ITU English Language Style Guide

ITU
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
STYLE GUIDE
English Translation Section
Conferences and Pulications De!art"ent
Last u!dated# $$ %eruary &'$(
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Tale of contents
Page
Tale of contents..................................................................................................................... i
%ore)ord.................................................................................................................................. iii
*ritten style............................................................................................................................ 1
S!elling.................................................................................................................................... 2
Standard spelling
Wordings ending in -ize, ise and -yse
Alternative spelling
Telecommunication
ICT(s
Compounds
!ormation o" plurals
!oreign #ords and e$pressions
Hy!hens................................................................................................................................... %
&eneral principles
'ermanent (yp(ens
Temporary (yp(ens
Punctuation............................................................................................................................. )
Nu"ers.................................................................................................................................. *
&eneral rule
Spelling
+$ceptions and speci"ic cases
,ecimals and "ractions
-rdinals
Series o" num.ers to #(ic( di""erent rules apply
T#o num.ers occurring toget(er
/otes
Pro!er na"es........................................................................................................................... 10
1ames o" countries
-t(er geograp(ical names
1ames o" organizations
1ames o" IT2 con"erences
Instruments o" t(e 2nion
!orms o" address and titles
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Page
Ca!itali+ation.......................................................................................................................... 12
&eneral rule
-""icial titles
3e"erences to documents, te$ts, pu.lications, and divisions and su.divisions t(ereo"
I" in dou.t, use lo#er case
Capitalized titles
Words al#ays4never capitalized
Special cases (mem.er, region
Are,iations and acrony"s................................................................................................. 15
&eneral principles
'lurals o" a..reviations
2se o" t(e de"inite article
'unctuation in a..reviations
A..reviation o" dates and times
Currency units
IT2 structure and a..reviations corresponding to structural units
,omain names
Layout ..................................................................................................................................... 21
Templates
1um.ering o" paragrap(s
Titles and (eadings
6ists
1eutral order in lists
-esolutions. reco""endations. decisions. o!inions............................................................ 2%
1um.ering o" t(e resolutions and decisions o" t(e plenipotentiary con"erence
Speci"ic editorial rules "or resolutions
IT2-3 and IT2-T 3ecommendations..........................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................22
Non/discri"inatory language................................................................................................ 2)
&ender .ias
Corres!ondence...................................................................................................................... 25
!ormulas to .e used #it( dra"ting and typing o""icial correspondence
Anne0 A# ITU )ord list.......................................................................................................... 70
AC1N2*LEDGE3ENTS
T(is style guide, #(ic( is intended "or internal use only, dra#s on a num.er o"
similar #or8s produced .y ot(er organizations o" t(e 2nited 1ations system, and in
particular t(e 2nited 1ations +ditorial 9anual: t(e I6- ;ouse Style 9anual: t(e
IA+A Style 9anual "or 'u.lications and ,ocuments in +nglis(: and t(e W;-
+ditorial Style 9anual.
- iii -
%2-E*2-D
T(e purpose o" t(is style guide is to codi"y t(e practices t(at (ave gro#n up #it(in IT2 in t(e
dra"ting o" te$ts in +nglis(, in order to "acilitate t(e #or8 o" aut(ors, assistants, 8ey.oard operators,
translators, editors and proo"readers, ensure uni"ormity o" +nglis( documents in IT2 and eliminate
unnecessary corrections at eac( successive stage in t(e preparation o" documents or pu.lications.
T(e rules are not intended to .e a guide to t(e #riting o" good +nglis(: readers see8ing suc( a guide
are re"erred to t(e standard #or8s listed in t(e section on #ritten style.
1or are t(e rules intended to put aut(ors in a strait<ac8et: t(e principles suggested may sometimes
(ave to .e #aived on grounds o" appropriateness or common sense. T(e most important point to
.ear in mind is t(at usage s(ould .e consistent t(roug(out a document or set o" documents.
T(e guide is certainly not e$(austive. -n t(e contrary, a deli.erate e""ort (as .een made to 8eep it
concise, simple, easy to re"er to, and even reada.le. T(e points covered are t(ose on #(ic( t(e
+nglis( Translation Section receives "re=uent =uestions and =ueries.
T(e guide is posted on t(e IT2 #e.site>
internal access> (ttps>44intranet.itu.int4gs4cpd4,ocuments4styleguide.doc
e$ternal access> at (ttp>44###.itu.int4S&-C'4docs4styleguide.doc
and #ill .e constantly updated. Any suggestions "or additions or improvements are #elcome, and
s(ould .e su.mitted to t(e +nglis( Translation Section (e-mail> ant(ony.pitt?itu.int .
!or items not covered in t(is guide, t(e reader may also #is( to re"er to t(e 2nited 1ations +ditorial
9anual, at (ttp>44)@.@%.17*.2)4editorialcontrol4.
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*-ITTEN STYLE
It is important t(at IT2 pu.lications, records and ot(er documents s(ould .e #ritten in clear, simple
language and #it(out am.iguity, not least .ecause t(ey #ill .e read .y many people #(ose native
language is not +nglis( and muc( o" t(e material #ill .e translated into t(e ot(er o""icial languages.
It is assumed t(at t(e users o" t(is style guide (ave a good 8no#ledge o" +nglis( style and usage.
T(ere are, (o#ever, numerous standard #or8s on #ritten style and +nglis( usage, including>
;.W. !-W6+3> A dictionary o" modern +nglis( usage
Sir +rnest &-W+3S> T(e complete plain #ords
T(e +conomist poc8et style .oo8
+. 'A3T3I,&+> 2sage and a.usage
Anyone interested in improving t(eir #riting s8ills mig(t use"ully re"er to t(e "ollo#ing sources>
Writing for the United Nations: an online learning programme
T(is online course developed #it(in t(e 21 is made availa.le under t(e Aoint Training /entures
programme o" t(e International Annual 9eeting on 6anguage Arrangements, ,ocumentation and
'u.lications (IA96A,', and can .e accessed at>
(ttp>44)@.@%.17*.2)4editorialcontrol4training4Inde$.(tm
EU Clear Writing Campaign
A s(ort and in"ormative +2 .roc(ure on BHow to write clearlyC, prepared as part o" t(e +2Ds
ongoing BClear Writing CampaignC, may .e "ound at>
(ttp>44ec.europa.eu4translation4#riting4clearE#riting4(o#EtoE#riteEclearlyEen.pd"
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SPELLING
Standard s!elling
$
In line #it( 2nited 1ations practice, t(e spelling given in t(e current edition o" t(e Concise Oxford
Dictionary (C-, s(ould generally .e "ollo#ed. W(ere alternative "orms are given in t(e C-,, t(e
pre"erred spelling s(ould .e used. T(e pre"erred spelling is t(e one #(ic( is presented "irst (e.g.
F<udgement, <udgmentF> use F<udgementF: Fadviser (also disp. advisorF> use FadviserF or to #(ic(
t(e reader is re"erred (e.g. Ftire, 2S variant o" FtyreF> use FtyreF.
!or IT2 e$ceptions and #ords t(at o"ten cause di""iculty, see t(e IT2 #ord list in Anne$ A.
!or internal IT2 users, t(e 6i.rary lin8 to dictionaries is at> (ttp>44intranet.itu.int4+-
li.rary4'ages4(ome.asp$.
!or e$ternal users, t(e -$"ord ,ictionaries #e.site is at> (ttp>44o$"orddictionaries.com4G
attemptedHtrue.
*ords ending in /i+e. /ise and /yse
W(ere t(ere is a c(oice .et#een using t(e su""i$ -ize or -ise (e.g. organize, li.eralization,
standardization, (armonize, -ize, derived "rom t(e &ree8 -izo, is pre"erred, in accordance #it( t(e
"irst spelling o" suc( #ords given in t(e C-,.
1ote t(at "or some #ords, #(ere -ise is not a su""i$ .ut part o" t(e root o" t(e #ord, t(ere is no
c(oice and -ise must .e used (e.g. surprise, comprise, enterprise, improvise, advertise, "ranc(ise.
Similarly, -yse must .e used "or #ords derived "rom t(e &ree8 lusis (as in analyse, dialyse and
(ydrolyse. Common #ords o" t(is type are given in t(e IT2 #ord list in Anne$ A.
Alternati,e s!elling
Some #ords are spelled di""erently according to meaning (e.g. #or8 programme, .ut computer
program.
Teleco""unication4s5
T(e #ords BtelecommunicationsC and BtelecommunicationC are .ot( correct, and are used more or
less interc(angea.ly t(roug(out t(e #orld, according to regional and aut(or pre"erence.
In IT2, "or t(e sa8e o" standardization, t(e "ollo#ing rule is adopted>
1oun> BtelecommunicationsC>
e.g. BT(e role o" telecommunications "or developmentC
Ad<ective> BtelecommunicationC
e.g. BTelecommunication development is a 8ey issueC
ICT4s5
1
It s(ould .e noted t(at t(e spelling in t(e regional spelling-c(ec8 pac8ages provided #it(
9S Word does not correspond to IT2 spelling and s(ould t(us .e used #it( caution.
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In IT2, t(e standard term is Bin"ormation and communication tec(nologyC or Bin"ormation and
communication tec(nologiesC (i.e. not BcommunicationsC.
Iot( t(e a..reviations BICTC and BICTsC can .e used as nouns. ;o#ever, #(en used as an
ad<ective, grammar dictates t(at only BICTC is permissi.le (e.g. BICT applicationsC, not BICTs
applications.
Co"!ounds
2n"ortunately, t(ere are no (ard-and-"ast rules governing t(e use o" compounds (#ords "ormed "rom
t#o or more ot(er #ords, #(ic( may .e #ritten as a single #ord (e.g. radiocommunication, #it( a
(yp(en (e.g. time-limit or as t#o separate #ords (e.g. side lo.e. 6anguage is al#ays evolving, t(e
general trend .eing to#ards consolidation in a single #ord as compounds .ecome gradually more
"amiliar (e.g. do#nlin8 used to .e #ritten in t#o #ords and #orld#ide used to .e (yp(enated, .ut
t(ey are no# consolidated. Some o" t(e more common compounds are given in t(e IT2 #ord list in
Anne$ A.
%or"ation of !lurals
!or "oreign #ords #(ic( (ave .een assimilated into +nglis( and #(ic( (ave alternative plural "orms,
t(e +nglis( "orm is to .e pre"erred (e.g. "orums, stadiums. In some cases, t(e c(oice o" plural is
governed .y t(e particular sense in #(ic( t(e #ord is used (e.g. antennae Jo" insectsK, antennas Jo"
radiosK: "ormulae Jmat(ematicalK, "ormulas JgeneralK: indices Jin mat(ematicsK, inde$es Jin .oo8sK.
Commonly encountered plurals o" t(is 8ind are given in t(e IT2 #ord list in Anne$ A, and in t(e
Concise -$"ord ,ictionary .
B,ataC is a plural #ord, and t(us calls "or a plural ver. (e.g. F9ore data are necessary...F, and t(e
plural o" BIureauC is BIureau$C (not Iureaus.
%oreign )ords and e0!ressions
!oreign #ords and e$pressions are usually italicized (e.g. inter alia, fait accompli, force majeure,
per se in +nglis( te$ts. ;o#ever, t(ose #(ic( are considered to (ave .een adopted into t(e
language are printed in 3oman type (e.g. ad (oc, note ver.ale, curriculum vitae, per capita, vice
versa, laissez-passer.
