大象传媒

Raac

ie initial cap only. It stands for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

race

race and/or ethnicity should be mentioned only when relevant.

For example, it could be an important identifying factor in the case of a missing person.

race is the legally protected characteristic in UK law. 

Editorial Policy guidance on the reporting of racial slurs states: 鈥淭he editorial justification test will now carry a presumption that such language will not normally be used unless, for exceptional editorial reasons, there is a judgment 鈥� at divisional director (or their named delegate) level 鈥� that it should be used because of the specific context.鈥� The terms requiring referral are .

厂辞尘别辞苍别鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;ethnic and/or racial identity is often a deeply personal expression of their identity and ancestry.

Thus, where possible, be specific. 

BAME is best avoided unless within direct quotes or when it is a stated parameter of a report or study - and only in a UK context, as it is not a term used anywhere else. There is a low level of understanding of the term among many audiences and it should be defined in the accompanying text.

滨迟鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) at first mention, BAME at second reference and in headlines, ie follows our usual rule for initialisms of all capitals with no full stops or spaces.

It can include anyone who identifies as belonging to an ethnicity other than white British, including:

• black (black African or black Caribbean) or black British people

• Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or other South Asian or Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese or other East Asian or South East Asian) or British Asian people 

• Arab (or North African) or Arab British people 

• people of mixed race or mixed heritage 

• Gypsies, Romany Gypsies or Irish Travellers

And it is usually better to use this more specific terminology where possible. If an umbrella term is necessary, however, (people belonging to) ethnic minorities is preferred. Avoid "non-whites".

鈥渋mmigrant鈥� is often wrongly used to describe someone born in the UK. Instead of 鈥渟he is from an immigrant family鈥�, consider 鈥渉er family settled in the UK from India鈥�, for example.

people of colour, which is used in the US, obviously excludes entirely white ethnic minorities but, even when this is the intention, it is also best avoided in copy and scripts unless within direct quotes or when it is a stated parameter of a report or study.  Avoid 鈥渂rown鈥�, unless in the words of a contributor.

Many Hispanic and/or Latino Americans identify as people of colour but others, who prefer to emphasise their European heritage, do not.

And the same is true of East Asian and South East Asian Americans. 

Similarly, the more specific black Americans, where relevant, is preferred to people of colour. 

Caribbean Americans and Africans living in the US do not generally identify as African American, even if they are black. 

And African American is, therefore, best avoided other than to differentiate between these groups, within direct quotes or when it is a stated parameter of a report or study. 

If referring to specific individuals, where possible and appropriate reflect how they self-identify. 

The Duchess of Sussex and Oona King identify as mixed race, for example, while

Barack Obama and Lewis Hamilton identify as black.

Kamala Harris identifies as black and South Asian American. 

And while she also identifies as African American, as many Caribbean Americans do not, even if they are black, it may be better to stick to black and/or South Asian American.

rack and ruin

is our favoured spelling, rather than "wrack and ruin". Similarly, we prefer nerve-racking. 

raquet

rather than racket when referring to the equipment used by a tennis player.

radiologists/radiographers

Not to be confused: radiologists are consultants with specialist qualifications; radiographers are medical technicians operating X-ray equipment; they should not be described as "medics".

Ram 

(computer term, short for "random-access memory") ie initial cap, no punctuation.

Ramadan

is a religious observance marked by Muslims. It is largely a solemn period of reflection that involves fasting during daylight hours. Muslims observe or mark Ramadan. There is a one-day festival at the end of Ramadan called Eid al-Fitr, which Muslims celebrate. Another festival in the Islamic calendar is that of Eid al-Adha, and follows Hajj, a pilgrimage.

ram-raid

ie with hyphen.

Rangers

is the official name of the Scottish football team - and not "Glasgow Rangers" or "The Rangers". If referring to financial matters at the club, seek guidance from 大象传媒 Scotland on terminology.

Reader鈥檚 Digest

ie with an apostrophe before the "s".

receiver

A receiver is not the same as a liquidator. A receiver is put in to keep a company going if possible. A liquidator comes in when there is no chance of a company surviving in order to sell off the assets.

