Appendixes

12.1Writing Samples and Reusable Structures

12.1.1Writing Samples

A simple invitation

We’re meeting at the café on Saturday at ten. Bring a notebook if you’d like to join the writing session. Can you let me know by Friday?

The message gives the time, place, purpose, and requested reply without making the reader search for them.

A short set of instructions

1. Fold the paper in half.
2. Write the guest’s name on the front.
3. Place the card beside their seat.

Each step starts with an action and follows the sequence someone would use.

A focused article

Start with the question you want to answer. Give the main answer early, then add the explanation, examples, or sources a reader needs. Use headings when they make the subject easier to navigate.

12.1.2Reusable Structures

A reusable structure helps with a recurring kind of writing. Adapt it to the message instead of forcing every piece into the same shape.

Invitation

• What is happening
• When and where it takes place
• What the guest needs to know or bring
• How and when to reply

Informational article

• A clear title or question
• The main answer or point
• Supporting explanation and examples
• A useful next step or source, when needed

Use consistent paragraph and character styles for recurring headings, lists, captions, and emphasis.

12.1.3Text and Paragraph Formatting

Use consistent paragraph and character styles. Define a clear heading hierarchy, readable body text, emphasized interface labels, underlined links, and monospaced code. See Text and Character Formatting and Fonts and Typography for guidance.

12.1.4Manuals and Large Documents

Long documents benefit from a title page, a navigable table of contents, consistent headings, and appropriate header and footer information. Add version and revision dates when useful. Use paragraph styles instead of manually formatting each heading. For digital editions, provide linked chapter navigation and search.

12.2Writing Across Regions

A word, date, or measurement can look familiar and mean something different elsewhere. Give readers enough context to follow you, and let regional differences be differences rather than errors.

12.2.1Spelling and Vocabulary Across Englishes

English spelling varies across regions, and sometimes within them. These pairs are useful comparisons, not a list of right and wrong forms.

American / British: color / colour; center / centre; traveled / travelled

American / British noun: license / licence

American verb / British verb: practice / practise

Organize and organise are both used in British English, depending on the dictionary or style followed. Canadian and Australian conventions also have their own patterns; neither is simply a copy of another variety.

Vocabulary can differ, too. A lift and an elevator can name the same thing. A local word may give your writing its character; a brief explanation can welcome readers who don’t know it.

12.2.2Words That May Not Translate Well

Idioms can give writing personality. When readers may not know them, a direct phrase or a little context can keep the meaning open to more people.

Idiom: Let’s play it by ear.

Direct: Let’s decide as we go.

Idiom: That’s a piece of cake.

Direct: That’s easy.

Keep an idiom when its voice or cultural meaning matters. Translation-friendly writing is a choice for a particular audience, not a reason to flatten every sentence.

12.2.3UTC Offsets and Time Format

For people in different places, include an unambiguous date, time, and time zone. A UTC offset states how far that time is ahead of or behind Coordinated Universal Time.

Example: April 18, 2026, at 14:30 UTC−6

Check the offset for the date you mean because daylight saving time can change it. A named city or time zone helps readers recognize the context. A 24-hour clock avoids needing a.m. or p.m.

12.2.4Holidays and Cultural References

Do not assume every reader observes a particular holiday. Use dates and clear context for events or deadlines. When a holiday is relevant, identify the audience or region rather than treating it as universal.

12.2.5Fictional Example Names and Locations

Make examples clearly illustrative and give them a little variety. A fictional name may still belong to a real person, so keep private contact details out of examples.

Names: Jordan Lee, Avery Kim, Riley Patel, Morgan Rivera

Reserved email domain: jordan@example.com

For a postal address or phone number, use a labeled placeholder or details reserved for fictional use.

12.2.6Units of Measure and Abbreviations

Use units your audience understands and identify the unit clearly. Include a conversion when it helps readers use the information.

Use numerals with an abbreviated unit and leave a space where the unit convention requires one.