Commonly encountered "oreign #ords and e$pressions are given in t(e IT2 #ord list in Anne$ A,
s(o#ing #(et(er t(ey are italicized or printed in 3oman type in IT2 te$ts. In all ot(er cases, "ollo#
t(e Concise -$"ord ,ictionary.
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HYPHENS
General !rinci!les
;yp(ens are used to connect #ords t(at are more closely lin8ed to eac( ot(er t(an to t(e
surrounding synta$. T(eir use s(ould .e 8ept to a minimum, a (yp(en .eing introduced only #(en
one is necessary or use"ul to avoid am.iguity or (esitation. T(e rest o" t(is section is devoted to t(e
ela.oration o" t(is general rule.
Per"anent hy!hens
As indicated in t(e section on spelling, some compound #ords (ave permanent (yp(ens (e.g.
Secretary-&eneral, time-limit, policy-ma8er.
In line #it( t(e trend to#ards consolidation, most pre"i$es and com.ining "orms s(ould not .e
separated "rom t(e ne$t #ord .y a (yp(en (e.g. su.region, multipat(, repatriate, e$tracurricular,
interregional, semiconductor, tripartite, .ilateral, microcomputer, preselection, copolar, postdated,
antisocial, cy.ersecurity, .... T(ere are (o#ever =uite a num.er o" e$ceptions, including t(e
"ollo#ing>
a t(e pre"i$es non-, sel"-, =uasi- or e$- (in t(e sense o" F"ormerlyF> e.g. non-geostationary,
sel"-su""icient, =uasi-linear, e$-.oss:
. #(en t(e pre"i$ or com.ining "orm ends #it( a vo#el and t(e ne$t #ord .egins #it( t(e
same vo#el or a FyF> e.g. pre-eminent, micro-organism, semi-intensive, multi-year:
c so as to avoid any a#8#ard or misleading <u$tapositions o" letters> e.g. co-#or8er:
d to distinguis( .et#een similarly spelled #ords #it( di""erent meanings> e.g. re-count
(meaning count a second time, as opposed to recount meaning narrate:
e #(en t(e ne$t #ord .egins #it( a capital letter> e.g. su.-Sa(aran, inter-American,
pan-A"rican.
1ote, (o#ever, t(at many #ords "ormed #it( a pre"i$ in t(e a.ove categories (ave .ecome so
common and "amiliar t(at t(ey are no# treated as a single unit and no longer "ollo# t(e general
pattern (e.g. cooperation, coordination, ....
T(e gro#ing num.er o" #ords .eginning #it( t(e pre"i$ Fe-F ("or FelectronicF are al#ays
(yp(enated (e-commerce, e-(ealt(, e-government, e-.usiness, e-learning, etc.. To remain consistent
#it( t(is rule, e-mail is also #ritten #it( a (yp(en in IT2 te$ts.
-n t(e ot(er (and, t(e gro#ing num.er o" #ords .eginning #it( t(e pre"i$ Bcy.erC are not
(yp(enated (cy.erspace, cy.ersecurity, cy.erattac8, cy.ercrime, etc.
1or are #ords .eginning #it( t(e pre"i$ FteleF (yp(enated, unless t(e "irst letter o" t(e root #ord is
a vo#el (telemedicine, tele#or8, telematics: but tele-education.
!or t(e (yp(enation o" commonly encountered #ords, see t(e IT2 #ord list in Anne$ A.
Te"!orary hy!hens
In a compound ad<ectival e$pression used attri.utively, t(e temporary (yp(en is used to <oin toget(er
t#o or more #ords #(ic( #ould normally .e #ritten separately, in order to avoid am.iguity or
(esitation>
- L -
ne$t-generation net#or8 lig(t-.lue coat la.our-intensive industry
"irst-class results man-eating tiger .etter-trained sta""
up-to-date in"ormation part-time #or8 cost-.ene"it ratio
In some cases a (yp(en can su.stantially c(ange t(e meaning o" an e$pression (compare> Ft(irty-odd
participantsF and Ft(irty odd participantsF.
1ote, (o#ever, t(at it is .etter to omit (yp(ens "rom lengt(y ad<ectival e$pressions (Fspace station
antenna side lo.e patternF and .etter still to avoid t(em .y redra"ting.
In series o" t#o or more compound #ords, pendant (yp(ens are permissi.le (e.g. t#o-, t(ree- and
"our-year periods: cost- and sta""-reduction programme. It is o"ten pre"era.le, (o#ever, to avoid
t(em .y redra"ting (e.g. periods o" t#o, t(ree and "our years or simply repeating t(e common .ase
(e.g. cost-reduction and sta""-reduction programme.
1o (yp(en is used, unless omission #ould give rise to am.iguity or (esitation, #(en>
a t(e "irst #ord o" a compound ad<ectival e$pression is an adver. ending in FlyF>
readily availa.le data partially implemented pro<ect (ig(ly contentious issue
. t(e e$pression is derived "rom a proper name
t(e 1e# Mor8 ca.le in"rastructure 6atin American telecommunication operators
c t(e e$pression consists o" a "oreign-language e$pression not normally (yp(enated
ad (oc group per diem allo#ance e$ o""icio mem.er
.ut> laissez-"aire policy.
1o (yp(en is used in compound ad<ectival e$pressions used predicatively>
.etter-prepared e$perts, .ut> t(ese e$perts are .etter prepared
up-to-date documents, .ut> .ring t(e document up to date
part-time #or8, .ut> re=uest to #or8 part time
gender-neutral language, .ut>t(e te$t s(ould .e gender neutral
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PUNCTUATI2N
Since t(e reader o" t(is style guide is assumed to (ave a good 8no#ledge o" t(e +nglis( language,
.asic punctuation is not covered in detail.
;o#ever, an e$cellent .rie" overvie# o" t(e use o" punctuation mar8s may .e "ound in an appendi$
to t(e Concise -$"ord ,ictionary.
T(e speci"ic case o" punctuation in lists, .ullet points and suc(li8e is addressed in t(e section on
layout.
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NU36E-S
General rule
&
1um.ers "rom one to ten s(ould .e spelled out in "ull in t(e .ody o" t(e te$t>
FT(e con"erence, attended .y 1LL delegates, adopted t#o resolutions, eig(t recommendations and
ten reports.F
S!elling
A (yp(en is used #(en a num.er a.ove 20 is spelled out, and also .et#een t(e numerator and
denominator o" spelled-out "ractions (unless t(e denominator is already (yp(enated>
t#enty-t(ree t#o (undred and si$ty-eig(t
t#o-t(irds t#o t#enty-si$t(s
E0ce!tions and s!ecific cases
!igures s(ould al#ays .e used .e"ore FmillionF and F.illionF, and "or dates and times o" day,
percentages, ratios, units o" money or measurement (e$cept #(en t(ey are o.viously intended to .e
appro$imate or #(en t(ey occur in isolated re"erences in a non-tec(nical conte$t, and page
re"erences, serial num.ers and t(e li8e>
7 million ) Aune 1@5% 2 p.m.
10 per cent C;! %00 7 8m
* 9;z page L C(apter %
!igure 2 e$ample ) 10 9.it4s
1ote, (o#ever, t(at a num.er t(at "orms t(e "irst #ord o" a sentence s(ould .e spelled out
regardless o" t(e a.ove rules (e.g. FT#o (undred and eig(ty-"ive courses #ere given in 1@@5F. 2gly
e$amples can usually .e avoided .y redra"ting (e.g. FT(e year 1@50 #as one o" solid ac(ievementF
not F1ineteen eig(ty #as a year NF.
In standard te$ts, num.ers consisting o" "our or more "igures do not ta8e a comma, .ut a space (e.g.
) L@0 8;z, 1 L00 assignments, 27 02* @L* main lines
7
, e$cept in re"erences to provisions or pages
(331))0, p. 1271, dates (1@@5 and serial num.ers o" te$ts or instruments (Council 3esolution
11%0, ,ecree 12**.
3ound millions and .illions s(ould .e #ritten as "ollo#s> 2* million (also, as convenient, ).L .illion,
2.7L million - no more t(an t#o decimal places. -t(er#ise, "igures are used in line #it( t(e normal
rule> 7 %2) 000, 2 207 *L0.
T(e #ord F.illionF is no# accepted in .ot( American and Iritis( usage as meaning 1 000 million.
T(e #ord FtrillionF is .est avoided as .eing unclear: use instead 1 000 .illion.
2
T(is general rule applies to legal, "ormal, literary and narrative te$ts: in scienti"ic, tec(nical
and statistical conte$ts, "igures are used almost e$clusively.
7
T(is rule (as .een adopted in order to avoid potential con"usion t(at may arise on account
o" t(e di""erent usage o" commas and periods in t(e di""erent languages, and to "acilitate copying,
pasting and importing o" electronic "iles containing ta.les in a multilingual environment. Su.<ect to
internal consistency #it(in documents, (o#ever, some "le$i.ility is tolerated. -ne alternative
commonly adopted as it also "unctions across languages is t(e use o" an apostrop(e (e.g.
*D)L%D721 instead o" * )L% 721
- 5 -
,ates "ollo# t(e pattern 1* Aanuary 1@L5.
Care must .e ta8en #(en a..reviating dates, since e$pressions suc( as F024104@%F can .e
am.iguous, meaning 2 -cto.er 1@@% to a Iritis( reader and 10 !e.ruary 1@@% to an American
reader.
Spell out centuries (e.g. t(e t#entiet( century: t(e mid-nineteent( century, .ut #(en re"erring to
decades use t(e "ollo#ing "orms, #it(out an apostrop(e in eit(er case> in t(e early t#enties, in t(e
late 1@50s.
Time o" day e$pressed in "our "igures, using t(e 2%-(our system, s(ould .e #ritten #it(out
punctuation, e.g. 2100 (ours (not 21.00 or 21>00 (ours
3e"erences to t(e time o" day using t(e 12-(our system s(ould .e made as "ollo#s> @ a.m. (not
@.00 a.m. or @A9, noon, 1.1L p.m., 7 p.m., @.0L p.m. (not @.L p.m., midnig(t.
!or periods or ranges, eit(er a das( or F"rom N to NF may .e used, .ut not a com.ination o" t(e
t#o>
1@1%-15 1@@%-1@@5 )-10 9ay 1@@)
"rom 1@1% to 1@15 "rom 1@@% to 1@@5 "rom ) to 10 9ay 1@@)
.ut not "rom ) - 10 9ay 1@@)
+$cept in tec(nical or statistical conte$ts, use Fper centF rat(er t(an FOF, unless use o" t(e sym.ol is
necessary "or reasons o" space, e.g. in ta.les. In ratios o" $>100 and $>1 000, t(e "ormula Fper 100F
or Fper 1 000F (not per t(ousand s(ould .e used, e.g. a teledensity o" %.% main lines per 100
in(a.itantsF or F27.* industrial accidents per 1 000 employeesF.
