Always capitalise it.
Words to avoid
Try replacing these words in your writing with these Plain English Campaign approved alternatives.
Here are some commonly used words we don't generally use at Smart, and some suggestions for what to replace them with.
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This is how we refer to the account name a user signs in with.
We use adviser unless writing for a US audience, when it's advisor.
Sentence case.
Sentence case. Not "Annual statement".
We say "Guaranteed income (also know as an annuity)" in the first instance, and "guaranteed income" in all other instances. The exception to this is if we're referring to a specific annuity product – in which case we would say "annuity".
Two words, no hyphen. Enrolment should have two L's (enrollment) if writing for a US audience.
Not BACS. Full name is Bacs Payment Schemes Limited.
As in 'request your pension breakdown’.
Our preferred CTA for cancelling an action.
In running copy or headings use "charges" and avoid "fees". For example, don’t use "Our charges and fees" in a heading when "Our charges" does the job.
The exception is when referencing the specific name of a charge, such as "Monthly flat fee" - a charge applied to Smart Pension Master Trust members.
We say:
“Monthly flat fee – we charge this fee to cover the time spent and technology used in administering your pension. If you no longer contribute to your Smart Pension account and your savings are worth less than £100, we won’t charge this fee.”
For Annual Management Charge, we say:
“Annual Management Charge (AMC) – we charge a small amount as a percentage of your investments each month for managing and investing your pension. Some investments have extra operating costs which we add to the AMC. This total charge is called the Total Expense Ratio (TER).”
Our preferred CTA for continuing an action.
In the first instance on a page or document style as "Coronavirus (COVID-19)" at the beginning of a sentence, or "coronavirus (COVID-19)" in the middle of a sentence. In any further instances, just say "coronavirus".
How we refer to our customer service department ("If you need help, our customer support team is happy to help")
Technical term for a very small pension pot. Translated from Latin the term means "pertaining to minimal things".
Not 'de minimus'. Use sparingly.
Always a small 'r', even if forming part of a name like the Smart De-risking Fund.
Not dependant.
It's a proper noun and needs to be capitalised.
We say "flexible income (income drawdown)" in the first instance, and "flexible income" after this. An exception is when referring to the legal or financial process of drawdown – in this instance, say "drawdown" (for example, "your pension fund is now in drawdown").
For example, "please can I have your email address so I can email you that document" or "I received your email at my email address."
Lower case.
One word, not two.
Should be capitalised as it's a proper noun – it's a service offered by Pay.UK.
Not forename.
Smart Retire's drawdown pot. Sentence case.
Should always be written out in full, not eg or e.g.
Should only be used to refer specifically to investment funds. For a sum of money in a scheme/pot use "pension savings" and not "pension funds".
Only capitalise the word "fund" if it forms part of a proper noun (name). For example, "Your savings are divided up between four funds, including the Smart Sharia Fund and the Smart Future Fund".
Not glidepath, glide-path or Glide Path.
Refers to how a user's savings, when using an investment strategy managed by the pension provider, are moved into different investments the closer the user is to their nominated retirement age. This is often done to reduce risk.
The full definition is in progress. This term is used rarely in client-facing comms. This may change in early 2023.
Remember that glidepath is all one word, not glide path.
Lowercase G. For example, "In a series of indicative votes, the UK government failed to find a consensus on Brexit."
We say "Guaranteed income (also known as an annuity)" in the first instance, and "guaranteed income" in all other instances. The exception to this is if we're referring to a specific annuity product – in which case we would say "annuity".
Capitalised as a proper noun, according to the way that gov.uk uses it.
A pot in Smart Retire where the user can set aside some money to leave to loved ones or a charity when they die. Write it in sentence case.
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".
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.
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.
Not life time allowance or Lifetime Allowance.
Don't use. Use "sign in" instead.
Don't use. Use "sign out" instead.
(as in "please provide your login details) Don't use. Use "account details" 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.
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.
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.
Title case as it's a proper noun.
Not 'okay' or 'ok'.
All one word.
No hyphen.
It's an acronym for Payroll and Pension Data Interface Standard. So not papdis or Papdis.
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.
Not telephone.
Not telephone number.
Not post code.
A pot in Smart Retire where a user can set aside money for emergencies. Write in sentence case.
For example, "re-enter your password".
No hyphen.
SAVA is the name of Smart's virtual assistant.
SAVA uses she/her pronouns.
We always use upper case for her name as it is an acronym for Smart's Avatar Virtual Assistant.
Her name is pronounced the same as the word “saver”.
To refer to money held with Smart. Not "funds". Always use "pension savings" in the first instance. You can refer to them as "your savings" thereafter if appropriate.
Use set up as a verb and setup as a noun. Don't use setup as an adjective.
Not log in.
Not log out.
Use sentence case unless it forms the name of a specific single employer trust. You can follow the first instance with the acronym in brackets – "Single employer trust (SET)" and use the acronym for further instances if you would like.
When talking about the company.
Two words.
Name of Smart Pension's master trust. Capitalise the M and the T.
Two words.
Call to action for the beginning of a process.
Capitalise.
Hyphenated.
We always say "The US". Not "USA", "America", "U.S." or any other variation.
Lower case "t" at the beginning, unless it is at the beginning of a sentence.
The former is a noun and the latter is an adverb. For example: Your up-to-date statement is kept up to date.
All one word, not 'user name'. Some usernames are email addresses, but not all.
