10.3. Spelling
10.3.1. Conventions
(a)
English spelling. Follow the standard usage of Britain and Ireland. As a general rule, the first spelling given on the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries website, or on the Oxford Dictionaries Premium website (subscription required), should be followed (making sure in each case that the British English dictionary is selected).
(b)
-is-/-iz- spelling. Use the -is- spelling. Both spellings are correct, but this rule is to be followed for the sake of consistency in EU texts.
(c)
Note, however, that the names of bodies in other English-speaking countries retain the original spellings, e.g. US Department of Defense, Australian Labor Party. For international organisations, follow their own practice, e.g. World Health Organization. Follow the list in Annex 1 to the English Style Guide.
(d)
The -yse form is the only correct spelling for words such as paralyse and analyse.
(e)
When adding -able, drop a final silent -e at the end of the stem (debate – debatable, conceive – conceivable) unless it would change the pronunciation of the preceding consonant (changeable, traceable); the only common exceptions are sizeable and saleable (sizable and salable are US spellings).
(f)
Double consonants. Follow the convention of doubling a final -l after a short vowel on adding -ing or -ed to verbs (sole exception: parallel, paralleled) and adding -er to make nouns from verbs:
level, levelling, levelled, leveller
travel, travelling, travelled, traveller
Other consonants double only if the last syllable of the root verb is stressed or carries a strong secondary stress:
admit, admitting, admitted
format, formatting, formatted
refer, referring, referred
but
benefit, benefiting, benefited
combat, combating, combated
focus, focusing, focused
target, targeting, targeted
Exception: a few verbs ending in -p (e.g. kidnapped, worshipped, but not developed).
(g)
Judg[e]ment. Judgment is used in legal contexts, judgement in all other contexts.
(h)
Data-processing usage. Avoid the forms ‘input(t)ed’ and ‘output(t)ed’. Instead, use ‘input’ and ‘output’: e.g. ‘70 000 items of data were input last month’. However, note the verb ‘to format’ which takes the forms ‘formatted’ and ‘formatting’.
(i)
Accents and diacritics in personal names should be reproduced.
10.3.2. Tricky plurals
Follow the list below:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| addendum | addenda |
| appendix | appendices (books) appendixes (anatomy) |
| bacterium | bacteria |
| bureau | bureaux |
| consortium | consortia |
| corrigendum | corrigenda |
| criterion | criteria |
| curriculum | curricula |
| embargo | embargoes |
| focus | foci (mathematics, science) focuses (other contexts) |
| formula | formulae (science) formulas (politics) |
| forum | forums (fora only in relation to ancient Rome) |
| genus | genera |
| index | indexes (books) indices (science, economics) |
| maximum | maxima (mathematics, science) maximums (other contexts) |
| medium | media (press, communications, IT) mediums (life sciences, art) |
| memorandum | memorandums or memoranda |
| minimum | minima (mathematics, science) minimums (other contexts) |
| moratorium | moratoriums or moratoria |
| papyrus | papyri or papyruses |
| phenomenon | phenomena |
| plus | pluses |
| premium | premiums |
| referendum | referendums or referenda |
| spectrum | spectra (science) spectrums (politics) |
| symposium | symposiums or symposia |
| vortex | vortices |
10.3.3. Interference effects and in-house words, expressions and constructions
Especially in texts intended for the general public, care should be taken to avoid interference effects and the use of in-house words, expressions, constructions and meanings that are not generally recognised outside the EU institutions. Many of these are the result of confusion between English words and those from other languages (particularly French).
| Frequently misused term | Alternative |
|---|---|
| according to | in accordance with |
| adequate | appropriate |
| (legal) base | (legal) basis |
| coherent | consistent |
| debriefed | briefed or informed |
| define | establish or lay down |
| detached | seconded |
| different | various |
| disincentivise | discourage |
| dispose of | have |
| ensure | provide for |
| foresee | envisage or provide for |
| guarantee | ensure |
| in case | if |
| in case of | in the case/event of |
| incentivise | encourage |
| incite | encourage |
| modalities | detailed arrangements |
| modify | amend |
| modulation | reduction |
| nominate | appoint |
| planification | planning |
| precise | specify |
| retain | select |
Please also see Sections 2.14 and 2.15 of the English Style Guide, How to write clearly and Claire’s Clear Writing Tips (for links, see Section 11, ‘Reference works’).
