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-t in nearly all cases, where there is a choice of past tense between a final -t or -ed, use -t, as in burnt, spelt etc. But NEVER earnt

tad heavily overworked as synonym of a little or a bit; avoid

tailback

Tajikistan

takeaway (meals)

take-off (aircraft)

takeover (noun), but to take over (verb)

takeover code but Takeover Panel

Taki Theodoracopulos, journalist and historian (Taki alone is acceptable after first mention)

take part prefer to participate

Taleban now refer to the Taleban (or the Taleban authorities etc), and prefer the plural verb ("are" rather than "is" etc). See War on Terror

talk show, as chat show, game show, quiz show etc

talkSPORT, the radio station

Tallinn, Estonia

Tall Ships Youth Trust new name (Aug 2003) for the Sail Training Association

T&G (formerly the TGWU): the Transport and General Workers' Union (now with an apostrophe)

Tangier no final “s”

Tannoy is a trade name; use loudspeaker as alternative

Taoiseach (always cap). See Ireland

taramasalata (not taramo-). See hoummos

target beware lazy use of this word as a verb; eg, a campaign is aimed at or directed at children (rather than targeting children). Try to restrict its use to military (hostile acts) contexts. Note targeted (not targetted)

Tarmac is a trade name, but confine the cap version to the civil engineering company. Common usage allows the road surface or airport runway to be written as tarmac; tarmacadam is not a trade name

Tartars prefer to Tatars

task force (as in Falklands)

Tate Gallery the original gallery on Millbank is now known as Tate Britain, and the new one on Bankside as Tate Modern. Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives retain their names

tattoos, tattooed, tattooing

taxman one word as colloquialism for Inland Revenue; similarly, no hyphen in taxpayer

Tchaikovsky

tea bag (two words), but teacup

teams normally plural, eg, “Manchester United were disappointing when they lost to Barcelona”. But sports clubs usually take the singular, especially in news stories, eg, “Manchester City Football Club was fined heavily for crowd disturbances”. There is some room for variation in this format, but whatever is decided, never mix singular and plural in the same story. Note hyphen in team-mates. See Sports special section

teargas

Tea Room cap in the Commons Tea Room, but in general usage, one word and l/c, tearoom; similarly, teashop. See Politics special section

Technicolor is a trade name. It should be used only in the context of the making of colour motion pictures and not as a descriptive adjective or synonym for multicoloured

technology, media and telecoms companies/sector: abbreviate to TMTs

Tecs (initial cap only), short for training and enterprise councils. See Lecs

techMARK, the technology index

Teddy boy

Teesside (no hyphen, double “s” in middle); but note Deeside in both Scotland and Wales

teetotal

Tehran (not Teheran)

telephone numbers with three groups of figures, hyphenate only the first two (eg, 0151-234 8464; 020-7782 5000). For other national numbers, write as two groups of numbers, eg, 01483 123456. Similarly, for numbers with, eg, 0800, 0845, 0870 codes, and for mobile numbers, write as two groups of unhyphenated numbers, thus: 0870 1234567, 07721 123456

Teletext replaced Oracle (end of 1992) as the text service for ITV and Channel 4; do not use Oracle any more

Teletubbies (not Tellytubbies): Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po. Singular is Teletubby

television TV is acceptable both in headlines and text. ITN (Independent Television News) is acceptable in its abbreviated form (in the same way as BBC). Write BBC Television, BBC One, BBC Two etc; but Argentine television, Norwegian television, etc (l/c unless we know it is the station's specific name). See BBC, ITV1, Channel 4, Radio 1

television and radio programmes are italicised. See Arts special section

telltale (one word)

temazepam is a non-proprietary sedative, so l/c

temperatures the style is 16C (61F) and minus 15C (-2F). Remember that a rise in temperature of 3C does not equate to 37F (the direct equivalent of 3C), but rather to an increase of 5.4F: do the maths! Prefer "minus" to minus-sign in text. Do not refer to temperatures as hot or cold; they are high or low. See celsius, metric

ten-minute rule (Bill) etc. See Politics special section

Tennessee

tenpin bowling

Teresa. See Mother

Terminal 1, Heathrow (and Terminal 2, 3, 4, 5 etc). See airports, Heathrow

term-time (hyphenate)

