Southern Voice Editorial Style Guide

2nd edition, August 2022

Contents
Purpose of this guide ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Writing style .................................................................................................................................................. 3
British English spelling ................................................................................................................................. 4
Punctuation .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Commas ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Colons ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Semicolons................................................................................................................................................. 6
Quotation marks ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Punctuation rules for quotation marks ....................................................................................................... 7
Hyphens ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Dashes ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Gender-aware language and style .............................................................................................................. 9
Numbers, percentages, and mathematics ................................................................................................. 10
Capitalisations ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Italics ....................................................................................................................................................... 11
Abbreviations........................................................................................................................................... 12
Currency abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 12
Citations and references............................................................................................................................... 12
Author-date citation system ..................................................................................................................... 12
Three or more authors.............................................................................................................................. 13
Secondary sources ................................................................................................................................... 13
How to deal with missing information .................................................................................................... 13
Reference lists.............................................................................................................................................. 14
Books and chapters .................................................................................................................................. 14
Articles in journals and newspapers ........................................................................................................ 15
Reports, conference contributions, and dissertations .............................................................................. 15
Websites and other electronic sources ..................................................................................................... 17
Interviews ................................................................................................................................................ 18

1
Formatting ................................................................................................................................................... 18
Heading levels ......................................................................................................................................... 18
Tables and figures .................................................................................................................................... 19
Footnotes ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendices .............................................................................................................................................. 20
Southern Voice’s preferred spelling ............................................................................................................ 20
In relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ..................................................................... 22
International organisations ...................................................................................................................... 24
International meetings and initiatives ...................................................................................................... 25

2
Purpose of this guide

This guide offers editorial and style guidelines for Southern Voice’s members and collaborators. Its main
purpose is to provide authors and contributors with an understanding of how to promote clarity and
consistency in their writing. High-quality writing will strengthen Southern Voice’s ability to effectively
communicate its work to increasingly broader audiences. The guide is a living document that is subject to
change to reflect the needs and concerns of Southern Voice’s members and collaborators. If you have any
questions or suggestions, please contact secretariat@southernvoice.org.

This guide was adapted from the CIGI Editorial Style Guide (2017), On Think Tanks Style Guide (2017)
and Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2010) (henceforth referred to as APA
style).

Writing style

Concise writing helps communicate ideas effectively and focus the reader on key messages. Take five basic
rules into consideration:

• Avoid using the passive voice.

Using the passive voice makes writing more distant and less clear. An explanation about when to
use the passive voice and how to avoid it can be found here.

• Reduce the use of the first-person pronouns and the editorial we

Keep in mind that while writing it is important to be precise and avoid generalisations. For more
tips and examples can be found here.

• Keep sentences short.

Writing should vary to include short sentences and longer ones, sticking to one main idea in each
sentence. A readability tool can be useful to monitor and improve writing. Try not to write
sentences longer than 20 words. A grammar checker such as Grammarly can also be useful.

• Lose the padding.

Most sentences can be written in the “who-does-what” order. So, question the use of every word:
is it necessary? Does it add to the idea you’re trying to convey?

• Think of the reader.

Southern Voice’s work aims to reach broad audiences in various countries and regions. Never
assume that the reader will understand an acronym or expression without it being spelled out or
explained upon first mention. Try to avoid local expressions and idioms.

3
British English spelling

Southern Voice uses British English spelling. To avoid confusion between British and American English
spelling, the most important differences are presented below.

Words ending in -re: British English words that end in -re often end in -er in American English.

British American
centre center
fibre fiber
litre liter

Words ending in -our: British English words ending in -our end in -or in American English.

British American
colour color
flavour flavor
labour labor

Words ending in -ise: Some verbs that end in -ise in British English end in -ize in American English.

British American
finalise finalize
organise organize
realise realize

Words ending in -yse: Verbs spelled -yse in British English are always spelled -yze in American English.

British American
analyse analyze
paralyse paralyze

Consult Oxford Dictionaries to identify preferred spellings in case of doubt. To explore further differences,
see the most used terms in British and American English.

Punctuation

Commas

Use an Oxford comma (also known as a serial comma) in a series of three or more items (for example: a
book, pen, and notepad). The Oxford comma can also clarify the meaning of a sentence. For example:

4
 • The people interviewed for this study include representatives of the Ministry of Education, teachers
and underpaid graduates.

