1. Formatting
Date
- Yes: 3 January 2024
- No: the 3rd of January, 3rd January, January 3rd
Time
- Yes: 5:00 pm, 6:25 am
- No: 17:00, 5.00 pm, 6.25
Numbers
Decimals are separated by point, thousands, millions etc are separated by comma:
- Yes: 3.45; 10,000.75
- No: 3,45; 10.000,75
Superscript and subscript
- Yes: CO2, m2, km2, 1st, 2nd, 10th
- No: CO2, m2, km2, 1st, 2nd or 10th
Values
If the amount / length / measure is not in units used in Europe (euros, metres, kilograms etc), the corresponding amount should be mentioned in brackets. If it is already measured in European units, there is no need to transform it to something else.
- Yes: 3 million baht (€75,600), entry fee is €10, 30,000 feet (10,000 metres), 18 miles (29 km), 200 pounds (90 kg)
- No: 3 million baht ($82,000), entry fee is €10 (£8.5 / $10.8), 600 km (373 miles), 40 cm (16 inches), 80 kg (176 pounds)
- Exceptions are made for high values in US$: A $3 billion project
- When writing about money, the currency sign should be in front of the amount, or the word after, but not the sign after:
- Yes: €5 or 5 euros
- No: 5€
Hyperlinks
- There should be no hyperlinks to other news outlets
- Exception when there is a quote from an exclusive interview
- Unless an article is part of a partnership, there is no need to add hyperlinks to city DMOs, museums, ticketing websites, etc.
- If an article is based on a report / study / research paper, the link to it should be included.
- Adding hyperlinks if they are not directly related to the information should be avoided. For example: “Dogged by recruitment issues, unfilled posts, delays, near misses, and air traffic control shortages (as well as poor weather), U.S. aviation has spent the year “hiring aggressively”, according to Airlines for America.” The article about how to sleep at the airport is only vaguely related to flight delays, a better option would be this: https://traveltomorrow.com/airport-misery-and-storms-hit-us-independence-day/ But there is no obligation for the author to search for relevant articles we have released in the past, the person who uploads the article on the website / editor will do that.
Names, titles or terms
If they are originally in a different language, they should be written with their respective accents:
- Yes: El Niño, João Lourenço, Yucatán Peninsula
- No: El Nino, Joao Lourenco, Yucatan Peninsula
2. Titles
Should clearly illustrate the topic of the article, be succinct, to the point and not abstract:
- Yes: Brussels’ Porte de Hal to become an interactive museum
- No: Revitalizing Brussels with the project Porte de Hal 2.0. A Renaissance for Heritage and Culture
Should not be identical to other publications
Question and answer structures should be avoided
Any punctuation except commas or question mark at the end, if the title a question, should be avoided – no columns, semi-columns, em dashes etc
- Yes: Empowering Climate Action through Ambition, Implementation, and Inclusivity at COP29
- No: COP29: Empowering Climate Action through Ambition, Implementation, and Inclusivity
3. Writing style
British spelling
Neutral and objective tone, personal opinions should not be evident in the articles, the text should be simply informative, rather than taking a side
Articles that are not part of partnerships should be kept as neutral as possible:
- Avoid terms like “leading”, for example, “leading airline”, “leading company in hydrogen engines”
- Use more quantifiable, fact-based descriptions instead: “biggest European airline by passenger numbers” – a fact, or “company specialising in hydrogen engines”
Formal language, blogging style to be avoided
- No: The official description of The Open, the world’s largest electric foiling yacht, reads like a futuristic dream, one in which luxury plays a key role. But, if you’ve got the means and the willingness to travel in style, you don’t have to wait any longer because the collaboration between BMW and Tyde is now available and ready to conquer the waters.
- Yes: BMW and Tyde have combined forces to create the world’s largest electric hydrofoil yacht. Called the Open, the vehicle promises to combine “a futuristic appearance with a spacious design, ensuring an exceedingly luxurious and utterly comfortable experience for you and your guests.”
- No: A new year traditionally stands for a new beginning and for new goals. 2024 won’t be any different to that regard. And with cruising becoming increasingly popular over the last year, many of us have added a cruise to our must do list for 2024. But which one to take, where to go, what to see? We had a look at some of the major cruising lines and gathered 7 trends that will be determining for the industry over the coming 12 months.
- Yes: Like most other industries, cruising took a big hit during the pandemic, but made a soaring return in 2023. With the regained popularity, industry leaders have high expectations for the year ahead. “It could be our biggest year ever”, said Andy Harmer, managing director at Clia UK & Ireland. With the promise of a prosperous year, what trends will be taking over the industry in 2024?
- No: However, we’ve spoken about a three-night stay and, so far, you’ve only spent one night aboard the train. Indeed, you’re counting right as the final two nights will be spent in the luxury of Hotel Splendidon, a former 16th-century Benedictine monastery overlooking the Gulf of Portofino.
