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Editorial style guide: W

Editorial guidance for terms beginning with 'W'. Use the style guide to help make your content clear, accessible, and consistent with the rest of the website.

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Read about why we need an editorial style guide.

We, our and us

Use names for faculties and departments. However, don't keep on repeating the name on a single page. Think about using 'we', 'our', 'us' or even just 'the department' depending on the context.

It is fine to use 'we' on a top-level page to refer to the University as a whole and then refer to a faculty by name.

It's also fine to use 'we' on a department page to refer to that department, as it should be clear to the reader from the context.

Web page

Not 'webpage'.

Website addresses

Web addresses (called URLs) should be embedded into link text rather than written in full (see our guide to creating links in Typecase), but where they need to be spelled out, start them with 'www.'.

Omit 'http://' unless the address contains no 'www.', in which case write it in full.

Here are some examples of correct usage:

  • students can visit https://myfuture.bath.ac.uk to start planning their careers
  • apply at www.ucas.com

Weights and measures

See Measurements.

Which or that

'That' defines and 'which' gives extra information, often in a clause with commas around it:

  • 'This is the study that Miranda managed'
  • 'This study, which Miranda managed, has suggested a link between drinking and heart attacks'

Whose or who's

'Who's' is the contracted form of 'who is'. 'Whose' is the possessive form of 'who'.

If you're unsure which to use, try the full-length version, 'who is', in the sentence. If this makes sense in the context, then you can use 'who's'. If it doesn't, then the right spelling is 'whose'.

Wi-Fi

Not 'wifi', 'wi-fi', 'WiFi', 'Wifi', or any other variation.

World Heritage City

Use title case to write the phrase. If you're writing 'World Heritage City of Bath', use title case throughout. This is consistent with UNESCO and is an exception to the general rule for writing about the city of Bath.

Writing for the web and mobile

See our guide about writing for the web.

Writing Up fees

Not 'Writing-up fees'.

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