Possible meaning without the Oxford comma: The representatives of the Ministry of Education
who were interviewed are teachers and underpaid graduates.

Clear meaning with the Oxford comma: Three groups of people were interviewed for the study—
representatives of the Ministry of Education, teachers, and underpaid graduates.

A comma can introduce in-text quotations. In this case, the quotation starts with a capital letter. Do not use
a comma if a quotation is introduced by that, whether or other similar conjunctions. In these cases, the
quotation starts with a lowercase letter. For example:

• As the president stated, “Policies to redistribute wealth are key to eliminate poverty.”
• Kabeer et al. (2005) argues that “agency can have positive and negative connotations” (p. 234).

When using more than one comma, try to avoid unnecessarily long sentences that can be split into two
separate sentences. Do not use commas when there is a clause containing key information that would alter
the intended meaning of the sentence. Use commas to set off non-essential information in a sentence. For
example:

• The policy, which was approved in 2011, defines important areas of intervention.
• Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, participated in the
conference.

Use a comma to set off the year in exact dates (month, day, year). For example:

• The treaty was signed on January 15, 2018.

However, do not use a comma when only the month and year are indicated. For example:

• The conference took place in January 2018.

Also, do not use commas to separate parts of an expression of time. For example:

• 8 years 2 months or 3 hours 50 minutes

Colons

A colon is useful for introducing an item or series of items in a sentence. If the clause following the colon
is a complete sentence, it begins with a capital letter. If the colon is followed by a list of words or an
incomplete sentence, the first word following the colon should be lowercased unless it is a proper noun.
For example:

5
 • References to leave no one behind appear mostly rhetorical: While 39 out of 43 countries mention
the term in their legislations, only 16 have adopted explicit strategies to put this principle into
action.
• This report focuses on three aspects: leave no one behind, synergies and trade-offs, and global
systemic concerns.

Direct quotes can also be introduced using colons. When doing so, the quote starts with a capital letter.

• As a representative of the Overseas Development Institute noted: “Six countries have achieved the
target of universal access, while 31 countries are on track to do so.”

Semicolons

Use a semicolon to join related independent clauses to indicate the connection between them. For example:

• The participants in the first study were paid; those in the second study were unpaid.

Use a semicolon to separate items in a series that already contains commas, including in the case of a
citation. For example:

• The colour order was red, yellow, blue; and blue, yellow, red.
• (Davis & Hueter, 2006; Pettigrew, 2003)

A semicolon can precede a conjunctive adverb (such as however or therefore) when two independent
clauses are joined.

• The students had been advised against walking alone at night; however, Cathy decided walking
wasn’t dangerous if it was early in the evening.

Quotation marks

Use double quotation marks (“…”) to enclose a direct quotation or introduce the title of a chapter in a book
or an article in a journal. When referring to publications such as books and journals as a whole, use italics.
For example:

• As Becker (2010) argued: “Theory should only be a starting point in the decision-making process”
(p.34).
• The journal article “The impacts of capitalism on modern society” and Khan’s prominent book
Rents, Rent-Seeking and Economic Development have been used as main references in this paper.

Use single quotation marks for often specialist terms that are unique to a subject. Also, single quotation
marks can also highlight that a word is being used somehow peculiarly.

To enclose a quotation within a quotation, use single quotation marks (“…”) to indicate dialogue. For
example:

6
 • Some participants were reluctant to share their memories: ‘These are private experiences, and I
don’t think I should be sharing them with “strangers” in suits’.

Punctuation rules for quotation marks

The following table shows the main punctuation rules that apply when quotation marks are used:

Punctuation In relation to quotation marks Example

mark
Period or comma Placed outside quotation marks Participants described themselves as
“collaborative,” “insightful,” and
“thoughtful”.
Colon Placed outside quotation marks The students indicated they were “excited
to begin”: a dynamic environment was set
up for the workshop.
Semicolon Placed outside quotation marks At the beginning of the study, participants
described their dream recall rate as “low
to moderate”; at the end, they described it
as “moderate to high”.
Parentheses Placed outside quotation marks Spenser (2010) argues that “refugees are
often denied economic and social rights”
(p. 4).
Question mark or Placed inside quotation marks; The questionnaire includes items such as
exclamation point when a quotation ending in a “How much is your weekly budget?” and
(part of quoted question mark or exclamation point “How much are you able to save every
material) ends a sentence, no extra period is month?”
needed
Question mark or Placed outside quotation marks What are the scores of the participants
exclamation point who indicated “I don’t have a job”?
(not part of
quoted material)

Hyphens

Hyphens can be used to connect words and parts of words in various cases.