Deci"als and fractions
,ecimal "ractions .elo# unity s(ould .e preceded .y a zero, .ot( in running te$t and in ta.les,
"igures, etc., e.g.>
0.5 per cent
/ulgar "ractions .elo# unity s(ould .e spelled out i" "igures are not re=uired .y t(e rules set out
a.ove and i" t(e resulting te$t is not unduly cum.ersome>
one tent(, one t#enty-"i"t(, one and a (al", t#o t(irds
but
7P inc(es, 1@ 1*4L2 (or 2*47)Lt(s
It is o"ten convenient to convert vulgar "ractions into decimals>
0.1, 0.0%, 1.L, 5.*L
- @ -
2rdinals
-rdinal num.ers are spelled out up to and including Ftent(F: "igures are used "rom F11t(F on#ards,
e$cept #(en re"erence is made to centuries>
+ig(t( session, 1%t( session, 1*1st session
T(e nint( reason is t(atN
In t(e nineteent( century
!or simplicity, t(e ordinal su""i$ (i.e. st, nd, rd or t( is #ritten in normal type on t(e line, and not as
a superscript.
Series of nu"ers to )hich different rules a!!ly
W(en t#o or more num.ers to #(ic( di""erent rules apply occur in a series, re"erring to t(e same
t(ing, t(e rule applying to t(e (ig(er or (ig(est num.er s(ould apply to all (e.g. F1%, previously @F
not F1%, previously nineF.
T)o nu"ers occurring together
W(en t#o num.ers occur toget(er, t(ey s(ould .e e$pressed in di""erent styles, according to t(e
nature o" t(e elements and t(e conte$t (e.g. t#enty 1L-cent stamps: 120 "i"teen-cent stamps: "ive
1L-year-old .oys: 20 t(ree-year-old girls: 12 ten-"oot poles.
7otes
T(e results o" voting are al#ays e$pressed in "igures (e. g. T(e resolution #as passed .y %L votes to
17, #it( L a.stentions.
- 10 -
P-2PE- NA3ES
Na"es of countries
!or political reasons, care must .e ta8en #(en re"erring to countries. +ac( 9em.er State selects t#o
variants - a long name "or o""icial use (e.g. 'rincipality o" Andorra and a s(ort name "or everyday
use (e.g. Andorra - in t(e si$ o""icial languages. T(ese names s(all .e used to t(e e$clusion o" all
ot(ers. T(ey are given in t(e list maintained .y t(e Corporate &overnance and 9em.ers(ip unit
(C&9 at (ttp>44###.itu.int4online4mm4scripts4mem.stat.
Ad<ectives o" nationality (e.g. Ieninese, Cape /erdean, S#azi are given in a 2nited 1ations
terminology .ulletin (ST4CS4S+3.!47%*43ev.1, #(ic( is availa.le in t(e 3e"erence Service o" t(e
Con"erences and 'u.lications ,epartment.
In lists o" countries in important documents #it( o""icial status, t(e !renc( alp(a.etical order must
.e "ollo#ed, in line #it( t(e o""icial list maintained .y C&9.
!or countries #(ose names are preceded .y t(e de"inite article in running te$t (e.g. Ft(e
1et(erlandsF or Ft(e 2nited QingdomF, t(e article s(ould normally .e omitted "rom ta.les, (eadings
and lists (ot(er t(an lists in running te$t.
T(e names o" all countries are regarded as singular nouns o" neuter gender (e.g. Ft(e 2nited States
(as (not (ave its (not (er4t(eir o#n systemsF.
2ther geogra!hical na"es
&eograp(ical names s(ould normally .e spelled according to t(e o""icial usage o" t(e country
concerned, #(ere t(ere e$ists an o""icial local spelling in letters o" t(e 3oman alp(a.et (e.g. Iasel,
,ar es Salaam, Aa8arta, ,<i.outi, &dans8, Qyiv, 1D,<amena, 'ago 'ago, Singapore, Stras.ourg,
Wrocla#.
W(ere a #ell-esta.lis(ed +nglis( conventional "orm e$ists, (o#ever, it s(ould .e used (e.g. Addis
A.a.a, Ieirut, Ielgrade, Irussels, Copen(agen, ,amascus, &eneva, 6ata8ia, 6is.on, 9arra8es(,
9ilan, 'rague, 3ome, S(arm el-S(ei8(, Te(eran, T(e ;ague, Tim.u8tu, To8yo, Turin, /ienna,
Warsa#, Ruric(.
-t(er#ise, t(e Times Atlas o" t(e World s(ould .e used as a re"erence.
Na"es of organi+ations
W(en an organization or entity (as +nglis( as one o" its o""icial or #or8ing languages, t(e +nglis(
spelling and (yp(enation t(at it uses "or its o#n name and "or t(e titles o" its o""icials s(ould .e
"ollo#ed, even i" it con"licts #it( standard IT2 usage (e.g. 'an A"rican Telecommunications 2nion,
Secretary &eneral o" t(e -rganization o" American States.
W(en citing t(e names o" organizations, organs and institutions o" an +nglis(-spea8ing country, t(e
national usage s(ould .e "ollo#ed, even i" it con"licts #it( standard IT2 usage. It s(ould .e "ollo#ed
also "or t(e titles o" o""icials and styles o" address (e.g. (2Q 9inistry o" ,e"ence, (2S 9inistry o"
,e"ense.
W(en citing suc( names in a "oreign language, t(e name s(ould appear in italics, e.g. Ministerio de
Fomento.
2se"ul sources include t(e IT2 &lo.al ,irectory ((ttp>44###.itu.int4&lo.al,irectory4 and IT2
telecommunication terminology data.ase (T+39IT+ ((ttp>44###.itu.int4terminology4inde$.(tml.
- 11 -
Na"es of ITU conferences
T(e correct #ay o" re"erring to IT2 con"erences is .y giving t(e "ull name "ollo#ed, in parent(esis
(not .et#een commas, .y t(e place (to#n only and t(e year ("our digits, separated .y a comma,
e.g. 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (&uadala<ara, 2010, World Administrative 3adio Con"erence "or
,ealing #it( !re=uency Allocations in Certain 'arts o" t(e Spectrum (9alaga-Torremolinos, 1@@2,
World Telecommunication ,evelopment Con"erence (;ydera.ad, 2010, World Telecommunication
Standardization Assem.ly (,u.ai, 2012.
9ost IT2 con"erences (ave an o""icial a..reviation, #(ic( may .e used "or convenience in #or8ing
documents, #(ere necessary #it( t(e year (last t#o digits attac(ed a"ter a (yp(en, e.g. ''-@5,
''-0), WTSA-05, W3C-@*, W3C-0*, WT'!-0@, WT,C-10, W3C-12, WCIT-12. !or t(e speci"ic
year 2000, all "our digits are attac(ed, e.g. W3C-2000, WTSA-2000.
!or t(e IT2 Council, eit(er re"er to Bt(e 200@ session o" t(e CouncilC, or, as an a..reviation in
#or8ing documents only, BCouncil-0@C or BC-0@C: avoid Bt(e 200@ CouncilC, #(ic( #rongly gives
t(e impression t(at t(e Council c(anges every year. 1ote t(at #e say Bt(e CouncilC and not simply
BCouncilC (e$cept in a..reviations o" t(e type BCouncil-@@C.
Instru"ents of the Union
T(e instruments o" t(e 2nion are t(e Constitution o" t(e International Telecommunication 2nion, t(e
Convention o" t(e International Telecommunication 2nion and t(e Administrative 3egulations (i.e.
t(e International Telecommunication 3egulations and t(e 3adio 3egulations.
T(e instruments currently in "orce are t(e Constitution o" t(e International Telecommunication 2nion
(&eneva, 1@@2 and t(e Convention o" t(e International Telecommunication 2nion (&eneva, 1@@2,
as amended .y t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (Qyoto, 1@@%, t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence
(9inneapolis, 1@@5, t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (9arra8es(, 2002, t(e 'lenipotentiary
Con"erence (Antalya, 200) and t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (&uadala<ara, 2010. T(e latter "ive
plenipotentiary con"erences adopted only amending instruments to t(e 1@@2 te$t. It is t(us legally
(and politically incorrect to re"er to t(e Constitution or Convention (&uadala<ara, 2010, #(ic(
simply does not e$ist.
In vie# o" t(e lengt( and un#ieldiness o" t(e "ull legal re"erence, it (as .een decided, in consultation
#it( t(e IT2 6egal A""airs 2nit, t(at in all .ut t(e most o""icial te$ts o" e$treme legal import t(e
s(ort(and terms BIT2 ConstitutionC and BIT2 ConventionC may .e used, #it(out re"erence to t(e
place and year, or any su.se=uent amending instruments, to mean t(e instruments in "orce at any
given time.
T(e o""icial #ay o" re"erring to provisions o" t(e instruments is B1o. 127 o" t(e ConstitutionC or
B1os 127 and 12% o" t(e ConventionC. In #or8ing documents only, t(e s(ort(and "ormulations
CS127 and C/127 are accepta.le.
%or"s of address and titles
In order to sidestep t(e many pit"alls involved in t(e use o" "orms o" address and titles, #(ic( vary
according to cultural (a.its and personal pre"erences, t(e standard "orms F9rF and F9sF s(ould .e
used as "ar as possi.le in #or8ing documents suc( as reports, summary records, translations o"
incoming correspondence, etc.
Academic titles (e.g. ,r, 6ic. JSpanis(K, Ing. J!renc(4Spanis(K, 'ro". are t(us normally omitted.
Titles suc( as F;.+.F ("or a minister4am.assador, F;.3.;.F (royalty, F3ev.F (clergy, F6ordF or
FSirF and suc( li8e s(ould (o#ever .e retained.
- 12 -
CAPITALI8ATI2N
General rule
Too many capital letters in a sentence or column o" type tend to distract t(e readerSs attention. !or
t(is reason, and contrary to many aut(orsD tendency, as "e# initial capitals as possi.le s(ould .e used
in IT2 documents and pu.lications. ;ard-and-"ast rules are di""icult to lay do#n, .ut some
guidelines can .e given.
T(e simple guiding rule is to use>
9 initial ca!itals for the s!ecific:
9 lo)er case for the generic:
9 lo)er case )here,er there is any dout;
T(e sections .elo# illustrate t(is rule (and e$ceptions to it and give e$amples o" IT2 usage.
2fficial titles
-nly in speci"ic re"erences, in t(e singular, s(ould initial capital letters .e used "or t(e o""icial titles o"
persons, councils, committees, secretariat units, organizations, institutions, political entities and t(e
li8e, and "or t(e o""icial titles o" treaties and international conventions.
!or con"erences, initial capitals are used #(en citing t(e "ormal o""icial title o" a con"erence, "or
e$ample BT(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (Antalya, 200) adopted NC, or #(en re"erring to t(e
con"erence as a legal entity, "or e$ample BT(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence alone is empo#ered to
NC. 6o#er case is used #(en re"erring to a session o" t(e con"erence, "or e$ample BN to .e
su.mitted to t(e ne$t plenipotentiary con"erenceC or BN to .e su.mitted to t(e 201% plenipotentiary
con"erenceC.
Examples:
GENE-AL 4lo)er case5 SPECI%IC 4initial ca!s5
Some plenipotentiary con"erences adopt more
resolutions and recommendations t(an ot(ers.