Terre'Blanche, Eugene

Terrence Higgins Trust (not Terence)

Territorial Army, the Territorials (cap)

Terrorism Bill reference may be made to the terror Bill, but not the Terror Bill

terrorist take care with this word and the associated terrorism; guerrilla is a less loaded word in the context of violent political struggle. Never use as a synonym of any dissident group that uses violence, eg, hunt saboteurs, and always try to specify groups as paramilitaries, gangster organisations or whatever. Remember, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter

Tessa, tax-exempt special savings account

Test match should apply only to cricket (not rugby); for other sports, use the term international (match). See Sports special section

textbook one word, as guidebook, stylebook, rulebook etc

TGV, train à grande vitesse (not de), the French high-speed train

thalidomide (l/c)

Thames Barrier, Thames Estuary (caps). See rivers

Thamesmead (near Erith), Thamesdown (Wiltshire administrative district), but Thames-side

that do not be shy of this word after said, denied, claimed etc; eg, “he denied that the evidence was confusing” is more elegant than “he denied the evidence was confusing”. That is almost always better than which in a defining clause, eg, “the train that I take stops at Slough”. As a general rule, use which for descriptive clauses and place it between commas, eg, “the night train, which used to carry newspapers, stops at Crewe”. See ensure

Thatcher first mention Baroness Thatcher, thereafter Lady Thatcher. In historical context, preferable to say Mrs Thatcher or Margaret Thatcher, eg, “Mrs Thatcher took quick action in sending the task force to the Falklands”. It would be wrong to say that her party forced Lady Thatcher from office in 1990. Note the late Sir Denis Thatcher (not Dennis)

theatre always attach Theatre (cap) to names at first mention, eg, the Criterion Theatre (thereafter the Criterion or simply the theatre). Some of the main London exceptions are the Old Vic, Young Vic, Palladium, Coliseum, Apollo Victoria, Donmar Warehouse, Hackney Empire; and outside London, many such as the Birmingham Hippodrome, Oxford Playhouse, West Yorkshire Playhouse etc. See Arts special section

theatregoer

the then do not use expressions such as "the then Prime Minister" or (worse) "the then Mr Callaghan"; say "then Prime Minister", "who was Prime Minister at the time" or "Lord Callaghan of Cardiff (then Mr Callaghan)"

The Times almost always use italics for the name of the newspaper, except in headlines. But Times Newspapers Ltd (roman), publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times, is the operating company of Times Newspapers Holdings.

In text, in the difficult area of correspondents' and executive titles, it is permissible to say "the Times political correspondent", "the Times wine correspondent" etc, although "political editor of The Times", "wine correspondent of The Times" etc are preferable. Also (in features headlines, etc) The Times Gardener etc is an acceptable style to avoid a mass of italics and apostrophes. Always say "Editor of The Times", "deputy editor of The Times" etc.

It is permissible to say "a Times reader", "Times readers", but prefer "readers of The Times". Similarly, adjectival uses such as "a Times article", "a Times offer" are acceptable. Keep phrases such as "told The Times" to a minimum: said is usually preferable.

Also note Times Law Report (without The), but The Times Crossword etc. Again, some flexibility — to avoid a proliferation of italics - can be used in puff material etc.

For the London film festival, write in copy The Times bfi London Film Festival. In puffs, use the logo device, where bfi is italicised instead, thus: The Times bfi London Film Festival

For sections of the paper, avoid italics: eg, T2 (no longer Times 2), The Times Magazine, the Weekend Review section, Money, Body&Soul, Times Travel, The Eye, The Knowledge, Public Agenda, Career, Crème, Law (supplement).

Note sister publications: The Times Educational Supplement, The Times Higher Education Supplement, The Times Literary Supplement, and Nursery World.

