.

click

Use ‘select’ rather than ‘click’ or ‘tap’ because not everyone uses a mouse.

Common Travel Area

Capitalised. You can use the acronym ‘CTA’ after the first full mention.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Capitalised. You can use the acronym ‘CAS’ after the first full mention.

contractions

Avoid negative contractions like ‘don’t’. See guidance on contractions in the GOV.UK style guide.

correct

Use ‘correct’ rather than ‘right’. For example, ‘select the correct settlement route’.

correspondence

Correspondence is not plain English. Try to be specific such as ‘postal address’, ‘contact address’ or ‘email’. For example, ‘is this the family’s postal address?’

countersignatory

Avoid using ‘countersignatory’. Instead, use ‘the person who can confirm your identity’ or ‘someone who can confirm your identity’.

criminal justice system

Lower case.

customer

Avoid calling the people who use our services ‘customers’. Keep it simple and use ‘you’. If you need to describe the user, try to be specific, like ‘asylum seeker’, ‘applicant’ or ‘claimant’.

customs

Use ‘customs’ rather than ‘secondary control’. For example, ‘customs regulations’ or ‘customs allowances’.

customs officer

Use ‘Border Force officer’ rather than ‘customs officer’ unless you have a specific reason.

D

DBS adult first

Use lower case for ‘adult first’.

DBS adults barred list

Use lower case for ‘adults barred list’.

DBS certificate

Use ‘DBS certificate’ rather than ‘DBS disclosure’.

DBS checking service

Use ‘DBS checking service’ rather than ‘DBS disclosure service’.

DBS children’s barred list

Use lower case for ‘children’s barred list’.

dependant

Noun. For example, ‘a dependant’, ‘a child dependant’ or ‘are there any dependants on this application?’.

dependent

Adjective. For example, ‘I am dependent on the main applicant’ or ‘dependent children are not required to apply at the same time’.

deportation

Not a synonym for ‘removal’. ‘Deportation’ is the forced removal of someone for the ‘public good’, usually after being convicted of a criminal offence.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Capitalised. You can use the acronym ‘DBS’ after the first full mention.

E

EEA biometric residence card

Lower case. Also called a ‘UK residence card’ or ‘biometric residence card (BRC)’.

enhanced DBS check

Use ‘enhanced DBS check’ rather than ‘enhanced disclosure’.

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

Capitalised. You can use the acronym ‘EUSS’ after the first full mention.

F

finger scan

Not a synonym for ‘fingerprint’. Fingers are ‘scanned’ and the results are called ‘fingerprints’.

G

GOV.UK

All upper case.

H

His Majesty’s

Use ‘HM’ rather than ‘His Majesty’s’ in front of the name of the relevant public body. For example, ‘HM Revenue & Customs’.

HM Passport Office

Capitalised. Do not use ‘HMPO’ in public-facing services.

Home Office reference number

Use lower case for ‘reference number’.

Horizon News

Capitalised.

I

immigration bail

Lower case.

immigration health surcharge (IHS)

Lower case. You can use ‘IHS’ after the first full mention.

immigration officer

Use ‘Border Force officer’ rather than ‘immigration officer’. Only use ‘immigration officer’ if you have a specific reason.

Immigration Rules

Capitalised. After first mention, you can refer to ‘the rules’, using lower case.

inclusive language

Read our guidance on using inclusive language in the Home Office design system.

indefinite leave to remain

'Indefinite leave to remain' is officially called 'settlement'. For example, 'apply for UK settlement'.

J

K

King’s Speech

Capitalised.

L

leave to enter

Use 'permission to enter' instead of 'leave to enter', which is no longer in official use. For example, 'apply for permission to enter the UK'.

leave to remain

Use 'permission to stay' instead of 'leave to remain', which is no longer in official use. For example, 'apply for permission to stay in the UK'.

Life in the UK Test

Capitalise the ‘L’ and ‘T’. After first mention, you can refer to ‘the test’, using lower case.

log in

Use ‘sign in’ rather than ‘log in’, ‘login’ or ‘logon’.

M

migrant

Do not use ‘migrants’. Try to be specific, such as ‘applicant’, ‘claimant’, ‘employee’ or ‘worker’. If you cannot be specific, use ‘people’.

ministers

See guidance on using titles in the GOV.UK style guide.

N

O

P

passport control

Use ‘border control’ rather than ‘passport control’ or ‘primary control point’.

people

Use ‘people’ rather than ‘persons’.

permission to enter

Use 'permission to enter' instead of 'leave to enter', which is no longer in official use. For example, 'apply for permission to enter the UK'.

permission to stay

Use 'permission to stay' instead of 'leave to remain', which is no longer in official use. For example, 'apply for permission to stay in the UK'.

persons

Use ‘people’ rather than ‘persons’.

please

Use ‘please’ sparingly. See guidance in Writing for user interfaces on GOV.UK.

points-based system

Lower case and hyphenate ‘points-based’.

Police National Computer (PNC)

Upper case. You can use ‘PNC’ after the first full mention.

postal

Use ‘postal address’ rather than ‘correspondence’ if you mean letters or emails. For example, ‘is this the family’s postal address?’

primary control point

Use ‘border control’ rather than ‘passport control’ or ‘primary control point’.

purdah

Use ‘pre-election period’ rather than ‘purdah’.

Q

quotes and speech marks

See guidance on quotes and speech marks in the GOV.UK style guide.

R

rank (police and armed forces)

Capitalise the rank before the name, as in ‘Detective Inspector Joan Smith’. Use lower case when it follows the name, as in ‘Joan Smith, a detective inspector’.

register

Use ‘create an account’ rather than ‘register’ or ‘set up’ an account.

right

Use ‘correct’ rather than ‘right’. For example, ‘Select the correct settlement route’.

S

secondary control

Use ‘customs’ rather than ‘secondary control’. For example, ‘customs regulations’ or ‘customs allowances’.

select

Use ‘select’ rather than ‘click’ or ‘tap’ because not everyone uses a mouse.

senior civil service (SCS)

Lower case. You can use ‘SCS’ after the first full mention.

settlement

'Indefinite leave to remain' is officially called 'settlement'. For example, 'apply for UK settlement'.

set up

Use ‘create an account’ rather than ‘register’ or ‘set up’ an account.

sign in

Use ‘sign in’ rather than ‘log in’ or ‘login’.

sorry

Avoid using ‘sorry’. See guidance in Writing for user interfaces on GOV.UK.

Sovereign Base Areas

Capitalised. You can use ‘SBA’ after the first full mention.

T

thank you

Use ‘thank you’ sparingly. See guidance in Writing for user interfaces on GOV.UK.

U

UK residence card

Lower case. Also called a ‘biometric residence card (BRC)’ or 'EEA biometric residence card'.

User centred

Hyphenate when using as an adjective, as in 'user-centred design'. Do not hyphenate when using as a noun, as in 'teams need to be user centred'.

V

visa

Use ‘visa’ rather than technical terms like ‘route’ or ‘permission to enter’ in public-facing services, unless you need to be specific. For example, use ‘graduate visa’ rather than ‘graduate route’.

visa application centre (VAC)

Lower case. You can use ‘VAC’ after the first full mention. Do not use ‘visa section’, ‘visa processing post’ or ‘visa issuing office’.

W

watchlist

Lower case and one word.

X

Y

Z

Help improve this guide

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