'ursuant to its 3esolution ** (9inneapolis,
1@@5 and ,ecision 7 (9inneapolis, 1@@5, t(e
'lenipotentiary Con"erence esta.lis(ed N
World radiocommunication con"erences
consider inputs "rom t(e IT2-3 study groups
and t(eir #or8ing parties, on t(e .asis o" a
#or8 programme esta.lis(ed .y t(e previous
radiocommunication assem.ly.
IT2-3 Study &roup 1 and Tas8 !orce 14@
#ere particularly active in preparing t(e World
3adiocommunication Con"erence (&eneva,
1@@* and t(e associated radiocommunication
assem.ly.
A dra"ting group and seven #or8ing groups
#ere set up .y t(e di""erent committees.
As e$pected, Committee * did not complete
its #or8: t(e document #as su.mitted direct
to t(e plenary via t(e +ditorial Committee.
3eplies "rom administrations #ill .e processed
.y a special tas8 "orce. !ive governments (ave
responded to date.
T(e Administration o" !rance #is(es to
participate, on .e(al" o" t(e !renc(
&overnment, in t(e second meeting o" t(e
Tas8 !orce on gender issues.
Several ministers as8ed "or t(e action plan and T(e 9inister o" Communications o" &a.on,
- 17 -
#or8 programme .y t(e Wednesday "ollo#ing
t(e symposium, .ut t(e rapporteurs said t(at
time #as too s(ort to compile data "or a
(and.oo8.
re"erring to 'rogramme @ o" t(e Iuenos Aires
Action 'lan, said t(at t(e ;and.oo8 on 3ural
Telecommunications #ould .e presented at
t(e 1@@5 symposium on ne# tec(nologies.
T(e c(airmen o" committees can co-opt
e$perts as rapporteurs o" ad (oc groups.
T(e C(airman o" Committee ) called upon t(e
/ice-C(airman o" Committee L to convene Ad
(oc &roup )41.
-eferences to docu"ents. te0ts. !ulications. and di,isions and sudi,isions thereof
-nly in speci"ic re"erences, in t(e singular, s(ould initial capital letters .e used "or re"erences to
documents, te$ts, pu.lications and divisions and su.divisions t(ereo".
T(e #ords Fparagrap(F, FsectionF and BitemC are not capitalized (and are o"ten .e avoided .y using
t(e T sign - TT "or plural, space a"ter t(e T sign, e.g. T 2.1, TT 2.1 - 7.1. Similarly, t(e #ord FpageF is
not capitalized (and re"erences to page num.ers s(ould .e used #it( caution #(en dealing #it( te$ts
printed in di""erent language versions #it(out parallel pagination.
T(e #ord BagendaC is not capitalized, e.g. BIn accordance #it( t(e agenda o" t(e con"erenceC,
BW3C-11 agenda item 1.15C.
T(e one ma<or e$ception to t(e general rule, .y local convention in t(e IT2 Sectors, is
F3ecommendationF, #(en re"erring speci"ically to a standard adopted .y one o" t(e Sectors (i.e.
IT2-T, IT2-3 and IT2-, 3ecommendations and FUuestionF, #(en re"erring to a "ormal te$t
adopted "or study .y a study group o" a Sector (i.e. IT2-T, IT2-3 and IT2-, Uuestions.
+$amples>
GENE-AL 4lo)er case5 SPECI%IC 4initial ca!s5
Credentials are not re=uired "or con"erences
t(at do not produce "inal acts.
T(e !inal Acts o" W3C-@* #ere signed on
21 1ovem.er 1@@*.
T(e document on sta"" matters, comprising 2%
parts, eac( #it( 1L sections, plus 12 anne$es,
#as adopted.
T(e results o" t(e survey are given in Anne$ I
to ,ocument ''-@542L, speci"ically T 7L o"
section 2 (page ) o" t(e +nglis( version.
Antenna patterns are descri.ed in t(e ta.les
and "igures in t(e anne$ to t(e antenna
re"erence manual.
!or eart(-station antennas, see !igure 1 in
C(apter 7: "or space-station antennas, see
Ta.le ) in Anne$ I to C(apter @.
!re=uency assignments are pu.lis(ed in special
sections o" t(e I3 International !re=uency
In"ormation Circular.
'roposal to modi"y Special Section
A3114A411@.
Compre(ensive reports are issued a"ter eac(
study group meeting.
As stated in section II o" 3eport 3.) o" IT2-T
Study &roup L, N
ut
IT2-T 3ecommendations, dra"ted .y t(e
study groups in response to Uuestions
adopted at t(e assem.ly, are pu.lis(ed in
"ascicles and volumes. Some o" t(e study
groups also produce (and.oo8s and reports.
IT2-T 3ecommendation !.)% is contained in
!ascicle II.L o" /olume ): t(e ;and.oo8 on
3ural Telecommunications is under
preparation in response to Uuestion *41.
If in dout. use lo)er case
- 1% -
In some cases, it can .e di""icult to gauge #(et(er a re"erence is general or speci"ic, especially #(en
a general re"erence is made to a speci"ic identi"ia.le .ody or te$t, o"ten one (aving already .een
re"erred to in t(e previous sentence or earlier in t(e document. In suc( instances, unless t(ere is a
ris8 o" am.iguity, t(e rule Fi" in dou.t, use lo#er caseF applies.
+$amples>
V Tari"" issues are addressed in IT2-T Study &roup 7. At its 1ovem.er meeting, t(at study
group decided ...
V T(e con"erence adopted 3esolution L1 on sta"" matters. T(e resolution called "or a num.er
o" measures N
V T(e C(airman o" Committee ) said t(at (er committee (ad completed its #or8 on time.
Ca!itali+ed titles
;istorically, #(en a title (e.g. o" a speci"ic con"erence or entity is to .e capitalized under t(e a.ove
rules, all t(e #ords it comprises used to ta8e initial capitals, e$cept "or articles, con<unctions and
prepositions (e.g. World Administrative 3adio Con"erence "or ,ealing #it( !re=uency Allocations in
Certain 'arts o" t(e Spectrum.
In vie# o" t(e increasing num.er o" groups at all levels, (o#ever, and to avoid a.surd instances
#(ere #ords suc( as BW(ic(C and BItC (ave (ad to .e capitalized, t(e recent trend in IT2 is to move
to#ards limiting capitals to t(e core part o" t(e entity name, e.g. BCouncil Wor8ing &roup on
security de"initions and terminologyC: ,edicated &roup on international Internet policy issuesC:
BIT2-T !ocus &roup on smart gridC, etc.
Al)ays ca!itali+ed
T(e "ollo#ing are al#ays capitalized in IT2, eit(er .y tradition or in order to avoid am.iguity>
t(e International Telecommunication 2nion: t(e 2nion
t(e Council (Council-@5, Council session
9em.er State
Sector 9em.er
Associate (#it(in t(e meaning o" 1o. 2%1A o" t(e Convention
t(e 3adiocommunication Sector, t(e Telecommunication Standardization Sector, t(e
Telecommunication ,evelopment Sector
t(e Sector(s
(.ut> t(e Btelecommunication sectorC, #(en re"erring to t(e general "ield o" activity
t(e 3adio 3egulations Ioard, t(e Ioard
t(e 3adiocommunication Iureau, t(e Telecommunication Standardization Iureau, t(e
Telecommunication ,evelopment Iureau
t(e Iureau($
t(e &eneral Secretariat
(.ut> t(e secretariat: t(e T+6+C-9 secretariat
t(e Secretary-&eneral, ,eputy Secretary-&eneral
t(e Constitution, t(e Convention, t(e Administrative 3egulations
t(e 3adio 3egulations, t(e International Telecommunication 3egulations
- 1L -
t(e Sta"" 3ules and 3egulations, t(e !inancial 3egulations
State (in t(e sense o" an organized national entity
&eneral Service sta"": 'ro"essional sta""
t(e Summit (#(en re"erring to t(e World Summit on t(e In"ormation Society W WSIS
t(e Internet
a 3ecommendation (#(en re"erring to t(e recognized international standard constituted .y an IT2-
34IT2-T4IT2-, 3ecommendation: a Uuestion (#(en re"erring to an IT2-34IT2-T4IT2-,
Uuestion "or studyX
!Exception> !or internal consistency o" t(e te$ts in =uestion, t(is rule "or B3ecommendationC and
BUuestionC in respect o" t(e IT2 Sectors is not applied in t(e output te$ts (Constitution,
Convention, resolutions, etc. o" t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence, #(ere t(e standard capitalization
rule (lo#er case "or general re"erence4initial capitals only "or a speci"ic re"erence #it( a num.er is
"ollo#ed.
Not ca!itali+ed 4e0ce!t )hen gra""ar re<uires5
session
delegate, delegation
o.server
IT2 .udget
strategic plan "or 2011-201L
"inancial plan
operational plan
study period
in"ormation society
"inancial operating report
1ote also t(at t(e e$istence o" an a..reviation coined "or convenience certainly does not imply t(at
t(e "ull term needs to .e capitalized. T(us, concepts suc( as Fleast developed countryF (6,C,
Fin"ormation and communication tec(nologiesF (ICTs, Fglo.al in"ormation in"rastructureF (&II,
ne$t-generation net#or8 (1&1, etc. do not ta8e initial capitals.
S!ecial cases#
Member" member>
T(e #ord Fmem.erF is capitalized only in t(e terms F9em.er StateF and FSector 9em.erF: it is
#ritten in lo#er case #(en re"erring to an individual>
mem.er o" 33I
mem.er o" a group, committee, etc.
1ote t(at, since t(e c(ange in terminology adopted .y t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence
(9inneapolis, 1@@5, t(e Council (as 9em.er States (not 9em.ers. ;ence>
9em.er State o" t(e Council
-.server 9em.er State
Individuals attending t(e Council on .e(al" o" 9em.er States are not re"erred to as mem.ers. 2se>
councillor
o.server
- 1) -
T(e loose term Fmem.er o" t(e 2nionF is am.iguous and s(ould .e avoided as "ar as possi.le. It
s(ould .e made clear in eac( case #(et(er t(e te$t re"ers to 9em.er States, Sector 9em.ers,
Associates (1I. not Associate 9em.er, or some com.ination t(ereo". T(e #ord Fmem.ers(ipF can
.e use"ul in general te$ts, alt(oug( it poses pro.lems "or translation into ot(er languages. W(ere
aut(ors persist in using t(e loose term Fmem.erF, it is advisa.le to ma8e it as generic as possi.le .y
using a lo#er-case initial letter, i.e. Fmem.ers o" t(e 2nionF.
#e$ion%re$ion
T(e #ord BregionC is only capitalized #(en speci"ically re"erring to t(e t(ree 3egions de"ined in t(e
3adio 3egulations "or "re=uency-allocation purposes> 3egion 1, 3egion 2, 3egion 7 (c". 1o. L.2 o"
t(e 3adio 3egulations.
It is not capitalized #(en re"erring to more in"ormal concepts o" regions, suc( as t(e administrative
regions used "or matters involving geograp(ical representation in t(e 2nionDs structure (region A,
region I, region C, etc. or t(e regions used primarily in development matters (Ara. States region,
CIS region, Americas region, Asia-'aci"ic region, etc..
- 1* -
A66-E7IATI2NS AND AC-2NY3S
General !rinci!les
A..reviations are used to save space and to avoid distracting t(e reader #it( t(e repeated spelling
out o" long #ords and p(rases. Anyt(ing t(at #ould .e unpleasing to t(e eye or puzzling i"
a..reviated s(ould, (o#ever, .e spelled out.