See correspondents, editor, exclusive, News International

thermonuclear

Thermos must take the initial cap; it is a trade name that must ALWAYS be observed

they should always agree with the subject. Avoid sentences such as “If someone loves animals, they should protect them”. Say instead “If people love animals, they should protect them”

think avoid this cliché when used as explanatory shorthand, eg, "The hotel rooms were minimalist: think Philippe Starck's Sanderson"; simply add an "of"

think-tanks take care in describing their ideological persuasions; we should call the Social Market Foundation (SMF), Demos and Politeia independent think-tanks; the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) free-market or right-wing think-tanks; and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) a left-wing think-tank

Third Way (caps), new Labour's political stratagem

Third World (caps)

threshold

throne cap sparingly, only in terms of the institution, eg, “he deferred to the wisdom of the Throne”; in other contexts, as with the chair itself, use l/c, eg, “The Queen came to the throne in 1952”

thunderbolts are mythological and do not exist; lightning bolts and thunderclaps do exist and can also be used metaphorically

thus far avoid; prefer so far

Tiananmen Square, Beijing

“tiger” economies of South-East Asia and the Pacific; use quotes where possible for first mention, subsequently without quotes, and always l/c

time bomb, but timescale, timeshare. See bombs

times never write, eg, 6pm last night, 9am tomorrow morning; say 6 o'clock last night or (if the context allows) 6pm, or 9am tomorrow. Use a point in expressing continental time - 01.55, 14.00 etc. See seasons

Tinseltown (as in Hollywood), one word

Tipp-Ex

titles the most common solecism is to write Lady Helen Brown etc when we should say simply Lady Brown. As a quick rule of thumb, no wife of a baronet or knight takes her Christian name in her title unless she is the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl.
Some titles include a place name, eg, Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, while others do not. Follow Who's Who, where those whose place name must be included appear in bold caps.
ALWAYS check with Debrett or Who's Who if in the slightest doubt. See Titles special section

titles of books, films, discs, programmes etc avoid initial caps for every word (eg, do not write The Hound Of The Baskervilles). As a rule of thumb, use l/c for prepositions, conjunctions, definite and indefinite articles

to be fair This phrase is a waste of space and its introduction might be seen as casting a hint of doubt on what went before. Please avoid

toilet write lavatory wherever appropriate

together with avoid; prefer simply with; also beware such tautology as blend together, meet together, link together etc

Tolkien, J. R. R. (not Tolkein)

tomatoes (plural, as potatoes)

Tomlinson, Mike (prefer to Michael), Chief Inspector of Schools

tons, tonnes prefer to use tonnes in most contexts, though in historical passages tons would be more appropriate

Tontons Macoute (in Haiti); plural, no final “s”

Top Salaries Review Body is now called the Senior Salaries Review Body

Topshop, Topman one word for these fashion emporiums

Top Ten, Top 20, Top 40 etc (in musical or other lists)

tornado, plural tornados (storms); also Tornado, Tornados (aircraft)

torpedo, but plural torpedoes

Torvill (Jayne) and Dean (Christopher)

Tory, Tories acceptable alternative for Conservative(s). Do not write Tory Party with cap “P”, but Tory party is permissible. See Conservative, committee (for 1922 Committee), select committees, and Politics special section

totalisator, tote take l/c, no quotes; the Tote refers to the organisation

touchpaper

towards (not toward)

townhouse (one word)

Toys 'R' Us

tracker dogs, sniffer dogs avoid these clichés wherever possible; usually dogs is sufficient, but if the context is unclear, say police dogs

tracksuit (one word), but shell suit

Trade Descriptions Act

trade-in (noun or adjective), but to trade in

trademark (one word)

trade names many names of products in common use are proprietary. They should not be used as generics and must be given a capital letter. There is a risk of legal action for failure to do so. Examples include Biro, CinemaScope, Dictaphone, Hoover, Jeep, Kodak, Land Rover, Lycra, Perspex, Polaroid, Portakabin, Portaloo, Rollerblade, Tannoy, Technicolor, Thermos, Walkman, Xerox, Yale lock; there are many more. Be especially careful about drugs; try to use non-proprietary words such as aspirin, sleeping pills etc

trade unions (plural), not trades unions; but Trades Union Congress. See TUC

train companies South West Trains (no hyphens); ScotRail; Virgin CrossCountry; c2c (the Southend line); WAGN (no need to spell out West Anglia Great Northern); South Central (no longer Connex South Central); First Great Western; First Great Eastern etc

trainspotter, trainspotting (no hyphens)

tranquilliser, tranquillity

transatlantic, transcontinental; but cross-Channel

transistor do not use on its own in sense of transistor radio

Transit Van (initial caps, proprietary)

transpire means to come to light or to leak out. Do not use as an alternative of to happen or occur