Hyphens form compound adjectives by connecting two or more words that modify the noun they precede.
For example:

Noun + adjective Adjective + noun Noun + participle Adjective + participle

compound compound compound compound
carbon-neutral cities large-scale mining evidence-driven quick-thinking
policies advocates
tax-exempt bonds last-minute decision problem-solving old-fashioned approach
approach

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 bias-free language middle-income decision-making long-lasting solution
countries process

If a compound adjective is placed after the term it modifies, a hyphen is not necessary. For example:

• Bias-free language is key to create inclusive societies.

Language that is bias free is key to create inclusive societies.

• Evidence-driven policies can help achieve the SDGs.

Policies that are evidence driven can help achieve the SDGs.

Hyphens can be used to connect compounds that have a number as the first element, including fractions
used as adjectives. For example:

• two-way dialogue
• 12-year programme
• two-thirds majority

Hyphens join prefixes to other words. A hyphen should be used if a prefix ends with the same letter that
begins the following word. For example:

• co-owned property
• under-resourced organisation

Other prefixed words that require hyphens include:

• compounds in which the base word is capitalised, such as post-Marxist thinking

• compounds in which the base word in a number, like post-1990
• compounds in which the base word is an abbreviation, like pre-WWII politics
• all self- compounds, such as self-appointed, self-sufficient, and self-made

Regarding suspended hyphens, when there are compound adjectives that have a common base (e.g., short-
term, and medium-term), omit the first repeated word(s) and keep the hyphens to indicate a connection to
the last word. For example:

• short- and medium-term policies

• pre- and post-war negotiations
• 2-, 3-, and 10-minute trials

Do not use hyphens in the following cases:

• Words formed with certain prefixes and suffixes do not have hyphens. Consult Oxford
Dictionaries for preferred spelling and exceptions. For example:

8
 Prefix or suffix Example
bi bipartisan
counter counterargument
equi equidistant
inter intergenerational
gram diagram

• Adverbs ending in -ly (for example: widely, relatively, and randomly) are understood to modify
the word that follows, so adding a hyphen would be redundant and should be avoided.

Dashes

En dashes connect numbers, such as dates, times, and page numbers. They can signify “up to and including.”
Use them without spaces on either side. For example:

• 2008–12
• Luanda–Maputo flight
• Monday–Wednesday

Em dashes help provide additional or explanatory information (such information could also be contained
in parentheses). Use them without spaces on either side.

• Six countries have achieved the target of universal primary education, while 31 countries—
mostly smaller middle-income countries—are on track to do so.

Gender-aware language and style

Avoid using the words man or mankind as generic nouns by replacing them with other words such as people,
humanity, or men and women. Avoid gender bias by using gender-neutral terms when referring to
professions or occupations often associated with men. For example, use the word police officer instead of
policeman.

When referring to a person whose gender is irrelevant or unknown, the APA style recommends several
alternatives:

• Make the sentence plural: “Participants indicated their preferences”.

• Rewrite the sentence to replace a pronoun with an article (a, an, or the): “The participant
indicated a preference”.
• Combine both singular pronouns (he or she, she or he, his or her, her or his). However, avoid
overusing this strategy, as it can become cumbersome upon many repetitions. For example:
“The participant indicated his or her preferences”.

9
Numbers, percentages, and mathematics

Use numerals to represent time, dates, ages, scores, points on a scale, and exact sums of money. Use
numerals for numbers of 10 and above and words to express numbers below 10. This rule applies to all
numbers except for units of time (e.g., seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years). For
example:

• three schools, 12 schools

• 20 days, 5 years

Use a percentage symbol (%) (do not write “percent”) following percentages written as numerals;
otherwise, write the word “percentage” (do not use the word “percent” or “per cent”). For example:

• 33% of the subjects

• What percentage of the population completes primary education?

