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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Instead of using the term hitherto use the term until now instead
Instead of using the term hold in use the term abeyance wait, postpone instead
Instead of using the term hope and trust use the term hope, trust (but not both) instead
Instead of using the term if and when use the term if, when (but not both) instead
Instead of using the term illustrate use the term show, explain instead
Instead of using the term immediately use the term at once, now instead
Instead of using the term implement use the term carry out, do instead
Instead of using the term imply use the term suggest, hint at instead
Instead of using the term in a number of cases use the term some (or say how many) instead
Instead of using the term in accordance with use the term as under, in line with, because of instead
Instead of using the term in addition (to) use the term and, as well as, also instead
Instead of using the term in advance use the term before instead
Instead of using the term in case of use the term if instead
Instead of using the term in conjunction with use the term and, with instead
Instead of using the term in connection with use the term for, about instead
Instead of using the term in consequence use the term because, as a result instead
Instead of using the term in excess of use the term more than instead
Instead of using the term in lieu of use the term instead of instead
Instead of using the term in order that use the term so that instead
Instead of using the term in receipt of use the term get, have, receive instead
Instead of using the term in relation to use the term about instead
Instead of using the term in respect of use the term about, for instead
Instead of using the term in the absence of use the term without instead
Instead of using the term in the course of use the term while, during instead
Instead of using the term in the event of/that use the term if instead
Instead of using the term in the majority of instances use the term most, mostly instead
Instead of using the term in the near future use the term soon instead
Instead of using the term in the neighbourhood of use the term about, around instead
Instead of using the term in view of the fact that use the term as, because instead
Instead of using the term inappropriate use the term wrong, unsuitable instead
Instead of using the term inception use the term start, beginning instead
Instead of using the term incorporating use the term which includes instead
Instead of using the term incurred use the term have to pay, owe instead
Instead of using the term indicate use the term show, suggest instead
Instead of using the term inform use the term tell instead
Instead of using the term initially use the term at first instead
Instead of using the term initiate use the term begin, start instead
Instead of using the term insert use the term put in instead
Instead of using the term instances use the term cases instead
Instead of using the term intend to use the term will instead
Instead of using the term intimate use the term say, hint 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
Instead of using the term it is known that use the term I/we know that instead
Instead of using the term jeopardise use the term risk, threaten instead
Instead of using the term locality use the term place, area instead
Instead of using the term locate use the term find, put 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
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
Instead of using the term moreover use the term and, also, as well instead
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
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
Instead of using the term on behalf of use the term for instead
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
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
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
Instead of using the term particulars use the term details, facts instead
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
Instead of using the term place use the term put instead
Instead of using the term possess use the term have, own instead
Instead of using the term possessions use the term belongings instead
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