Transport for London (abbreviate TfL) has replaced London Transport. Do not write Transport in London

transsexual (no hyphen); but trans-ship

Trans-Siberian Railway

Transvaal, but a Transvaler. See South Africa

trauma, traumatic avoid in the clichéd sense of deeply upsetting, distressing etc; it should be confined to its medical meaning of severe shock after an accident or stressful event

travellers, New Age travellers. See Gypsy, hippy

traveller's cheques

Travellers Club (no apostrophe). See London clubs

Triads (cap) in Chinese gangster context

Tricolour cap for the French flag, l/c in more general context

trillion American for a thousand billion (or a million million, 1,000,000,000,000), and should be explained as such in stories about overseas budgets, for example. Try to avoid in stories about Britain

Trinity College Dublin (no comma)

triple crown in rugby. See Sports special section

tripos (l/c general context), but the History Tripos etc

trolleys (plural of trolley, not -ies)

Trooping the Colour (not of the Colour); also, beating retreat

Tropics, the (cap); note also the Tropic of Capricorn/ Cancer, but tropical, subtropical l/c

Troubles, the. See Ireland

troubleshooter (one word); also troublespot

truck permissible in certain contexts. See lorry

Truman, Harry S. (former US President), but Trueman, Fred, cricketer

trumpeters, buglers cavalry regiments have trumpeters, infantry regiments have buglers. They are not interchangeable

try to the verb try must be followed by to before the next verb, never by and, eg, “I will try to cross the road”, not “I will try and cross the road”

Tsar (not czar), Tsarevich, Tsaritsa (not czarina); caps with the name, l/c in general sense. But note exceptions for government-appointed co-ordinators such as drugs czar, mental health czar

TSB formerly the Trustee Savings Bank, now part of Lloyds TSB

T-shirt

Tube (cap) acceptable in context on its own for the London Tube, or London Underground. Also cap the various lines such as Central Line, Metropolitan Line, Victoria Line etc

tuberculosis the adjective is tuberculous, not tubercular

TUC the Trades Union Congress. Note, first mention, General Council of the TUC, thereafter general council. General Secretary of the TUC should be capped (as leader of the national body), but general secretaries of individual unions retain the l/c

tug-of-war

tunku (Malaysian prince); cap before name, otherwise l/c. See Malaysia

turbo-jet, turbo-prop. See aircraft

Turin Shroud (caps), then the shroud (l/c)

Turkey parties take the cap, as in Motherland Party, Welfare Party, True Path Party etc

turn down prefer reject or refuse (except of beds)

turnlines are in bold, set right on the front page (and on inside pages where the story begins and spills) - eg, Continued on page 2, col 7 - and set left on inside pages, eg,
Continued from page 1

turn-off, turn-on (nouns), but no hyphens in turnout, turnaround, turnabout

Tussaud's, Madame but note the Tussauds Group (no apostrophe), which also includes the London Planetarium, Warwick Castle, Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures

Tutankhamun never permit a break as Tutan-khamun; if the name has to be broken on a turn, it may be hyphenated as Tut-ankhamun or Tutankh-amun

Tutsis. See Hutus

TV. See television

TV-am no longer exists

Twentieth Century Fox (or 20th Century Fox in logo form), Fox News, Fox Sports etc are part of the Fox Entertainment Group, 82.1 per cent owned by The News Corporation, parent company of The Times

twentysomething, thirtysomething, and fortysomething etc (if this modern cliché has to be used at all)

Twin Towers (of Wembley) (caps)

twin towers (of the former World Trade Centre); the northern tower and the southern tower (all l/c). See War on Terror

twofold, threefold, fourfold, tenfold etc

two minutes' silence (the). See Armistice, Remembrance

two thirds, three quarters etc, but a two-thirds share (hyphenate adjectival use). Such expressions usually take the plural verb, eg, “three quarters of the children prefer horror films”; the same applies even in “a third of the children prefer blancmange”. But note “two thirds of the bus was empty”

Tyne and Wear (not &)

typify, typified etc (not typefy)

Tyrol (not Tirol)