Avoid decimals in text. When using decimals, round as much as possible while keeping statistical
precision in mind which makes reading easier and our capacity to remember it higher. If decimals are
greater or equal to five, then increase the previous digit by one. If it is four or less, then keep the previous
digit the same. For example:

• 89.92%=90%
• 8.2%=8%

Use decimals when they are indicative or have an important meaning, for example, in the Gini coefficient:

• While the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being calculated, early estimates predicted
an increase in Gini coefficient of 1.2-1.9 percentage points per year for 2020 and 2021, signalling
an increase in income inequality.

Mathematics are often used in the social sciences. Pay attention to mathematical and statistical operations
and properly expressing their results in a clear, consistent manner. APA style suggests the following:

Written-out form Abbreviation/symbol

Singular Plural Singular Plural
degree of freedom degrees of df dfs
freedom
F statistic F statistics F Fs
or F value or F values
mean means M Ms
sample size sample sizes n ns
(subsample) (subsample)

10
 sample size (full sample sizes (full N Ns
sample) sample)
p value p values p ps
r value r values r rs
R2 value R2 values R2 R2s
standard deviation standard SD SDs
deviations
standard error standard errors SE SEs
t value t values t ts
z score z scores z zs
beta betas β βs
chi-square chi-squares χ2 χ2s
delta deltas Δ Δs

Capitalisations

Avoid overusing capital letters. According to APA style “the words are lowercase unless there is specific
guidance to capitalise them”. For example:

• Use “leave no one behind” instead of “Leave No One Behind”.

• "Government " only in capital letters when e.g., "the Government of Uganda"
• Capitalise languages e.g., English, Spanish, German but not for other subjects such as economics,
mathematics, physics, etc.

For more doubts check Southern Voice’s preferred spelling section.

Italics

Use italics for the first use of a key term or phrase accompanied by a definition. For example:

• Artificial Intelligence is defined as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines,
especially intelligent computer programs” (McCarthy, 2004).
Italicise for the following cases:

• Titles of books, reports, webpages, and other stand-alone works

• Anchors of a scale (but not the associated number). For example: ranged from 1 (poor) to 5
(excellent)
• Letters in statistical symbols or algebraic variables
It is unnecessary to use italics to emphasise words, phrases or abbreviations of foreign origin that are
common in English like, a posteriori, a priori, per se, ad lib, etc.

11
Abbreviations

Abbreviations, presented in a set of parentheses (or brackets when an abbreviation is introduced in a

sentence within parentheses) upon first mention, are often used to minimise repetition. Use an abbreviation
when it is known universally, such as UN for United Nations or SDGs for Sustainable Development Goals
and mentioned five or more times. For example:

• We spoke with a representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• Some UN institutions (e.g., the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC]) have been
pivotal to achieve this purpose.

Keep in mind that not all abbreviations need to be spelled out. For example:

• Units of measurement, such as km for kilometres, do not need to be spelled out upon first mention.
• SV uses the metric system.
• Abbreviations that are considered words include FAQ, HIV/AIDS, and IQ.

Currency abbreviations

Find a list below with the most used currencies and preferred abbreviations. Consult with the following
link in case of any other countries’ currencies.

Country/Currency Abbreviation
Euro EUR
Great Britain Pound GBP
India Rupee INR
Japan Yen JPY
Nigeria Naira NGN
Peru Nuevo Sol PEN
US Dollar USD

Citations and references

Southern Voice follows APA style for in-text citations and references. Keep in mind that these guidelines
apply for research papers, but not blogs and op-eds.

Author-date citation system

12
APA style uses the author-date citation system. A citation should include the surname(s) of the author(s)
and year of publication, either both in parentheses or with the surname(s) in running text and the year in
parentheses. For example:

• High-school students were the most affected by bullying (Smith & Cooper, 2012).
• Smith and Cooper (2012) reported that high-school students were the most affected by bullying.

Multiple citations can be included inside the same set of parentheses. In parentheses, citations should be
alphabetised as they would appear in the list of references and separated by semicolons. In running text,
citations can be presented in whichever order.

• (Adams, 2006; Bell, 2004; Carson, 2017)

• Bell (2004), Carson (2017), and Adams (2006)

Note that the only types of citations that do not follow the author-date system are legal references, references
to classical works such as the Bible and Qur’an, and personal communications.

Three or more authors

In the case of three or more authors, citations can be shorted to the first author’s surname followed by “et
al.”:

• Robinson et al. (2017) argued that the clinical trial was successful.

