These style points apply to content published by the council.
Well known abbreviations such as BBC and UK are acceptable. We do not use full stops - BBC not B.B.C. Abbreviations are always spelt in full the first time we use them.
We will not use an unfamiliar abbreviation to only refer to something once.
File sizes: we use 5MB not 5,000KB.
Website alerts should be no more than 2 sentences in length. They are only used for putting information that is temporary such as an emergency or announcement.
Content is always aligned to the left of each page.
We avoid using italics or underlining. We use headings or bullets instead to emphasise particular words or sections. We do not use bold text for links, or to highlight specific sections of content.
Information such as key dates is often placed towards the top of a page but we may use page styling such as a panel to highlight important information.
We use (round brackets), not [square brackets]. The only acceptable use of square brackets is for explanatory notes in reported speech:
“Thank you [Chief Executive Officer] Ed Whiting.”
We do not use round brackets to refer to something that could either be singular or plural, like ‘Check which document(s) you need to send.’
Instead, we would use the plural, as this will cover each possibility: ‘Check which documents you need to send.’
Bullet points make text easier to read.
When using bullet points:
Block capitals are avoided – they’re hard to read and people interpret this as shouting.
Sentence case is always used, even in page titles.
We will capitalise:
When referring to ’the council’ in a general way, we will not capitalise the ‘C’, as it’s not a proper noun. When talking about ourselves we try to use ‘we’ and ‘us’.
Our user-centred approach means that we should be providing contact details wherever they are needed. This will be determined by user needs.
Use ‘Phone’ instead of ‘Mobile’, ‘Mob’ , ‘Tel’ or ‘Telephone’.
Use a space in the number between the dialling code and the next three digits and between these three digits and the remaining four digits, for example: 0113 372 6004.
This may be different for phone numbers outside of Leeds.
Blue panels are used at the end of each page where contact information is provided, unless there is more than one contact option or it is specific to a type of request.
We only include social media options in the contact panel when we know that the managers of the account actively respond to people or if the account provides regular news and updates.
Use years and months, not just months. For most audiences, writing the year followed by the month is easier to read.
Example: 1 year 6 months, not 18 months, a year and a half or 1.5 years.
In instances where it is shorter than 1 year, use months. For example: 6 months old.
We use ‘to’ instead of a dash or slash between dates because it assists people who use screen readers.
Use years in deadlines unless it’s a deadline that reoccurs each year. For example: This scheme closes on 21 September 2025
When space is an issue, such as tables, we sometimes use shorter version of the month, such as Feb instead of February. Dates in tables and forms use the standard date format (dd/mm/yyyy).
We follow the advice found on GOV.UK when writing about disability.
We avoid using eg, etc and ie.
eg can sometimes be read aloud as ‘egg’ by screen reading software. Instead use ‘for example’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’ or ‘including’ - whichever works best in the specific context.
etc can always be avoided. We use ‘for example’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’ or ‘including’. Never use etc at the end of a list starting with these words.
ie - used to clarify a sentence - is not always well understood. Alternatively we use ‘meaning’ or ‘that is’.
FAQs are strongly discouraged.
This is because FAQs:
Documents use sans serif fonts, 12pt or bigger. 16pt minimum for large text. For presentations, 24pt or 32pt for large text.
A minimum 1.5 is used for line spacing and paragraphs.
We only use one space after a full stop, not 2.
Compass directions are all in lowercase, for example, the north, the south of England and the south-west. The only exception is where these are part of a particular name, such as West Yorkshire, North East Scotland and South Wales.
Where the prefix ‘e’ refers to electronic, it should always be lower case with a hyphen. For example:
The only exception to this is email.
At the beginning of a sentence, capitalise the first letter of the word that follows the e, rather than the e itself. For example:
Do not hyphenate:
Do not use a hyphen unless it’s confusing without it, for example, a little used-car is different from a little-used car.
We use ‘to’ instead of a hyphen in date and time ranges because it assists people who use screen readers.
Italics should be avoided because they are harder to read for people with dyslexia.
Legal content can still be written in plain English. It’s important that users understand content and that we present complicated information simply.
When we are talking about a legal requirement, we use ‘must’. For example:
‘your employer must pay you the national minimum wage’.
If ‘must’ does not have enough emphasis, then we may use ‘legal requirement’, ‘legally entitled’, or something to that effect. For example:
‘Once your child is registered at school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly.
If a requirement is legal, but administrative, or part of a process that won’t have criminal repercussions then use ‘need to’. for example:
‘You will need to provide copies of your marriage certificate’.
This may be a legal requirement, but not completing it would just stop the person from moving on to the next stage of a process, rather than committing a more serious offence.
If an important action might result in a serious or negative consequence, such as a fine, we often use a specific design as a warning.
If you have problems with your gas central heating, there are some quick checks you can make before you call.
Warning Do not attempt to remove the outer cover or repair the boiler yourself.
Instead of duplicating information, if it exists elsewhere on Leeds.gov.uk, or can be better supplied by an organisation outside the council, we will always link to it instead.
Links can be used anywhere in body text, but not in headings, subheadings, or lead sentences.
We consider linking to other websites if we believe they help someone to complete their task.
For example this may be a charity website offering more in-depth information and advice, or a way to comment on a planning application.
When considering whether to link to another website, we check that:
Links are most effective when descriptive and include relevant terms. We avoid using things like “click here” or “more”, as link text needs to make sense out of context. A screen reader will sometimes read only the link text, even if it is part of a larger sentence.
It’s also important that people know if they are leaving Leeds.gov.uk. We always refer to the organisation's name when we link out of the website.
Using individual names or other personal contact details are avoided where possible. We refer instead to the contact details of their team or service. This is to make sure that any correspondence is answered as quickly as possible.
An exception to this is in promotional material such as news items, when a quote from a named officer may be used. When referring to an individual, we use their title. For example:
Chief Executive Officer Jane Smith
After that, we refer to them by name only. For example:
Jane Smith
Numerals are used across the website, unless a number is at the start of a sentence. In most cases, the number one is also written out. For example, in tables and financial information pages, we use numerals throughout.
Numbers over 1,000 have comma separators, for example:
2,962 not 2962
Spell out first to ninth. After that use 10th, 11th and so on.
Always use numerals when using ranges, such as ages and dates.
Always use percentage symbol (%).
We always use the relevant word when referring to money, for example £138 million.
The pound symbol is used, for instance, £75.
We do not use decimals unless pence are included, for example:
£75.50 but not £75.00
Numbers less than £1million are written in full rather than as a fraction, for example:
£700,000 rather than £0.7million
‘Pence’ is written in full: ‘calls will cost four pence per minute from a landline’.
Long sentences are avoided to make information as simple and clear as possible.
Only one space after a full stop, not two.
Ampersands (&) and special characters will not be used.
They make it harder to read and to skim. Some people with lower reading levels also find them harder to understand.
We use tables for data rather than organising the layout of a page, document or email. Tables must be kept simple and avoid splitting or merging cells.
Alternative text is used for screen reader users. We also ensure that when the table is read left to right and row by row, the information can be fully understood.
Use the following formatting:
We use ‘to’ instead of a dash or slash because it assists people who use screen readers.
We do not underline text for emphasis as this can look like a link.
Use abbreviated lower case g, kg, m, mm, cm, l, ml.
Use Celsius, for example, 20°C.
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