Red Planet

(Mars) ie both words capped.

referendums

is our favoured plural of referendum (rather than "referenda"). We can refer to the campaigns and votes as Yes and No ie capped up and without quote marks (eg: The Yes campaign is under way and Spaniards voted Yes to the EU constitution).

refute

Use only to mean "disprove". Do not say "Mr Harris refuted the allegation" unless you know unassailable proof was produced. Use deny, dismiss, reject etc.

register office

ie not "registry".

remand

from magistrates鈥� court may be in custody or on bail. We should say which.

renege

The term 鈥渨elch鈥� or "welsh" can been seen as offensive in this context and should be avoided.

reopen

ie without a hyphen.

reported speech

The tense in which someone speaks often has to be changed in indirect (or reported) speech to avoid ambiguity. What determines this is the tense used in introducing the indirect speech.

For example, imagine Harold Higgins says: "I am resigning" (ie he uses the present tense). If you introduce this with either the present tense ("He says") or the perfect tense ("He has said"), then you should retain the present tense within the quotation: ie the text can say either Harold Higgins says he is resigning or Harold Higgins has said he is resigning.

If you opt for the past tense ("He said"), then you have to "knock back" by one tense from that used in the original eg: Mr Higgins said he was resigning. By the same rule, if Mr Higgins鈥� next words are "I saw the King on Tuesday", then you can write either Mr Higgins says/has said he saw the King on Tuesday or Mr Higgins said he had seen the King on Tuesday. 

With remarks looking to future events, the word "will" survives into reported speech only if the introduction uses the present or perfect tense. Thus: if Mr Higgins continues: "I will leave No 10 on Saturday" - then this can become either Mr Higgins says he will leave No 10 on Saturday or Mr Higgins has said he will leave No 10 on Saturday. But if you use the past tense as an introduction then "will" becomes "would" - eg: Mr Higgins said he would leave No 10 on Saturday.

responsibility

You can sidestep the whole debate over the suitability of such phrases as "Hamas says it was responsible" by substituting eg: Hamas says it planted the bomb.

Retail Prices Index/RPI  

ie initial caps. The RPI is based on the same basket of goods and services as the Consumer Prices Index, plus mortgages. We should normally mention both rates, because the CPI is usually a key driver for the Bank of England鈥檚 interest rate decision, while the RPI is the benchmark for inflation adjustments of state benefits and many wage negotiations. We should normally mention both rates.

Reuters

(the news agency) ie no apostrophe.

Revenge porn

The term revenge porn, while widely understood, often misrepresents the motives of the distributor. However, it is often the best way to convey meaning in a short headline. In body text, at first mention use either so-called revenge porn or in quotes 鈥渞evenge porn鈥� and try to limit repeated use of the term. Explain early that victims often prefer the term non-consensual porn or non-consensual pornography.

Revenue & Customs

The full title is HM Revenue & Customs. Leave off the HM when written out in full, but keep HMRC as the abbreviation.

Reverend

The title Reverend has an initial capital. It requires the definite article and the Christian name eg: the Reverend John Smith. Under no circumstances should you say "Reverend Smith", "the Reverend Smith" or "the Reverend Mr Smith". At second reference, just say Mr Smith (Dr Smith if he has a doctorate) or, if he is a Roman Catholic, Father Smith. Some Anglicans also prefer Father to Mr; the only safe rule is to follow local practice.

rhythm and blues  

ie lower case when written out in full - but caps when abbreviated to R&B.

rivers

Cap up when part of the name eg: the River Thames, but lower case in eg: "the Mississippi river". The same applies for eg: the Severn Estuary.

right-wing, right wing

(Hyphenated if used adjectivally; no hyphen if used as a noun.) This term can be useful when defining a political party or group in terms of where it stands in relation to others on the political spectrum. However, it should not be used loosely or where the party can more clearly be defined by reference to a specific policy (eg: UKIP, which wanted the UK to pull out of the European Union...)

