Updates

August 2026

Inclusive language

• Restructured the Inclusive language section's landing page in response to research feedback (undertaken May 2026).

Dates and days

• Removed guidance on tagging abbreviated days of the week.  
• Expanded guidance and examples on how to write different components of a date (day, date, month, year).
• Restructured and expanded content: guidance on date ranges, decades and centuries now in separate sections on the page with accompanying examples.
• Expanded guidance and examples on academic years.

Numbers

• Restructured and expanded guidance around writing numbers as numerals or words, giving clearer use cases (including linking to relevant sections).
• Added guidance and examples on writing fractions and ordinal numbers.
• Removed guidance on tagging abbreviated versions of the words millions and billions.
• Added guidance and examples on using decimal points when writing higher numbers.
• Added reference to percentage guidance, linking to Punctuation section.
• Added guidance and an example on using Roman numerals.

Times

• Added guidance on the use of ‘midday’.
• Added more illustrative examples for various rules on the page.
• Added new guidance on how to write international times.

Measurements

• Page renamed, previously called ‘Distances’.
• Restructured previous guidance on distances into distinct sections.
• Restructured and expanded content: guidance now included on speed, area/volume, weight, temperature and computing.

Money

• Restructured previous guidance and added examples for both British pounds and other currencies. 
• Expanded guidance on when to specify other currencies and include monetary symbols.  
• Expanded guidance and added examples on writing about US dollars.

May 2026

University terminology

• Added guidance on referring to the University as ‘Edinburgh’.

March 2026

Acronyms and abbreviations

• Updated title and restructured content. This included removing accordions and incorporating their content onto the page where appropriate.
• Updated guidance on tagging abbreviations.
• Moved guidance on degree awards to ‘University terminology’ and linked to this page for further guidance.
• Added guidance around combining words with an apostrophe and readability. 

University terminology

• Page renamed, previously called ‘Referring to the University’.
• Expanded guidance and examples on how to refer to the University in different contexts.
• Duplication of ‘Schools and Colleges’ guidance was removed from this page, instead linking to where it sits on the ‘Capital letters’ page.
• Added guidance on degree programme titles and awards, including examples.
• Added guidance and examples to clarify the punctuation and spelling of ‘masters’ in different contexts.
• Added guidance and examples on the use of the word ‘honours’ in different contexts.
• Added guidance on degree classes (moved this from Acronyms and abbreviations).
• Incorporated and clarified guidance from the PDF on the use of the words ‘course’ and ‘institution’ and the fact there are no academic departments at the University.

February 2026

Use plain language

• Added definition of plain language.
• Added guidance and examples on ‘How to write in plain language’ including sections on:
  • ‘Talk directly to your audience’
  • ‘Use short sentences and paragraphs’
  • ‘Consider how you use technical language (jargon)’
  • ‘When you use technical language, help users to understand it’
• Expanded guidance and examples on using the active voice, including link to further reading sources.

December 2025