T(us, t#o-letter a..reviations, #(ic( are o"ten (ig(ly am.iguous, s(ould not .e used (e.g. t(ere are
over 1L entries "or 9S in t(e Termite data.ase alone, including mo.ile service, mo.ile station,
maritime station, etc..
X
Some a..reviations are introduced purely "or convenience in one particular document. T(ese s(ould
not appear in t(e title and must .e identi"ied on "irst appearance in t(e te$t (and separately in t(e
a.stract4cover page i" used t(ere. T(is is .est done .y giving t(e #ords in "ull "ollo#ed .y t(e
a..reviation in .rac8ets.
Wit( a..reviations and acronyms o" a more general nature, in #or8ing documents a decision (as to
.e made on t(e .asis o" e$perience and common sense #(et(er t(ey "all into class a or class .
.elo#>
a A..reviations #(ic( t(e average reader o" t(e te$t may not .e e$pected to 8no#. T(ese
s(ould .e treated as descri.ed a.ove.
. A..reviations #(ic( t(e average reader o" t(e te$t may .e e$pected to 8no#. T(ese may .e
treated as descri.ed a.ove or used #it(out e$planation.
As an e$ample, t(e a..reviation e.i.r.p. (e=uivalent isotropically radiated po#er #ould "all into
category . in a tec(nical document relating to application o" t(e 3adio 3egulations "or e$perts, .ut
#ould come under a in a general article on telecommunications "or a lay reader.
I" a num.er o" un"amiliar a..reviations are to .e used e$tensively in a long document or in a
pu.lication, it is a very good idea to provide a separate list o" a..reviations at t(e .eginning or end
o" t(e te$t.
W(ere space is an important consideration, as in ta.les and "igures, a..reviations s(ould .e used
e$tensively, #it( e$planations provided, i" necessary, in a ta.le "ootnote or at t(e end o" a "igure
caption.
In important, o""icial documents suc( as treaty te$ts (including resolutions, recommendations,
decisions and opinions or pu.lications, all a..reviations and acronyms (#it( t(e e$ception o" FIT2F
s(ould .e identi"ied on "irst appearance in t(e .ody o" t(e te$t, .y spelling t(em out in "ull "ollo#ed
.y t(e a..reviation in .rac8ets. ;o#ever, anot(er option (adopted, "or instance, in t(e 3adio
3egulations is to de"ine "re=uently used a..reviations at t(e .eginning o" t(e te$t or pu.lication.
A..reviations s(ould .e used sparingly in titles, and s(ould not appear in t(e titles o" o""icial te$ts
suc( as resolutions, etc.
X
1ote, (o#ever, t(at in #or8ing documents o" t(e Sectors, some t#o-letter or even one-letter
a..reviations are inevita.ly used as a local s(ort(and, e.g. S& "or study group, W' "or #or8ing
party, U "or Uuestion, etc. In suc( cases, t(ere is no space .et#een t(e a..reviation and t(e
num.er, i.e. S&7, W'74%, U2242.
- 15 -
Plurals of are,iations
T(e plural o" a "ully capitalized a..reviation (#(ere suc( usage cannot .e avoided is "ormed .y
adding a lo#er case FsF, e.g. ICTs, 6,Cs (.ut not 6,CSs or 6,CS, 9CTs, 1&1s.
1ote t(e e$ception Bsmall island developing statesC (SI,S, #(ere t(e last BSC relates to BStatesC
and t(ere is no BsC to mar8 t(e plural.
Use of the definite article )ith are,iations
T(e policy "ollo#ed in IT2 is to omit t(e de"inite article .e"ore a..reviations and acronyms
identi"ying organizations or entities (e.g. IT2, not t(e IT2: 21,', not t(e 21,': I3, TSI and
I,T, not t(e I3, t(e TSI and t(e I,T. ;ence also t(e ,irector o" I3, ,irector o" TSI and
,irector o" I,T.
Punctuation in are,iations
A "ull stop (period is normally used at t(e end o" an a..reviated #ord #(en t(e #ord is truncated,
suc( t(at t(e "inal letter o" t(e a..reviation is not t(e same as t(e "inal letter o" t(e complete #ord
(e.g. Corp. "or BCorporationC. In most cases, t(ere s(ould .e no "ull stop at t(e end o" an
a..reviation #(en t(e middle part o" t(e #ord is omitted, suc( t(at t(e "inal letter o" t(e a..reviation
is t(e same as t(e "inal letter o" t(e complete #ord (e.g. 6td "or B6imitedC. T(us, t(ere is no "ull
stop a"ter 9r, or a"ter t(e plurals o" t(e "ollo#ing>
3e". J1K .ut 3e"s J1, 2K
!ig. 1 .ut !igs 7 and %
/ol. 1 .ut /ols *-@
+=. (L .ut +=s (L, )
1o. 127 .ut 1os 127 and 12%
1ote t(e "ollo#ing "orms, (o#ever> p. 1, pp. 1-@
T(e a..reviations Be.g.C and Bi.eC are not "ollo#ed .y a comma, and t(e a..reviation vs ("or versus
is not "ollo#ed .y a "ull stop.
Are,iation of dates and ti"es
T(e accepted a..reviation o" t(e names o" t(e mont(s is t(e "irst t(ree letters "ollo#ed .y a "ull stop,
e$cept "or 9ay, Aune and Auly, #(ic( are never a..reviated.
T(e a..reviations "or t(e days o" t(e #ee8 are>
9on. Tues. Wed. T(urs. !ri. Sat. Sun.
;o#ever, in a "igure or ta.le #(ere all t(e days o" t(e #ee8 appear in se=uence, t(ey may .e #ritten>
9 T W T ! S S.
Currency units
IT2 uses t(e t(ree-letter currency codes esta.lis(ed .y IS- under Standard IS- %21* W See t(e list
at (ttp>44###.iso.org4iso4currencyEcodes .
T(e code is placed .e"ore t(e amount, e.g.
- 1@ -
C;! 2 million 2S, 10 L00 &I' L0
+23 1 000 A'M 10 million YA! 20 000
ITU structure and are,iations designating structural units
T(e IT2 organization c(arts are posted on t(e intranet at>
(ttps>44intranet.itu.int4gs4a"d4;3O20'olicies4IT2O20organization
O20c(arts4-rganizationalc(arts.asp$
T(e Terminology, 3e"erences and Computer Aids to Translation Section compiles a list o" IT2
organizational units in t(e si$ o""icial languages, including t(e corresponding a..reviations, #(ic(
may .e consulted on t(e intranet at>
(ttp>44int#e.4lingterm4Trad'age4.oo8r1.(tm
1ote t(at t(e unit responsi.le "or telecommunication e$(i.itions and "orums is al#ays re"erred to as
IT2 T+6+C-9 (not simply BT+6+C-9C, in Bsmall capsC
Do"ain na"es
T(e standard #ay to re"er to domain name su""i$es in running te$t is to place t(em in inverted
commas, e.g. F.esF, F.c(F, F.intF, F.orgF (not Z.es[ or <ust .c(
- 20 -
LAY2UT
Te"!lates
Wit( t(e introduction o" electronic media, templates "or t(e ma<or types o" document (ave .een
developed .y t(e IT2 Template &roup and t(e ,ocument Composition Service o" t(e Con"erences
and 'u.lications ,epartment, and t(ese s(ould o" course .e "ollo#ed in all cases.
In addition, models may .e distri.uted "or certain types o" document (e.g. con"erence4meeting
documents, etc.
L
.
Accordingly, "or t(e sa8e o" (armonization, e""iciency and corporate image, o""icials in c(arge o"
meetings s(ould re"rain "rom producing B(ome-gro#nC templates as "ar as possi.le.
Nu"ering of !aragra!hs
!or documents lia.le to .e discussed in con"erences and meetings or re"erred to in ot(er te$ts, it is
e$tremely use"ul "or eac( paragrap( to .ear a separate identi"ication. As "ar as possi.le, paragrap(
num.ers s(ould .e limited to a single #(ole num.er (1, 2, 7, N10, N, n or to one decimal place
(1.1, 1.2, 1.7: 2.1, 2.2, N 2.%%, N 2.n, 7.1, Netc.. 6onger num.ers o" t(e "orm 7.21.2.%1 are
cum.ersome and can easily cause con"usion in a meeting, especially t(roug( t(e interpretation.
Titles and headings
T(ere (ave never .een any standard rules in IT2 "or t(e treatment o" titles, (eadings and suc( li8e.
2sage varies according to t(e document or te$t concerned, and among t(e di""erent departments and
t(e Sectors. T(e template or model s(ould .e "ollo#ed #(ere one e$ists: ot(er#ise, t(e "ollo#ing
simple guidelines may .e use"ul.
Titles and (eadings are to .e printed in .old type. 2nderlining is no longer used. T(e pre"erred
"ormat is an initial capital on t(e "irst #ord only (e$cept o" course #(en a su.se=uent #ord is
capitalized in its o#n rig(t, e. g. >
$ Preli"inary draft !lan of action for the least de,elo!ed countries
& I"!le"entation of a !rogra""e to increase the !artici!ation of Sector 3e"ers in
the )or= of the organi+ation
In t(e case o" composite (eadings, eac( part s(ould .e introduced .y an initial capital, e.g.>
( The changing teleco""unication en,iron"ent# *ays and "eans of enhancing the
Union>s rele,ance and res!onsi,eness
Lists
;ere again, t(ere (ave never .een any standard rules in IT2 "or t(e treatment o" material presented
in t(e "orm o" lists. ,etails o" speci"ic practices "or particular types o" te$ts or pu.lications s(ould .e
o.tained "rom t(e Sector editorial service or t(e ,ocument Composition Service.
T(e "ollo#ing, t(ere"ore, are merely suggested general guidelines t(at may .e use"ul>
L
!or any in=uiries concerning templates and models, contact t(e ,ocument Composition
Service (e-mail> <ac=ueline.<ones-"errer?itu.int .
- 21 -
Lists in running te0t
In very simple lists #it( a "e# s(ort items it can o"ten .e .etter to run t(e te$t on t(an to give eac(
item a "res( line, and o"ten even to omit any 8ind o" num.ering or lettering. I" num.ers or letters are
used "or clarity or emp(asis, separate t(e items .y semicolons or commas and, i" necessary "or
clarity, introduce t(e list #it( a colon.
+$amples>
Its repercussions are political, economic, cultural and social.
)

It #as proposed t(at t(e sentence .e redra"ted: t(at t(e ver. .e strengt(ened: t(at t(e punctuation .e
altered: and t(at all similar provisions .e aligned.
T(e committee #as mainly concerned #it( (a t(e economic origins o" t(e crisis, and (. its social
repercussions.
T(e committee #as mainly concerned #it( t(e "ollo#ing> (a t(e economic origins o" t(e crisis: (.
its social repercussions: and (c t(e e""ect on t(e environment.
%or"atted lists
!or t(e sa8e o" clarity or emp(asis, more complicated or longer lists can .e set out as indents or
.ullet points, introduced .y a colon.
+$amples o" t(ree commonly used "ormats are provided .elo#.