Secondary sources

If you want to cite a secondary source, the original author(s) and date should be stated first, followed by
“as cited in” and then the author(s) and date of the secondary source. For example:

• Smith (1996) as cited in Thomas (2018)

• (Smith, 1996 as cited in Thomas, 2018)

How to deal with missing information

If information, such as an author’s surname or year of publication, is missing, make the following
substitutions:

Missing information Solution Example

Author Substitute the title for the
author’s surname
Date Use “n.d.” for no date
Author and date Combine solutions for author
and date being missing
Title of book or “Title of
article,” year
Author surname(s), n.d.
Title of book or “Title of
article,” n.d.

13
Reference lists

Include a reference list under the heading “References” at the end of a research paper. Only include sources
that are cited. Keep in mind the following basic rules:

• Alphabetise reference list entries by the surname of the first author of each source.
• For multiple entries by the same author, or authors listed in the same order, list entries in
chronological order from earliest to most recent.
• In an entry, spell out the full name of a corporate, NGO, multilateral organisation or group
author and do not include an abbreviation.

Software, such as Zotero or online generator like Scribbr APA Citation Generator, can be used to manage
references and generate citations.

Below are examples of the most common sources for referencing. In case of doubt, especially regarding
electronic sources, consult the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (2020) or the official APA Style Blog.

Books and chapters

Type of source Model for citation Example

Entire book, Author, A., & Author, B.
print version (Year). Title of book: Capital
letter also for subtitle.
Location: Publisher.
Entire book, Author, A., & Author, B.
electronic version (Year). Title of book: Capital
letter also for subtitle.
http://www.xxxx
Edited book, Editor, A., & Editor, B. (Eds.).
no author, print (Year). Title of book. Location:
version Publisher.
Chapter in an Author, A., & Author, B.
edited book, print (Year). Title of chapter. In A.
version Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title
of book (page range).
Location: Publisher.
Chapter in an Author, A., & Author, B.
edited book, (Year). Title of chapter. In A.
electronic version Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title
of book (page range).
http://www.xxxx
Weir, A. (2015). Renewable energy resources. Oxford
University Press.
Turner, D. (2012). Quality in higher education.
https://www.sensepublishers.com/media/819-quality-in-
higher-education.pdf
Loungani, P., & Furceri, D. (Eds.). (2016). Racism,
xenophobia and development. Palgrave Macmillan.
Seigworth, G. J., & Gregg, M. (2010). An inventory of
shimmers. In G. J. Seigworth & M. Gregg (Eds.), The
affect theory reader (pp. 1–28). Duke University Press.
Saurin, J. (1997). Organizing hunger: The global
organization of famines and feasts. In C. Thomas & P.
Wilkin (Eds.), Globalization and the South (pp. 106–
123).
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rCm_DAAAQBAJ

14

Articles in journals and newspapers
Type of source Model for citation
Journal article Author, A., & Author, B.
with a digital (Year). Title of article. Title of
object identifier Journal, volume number (issue
number if available), page
range. DOI as URLs.
Journal article Author, A., & Author, B.
without a digital (Year). Title of article. Title of
object identifier Journal, volume number (issue
number if available).
Magazine article Author, A., & Author, B.
(Year, Month). Title of article.
Name of Magazine, volume (if
available), page range.
Online magazine Author, A., & Author, B.
article (Year, Month). Title of article.
Name of Magazine, volume
number if available.
http://www.xxx
Online newspaper Author, A., & Author, B.
article (Year, Month Day). Title of
article. Name of Newspaper.
http://www.xxx
Reports, conference contributions, and dissertations
Type of source Model for citation
&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=Organizing+hunger:+Th
e+global+organization+of+famines+and+feasts&source
=bl&ots=IrsofW9ZNP&sig=qFiP9969QgTquQXMI4H
XBfjja_o&hl=es&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjD2P7Jw7PeA
hWFCiwKHdbwDJsQ6AEwAHoECAgQAQ#v=onepag
e&q=Organizing%20hunger%3A%20The%20global%2
0organization%20of%20famines%20and%20feasts&f=f
alse
Example
Sexsmith, K., & McMichael, P. (2015). Formulating the
SDGs: Reproducing or reimagining state-centred
development. Globalizations, 12(4), 581–596.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2015.1038096
Thomas, C., & Weber, M. (2004). The politics of global
health governance: Whatever happened to ‘health for all
by the year 2000’? Global Governance, 10(2), 187–205.
Stillman, S. (2018, October). The five-year-old who was
detained at the border and persuaded to sign away her
rights. The New Yorker, 14–16.
Stillman, S. (2018, October). The five-year-old who was
detained at the border and persuaded to sign away her
rights. The New Yorker.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-five-
year-old-who-was-detained-at-the-border-and-
convinced-to-sign-away-her-rights
Mahmud, F. (2018, October 15). Bangladesh editors
protest ‘chilling’ Digital Security Act. Al Jazeera.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/bangladesh-
editors-protest-chilling-digital-security-law-
181015122440417.html
Example
15
Government report, Name of government entity. Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka. (2018). Annual
online (Year). Title of Report Performance Report 2017.
(Report number if available). http://www.moe.gov.lk/english/images/publications/2018
http://www.xxx /apr_e.pdf

