STYLE GUIDE · 2017. 9. 12. · For possessives: • Add ’s for singular possessive nouns (the...

United Nations Office for the Coordination

of Humanitarian Affairs

STYLE GUIDE

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Edition No. 2 / July 2010

Contents

Introduction 1

General writing guidelines 2

section 1: Grammar 3

section 2: Punctuation 6

section 3: Style 12

section 4: Numbers 22

section 5: Temperatures and Measurements 25

section 6: Commonly Misused Words and Phrases 26

section 7: Avoiding Unnecessary Words 31

section 8: Spelling List 33

section 9: Glossary 38

Annexes

I. Frequently Used Humanitarian Acronyms 40

II. Footnotes and Bibliographies 44

III. Useful resources 48

For questions or feedback on the OCHA Style Guide, please e-mail the OCHA Reporting Unit at: [email protected]

Style Guide | 1

IntroduCtIon

As a global organization, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) faces many challenges in presenting a uniform identity in its information products. Some inconsistencies are due to the diverse personnel and practices within OCHA around the world. Projecting a consistent message demands a consistent style. This second edition of the OCHA Style Guide is designed to help and encourage OCHA staff members to develop that consistency.

Every organization has its individual stylistic differences, from The Economist, to the BBC to The New York Times. This guide is a quick reference for preferred United Nations style, as well as a reference for English usage. The guide is not intended to impose limits on writers, but to help them produce work that meets professional standards, with a focus on needs for humanitarian reporting.

In a working environment where the demand for information is constant, it is each staff member’s responsibility to ensure the quality of his/her work. The quality and consistency of every communication reflects directly on the reputation of OCHA as a whole.

This is not a comprehensive manual. The definitive authority on language, style, usage and rules is the United Nations Editorial Manual (http://69.94.137.26/editorialcontrol/index.htm), in conjunction with the Concise Oxford Dictionary, eleventh edition. Any issue not resolved in the OCHA Style Guide should be researched in those sources.

This second edition is divided into new chapters and includes updated guidance on grammatical and stylistic issues that often cause confusion. It includes rules on grammar, punctuation, spelling, terminology and usage, as well as advice on how to shorten certain phrases often used in reporting.

To complement the Style Guide, the OCHA Reporting Unit has produced a series of relevant training modules that are now available on OCHAnet (see Annex III on page 48 for more details). The French version of the OCHA Style Guide is also now available on OCHAnet.

For more comments, suggestions or enquiries on specific issues, or for editorial support, contact the OCHA Reporting Unit at: [email protected].

2 | united nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Style Guide | 3

GenerAl wrItInG GuIdelInes

Written communications can take many forms in the work of OCHA, from high-level reports to official announcements. Some basic considerations will help make your writing more engaging and effective.

think before draftingWhy am I writing?What is the subject?Who is the audience? Being able to answer these questions is critical. If any are unclear, try brainstorming on your own or with colleagues to define an approach. When you have identified your objectives, it may help to sketch an outline, especially if you have a complex subject or extensive material. If there is a template and/or a good prior example to follow, use it. Check the templates on OCHAnet under the Reporting Resources section.

Aim for clarityKeep sentences short and simple. Use coherent paragraphs to provide structure. Give each paragraph a topic sentence. Consider various methods for structuring your paragraphs, such as by theme, chronology, comparing and contrasting, or by cause and effect.

seven rules for simplicity1. State a fact or an idea directly. 2. Use concrete rather than abstract words. 3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs. 4. Use the active voice rather than the passive voice (see page 4). 5. Avoid wordy sentences. 6. Use appropriate language. 7. Use verbs that are dynamic and action oriented.

ProofreadBefore you submit your work, read it again carefully for any errors in language or logic. Do not rely on the computer’s spell check to catch every mistake. For example, it will not notice Untied Nations.

Practice makes perfectThe OCHA Reporting Unit has developed online training modules to help OCHA staff members improve their written communications. The United Nations Editorial Manual Online also contains a series of online writing courses. See Annex III on page 48 for the links.

seCtIon 1GrAmmAr

Collective/Group nounsWhen using none or percentages, use a plural verb if the noun is a collective/group noun, such as beneficiaries or households.

