We avoid using contractions on the website. For example:

We use hyphens when 2 or more adjectives are used before a noun, such as ‘social-inclusion policy’. They make sentences easier to understand and words easier to read. For example:

• co-operate
• co-ordinator
• by-election

As they become commonly used, words tend to lose their hyphen:

• email
• wellbeing
• safeguarding
• helpdesk
• antisocial

We use apostrophes for possession. For example:

• consultation on Cardiff's parks, or
• children's care services

We do not use apostrophes for abbreviations. For example:

• PDFs, or
• MPs.

We always use the word ‘and’ unless the ampersand is part of a recognised name or title, such as Holland & Barrett.

We use ‘they’ and ‘their’ as gender-neutral pronouns.

We do not use ‘he or she’ and ‘his or her.’

When referring to the council on our corporate and service area sites, we use the first-person plural ‘we’ and ‘our’ for user-friendliness. We also use the term “you” for the user.

As a noun, use “the council”, but “council” as an adjective. For example:

“The council made the decision.”

“It was a council decision.”