Voice and tone

A pre-built investment offering available to our members instead of choosing their own funds. You can say "pre-built investment strategy" if you'd like. We never say "model strategy" or "model investment strategy".

Instead of using the term in view of the fact that use the term as, because instead

Instead of using the term irrespective of use the term despite, even if instead

Instead of using the term is in accordance with use the term agrees with, follows instead

Instead of using the term is of the opinion use the term thinks instead

Instead of using the term issue use the term give, send instead

Don't use (it is) compulsory – use (you) must.

Instead of using the term it is known that use the term I/we know that instead

Don't use (it is) mandatory – use (you) must.

Don't use (it is) obligatory – use (you) must.

Instead of using the term jeopardise use the term risk, threaten instead

As per how they refer to themselves. Space before the last name. Not JPMorgan or JP Morgan or J.P.Morgan.

Not surname or second name.

Two words, no hyphen. Use "last name" rather than "surname". Only capitalise if at the beginning of a sentence.

A pot in Smart Retire where a user can leave some money to pay for an annuity. Sentence case.

Avoid unless put in context. For example, "Learn more about the later life pot". If you have to use learn more/find out more anchor text, make sure the link is correctly tagged for screen readers.

Use the phrase "learn more" rather than "find out more" or anything else. "Learn more" should usually be followed by "about...". For example, "Learn more about tax".

Links should be followed by a full stop if they appear at the end of a full sentence, but the full stop should be outside of the link.

If the link appears in isolation, no full stop is necessary.

Legal & General - Investment Management (LGIM) is the part of Legal & General (L&G) that handles Smart Pension's funds.

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As per our guidelines on acronyms, both of these should be referred to by their full name in the first instance, with their acronym in brackets, before you refer to them by acronym.

Not life time allowance or Lifetime Allowance.

Links are used for navigating to a new page or going to an external page or document.

You should use buttons where the action causes a change to a page, for example submitting a form or opening a pop-up or panel on a page.

Use links in body text, but not in titles, summaries or subheadings. Use a full stop after a link if the link ends a sentence. For links that lead a user to a screen where they can start an action, start your link with a verb.

For links that lead to an information page, put the link in context. You can do this by using the title of the destination page. If the page title does not give context, describe where the link goes.

Tell the user if you’re linking to an external website. For example, "Pension Wise has more information on the lifetime allowance”. Generally avoid using generic links like "Click here”. Generic links don’t make sense out of context and don’t tell a user where the link will take them. Remember, one word links can be hard for users with reduced mobility to use.

Links should be followed by a full stop if they appear at the end of a full sentence, but the full stop should be outside of the link.

If the link appears in isolation, no full stop is necessary.

This is an accessibility requirement, meeting Success Criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context), level A.

Instead of using the term locality use the term place, area instead

Instead of using the term locate use the term find, put instead

(as in "please provide your login details) Don't use. Use "account details" instead.

Don't use. Use "sign in" instead.

Don't use. Use "sign out" instead.

Instead of looking to, say have you thought about or would you like to, instead.

Instead of using the term magnitude use the term size instead

Instead of using the term manner use the term way instead

Instead of using the term manufacture use the term make instead

Instead of using the term marginal use the term small, slight instead

Two separate words. In a sentence it is written as "master trust" as it is not a proper noun. Only use capitals if the two words for part of a brand name, for example, the Smart Pension Master Trust.

Instead of using the term material use the term relevant instead

Instead of using the term materialise use the term happen, occur instead

Instead of using the term may in the future use the term may, might, could instead

Instead of using the term merchandise use the term goods instead

Instead of using the term mislay use the term lose instead

Instead of using the term modification use the term change instead

The Money Purchase Annual Allowance is the amount of pension contributions you get tax relief on if you have already started taking an income from a defined contribution pension.
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We write it out in title case in the first instance, followed by the acronym in brackets – "Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA)". Further instances on the same page can be expressed as an acronym only.

Instead of using the term moreover use the term and, also, as well instead

Title case as it's a proper noun.

Instead of using the term negligible use the term very small instead

Instead of using the term nevertheless use the term but, however, even so instead

A nominalisation is where you turn a verb (process, technique, emotion) into an abstract noun.