Format A
I" eac( item comprises less t(an a compete sentence, t(e list is actually a single large sentence. In t(is
case, t(e "ormatting can e""ectively replace4minimize t(e punctuation> use a colon to start t(e list,
.egin eac( .ulleted item #it( a lo#er-case letter, and place a "ull stop at t(e end o" t(e last item.
+$ample>
T(e purpose o" training is to>
V improve sta"" =uali"ications
V meet t(e organizationSs (uman resources needs
V promote mo.ility
V 8eep a.reast o" ne# tec(nologies
V motivate sta"".
T(is is t(e simplest option, and one #(ic( is increasingly advocated, and commonly "ound, "or
e$ample, in IT2-T 3ecommendations.
Format B
Alternatively, especially i" some o" t(e .ulleted items are longer t(an one line, it is possi.le to end
eac( .ulleted item #it( a semi-colon, and place a "ull stop at t(e end o" t(e last item.
+$ample>
T(e purposes o" t(e con"erence #ere to>
)
1ote t(at, in suc( lists, t(ere is usually no comma .e"ore t(e last item introduced .y FandF,
unless one is use"ul or necessary "or clarity.
- 22 -
V adopt ne# and revised Uuestions to .e studied .y IT2-, study groups during t(e ne$t study
period:
V adopt regional initiatives "or t(e si$ regions:
V agree on t(e WT,C-10 input to t(e strategic plan "or IT2-, "or 2012-201L, #(ic( #ill "eed
into t(e ne$t plenipotentiary con"erence to .e (eld in &uadala<ara in -cto.er 2010.
Format C
I" t(e items in t(e list comprise one or more complete sentences, eac( sentence s(ould .egin #it( a
capital letter and end #it( a "ull stop.
+$ample>
!uerstein (as #ritten a seminal #or8 on participatory evaluation, and suggests t(at a participatory
evaluation in t(e development conte$t s(ould include certain steps>
V All t(ose involved in a programme decide <ointly to use a participatory approac(. T(ey
decide e$actly #(at t(e o.<ectives o" t(e evaluation are. T(is can turn out to .e (arder t(an
originally t(oug(t.
V W(en agreement is reac(ed, a small group o" coordinators is elected to plan and organize
t(e details.
V T(e .est met(ods "or attaining t(e o.<ectives are t(en c(osen.
Neutral order in lists
In o""icial IT2 documents, suc( as t(e .asic instruments, "inal acts and outputs o" con"erences and
ot(er political or (ig(-level te$ts, it is sometimes necessary to "ollo# a neutral order to avoid any
suggestion o" magnitude, <udgement, pre"erence, merit, etc.
Countries> Countries s(ould .e listed in t(e !renc( alp(a.etical order, according to t(e
o""icial IT2 list o" 9em.er States (see section on &ames of countries a.ove.
-""icial languages> T(e o""icial languages s(ould similarly .e listed in t(e !renc( alp(a.etical
order, i.e. +nglis(, Ara.ic, C(inese, Spanis(, !renc(, 3ussian.
IT2 Sectors> IT2 Sectors (and t(eir respective Iureau$ s(ould "ollo# t(e order in t(e IT2
Constitution, i.e. IT2-3, IT2-T, IT2-,: and I3, TSI, I,T.
- 27 -
-ES2LUTI2NS. -EC233ENDATI2NS. DECISI2NS AND 2PINI2NS
-esolutions. reco""endations. decisions and o!inions of conferences?asse"lies
3esolutions, recommendations, decisions and opinions o" con"erences "ollo# a particular "ormat.
T(e .asic idea to .ear in mind is t(at suc( te$ts in "act constitute one long sentence, #it( t(e name
o" t(e con"erence as t(e su.<ect, and t(ere"ore s(ould in principle contain no "ull stops. T(e di""erent
parts are separated .y semi-colons (#it(in a section or commas (.et#een sections.
T(e num.er o" a resolution, recommendation, decision or opinion is not preceded .y F1o.F (e.g.
3esolution 1L, 3esolution C-9*41%, 3ecommendation )22 (W3C-@*, ,ecision *41, -pinion A.
Iy decision o" editorial committees o" past treaty-ma8ing con"erences in consultation #it( t(e 6egal
A""airs 2nit, a resolution must al#ays include an operative paragrap( introduced .y resol'es.
1ote t(at resolutions, recommendations, decisions and opinions are eac( considered as separate,
stand-alone instruments.
Nu"ering of resolutions and decisions of conferences?asse"lies
T(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (9inneapolis, 1@@5 adopted a ne# num.ering system "or
resolutions and decisions o" t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence. 'reviously, all resolutions and decisions
#ere revie#ed at eac( plenipotentiary con"erence, leading to #(olesale renum.ering. ;ence"ort(,
t(is #ill no longer .e t(e case and resolutions and decisions #ill remain in "orce unless a.rogated or
revised .y a su.se=uent plenipotentiary con"erence.
As a result, t(e place-name and date in parent(esis (as .ecome an integral part o" t(e num.er o" eac(
resolution or decision, and must never .e omitted, in order to avoid potential am.iguity.
+$amples>
3esolution L) (Qyoto, 1@@%
3esolution 50 (3ev. 9arra8es(, 2002
3esolution 111 (3ev. &uadala<ara, 2010.
In vie# o" t(is measure, it is o"ten possi.le to omit any e$plicit re"erence to t(e con"erence as t(e
adopting .ody, since t(is #ill .e implicit in t(e num.er. In some cases, (o#ever, suc( as (ig(ly
o""icial te$ts, including t(e .asic instruments and suc( resolutions4recommendations t(emselves, or in
documents "or readers #(o are not "amiliar #it( t(e organization, re"erence to t(e 'lenipotentiary
Con"erence may .e necessary. In t(is case, suggested options are>
3esolution @5 (9inneapolis, 1@@5 o" t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence (9inneapolis, 1@@5
3esolution @5 (9inneapolis, 1@@5 o" t(e 'lenipotentiary Con"erence
''-@5 3esolution @5 (9inneapolis, 1@@5.
T(is sc(eme (as .een adopted, .y analogy, "or resolutions o" t(e World Telecommunication
,evelopment Con"erence> e.g. 3esolution 27 (3ev. ;ydera.ad, 2010, and, al.eit less systematically,
"or resolutions o" t(e World Telecommunication Standardization Assem.ly, #(ere, alt(oug( t(is is
not re"lected in t(e "ormat o" t(e resolutions as presented in t(e output 'roceedings o" t(e assem.ly,
one #ill increasingly see "ormulations li8e> 3esolution L@ (Ao(annes.urg, 2005.
!or (istorical reasons, resolutions o" t(e World 3adiocommunication Con"erence, #(ic( are
contained in /olume 7 o" t(e 3adio 3egulations, adopt a di""erent num.ering system, "ollo#ing t(e
"ormat> 3esolution )1% (W3C-0*, 3esolution *) (W3C-2000, etc. 3esolutions o" t(e
3adiocommunication Assem.ly use yet anot(er system, "ollo#ing t(e "ormat> 3esolution IT2-3 1-L
(#(ere IT2-3 1 is t(e num.er and L is t(e version num.er re"lecting t(e num.er o" revisions,
- 2% -
3esolution IT2-3 77-2, 3esolution IT2-3 5-1, etc. ;ere again, alt(oug( t(is is not re"lected in t(e
"ormat o" t(e resolutions as presented in t(e output 'roceedings o" t(e assem.ly, t(ere is a trend
to#ards (armonization and one #ill increasingly see t(e place and date speci"ied, resulting in
"ormulations li8e> 3esolution IT2-3 *-2 (&eneva, 2012.
S!ecific editorial rules for resolutions
,etailed guidance on t(e speci"ic editorial rules "or resolutions o" IT2 con"erences is availa.le on
re=uest "rom t(e +nglis( Translation Section (ant(ony.pitt?itu.int.
ITU/- and ITU/T -eco""endations
,etailed guidance on t(e speci"ic editorial rules "or IT2-3 and IT2-T 3ecommendations are
developed .y t(e respective Sectors and are availa.le on re=uest "rom t(e I3 and TSI editorial
units.
- 2L -
N2N/DISC-I3INAT2-Y LANGUAGE
In dra"ting documents, it must .e .orne in mind t(at, as an international organization, IT2 (as to
ta8e care in its te$ts to avoid all "orms o" discrimination as to gender, race, culture, nationality,
religion, and suc(li8e.
Sometimes, o""ence may .e caused inadvertently, #(ere t(e reader and t(e aut(or (ave di""erent
sensitivities. T(e most "re=uent e$ample o" t(is, and one #(ic( is .eing addressed t(roug(out t(e
2nited 1ations system o" organizations, is gender .ias.
Gender ias
I" care is not ta8en, t(e #ritten #ord can rein"orce many common .ut deprecated perceptions o" t(e
respective roles o" men and #omen in society. T(is may result "rom "ailure to mention #omen
speci"ically, .y using e$clusively masculine pronouns (e.g. F(eF or F(isF #(en .ot( #omen and men
are involved> e.g. F A telecommunication engineer is a specialist in (is domain...F: "rom use o" #ords
"ormed "rom t(e root FmanF> e.g. Fmanpo#erF, to FmanF a pro<ect: or simply "rom careless dra"ting>
e.g. F3esearc( scientists o"ten neglect t(eir #ives and c(ildren...F.
W(en dra"ting IT2 material, t(e general rule s(ould .e to ma8e every e""ort to avoid gender .ias,
#it(out .eing over-dogmatic. Some general guidance is given in paragrap(s 1 to @ .elo#.
1 As indicated in t(e "ootnote to t(e IT2 Constitution and Convention, re"erring to 3esolution
*0 (3ev. 9arra8es(, 2002, t(e language used in t(e .asic instruments o" t(e 2nion is to .e
considered as gender neutral. Iy e$tension, t(e same approac( s(ould apply in t(e te$ts o" all o" t(e
2nionSs .odies.
2 T(is means, in practice, t(at all terms re"erring to "unctions, suc( as Secretary-&eneral,
,eputy Secretary-&eneral, ,irector, c(airman, vice-c(airman, delegate, o.server, are gender neutral,
since t(e "unctions in =uestion can e=ually .e per"ormed .y #omen or men.
7 1aturally, (o#ever, #(en suc( terms designate an identi"ia.le person actually "ul"illing t(e
"unctions at a given time, t(en t(e corresponding "eminine or masculine pronouns #ill .e used, e.g. >
T(e Secretary-&eneral J9r Tour\K and (is sta""N.: T(e C(airman o" t(e Council J9s ;ecetaK said
t(at s(e #ouldN : T(e delegate o" ,enmar8 said t(at (er delegation #asN .
% It is o"ten appropriate to use neutral terms suc( as FspouseF rat(er t(an F#i"eF or F(us.andF
#(ere gender is not necessary to t(e sense.
L 9asculine pronouns can o"ten .e avoided .y simply deleting t(em (FT(e trainee is usually
t(e .est <udge o" t(e value o" (is trainingF-[ FT(e trainee is o"ten t(e .est <udge o" t(e value o" t(e
trainingF: .y using t(e plural (FTrainees are o"ten t(e .est <udge o" t(e value o" t(eir trainingF: .y
rep(rasing (FT(e .est <udge o" t(e value o" t(e training is o"ten t(e traineeF: or .y using t(e "irst
person plural (FMan is t(e victim o" (is o#n inventions. ;e is ruining t(e environmentF -[ F)e are
t(e victim o" our o#n inventions. We are ruining t(e environmentF.