Authored report Author, A., & Author, B. German, L., Cotula, L., Gibson, K., Locke, A., Bonanno,
from non- (Year). Title of report (TypeA., & Quan, J. (2018). Land governance and inclusive
governmental of report and number, if business in agriculture: Advancing the debate (State of
organisation, online available). Retrieved from the Debate Report). Retrieved from the Overseas
Name of Organisation’s Development Institute website:
website: http://www.xxx https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-
documents/12452.pdf
Task force report, Corporate Author, Task United Nations Environment Programme, Task Force on
corporate author, Force on Name of Task Climate-related Financial Disclosures. (2017). Final
online Force. (Year). Name of Report: Recommendations of the Task Force on
Report. http://www.xxx Climate-related Financial Disclosures. https://www.fsb-
tcfd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FINAL-TCFD-
Report-062817.pdf
Briefs, policy Corporate Author. (Year, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
briefs, corporate Month). Title of brief (Type Development. (2016, October). Indonesia policy brief:
author, online of brief and number, if Enhancing job quality (Policy Brief, OECD Better
available). http://www.xxx Policies Series). https://www.oecd.org/policy-
briefs/indonesia-enhancing-job-quality.pdf
Paper presentation Presenter, A. (Year, Month). Sainz, R. (2016, November). Expanding renewable
or poster session, Title of paper or poster. energy sources in Nairobi, Kenya: A social
unpublished Paper or poster presented at entrepreneurship approach to providing eco-friendly
the meeting/conference of cooking fuels and curbing deforestation in Kenya. Poster
Organisation name, Location. presented at the “Research to Action on the African
Continent” conference of the University of California,
Davis.
Conference papers Author, A. (Year, Month). Appe, S., & Milanes-Reyes, L. (2015). Raising
Title of conference paper. consciousness: The intersection between cultural NGOs
Paper presented at the Name and sustainable development in the Andean region.
of Conference, Location. Paper presented at the International Conference on
http://www.xxx Sustainable Development, New York. http://ic-
sd.org/wp-
content/uploads/sites/4/2016/06/Appe_Milanes_English
_Columbia_ConferenceV8.pdf

16
 Doctoral or master Author, A., & Author, B.
thesis dissertations, (Year). Title of dissertation
published online (Doctoral dissertation or
master thesis, University).
http://www.xxx
Mallschutzke, C. (2015). Inequality and poverty
reduction: An analysis and comparison of World Bank
projects implementing microcredits and conditional
transfers in Bangladesh (Master thesis, Lund
University).
http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&r
ecordOId=7794026&fileOId=7794027

Websites and other electronic sources

For a passing mention of a website in running text, include the name of the website and a hyperlink as part
of a complete sentence in a footnote. In this case, the website does not require an entry in the reference list.
For example:

• The website “Our World in Data”1 is an excellent source for information about living conditions
around the world.
_________________
1
See: https://ourworldindata.org.

Emails should not be included in the reference list. When necessary, they can be cited in running text. For
example:

• As Carrion notes: “Education has been a priority for the government during the past decade”
(G. Carrion, personal communication, July 15, 2018).

An in-text citation and corresponding entry in the reference list are necessary when citing information from
a website or any other content found online.