Examples:none• of the beneficiaries have received information. Twenty per cent of • households have been affected by floods.Karang is one of the few villages in the region that are • (not is) accessible.

see also: Singular nouns

dangling/Hanging Participle If the first part of a sentence does not refer to the noun that is the subject in the main part of the sentence, it is a dangling or hanging participle. For example:

After being trapped in the rubble for nine days, the USG met the earthquake survivors.

After being trapped in the rubble for nine days refers to the earthquake survivors. However, the subject of the main part of the sentence is the USG. To avoid confusion, this can be reworded as:

After being trapped in the rubble for nine days, the earthquake survivors met the USG.orThe USG met the earthquake survivors who had been trapped in the rubble for nine days.


Passive vs. ActiveBe direct and concise. Wherever possible, use the active voice (A approached B). This is more direct and concise than the passive voice (B was approached by A).

Examples: Active: WFP delivered food to 800 refugees. •Passive: Food was delivered to 800 refugees by WFP.•

Use the passive voice to emphasize or prioritize. The example below is written in the passive so that the emphasis is on the staff members who lost their lives:

Example: Five staff members were killed by members of the Taliban.•

reported speechUse indirect speech to report something that was said or written, rather than the exact words. Quotation marks are not required. When using indirect speech, use a verb in the past tense to indicate who delivered the information (He said/She stated/They confirmed). A corresponding change must then be made in verb tense in the statement being reported.

Examples:Direct:• The OCHA annual report is being launched today.Indirect:• He announced that the OCHA annual report was being launched that day.

Direct:• IDPs are in desperate need of clean water.Indirect:• The Secretary-General stated that IDPs were in desperate need of clean water.

When reporting on statements that are universally true, keep the statement in its original tense:

The speaker noted that, under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has [not had] the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Point to note: Reported speech is used for documents including summary records, reports at the Secretary-General level, and the OCHA “Note for the File”.

singular nounsWhen referring to a team, a Government, an organization or a country, use the singular verb.

Examples:The team is arriving next week.•The Government has issued a statement.•The United Nations is an international organization.•The Philippines has asked for international assistance.•

The noun number is singular if it follows the definite article the.

Example: The number of those attending is• estimated at 400.

Split InfinitivesThis is a common example of a split infinitive: To boldly go where no man has gone before. The infinitive is to go. It has been split by the adverb boldly. Use split infinitives only if needed for emphasis or readability. For example: They were advised to regularly check their e-mail reads clearer than They were advised to check regularly their e-mail.


section 2 PUnctUAtion

Apostrophe For possessives:

Add • ’s for singular possessive nouns (the organization’s policy)Add • ’s for plural possessives not ending in s (children’s rights)Add • ’ for plural possessive nouns ending in s (aid workers’ security; farmers’ concerns; refugees’ rations)For singular possessive words and names ending in • s, use -s’s (John Holmes’s speech was prepared using information from Charles’s report. The IRIN story included one witness’s account of the conflict.)

Remember: ‘s never indicates plural:Correct: Several NGOs attended the meeting.Incorrect: Several NGO’s attended the meeting.

If something belongs to more than one NGO (plural possessive): The NGOs’ decision was explained in the report.

If something belongs to one NGO (singular possessive): The NGO’s decision was explained in the report.

For timelines, where the time period modifies a noun:One month’s supply (singular)• Two weeks’ leave (plural)• Six months’ imprisonment•

For contractions:Avoid contractions unless in quoted material. If you must use them, remember:

it’s = it is (it’s a natural disaster)• its = belongs to it (the organization changed its policy)•

see also: Section 3 - United Nations

Brackets/ParenthesesUse parentheses (round brackets) for explanatory or side remarks in unquoted text. Place the punctuation outside the parentheses. If the entire sentence is inside the parentheses, then place the punctuation inside.

Examples:The city’s evacuation centres are currently hosting 216,941 • people (45,129 families).Clashes between tribal groups have created new • displacement. (See the map on page 6 for details of the affected areas.)

Use square brackets in quoted material, usually to explain or specify unclear or implied information.

Example: “We are hopeful that [the village leaders] will join the • discussions,” said the Minister.

Colon The colon indicates that what follows is an elaboration or explanation. It can be used to introduce a list, an example or a text table. Never place a dash after a colon.

Example:Do not wait for the perfect expertise: create assessment • teams with staff available on the ground.

The word following the colon only starts with a capital letter if it is direct speech, a proper noun or an acronym.