) T(e alternative "orm (F(is or (erF is cum.ersome and s(ould .e used sparingly, alt(oug( it
may .e accepta.le on occasion (F!or t(e e$periment, eac( c(ild #as as8ed to dra# an o.<ect on (is
or (er card...F. In lengt(y legal te$ts, suc( as t(e Sta"" 3egulations, #(en no ot(er solution is
possi.le, a clear "ootnote may .e inserted at t(e .eginning o" t(e document stating t(at t(e language
is considered to .e gender neutral and t(at, #(ere a.solutely necessary, F(eF and F(isF are used "or
convenience .ut s(all .e ta8en to re"er to .ot( #omen and men.
- 2) -
* T(e con"usion #(ic( o"ten occurs in peopleSs minds .ecause t(e #ord FmanF in +nglis(
means not only Fa (uman .eingF .ut also Fan adult maleF (Concise -$"ord ,ictionary, and #(ic( is
"re=uently compounded .y a stereotyped vie# o" #omenSs and menSs roles in society, can in many
cases .e avoided .y using suita.le alternative #ords or "orms. 9ore o"ten t(an not, t(e #ords FmanF
and Fman8indF can easily .e replaced .y FpeopleF, F(umanityF, F(umansF, F(uman8indF or F(umanF.
T(e ver. Fto sta""F s(ould .e pre"erred to Fto manF> (ence t(e esta.lis(ed term in IT2 is no#
Fsta""ing ta.leF. F'erson-daysF, Fconsultant-mont(sF and Fe$pert-daysF are good alternatives to
Fman-daysF or Fman-mont(sF. Accepta.le alternatives e$ist "or many <o. titles, suc( as FsupervisorF,
F#or8erF and Fpolice o""icerF instead o" F"oremanF, F#or8manF and FpolicemanF, and "or #ords li8e
Fmanpo#erF, to #(ic( F#or8"orceF or F(uman resourcesF s(ould .e pre"erred.
5 T(ere may, (o#ever, .e occasions #(en use o" a term including t(e root FmanF is
unavoida.le, even #(ere t(e conte$t is not limited to men, eit(er .ecause t(ere is no generally
accepta.le alternative, as in t(e case o" Fman-made noiseF (as de"ined in IT2-T or Fman-made
disastersF, or .ecause t(e term including FmanF is considered to .e a lesser evil t(an t(e alternatives
on o""er, #(ic( may in "act .e counterproductive .ecause t(ey are not #idely enoug( accepted, or
are ugly or contrived.
@. -ne important e$ample o" t(is is t(e term Fc(airmanF. In accordance #it( t(e decision ta8en
.y t(e IT2 Council at its 2000 session, t(e term Fc(airmanF (and related terms suc( as Fvice-
c(airmanF, Fc(airmans(ipF, etc. s(all .e considered as .eing gender neutral in documents o" t(e
2nion. Accordingly, Fchair"anF s(all .e used t(roug(out IT2 as t(e single, uni"orm term to
designate t(e presiding o""icers o" con"erences and ot(er meetings.
*
10. Iy de"inition, in gender-neutral language, t(e order in a straig(t"or#ard list does not suggest
any precedence, and s(ould .e decided .y independent "actors suc( as p(onetics and usage. !or
e$ample, IT2 te$ts may re"er to B#omen and menC and Bladies and gentlemenC, .ut Bmale and
"emaleC and BSir49adamC.
*
1ote, (o#ever, t(at t(is instruction relates only to documents emanating "rom t(e secretariat and to o""icial
te$ts o" t(e 2nion. Contri.utions and inputs "rom 9em.er States, Sector 9em.ers and ot(er organizations
and entities aut(orized to participate in t(e #or8 o" IT2, #(ic( are entitled to employ t(eir o#n
terminology, must not .e modi"ied.
- 2* -
C2--ESP2NDENCE
In +nglis(, certain speci"ic "orms o" salutation (e.g. ,ear Sir call "or corresponding speci"ic closing
"ormulas (e.g. Mours "ait("ully. T(e main com.inations are set out in t(e ta.le .elo#>
Salutation Closing
,ear Sir, Mours "ait("ully,
,ear 9adam, Mours "ait("ully,
,ear 9r49s J1A9+K, Mours sincerely,
Sir, Accept, Sir, t(e assurances o" my (ig(est
consideration
9adam, Accept, 9adam, t(e assurances o" my (ig(est
consideration
1ote t(at BMours sincerelyC and BMours "ait("ullyC can .e made more "ormal .y ending t(e letter #it(
t(e #ords BI remainC.
+$ample> 6oo8ing "or#ard to meeting you, I remain,
Mours "ait("ully,
JsignatureK
W(en t(e gender o" t(e recipient is not 8no#n, or in circular or multi-address letters, t(e gender-
neutral salutation B,ear Sir49adamC is used.
T(e precise "ormulas to .e used #(en dra"ting and typing o""icial IT2 correspondence are
recapitulated in t(e ta.le .elo# "or convenience.
- 25 -
%2-3ULAS T2 6E USED *HEN D-A%TING AND TYPING 2%%ICIAL C2--ESP2NDENCE
Ty!e of letter Address Salutation Closing
9inister ("ormal ;is J;erK +$cellency
9r J9sK NNNN
9inister o" NNN.
Sir J9adamK, Accept, Sir J9adamK, t(e assurances o" my (ig(est consideration,
9inister (in"ormal ;is J;erK +$cellency
9r J9sK NNNN
9inister o" NNN.
,ear 9inister, I remain, dear 9inister, Mours sincerely,
or simply
Mours sincerely,
Am.assador ("ormal ;is J;erK +$cellency
9r J9sK NNNN..
Am.assador
NNNNNN.
Sir J9adamK, Accept, Sir J9adamK, t(e assurances o" my (ig(est consideration,
Am.assador (in"ormal ;is J;erK +$cellency
9r J9sK NNNN.
Am.assador
NNNNNNN.
,ear 9r J9sK Am.assador,
or
,ear Am.assador,
I remain, dear 9r J9sK Am.assador, Mours sincerely,
or simply
Mours sincerely,
Secretary-&eneral o" t(e 2nited
1ations
T(e ;onoura.le Q. Annan
Secretary-&eneral
2nited 1ations
,ear 9r Secretary-&eneral, Mours "ait("ully,
;ead o" specialized agency
("ormal
9r J9sK NNNNNN.
,irector-&eneral
JSecretary-&eneralK
,ear 9r J9sK ,irector-&eneral
JSecretary-&eneralK,
or
,ear Sir J9adamK,
Mours "ait("ully,
;ead o" specialized agency
(in"ormal
9r J9sK NNNNN..
,irector-&eneral JSecretary-
&eneralK
,ear 9r J9sK, Mours sincerely,
,irector-&eneral o" an
administration
T(e ,irector-&eneral
NNNNNNN
,ear Sir J9adamK, Mours "ait("ully,
-t(ers ("ormal ,ear Sir J9adamK, Mours "ait("ully,
-t(ers (in"ormal ,ear 9r J9sK, Mours sincerely,
- 2@ -
Anne0 A
ITU *ord list
a.out
("or num.ers, e.g. a.out 70: a.out one-t(ird ("or
dates, use BaroundC
a.ove-mentioned
addendum (pl. addenda
ad (oc (no italics
ad (oc group (#(en capitalized> Ad (oc &roup
ad interim (.ut a.i.
administration (.ut t(e !renc( Administration
administrative circular (no (yp(en
advertise
advise, adviser (not advisor, advisa.le
aest(etic
a"orementioned
A"rica -1+
age (age L, ), etc.: L years o" age
aged (aged L years or more
ageing: ageism
agenda (not Agenda (pl. agendas
aide-m\moire (pl. aides-m\moire
AI,S
air conditioner, air conditioning
air-conditioned
aircra"t (sing. and pl.
allot, allotted, allotment
analogue
analyse
antennas
a posteriori
apprise
a priori
around
("or dates, e.g. around 1@00: around 9ay ("or
num.ers, use Ba.outC
Associate (not Associate 9em.er (C/2%1A
audio"re=uency
audiovisual
a#areness-raising (noun and ad<.
.ac8 up (ver.
.ac8up (noun and ad<.
.ac8#ard (ad<.: .ac8#ards (noun
.alance o" payments (noun:
.alance-o"-payments (ad<.
.alance s(eet (noun: .alance-s(eet (ad<.
.and#idt(
.ase.and
.aseline
.eam#idt(
.e(aviour
.enc(mar8
.ene"ited, .ene"iting
.iannual (t#ice a year
.idirectional
.iennial (every second year
.iennium (pl. .ienniums
.ilateral
.imont(ly
bis (e.g. 1bis
.it rate (noun: .it-rate (ad<.
.its per second: .it4s: 8.it4s: 9.it4s: &.it4s
.ona "ide (no italics
.oo88eeping
.ottlenec8
.rea8 do#n (ver.: .rea8do#n (noun and ad<.
.rea8 up (ver.: .rea8-up (noun and ad<.
.rea8 t(roug( (ver.: .rea8t(roug( (noun
.roadcasting satellite (noun: .roadcasting-satellite
(ad<., e.g. .roadcasting-satellite service
.road.and
.udget: ordinary .udget (lo#er case
.udgeted
.uild up (ver.
.uild-up (noun
Iureau$ (plural
.ypass
.y-product
call-.ac8
cancel, cancelled, cancelling
cannot
capacity .uilding (noun: capacity-.uilding (ad<.
car par8
carry over (ver.: carry-over (noun
case-.y-case (ad<.
case la#
case study
catalogue
catalyse
C,-3-9
cellp(one: cellular p(one
centre, centred, centring
centre o" e$cellence
c(airman (not c(airperson, c(air#oman, c(air
c(annelled, c(annelling
c(arg\ dDa""aires (pl. c(arg\s
c(at room
c(ec8list
c(ec8-up (noun
c(ef de cabinet
c(e=ue (.an8
circuit-s#itc(ed: circuit-s#itc(ing
circular letter (no (yp(en
clearing (ouse
co-c(annel
code-division multiple access
coe""icient
coe$istence
collective letter (no (yp(en
collocate, collocation (o" study group meetings,
c". WTSA 3es. 2
collo=uium (pl. collo=uiums
colour
common la# (noun: common-la# (ad<.
common system (21 (not Common System
communi=u\ (no italics
compel, compelled
compendium (pl. compendiums
competence, pl. competences (Hmandate, <urisdiction
competencies, sing. Competency (H(uman resources
management term "or s8ills
comprise
compromise
concentrator
connection
consensus
consortium (pl. consortia
converter
cooperate, cooperation
coordinate, coordination
co-primary
corrigendum (pl. corrigenda
cost accounting (noun: cost-accounting (ad<.
cost allocation (noun: cost-allocation (ad<.
cost-.ene"it
cost centre
cost-e""ective (ad<.: cost e""ective (pred.: cost-
e""ectiveness (noun
cost-oriented (in pre"erence to cost-orientated
cost recovery (noun: cost-recovery (ad<.
councillor (mem.er o" t(e IT2 Council
counsellor, senior counsellor
countermeasure
counterproductive
counter-revolution
counterterrorism
coup dD\tat (pl. coups dD\tat
criterion (pl. criteria
cross-.order (ad<.