Example: Cut a strip 3 cm wide.

Keep the same measurement style within a comparison. See Units of Measure in Numbers and Organization for related guidance.

12.2.7Country Names and Abbreviations

Use a country’s full name when an abbreviation might be unfamiliar. Choose a reliable reference for current names and give context when two places could be confused.

Example: Visitors from the United States and Canada attended.

U.S. and US are both familiar shortened forms. Keep the punctuation consistent with the style you’ve chosen. In an address or country-code list, follow that format’s convention.

12.3Inclusive Language

12.3.1Examples of Inclusive Language

Avoid assuming that one background, household, ability, or experience is universal. Describe the person or situation precisely.

Before: Ask your husband or wife to reply.

After: Ask your partner to reply.

Before: Each guest can bring his own lunch.

After: Each guest can bring their own lunch.

Choose a more specific relationship or role when that is what the context requires.

12.3.2Gender-Neutral Alternatives

Use a neutral term when gender is unknown or irrelevant to the point.

• Chair rather than chairman when the role does not require a gendered title.
• Staff or workforce rather than manpower.
• They, their, and them for a person whose gender is unknown or not relevant.

Respect a person’s own name, pronouns, and title. Neutral wording should improve accuracy rather than override how someone identifies.

12.3.3Alternatives to Outdated Terms

Review familiar expressions instead of assuming they are still clear or appropriate. Name the actual role, action, or relationship.

• Use a current role title rather than a title the person no longer holds.
• Prefer a direct description to a stereotype or a dismissive label.
• Explain unfamiliar wording rather than implying that everyone should already understand it.

When quoting older material, preserve the source accurately and provide context where it affects understanding.

12.3.4Terms About Disability

Use respectful, relevant language and follow a person’s expressed preference when it is known. Do not assume that everyone prefers the same wording.

Mention a disability when it matters to the subject, rather than treating it as the person’s defining characteristic. Avoid pity, stereotypes, or using disability-related language as an insult.

Make the writing itself accessible: use clear structure, explain meaningful images, and do not rely on color or icons alone to communicate essential information.

12.4FAQ

12.4.1About Untitled

What is Untitled?

A companion for becoming a better writer and finding a style that feels like your own.

Who is it for?

Anyone with something to say: a message, an essay, a story, instructions, or an idea they want to share.

Is it only for technical writing?

No. Everyday writing comes first. Optional digital references are there when you need them.

Where should I start?

Try the Introduction for the ideas behind the guide, Writing Principles for the fundamentals, or search for a question already on your mind.

Is there a book?

Yes. The book is coming soon. Visit the Book page to learn about it.

12.4.2Questions About Writing and Style

Do I need to use American English?

No. Use the variety of English that fits your voice and readers. The site’s American spellings belong to its own voice; regional alternatives are welcome in yours.

Which dictionary should I use?

Choose one that reflects your variety of English. A regional dictionary helps you tell a spelling difference from an error.

Can I use contractions?

Yes. Use them when they sound natural. The full form can be useful for emphasis or a more formal rhythm.

Do I have to follow every recommendation?

Use the reasoning to make a deliberate choice. A grammar distinction can change meaning; a style preference often has several workable answers. If you’re writing for a publication, agree on its conventions with the editor.

How should I format a list?

Use numbers for a sequence and bullets for a collection. Keep the wording parallel. Add periods to complete sentences, and leave short fragments without them.

How do I write inclusively?

Be precise and respectful, avoid assumptions, and leave room for people’s own names, pronouns, and descriptions.

12.5Using the Reference

Use the contents to browse by subject and search when you have a question. The word list opens with all entries. Narrow it to everyday writing, digital terms, or names when that helps. A search in a collection includes a way to check the full list. Optional guide references expand when you need them.

12.6Before You Share

Use this interactive writing checklist for a final review. Choose the type of writing, then work through the checks that fit your piece. The checklist helps you notice details; it does not grade your writing.