Type of source Model for citation Example

Information from Author, A. (Year, Month Day).
a website with an Title of information piece or
author (individual section [Format description].
or institution) http://www.xxx
Information from Organisation or website’s
a website without name. (Year, Month Day).
an author Title of information piece or
section [Format description].
http://www.xxx
Data sets Author, A. or Organisation’s
available online name. (Year). Title of data set
[Data file]. http://www.xxx
Holla, A. (2018, October 17). What The Wire can teach
us about psychometrics [Blog entry].
http://blogs.worldbank.org/education/
Southern Voice. (2018, October 18). Poor education and
precarious jobs in Peru [Blog entry].
http://southernvoice.org/poor-education-and-precarious-
jobs-in-peru/
World Bank. (2016). Poverty headcount ratio at
national poverty lines (% of population) [Data file].
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC?loc
ations=BO&view=chart

17
 Presentation Author, A. (Year). Title of Sachs, J. (2014). The grand challenge of sustainable
slides available presentation [PowerPoint development: Laying foundations for the 21st century
online slides]. http://www.xxx [PowerPoint slides].
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/document
s/10739Prof Sachs ppt.pptx
YouTube video or Author, A. (Year, Month Day). Fernando, K. (2014, February 27). The post 2015
video blog entry Title of video [Video file]. development agenda and energy [Video file].
Video Plataform. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=29&v=
http://www.xxx kK3M3r4Gqjs

Interviews

Interviews conducted by the author that are not published in video or audio format or as transcripts should
not be included in the reference list, especially if the identity of the interviewee needs to be kept private.
When necessary, interviews can be cited in running text. For example:

• The headmaster indicated that the skills which students were acquiring in school are not
suitable for current labour market demands (A. Surname of interviewee, personal
communication, Year, Month Day).

Published interviews or transcripts can be quoted and cited.

Type of source Model for citation Example

Interviews or Interviewer, A. (Interviewer) Stephanopoulos, G. (Interviewer) & Obama, B.
transcripts, & Interviewee, A. (Interviewee). (2015). Obama defends foreign policy
published online (Interviewee). (Year). Title of record [Interview transcript].
interview [Format description]. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/full-interview-
http://www.xxx transcript-president-barack-obama/story?id=35203825

Formatting

When formatting a research paper, use Times New Roman font with 12-point font size and use line spacing
at 1.15.

Heading levels

Three heading levels can be used. Use the heading levels below, starting with bold for level 1 without
skipping levels:

Heading level 1 (bold)

Heading level 2 (italics)
Heading level 3 (roman)

18
Make sure that sections of similar importance have the same heading level and headings are used
consistently. Avoid using all capitals for headings.

Tables and figures

Tables and figures are helpful to efficiently present large amounts of information. Avoid using colours,
shades of black and grey should be used instead. When tables and figures are used, they should be
mentioned in running text and their content should be explained.

Tables must be numbered sequentially (Table 1, Table 2, etc.). Sources must have entries in the reference
list. For example:

Table 1. Global poverty estimates

Historical Headline Projection

Region
1990 1999 2001 2012 2015
East Asia and Pacific 60.6 37.5 8.5 7.2 4.1
Europe and Central Asia 1.9 7.8 2.4 2.1 1.7
Latin America and the Caribbean 17.8 13.9 5.9 5.6 5.6
World 1,958.6 1,7515.5 983.3 896.7 702.1
Note. Adapted from Global Poverty Estimates Report by the World Bank (2016) and Poverty Report by the
International Development Bank (2017).

Figures include graphs, charts, maps, or photographs. Figures must be numbered sequentially (Figure 1,
Figure 2, etc.). Also, figures should include a legend that explains the symbols used in the figure if relevant.
Also, sources must have entries in the reference list. For example:

Figures reproduced directly from another source (same format, no reconfiguration or new analysis) should
be used only with explicit permission from the original author. However, SV discourages the reproduction
of images from another sources. Authors are encouraged to revise and combine data to generate figures of
their own authorship.

Figure 1. Sustainable Development Goals Pyramid

19
Note. Figure taken from Sustainable Development Goals Report by United in Diversity (2017). Copyright
2017.

Footnotes

Use footnotes to present additional information that is relevant for support. Footnotes must be numbered
sequentially. Do not use endnotes.

Appendices

Include an appendix to present complex data or information that is too long to include in the body of a
research paper. Appendices must be numbered sequentially (Appendix 1, Appendix 2, etc.). Tables and
figures must be numbered sequentially in each appendix, which is considered a separate unit (Table A1,
Figure A1, etc.).

