# GOV.UK style guide, annotated > The UK government’s style guide turns plain English into word swaps anyone can check, with dated changes. Its best rules quoted with notes, and its gaps. - Published by: Government Digital Service (UK government) - Format: Website - Date on the guide: None on the pages. A dated “What’s new” page lists changes - Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/), checked 2026-11-11 The GOV.UK style guide applies to all content on GOV.UK, the website of the UK government. It has a section on writing for the site and an A to Z of words, names, and forms. The guide is now on a separate publishing guidance site, marked as beta. The old gov.uk addresses redirect there. It is the clearest public example of a words section that uses exact pairs: say this, not that. ## Best parts, quoted with notes ### Voice and tone > incisive (friendliness can lead to a lack of precision and unnecessary words) – but remain human (not a faceless machine) Has: where it applies, reason. Says why friendliness is held back, then sets the opposite limit: still human. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Use the right tone”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/writing-guidelines/right-tone/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Voice and tone > Write conversationally. Picture your audience and write as if you were talking to them one-to-one, but with the authority of someone who can actively help. Has: where it applies. Gives the writer someone to picture, and keeps the casual tone in check. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Use the right tone”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/writing-guidelines/right-tone/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Words and style > Do not use formal or long words when easy or short ones will do. Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’. Has: exact value. Three word swaps a writer or a checker can apply directly. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Know about words to avoid”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/writing-guidelines/clear-language/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Words and style > deliver, use ‘make’, ‘create’, ‘provide’ or a more specific term (pizzas, post and services are delivered - not abstract concepts like improvements) Has: exact value, where it applies. Gives replacements and says which things can still be delivered. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Words to avoid”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/style-guides/a-to-z-style-guide/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Words and style > Use contractions like ‘you’ll’, but avoid negative contractions like ‘can’t’ or ‘don’t’. Many users find negative contractions hard to read, or misread them as the opposite of what they say. Has: exact value, reason. Splits one rule into allowed and banned forms, with the reader problem behind it. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Be careful with contractions”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/writing-guidelines/clear-language/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Words and style > If a requirement is legal, but it’s administrative or part of a process that will not have criminal repercussions, then use ‘need’. Has: exact value, where it applies. Picks the word by how serious the requirement is. ‘Must’ and ‘can’ get their own rules. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Make requirements clear”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/writing-guidelines/clear-language/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Words and style > do not use ordinal numbers for the day - for example: 2 June and not 2nd June Has: exact value, right and wrong. Right and wrong forms side by side. The What’s new page dates this change. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “Dates”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/style-guides/a-to-z-style-guide/), checked 2026-11-11. ### Words and style > All suggestions are reviewed once a month by content designers and technical writers at the Government Digital Service (GDS). Has: date. Says who decides changes to the guide and how often they meet. Source: [GOV.UK style guides and writing guidelines, “What happens next”](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/style-guides/how-to-use/), checked 2026-11-11. ## What it leaves out - Pages show no last-updated date. To see when a rule changed you have to find it on the separate What’s new page. ([source](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/about-the-guidance/whats-new)) - The A to Z entry for ‘click’ starts with “Don’t”, a negative contraction that the same A to Z’s ‘contractions’ entry says to avoid. ([source](https://guidance.publishing.service.gov.uk/writing-to-gov-uk-standards/style-guides/a-to-z-style-guide/)) ## What to take from it - Write words rules as swaps. A person or a search can check “Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’”. - Give the reason for the rules that people will argue with, for example the rule on negative contractions. - Keep a dated list of changes, and say who decides them. --- Source: https://aibrandguidelines.org/examples/gov-uk Last updated: 2026-11-11 Published by Annotated Guidelines. Annotated Guidelines is run by the team at Rainbrand.