- Yes: After one night on the train, the last two nights of the journey will be spent in the Hotel Splendidon, a former 16th-century Benedictine monastery overlooking the Gulf of Portofino.
Continuity in terms of tenses and persons
- No: After payment, visitors will receive a voucher by mail, which you can then scan upon your arrival.
- Yes: After payment, visitors will receive a voucher by mail, which they can then scan upon arrival.
Quotes
- Avoid starting the sentence by X said “….”, as much as possible, the structure should be “….”, said X
- No: Comments on the fare modification from the WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, John Weatherill, include “With UltraBasic, guests can tailor a travel experience that meets their needs, without paying for additional services they don’t value. We are delivering on our low-fare promise and believe UltraBasic will give more Canadians the opportunity to fly.”
- Yes: “With UltraBasic, guests can tailor a travel experience that meets their needs, without paying for additional services they don’t value. We are delivering on our low-fare promise and believe UltraBasic will give more Canadians the opportunity to fly,” said WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, John Weatherill.
- No: Comments on the fare modification from the WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, John Weatherill, include “With UltraBasic, guests can tailor a travel experience that meets their needs, without paying for additional services they don’t value. We are delivering on our low-fare promise and believe UltraBasic will give more Canadians the opportunity to fly.”
- Quotes should not constitute the majority of the piece; when there are too many, some of them have to be rephrased
- Avoid ending an article with a quote
- The same quote should not be continued in separate paragraphs
- No: Italy’s Civil Protection Department says: “Italy, together with Iceland, has the greatest concentration of active volcanoes in Europe and is one of the first in the world for the number of inhabitants exposed to volcanic risk.
- “Active or potentially active volcanoes are situated in southern Italy with varying degrees of hazard.
- “Follow the civil protection authorities’ instructions transmitted by radio, TV, in the daily press, on the internet and by the various toll-free numbers that will be set up.
- “During eruptions, it is also important not heed the forbidden to enter signs at the areas involved by the eruption. It is dangerous to approach the crater area even if there is no eruptive activity as sudden explosive phenomena or gas emissions are always possible.”
- Yes: “Italy, together with Iceland, has the greatest concentration of active volcanoes in Europe and is one of the first in the world for the number of inhabitants exposed to volcanic risk,” says Italy’s Civil Protection Department. “Active or potentially active volcanoes are situated in southern Italy with varying degrees of hazard. Follow the civil protection authorities’ instructions transmitted by radio, TV, in the daily press, on the internet and by the various toll-free numbers that will be set up.”
- The department further warns that several areas are strictly forbidden from accessing during eruptions. Moreover, nearing the crater is prohibited even when the volcano seems inactive, as sudden explosive phenomena or gas emissions are always possible.
Paragraphs and sections
- Avoid paragraphs that are only 1-2 sentences long, ideally, a paragraph should be at least 3 lines long
- On the other hand, bulky paragraphs should also be avoided
- Sections should not be only 1-2 paragraphs long
- Sections should not be created just for the sake of having sections – having no sections at all is perfectly fine if the information does not really need to be separated
Avoid repetitions
- No: In 2022, Disney announced its first Storyliving By Disney community in Cotino, California. While the construction of that project is underway, the company has now unveiled plans for a second community located in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The project will count around 4.000 residential units and will, of course, include several Disney touches.
- Even though living in the Magic Kingdom might still be an unattainable goal, Disney is certainly doing everything in their power to make it more realistic. In 2022, the company announced the beginning of the Storyliving By Disney project, which would translate into master-planned residential communities combining small-town charm, resort-inspired beauty and Disney touches. The first community was planned to stand in Cotino, California, and thanks to the positive response, Disney has now announced a second location in Pittsboro, North Carolina, called Asteria.
- Yes: Even though living in the Magic Kingdom might still be an unattainable goal, Disney is doing everything in its power to make it more realistic. In 2022, the company announced the beginning of the “Storyliving By Disney” project, which would translate into master-planned residential communities combining small-town charm, resort-inspired beauty and Disney touches.
- The first community is planned for Cotino, California, and, while construction of that project is still underway, thanks to the positive response, Disney has now announced a second location in Pittsboro, North Carolina, called Asteria. The project will count around 4,000 residential units.
Articles that are not extremely time sensitive (about travel warnings or accidents) and can be reshared the following weekend or even at a later date (about new visa rules, openings of hotels, etc) should be kept atemporal.
- No: Citizens of China can now enter Azerbaijan without a visa, the countries’ Prime Ministers announced at a conference yesterday.
- Yes: Citizens of China can now enter Azerbaijan without a visa, the countries’ Prime Ministers announced at a conference on 1 July.
- No: The new hotel, opened last week, has 37 suites and 2 penthouses.
- Yes: The new hotel, opened on 17 June, has 37 suites and 2 penthouses.
Statements like “this report contains upsetting details” are not necessary.