The Times Style and Usage Guide

This version of The Times Style and Usage Guide (published in book form January 2003) aims to provide writers and sub-editors with a quick reference to contentious points of grammar and spelling and to guide them through specialised areas where confusions have arisen in the past. The alphabetical list has been augmented by a What's New section for easy reference; and there are seven specialist sections on the Armed Forces, the Arts, the Churches, the Courts, Politics, Sport and Titles.

The book is intended as a guide, not a straitjacket. All journalists should follow style, but occasional exceptions can be made, especially in direct quotes and in features, and with columnists whose individual voices should be heard and whose flow of argument and writing should be preserved.

Where extra guidance is needed, staff should use as their first point of reference Collins English Dictionary (ISBN 0-00-719135-7, 2005). Other helpful sources are the New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors (Odwe: ISBN 0-19-861040-6, 2005), the Concise Oxford or Chambers.

Richard Dixon

Chief revise editor

Online Style Guide

To access the online version of The Times Style and Usage Guide click any highlighted letter or special section below.

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Special sections

What's New
Armed Forces
Arts
Churches
Courts
Politics
Sport
Titles