Editorial style guide: P

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On this page:

paragraphs

Use one line return in between paragraphs. Don't indent at the beginning of paragraphs.

Keep paragraphs short, about 45 words, especially when writing for the web.

parliament

Lower-case P, unless you're writing Houses of Parliament in full.

part time

Hyphenate only when used before a noun.

We offer six part-time courses in the department.

This course is part time.

passive voice

Avoid using the passive voice. In most cases the active voice is best. The active voice is concise, direct and makes your writing more engaging.

The professor will present her research at the conference.
not
Research will be presented by the professor at the conference.

per cent

Write out in full as two words, not one symbol (%). Symbols can look untidy or get lost in large blocks of text.

You can use the symbol for headlines, illustrations, tables with numbers and in places where the word count is limited, for example on social media.

Percentage is one word.

per day

Also per year, per month and so on.

peregrine

Lower case initial.

The first peregrine egg of the year has been laid on the St George's church nesting platform.

PhD

Not PHD.

phone numbers

See contact details

Plain English

Aim to be as clear and concise as possible. Using plain English does not mean 'dumbing down'. It just means delivering your message in the clearest way possible.

Before

The forum exists in order that students can communicate issues or concerns about the quality of their learning experience that they feel are important and/or make suggestions for ways in which course programmes or modules might be better delivered and structured. In other words it is designed to give the student body a voice in the way teaching is managed and delivered. (62 words)

After

The forum gives students a say in the way their courses are run. (13 words).

planets

See space

platitudes

Avoid using platitudes, for example:

The University welcomes international students.

Cut the sentence altogether or replace it with evidence that the University provides a welcoming environment.

policy maker

Two words.

postgraduate

One word, not hyphenated.

practice/practise

'Practice' is the noun, 'practise' is the verb. 

I practise law.

Practice makes perfect.

President and Vice-Chancellor

Use the full title, including Vice-Chancellor as two words, hyphenated.

Our President and Vice-Chancellor's full, formal title is:

President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts

In body copy, particularly when his name and title is repeated, you can use any of these:

  • President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts
  • President and Vice-Chancellor Koen Lamberts
  • Professor Koen Lamberts

principal investigator

Not principle investigator.

professional services

Use a lower case p and s.

All professional services staff are invited.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Two hyphens.

punctuation

See ampersand, brackets, comma, colon, en-dash, full stops, hyphen, question mark, semi-colon. For advice on punctuating quotes see quotation marks.

Related information

Editorial Style Guide