Southern Voice’s preferred spelling

The following list presents a list of words and Southern Voice’s preferred spelling. Consult Oxford
Dictionaries to identify preferred spelling in case of doubt.

A
administration (e.g., Obama administration)
anti-corruption
B
bilateral
C
capacity building
COVID-19
cooperation
cross-border
cross-cutting

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D
data (treated as plural)
data set
decision maker (noun)
decision-making (modifier)
E
east, eastern (direction)
East, Eastern (political)
email
F
fiscal year (FY)
G
geopolitics, geopolitical
Global North, Global South
grassroots
global systemic concerns
H
healthcare
high-income developing economies
high-income economies
high-level

I
information and communications technology (ICT)
internet
in-depth
L
lifelong
long-standing
low-income developing economies
lower-middle-income economies
M
macroeconomic
means of implementation (MoI)
microfinance
middle-income developing economies
multidisciplinary
multilateral
multinational
multi-party
N
net enrolment rate
non-governmental organisation (NGO)
nontraditional

21
O
online
official development assistance (ODA)
P
parliament
people with disabilities
policymaker (noun)
policy-making (modifier)
public-private partnerships (PPP)
R
research and development (R&D)
roadmap
roundtable
S
scale up
socio-economic
south, southern (direction)
South (political)
South-south cooperation
Southeast Asia
spillover (noun and modifier)
sub-Saharan Africa
sub-Saharan (adj.)
synergy, synergies
T
trade-offs
U
Upper-middle-income economies
W
Web
webpage
website
well-being
World War I, World War II

In relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2030 Agenda
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
post-2015 development agenda
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 1, SDG 2, etc.

22
sustainable development
Target 1.4
SDG target 2.3

To formally refer to a SDG, use the entire phrase as presented on the Sustainable Development Knowledge
Platform. For example:
• SDG 1: “End poverty in all its forms everywhere”
• The short version can also be used: “SDG 1 (no poverty).”

Abbreviation Formal version Short version

SDG 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere no poverty
End hunger, achieve food security and
SDG 2 improved nutrition, and promote sustainable zero hunger
agriculture
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being good health and
SDG 3
for all at all ages well-being
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
SDG 4 education and promote lifelong learning quality education
opportunities for all
Achieve gender equality and empower all
SDG 5 gender equality
women and girls
Ensure availability and sustainable clean water and
SDG 6
management of water and sanitation for all sanitation
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, affordable and clean
SDG 7
sustainable, and modern energy for all energy
Promote sustained, inclusive, and
sustainable economic growth, full and decent work and
SDG 8
productive employment, and decent work economic growth
for all
Build resilient infrastructure, promote
industry, innovation,
SDG 9 inclusive and sustainable industrialisation,
and infrastructure
and foster innovation
Reduce inequality within and among
SDG 10 reduced inequalities
countries
Make cities and human settlements sustainable cities and
SDG 11
inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities
responsible
Ensure sustainable consumption and
SDG 12 consumption and
production patterns
production
Take urgent action to combat climate change
SDG 13 climate action
and its impacts
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans,
SDG 14 seas, and marine resources for sustainable life below water
development
Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use
of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
SDG 15 manage forests, combat desertification and life on land
halt and reverse land degradation, and halt
biodiversity loss

23
 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
sustainable development, provide access to
peace, justice, and
SDG 16 justice for all, and build effective,
strong institutions
accountable and inclusive institutions at all
levels
Strengthen the means of implementation and
partnerships for the
SDG 17 revitalise the Global Partnership for
goals
Sustainable Development

International organisations

Please note that when it comes to names, it is important to stick to the spelling that the organisation
provides, independently of whether it is in American or British English.

A complete list of officially recognised abbreviations and acronyms used in United Nations documents in
English should be consulted in case of doubt.

A
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
C
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
E
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
I
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
U
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations General Assembly
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
United Nations University (UNU)
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

24
International meetings and initiatives

D
Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All
G
Global Action Programme
G5, G7, G20

G20 summit (not capitalised when it is not specific; but St. Petersburg G20 Summit)
H
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative
I
International Conference on Financing for Development
J
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
T
Think 20
U
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit)
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
United Nations Sustainable Development Summit

25
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