One word, no hyphen in the UK and Australia. Hyphenated (well-being) in the US and the rest of the world.
Sentence case, no hyphen, two separate words. For example, "we are selling white label partnerships".
Sentence case. Not a proper noun. No hyphen. For example, "check your wifi connection"
Not capitalised. For example, "If you make a will you can also make sure you don’t pay more Inheritance Tax than you need to".
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Don't use contrary to – use against or despite.
Don't use correct – use put right.
Don't use correspond – use write or email.
Instead of using the term costs the sum of use the term costs instead
Instead of using the term counter use the term against instead
Instead of using the term courteous use the term polite instead
Instead of using the term cumulative use the term added up, added together instead
Instead of using the term currently use the term now (or edit out) instead
Instead of using the term customary use the term usual, normal instead
Instead of using the term deduct use the term take off, take away instead
Instead of using the term deem to be use the term treat as instead
Instead of using the term defer use the term put off, delay instead
Instead of using the term deficiency use the term lack of instead
Instead of using the term delete use the term cross out instead
Instead of using the term demonstrate use the term show, prove instead
Instead of using the term denote use the term show instead
Instead of using the term depict use the term show instead
Instead of using the term designate use the term point out, show, name instead
Instead of using the term desire use the term wish, want instead
Instead of using the term despatch or dispatch use the term send, post instead
Instead of using the term despite the fact that use the term though, although instead
Instead of using the term determine use the term decide, work out, set, end instead
Instead of using the term detrimental use the term harmful, damaging instead
Instead of using the term difficulties use the term problems instead
Instead of using the term diminish use the term lessen, reduce instead
Instead of using the term disburse use the term pay, pay out instead
Instead of using the term discharge use the term carry out instead
Instead of using the term disclose use the term tell, show instead
Instead of using the term disconnect use the term cut off, unplug instead
Instead of using the term discontinue use the term stop, end instead
Instead of using the term discrete use the term separate instead
Instead of using the term discuss use the term talk about instead
Instead of using the term disseminate use the term spread instead
Instead of using the term documentation use the term papers, documents instead
Instead of using the term domiciled in use the term living in instead
Instead of using the term dominant use the term main instead
Instead of using the term due to the fact of use the term because, as instead
Instead of using the term duration use the term time, life instead
Instead of using the term during which time use the term while instead
Instead of using the term dwelling use the term home instead
Instead of using the term economical use the term cheap, good value instead
Instead of using the term eligible use the term allowed, qualified instead
Instead of using the term elucidate use the term explain, make clear instead
Instead of using the term emphasise use the term stress instead
Instead of using the term empower use the term allow, let instead
Instead of using the term enable use the term allow instead
Instead of using the term enclosed use the term inside, with instead
Instead of using the term encounter use the term meet instead
Instead of using the term endeavour use the term try instead
Instead of using the term enquire use the term ask instead
Instead of using the term enquiry use the term question instead
Instead of using the term ensure use the term make sure instead
Instead of using the term entitlement use the term right instead
Instead of using the term envisage use the term expect, imagine instead
Instead of using the term equivalent use the term equal, the same instead
Instead of using the term erroneous use the term wrong instead
Instead of using the term establish use the term show, find out, set up instead
Instead of using the term evaluate use the term test, check instead
Instead of using the term evince use the term show, prove instead
Instead of using the term ex officio use the term because of his or her position instead
Instead of using the term exceptionally use the term only when, in this case instead
Instead of using the term excessive use the term too many, too much instead
Instead of using the term exclude use the term leave out instead
Instead of using the term excluding use the term apart from, except instead
Instead of using the term exclusively use the term only instead
Instead of using the term exempt from use the term free from instead
Instead of using the term expedite use the term hurry, speed up instead
Instead of using the term expeditiously use the term as soon as possible, quickly instead
Instead of using the term expenditure use the term spending instead
Instead of using the term expire use the term run out instead
Instead of using the term extant use the term current, in force instead
Instead of using the term extremity use the term limit instead
Instead of using the term fabricate use the term make, make up instead
Instead of using the term facilitate use the term help, make possible instead
Instead of using the term factor use the term reason instead
Instead of using the term failure to use the term if you do not instead
Instead of using the term finalise use the term end, finish instead
Instead of using the term following use the term after instead
Instead of using the term for the duration of use the term during, while instead
Instead of using the term for the purpose of use the term to, for instead
Instead of using the term for the reason that use the term because instead
Instead of using the term formulate use the term plan, devise instead
Instead of using the term forthwith use the term now, at once instead
Instead of using the term forward use the term send instead
Instead of using the term frequently use the term often instead
Instead of using the term furnish use the term give instead
Instead of using the term further to use the term after, following instead
Instead of using the term furthermore use the term then, also, and instead
Instead of using the term generate use the term produce, give, make instead
Instead of using the term give consideration to use the term consider, think about instead
Instead of using the term grant use the term give instead
Instead of using the term henceforth use the term from now on, from today instead
Instead of using the term hereby use the term now, by this (or edit out) instead
Instead of using the term herein use the term here (or edit out) instead
Instead of using the term hereinafter use the term after this (or edit out) instead
Instead of using the term hereof use the term of this instead
Instead of using the term hereto use the term to this instead
Instead of using the term heretofore use the term until now, previously instead
Instead of using the term hereunder use the term below instead
Instead of using the term herewith use the term with this (or edit out) instead