R. Kelly

(Disgraced US R&B performer)

ie with full-stop

roadmap  

(a broad plan for a Middle East peace settlement) ie one word, no quote marks. At first reference, use a phrase such as the Middle East peace plan known as the roadmap or the so-called roadmap. After that, just roadmap.

road rage

should be inside double inverted commas at first mention in text (鈥渞oad rage鈥�) - or inside single quotes if the first mention is in headlines/sub-heads. Either way, no punctuation required afterwards.

robbery

is not synonymous with "theft". Robbery involves the use or threat of violence.

谤辞肠办鈥档鈥檙辞濒濒

ie with TWO apostrophes.

Rolls-Royce

ie two words, both capitalised, separated by a hyphen. Two companies share the name: Rolls-Royce, which is primarily an engine-maker, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, owned by BMW.

Rom

(computing - stands for "read-only memory") ie initial cap. Also CD-Rom ie capped up - and hyphenated.

Roma

The term Roma must be included in all stories about the Romany people of Eastern and Central Europe and the Middle East - but in headlines only where there is no possibility of ambiguity with the Italian football team of the same name. The first mention in text should be to Roma (Gypsies), or Roma, or Gypsies, after which you should stick to the Roma, capped up.

For ethnic Gypsies in the UK, we do use Gypsy/Gypsies (capped up) as that is how their distinct racial group has been recognised in a key High Court ruling.

row

This word is a great favourite with tabloid headline writers - use sparingly. Many political "rows" are mere jousting and rhetoric, better characterised as an argument, a difference of opinion, a debate.

Royal Air Force/RAF

Ranks: Where possible, they should be abbreviated at first reference. But many cannot be abbreviated until second reference - and some cannot be abbreviated at all. But ranks should be spelt out in full (lower case) when they are used without reference to a specific name - eg: The air vice marshal attended the meeting.

Abbreviations to be used at first reference:

• Group Captain - Gp Capt
• Wing Commander - Wing Cdr
• Squadron Leader - Sqn Ldr
• Flight Lieutenant - Flt Lt
• Flight Sergeant - Flt Sgt
• Sergeant - Sgt
• Corporal - Cpl

 Abbreviations to be used only at second reference:

• Air Chief Marshal - ACM
• Air Marshal - AM
• Air Vice Marshal - AVM
• Air Commodore - Air Cdre
• Senior Aircraftman/woman) - SAC 
• Leading Aircraftman/woman) - LAC
• Aircraftman/woman) - AC
• Warrant Officer - WO
• Chief Technician - Ch Tech

 Ranks that we do not abbreviate:

• Marshal of the Royal Air Force (never becomes just "Marshal")
• Flying Officer
• Pilot Officer

The RAF has a regiment with a number of squadrons, doing ground-based protection work. Its members are correctly called gunners, though airmen/airwomen is acceptable - never "soldiers".

Royal Commission/royal commission

Capped up when it is a reality (eg: The report of the Royal Commission on Lords Reform has been submitted to the King). Lower case if the reference is non-specific (eg: A government is not bound to accept the advice of any royal commission).

Royal Navy

When identifying a Royal Navy ship, HMS should be included at first reference - eg: HMS Rhyl, a frigate, or the frigate, HMS Rhyl. Do not precede HMS with "the". In later references, HMS can be dropped - in which case the definite article should be included eg: the Rhyl.

Ranks: where possible, they should be abbreviated at first reference. But many cannot be abbreviated until second reference - and some cannot be abbreviated at all. But ranks should be spelt out in full (lower case) when they are used without reference to a specific name - eg: The rear admiral attended the meeting.

Abbreviations to be used at first reference:

• Admiral of the Fleet - Adm of the Fleet
• Admiral - Adm eg: Adm Lord Boyce; second reference Lord Boyce
• Vice Admiral - Vice Adm
• Rear Admiral - Rear Adm
• Captain - Capt
• Commander - Cdr
• Lieutenant Commander - Lt Cdr
• Lieutenant - Lt
• Sub Lieutenant - Sub Lt

 Abbreviations to be used only at second reference:

• Warrant Officer - WO
• Chief Petty Officer - CPO
• Petty Officer - PO
• Commodore - Cmdr

Ranks that we do not abbreviate:

• First Sea Lord
• Midshipman
• Able Seaman

滨迟鈥檚 the King, the Royal Family and the Royal Household (ie always with initial caps) 鈥� but:

• otherwise, with the exception of proper names (eg: the Royal Navy), royal is lower case (eg: royal couple)
• foreign royal families are not capped (eg: Most of the Royal Family are spending Christmas at Sandringham, entertaining members of the Dutch royal family)
• foreign royals are capitalised only when the name is used (eg: At first reference it's King Philippe of Belgium, in later references the king)
• references to the office rather than its incumbent should be in lower case (eg: When I am king, you shall be queen)

滨迟鈥檚 the Crown (ie cap up) when the reference relates to the UK monarchy (eg: Crown Estate, Crown Court, Crown dependency) but the crown (lower case) generically (eg: She was the jewel in the crown), the monarchy and the monarch.

• We use Roman numerals with names (eg: Henry VIII, Charles III)
• At first reference it鈥檚 Buckingham Palace, in later references the palace 鈥� but as a synonym for royal officials, it鈥檚 the Palace
• At first reference it鈥檚 St James鈥檚 Palace, in later references the palace
• At first reference, it鈥檚 Platinum Jubilee (As in Elizabeth II鈥檚. Capped up.), in later references Jubilee 
• At first reference it's the Coronation (ie cap up) when referring to that of the new king, but a coronation (lower case) generically or if there is a need to distinguish between coronations (eg: the new king鈥檚 coronation and the late queen鈥檚 coronation).

• At first reference it鈥檚 King Charles III, in later references King Charles or the King
• At first reference it's Queen Camilla, in later references the Queen, in headlines Camilla. The title Queen Consort/Camilla, Queen Consort is also correct
• At first reference it's the Prince of Wales, in later references Prince William or the prince, in headlines William
• At first reference it's Catherine, Princess of Wales in later references the princess or Catherine, in headlines Kate
• At first reference it's Prince George, in later references the prince, in headlines George
• At first reference it's Princess Charlotte, in later references the princess, in headlines Charlotte
• At first reference it's Prince Louis, in later references the prince, in headlines Louis
• At first reference it's the Duke of Sussex, in later references Prince Harry or the duke or the prince, in headlines Harry
• At first reference it's the Duchess of Sussex, in later references the duchess or Meghan, in headlines Meghan
• At first reference it's Prince Archie, in later references the prince, in headlines Archie
• At first reference it's Princess Lilibet, in later references the princess, in headlines Lilibet
• At first reference it's Diana, Princess of Wales, in later references Princess Diana or the princess, in headlines Diana
• At first reference it's Prince Philip, in later references the prince, in headlines Philip
• At first reference it's the Princess Royal, in later references Princess Anne or the princess, in headlines Anne
• At first reference it's the Duke of York, in later references Prince Andrew or the prince, in headlines Andrew
• At first reference it鈥檚 the Duchess of York, in later references the duchess
• At first reference it鈥檚 Elizabeth II, in later references the late queen
• At first reference it's the Duke of Edinburgh, in later references Prince Edward or the duke, in headlines Edward
• At first reference it鈥檚 the Duchess of Edinburgh, in later references the duchess, in headlines Sophie
• At first reference it鈥檚 the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, or the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, in later references Archbishop Welby, the archbishop, the Archbishop of Canterbury or Mr Welby
• At first reference it鈥檚 Pope Francis or the Pope, in later references the Pope or the pontiff

NB:

• The possessive of duchess is 诲耻肠丑别蝉蝉鈥檚
• The possessive of Wales is 奥补濒别蝉鈥�
• The possessive of Charles is 颁丑补谤濒别蝉鈥檚
• The possessive of princess is 辫谤颈苍肠别蝉蝉鈥檚
• In Scotland, the Prince and Princess of Wales are now also known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay

rubbish

is fine as a noun. But do not use as a verb (eg: "French manager rubbishes England") unless it is part of a direct quote.

rushed to hospital

is a phrase much used by the tabloids. Given that casualties are bound to be moved with as much speed as possible, it is preferable to say simply taken to hospital.