For example:

• complete (verb) becomes completion (nominalisation ) 
• introduce (verb) becomes introduction (nominalisation)
• provide (verb) becomes provision (nominalisation)
• fail (verb) becomes failure (nominalisation)
• arrange (verb) becomes arrangement (nominalisation)

Like passive verbs, too many of them make writing very dull and heavy-going. Avoid them.

• Instead of
  We had a discussion about the matter
  Say
  We discussed the matter

• Instead of
  There will be a stoppage of trains by drivers
  Say
  Drivers will stop the trains
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• Instead of
  The implementation of the method has been done by a team
  Say
  A team has implemented the method

Instead of using the term notify use the term tell, let us/you know instead

Instead of using the term notwithstanding use the term even if, despite, still, yet instead

Instead of using the term numerous use the term many (or say how many) instead

Instead of using the term objective use the term aim, goal instead

Instead of using the term obtain use the term get, receive instead

Instead of using the term occasioned by use the term caused by, because of instead

Not 'okay' or 'ok'.

Instead of using the term on behalf of use the term for instead

All one word.

Instead of using the term on numerous occasions use the term often instead

Instead of using the term on receipt of use the term when we/you get instead

Instead of using the term on request use the term if you ask instead

Instead of using the term on the grounds that use the term because instead

Instead of using the term on the occasion that use the term when, if instead

Instead of using the term operate use the term work, run instead

Instead of using the term optimum use the term best, ideal instead

Instead of using the term option use the term choice instead

No hyphen.

Instead of using the term ordinarily use the term normally, usually instead

Instead of using the term otherwise use the term or instead

Instead of using the term outstanding use the term unpaid instead

Instead of using the term owing to use the term because of instead

It's an acronym for Payroll and Pension Data Interface Standard. So not papdis or Papdis.

Instead of using the term partially use the term partly instead

Instead of using the term participate use the term join in, take part instead

Sentence case – not Participation Agreement.

Instead of using the term particulars use the term details, facts instead

Avoid the passive voice – it's wordy, difficult to follow, and often alienates us from our reader.

You can easily move most instances into the active voice.

• Passive voice
  The account was closed
• Active voice
  We closed the account
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• Passive voice
  Your complaint will be escalated
• Active voice
  We'll escalate your complaint
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• Passive voice
  This form has been completed
• Active voice
  You've completed the form
  

A good rule of thumb to help you identify passive voice is to add the phrase "by monkeys" to the end of your clause ("Your account will be closed... by monkeys"). If it still makes sense, you're probably writing in the passive voice.

Find more details on the passive voice and how to spot and avoid it on the Smart names page.

Not pass word.

Generally, try to avoid ‘pension pot’. Instead refer to money held with Smart as ‘pension savings’. You can see how to use 'pension savings' in the entry below.

Smart Retire has  ‘pots’.  Someone who joins Smart Retire can split their pension savings between four pots, each designed to meet a different need in retirement. These are called the flexible income pot, later life pot, rainy day pot and inheritance pot.

To refer to money held with Smart. Not "pension funds". Always use "pension savings" in the first instance. You can refer to them as "your savings" from then on if appropriate.

Instead of using the term per annum use the term a year instead

Instead of using the term perform use the term do instead

Instead of using the term permissible use the term allowed instead

Instead of using the term permit use the term let, allow instead

Instead of using the term personnel use the term people, staff instead

Instead of using the term persons use the term people, anyone instead

Instead of using the term peruse use the term read, read carefully, look at instead

Not telephone.

Not telephone number.

Instead of using the term place use the term put instead

Always style with upper case P and S, including in the acronym (as above).

Don't use (please find) enclosed – use we have enclosed.

Instead of using the term possess use the term have, own instead

Instead of using the term possessions use the term belongings instead

Not post code.

Instead of using the term practically use the term almost, nearly instead

Instead of using the term predominant use the term main instead

Instead of using the term prescribe use the term set, fix instead

Instead of using the term preserve use the term keep, protect instead

Instead of using the term previous use the term earlier, before, last instead

Instead of using the term principal use the term main instead

Instead of using the term prior to use the term before instead

Instead of using the term proceed use the term go ahead instead

Instead of using the term procure use the term get, obtain, arrange instead

Instead of using the term profusion of use the term plenty, too many (or say how many) instead

Instead of using the term prohibit use the term ban, stop instead