cross-re"erence (noun and ver.
cross-section
cross-su.sidy: cross-su.sidization
curriculum (pl. curricula
curriculum vitae (no italics
cut .ac8 (ver.
cut.ac8 (noun
cut o"" (ver.
cut-o"" (noun and ad<.
cy.ersecurity: cy.erca"\: cy.erterrorism: cy.erattac8:
cy.ert(reat: etc.
data.an8
data.ase
data centre
data processing (noun: data-processing (ad<.
daytime
deadline
de.ug, de.ugged, de.ugging
de facto
decision-ma8er, decision-ma8ing
deep space (noun: deep-space (ad<.
de"ence (.ut ,epartment o" ,e"ense (2nited States
deinstall
de <ure
delegation, delegate (not ,elegation, ,elegate
demise
dependant (noun
dependency allo#ance
dependent (ad<.
depositary (o" a te$t or instrument
depository (#are(ouse
,eputy Secretary-&eneral
des8top
despatc( (see dispatc(
devise
dialling:
dial-up
digital selective calling: digital selective-calling system
digitize (not digitalize, digitization
direction-"inder
director-general (pl. directors-general
dis8 (computer
dispatc( (not despatc(
distance learning (noun: distance-learning (ad<.
dot-com
,-T"orce
do#nlin8
do#nload
do#ntime
,r
e- (all compound "orms (yp(enated
+art( (only in speci"ic re"erence to t(e planet: eart(
station
+art(-to-space
e-.usiness
e-commerce
e.g. (not "ollo#ed .y a comma
e-government
e-(ealt(
e-learning
e-mail
en bloc
endeavour
end user (noun: end-user (ad<.
enrol, enrolment
en route
ensure (ma8e sure t(at
enterprise
erratum (pl. errata (no italics
et al.
+2T+6SAT
everyday (ad<.
e$ o""icio (no italics
e$pertise
e$tra.udgetary
e$traterrestrial
fait accompli
"all-.ac8
"avour: "avoura.le
"eed.ac8
"eeder lin8 (noun: "eeder-lin8 (ad<.
"i.re (not "i.er
"i.re-optic (ad<. (use optical "i.re
"ield strengt( (noun: "ield-strengt( (ad<.
"irst (armonic (noun and ad<.
"lo# c(art: "lo# diagram
"lu$-density
"ocused, "ocusing
"ollo#-up (noun
"ollo# up (ver.
force majeure
"orego (precede
"orgo (go #it(out
"ormulae (mat(ematical
"ormulas (general
"orum (pl. "orums
"ranc(ise
"re=uency-division multiple access
"ul"il, "ul"ilment, "ul"illed, "ul"illing
"undraising
"unds-in-trust
gauge
&eneral Service (&.1, &.), etc.
generation (second-, t(ird-, ne$t-generation (ad<.
geostationary-satellite or.it
ground#or8
&S-: non-&S- (not 1&S-
guard.and
(ands-"ree
(ead o" delegation
(ead=uarters (not ;ead=uarters
(ealt( care (noun: (ealt(care (ad<.
(elpdes8
(ig(er .and (noun: (ig(er-.and (ad<.
(ig(pass (ad<.
(omepage
(onour
(ot spot
(ypermedia
ibid.
i.e. (not italics, not "ollo#ed .y a comma
implementer (not implementorr
improvise
inasmuc( as
in-dept( (ad<.: in dept( (pred.
inde$ (pl. indices Jmat(sK: inde$es J.oo8sK
in"ocommunication
in"ormation (no plural> re"er to items or pieces o"
in"ormation, some in"ormation, or data
in"ormation and communication tec(nologies (ICTs
in"otainment
in"rared
Inmarsat
in-session (ad<.
inso"ar as
install, installation
instalment
insure (ta8e out insurance
I1T+6SAT
inter-agency
inter alia
inter-American
intercede
interconnection
intergovernmental
Internet (as "rom ''-0)
interplenipotentiary
interregional
interrelated
inter-satellite
intersessional
interstate (#it(in a country: inter-State (.et#een
countries
intraregional
intra-su.regional
ipso facto
I' telep(ony
IsA'> Istan.ul Action 'lan (WT,C-02
IS2'S@2
<udgement
8ilometre (8m
8no#-(o# (noun
Qyiv (not Qiev
la.el, la.elled
la.our
laissez-passer (no italics
laptop
large-scale (ad<.: large scale (pred.
layout (noun: lay out (ver.
lead time
liaison
licence (noun
license (ver., licensing, licensee
li"elong
li"estyle
li"etime
long-standing
long-term (ad<.: long term (pred.
lo#-+art( or.it (6+-
lo#pass (ad<.
macroeconomic
main lo.e
ma8e-up (noun
man-made noise (telecom. term> no gender-neutral
alternative
manning ta.le (use sta""ing ta.le
manoeuvre
many-sided
mar8etplace
9arra8es( (not 9arra8ec(
medium-term (ad<.: medium term (pred.
memorandum (pl. memoranda
memorandum o" understanding (9o2
merc(andise
meter (instrument
metre (unit o" lengt(
9etSat
microcomputer
microeconomic
micro"ic(e
micro"ilm
microprocessor
mid-1@50s
mid-a"ternoon
midday
midnig(t
mileage
mindset
misspelled
mo.ile p(one
mo.ile-satellite service
moc8-up
modelled
9o2
9r
9rs (pre"er> 9s
9s
9iss (pre"er> 9s
muc(-needed
multi.and
multi.eam
multic(annel
multicopy
multidimensional
multi"rame
multi"re=uency
multilateral
multimedia
multilingual
multinational
multipat(
multiple$
multipoint
multipurpose
multista8e(older
narro#.and (ad<.
nation#ide
neig(.our
nevert(eless
ne$t-generation net#or8(s
nig(t-time
1o. - to .e omitted a"ter #ords li8e document,
resolution, report (e.g. ,ocument 10, 3es. )
no one
non-e$istent
non-governmental
non-&S- (not 1&S-
non-linear
noncommittal
nonet(eless
nort(-east(ern
nort(-#est(ern
note ver.ale (no italics
occur, occurred, occurrence
o""line
o""set
o""s(ore
old age (noun: old-age (ad<.
omnidirectional
on-.oard (ad<.: on .oard (pred.
ongoing
online
on-site (ad<.: on site (pred.
optical "i.re (noun and ad<.
organization, organize
out-o"-date (ad<.: out o" date (pred.
overall
over.oard (e.g. man over.oard
overestimate
overload
overvoltage
pac8et-s#itced: pac8et-s#itc(ing
'A1A!T+6
par excellence
pass.and
payp(one
per capita (no italics
per cent: percentage
per diem (no italics
per se
piecemeal
pipeline
point-to-point
point-to-multipoint
policy-ma8er, policy-ma8ing
post-con"erence
postgraduate
postpaid
postpone
postscript
post-session
post#ar
po#er "lu$-density
practice (noun
practise (ver.
pre-assigned
pr\cis-#riting
pre-empt
pre-investment
prepaid
pre-session
principal (ad<.
principal ((ead person
principle (noun
printout (noun: print out (ver.
proactive
'ro".
'ro"essional ('.7, '.L, etc.
programme (.ut computer program
pro rata (no italics
pseudo-random
=uasi-linear
*uater (e.g. 2 *uater
radioactive
radio astronomy (noun and ad<.
radiocommunication (ad<.: radiocommunications
(noun
radiodetermination
radio "re=uency (noun: radio-"re=uency (ad<.
radio (orizon
radiolocation
radionavigation
radio propagation
radio-relay
radiotelegrap(y
radiotelep(one
rapporteur group
3ASC-9
re-esta.lis(
realize
reinsure
relocate: relocata.le
reorganize
replan, replanning, replanned
reuse: reusa.le
revise
rigorous
rigour
ring tone (not ringing tone
roll out (ver.: roll-out (noun
round ta.le (noun: round-ta.le (ad<.
second-generation net#or8
second (armonic (noun and ad<.
secretariat (not Secretariat, e$cept in t(e IT2 &eneral
Secretariat
Secretary-&eneral (IT2, 21
sectoral (general: Sectoral (IT2 Sector
separate
session (not Session
set-.ac8 (noun
set-up (noun: set up (ver.
S(arm el-S(ei8(
s(ort list
s(ort-term (ad<.: s(ort term (pred.
side.and
side lo.e
s8il"ul
small-scale (ad<.: small scale (pred.
sound programme (noun: sound-programme (ad<.
sout(-east(ern
sout(-#est(ern
S'AC+C-9
space-to-+art(
space-to-space
specialize
sta""ing ta.le (not manning ta.le
stand.y (noun: stand .y (ver.
start-up (noun ] ad<.: start up (ver.
State (meaning country
state (ot(er meanings
state-o"-t(e-art (ad<.: state o" t(e art (pred.
stationary (not moving
stationery (#riting materials
status =uo (no italics
stoc8ta8ing
straig(t"or#ard
su.address
su.assem.ly
su.-.and
su.committee
su.directorate
su.division
su.group
su.(eading
su.-item
su.<ect matter
su.marine
su.net#or8
su.paragrap(
su.region: su.regional
su.section
su.-su.group
su.system
su.tropical
su.-#or8ing group (#(en capitalized> Su.-Wor8ing
&roup
sunspot
supergroup
super (ig(er-.and (ad<.
superre"ractivity
supersede
supervise
supervisor
surprise
symposium (pl. symposia
sync(ronize
synt(esis, synt(esize
tele.iometrics
telecommunication (ad<.: telecommunications (noun
T+6+C-9 (e$(i.itions, secretariat,
e.g. Asia T+6+C-9-@*
telecommand
telecon"erence
tele-education
tele(ealt( (pre"er e-(ealt(
telelearning
telemedicine
televise
tele#or8
ter (e.g. 2ter
test.ed
te$t.oo8
t(ird-generation net#or8
time-consuming
time-division multiple access
time-"rame
time-limit
time-scale
timeta.le
totalling
trademar8
transatlantic
trans.order
trans.oundary
transe=uatorial
trans-(orizon
travelling
turn8ey
t#o"old
t#o t(irds (noun
t#o-t(irds (ad<.
type approval (noun: type-approval (ad<.
ultra-#ide.and
underdeveloped
undersea
under #ay (not under#ay
underestimate
underserved
underutilize
21+SC- (not 2nesco
unidirectional
uplin8
up-to-date (ad<.: up to date (pred.
updated
upgrade: upgrada.le
upload
usa.ility
usa.le
user-"riendly (ad<.: user-"riendliness
value-added (ad<.
vice-c(airman: /ice-C(airman
vice versa (no italics
videocassette
videocon"erence
videotelep(ony
vie#point
vis-^-vis (no italics
voice.and
versus, a..reviated to vs (no "ull stop
#ave"orm
#aveguide
#avelengt(
t(e #e.: t(e WWW
t(e IT2 #e.
#e.cast
#e.page
#e.site
#ee8day
#ee8end
#ell-.eing
#ell-8no#n (ad<.: #ell 8no#n (pred.
#ide.and
#ireless, #ireline
#ord processing (noun: #ord-processing (ad<.
#or8load
#or8 plan
#or8station
WorldTel
#orld#ide
#ort(#(ile
Y-ray
year.oo8
year-long