When using a colon, do not separate the verb from the object.Correct: Three organizations attended the meeting: Oxfam, WFP and OCHA.Incorrect: The three organizations at the meeting were: Oxfam, WFP and OCHA.


Comma When writing a list, do not place a comma before the final and unless one of the items includes another and.

Examples: Governments, donors and aid agencies.• But• : Governments, donors, aid agencies, and water and sanitation experts.

Use a comma to separate explanatory information.

Example: Security in Gardez, the provincial capital, has deteriorated. • (In this example, the provincial capital is explanatory information.)

Use a comma after the name of a location and its respective country.

Example: The Humanitarian Affairs Officer was deployed to Abéché, • Chad, for six months.

Use a comma between two independent parts of a sentence (clauses) that are linked by a conjunction (for, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Example: Security has improved, but access remains limited. •

Use a comma to set off an introductory phrase.

Example:According to WHO, three mobile clinics were damaged. •

Do not link two complete sentences with a comma (comma splice). In this case, use a semicolon.

Example: There is little food available; starvation threatens thousands. •

see also: Section 3 - Semicolons; Names

dashUse the em dash (long dash) to set off a phrase or interjection — like this — within a sentence. Use sparingly and never more than one pair per sentence.

The en dash (short dash) is only used in the following cases:

In a table of contents to indicate a range of paragraph numbers, e.g. 1-12 To replace hyphens in a sub-list of a bulleted list. For example:

• Clusters - Education - Logistics

In cases where the en dash would normally be indicated, such “a United Nations/European Union initiative”, use the slash.

Use the en dash if it is part of an official title, such as “African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur”.

To find the em dash and en dash in Microsoft Word, go to Insert, click Symbol then click Special Characters.

ellipsisIf words are omitted within a quotation, replace with ellipsis (…).

Example: “This is a major emergency … and the people affected need immediate help,” he said.

Full stop (Period)Use full stops to help shorten sentences. Do not use full stops in acronyms, or at the end of headings and subheadings.

see also: Section 3 - Acronyms; Bullet Points


Hyphen Hyphens bind words. Use hyphens when a compound (two or more words in a phrase) is used as an adjective before a noun. Hyphenate a compound modifier if one part of the compound is an adjective or gerund (ending in ing).

Examples:Food-insecure population (but: the population is food • insecure)Income-generating activities (but: the activities are income • generating)

Hyphenate compound adjectives to avoid ambiguity. Compare these sentences:

He bought a little used car.(Meaning: the car was small and had been used before.)

He bought a little-used car.(Meaning: the car has rarely been used.)

A cross section of the IDP camp (Meaning: A particular section of the IDP camp that is unhappy.)

A cross-section of the IDP camp (Meaning: A representative group of the IDP camp.)

Never use a hyphen after an adverb ending in -ly. (An adverb explains how, when or where.)

Examples: This is a firmly established• rule. They crossed an internationally recognized State border.• UNDP rebuilt badly damaged roads.•

Common words and phrases that are hyphenated:Best-case scenarioCapacity-building Child-headed householdChild-friendly programmeConflict-affected region/people Cyclone-affected region/peopleDecision-making Drought-affected areas

Five-year planFood-insecure populationFund-raising Gender-based violenceIncome-generating programmeLong-standing agreementLong-term planMid-year; mid-OctoberShort-term planSudden-onset disasterWorst-case scenario

see also: Section 4 – Numbers; Section 8 - Spelling List

semicolon Use the semicolon where there is no conjunction, such as and or but, and where a comma would be ungrammatical. It can be used to separate two related sentences:

Example:Roads in the north-east are flooded; delivery convoys cannot •pass.

To avoid confusion in a list that contains several commas, use a semicolon in place of commas.

Examples: The Flash Appeal was launched by the Secretary-General, • Ban Ki-moon; the UN Special Envoy for Haiti, Bill Clinton; the Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes; and Ambassador Leo Mérorès of Haiti.

Earthquakes could hit Karachi, Pakistan; Kathmandu, Nepal; • and Lima, Peru.


section 3 style

Armed Forces Use upper-case for the full official name of a specific force. Use lower-case when used generically.

Examples: The Rwandan army, the Rwandan Patriotic Army; the Air •Force of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean air force.

Abbreviations and Acronyms Always explain*. In running text, use the full name on first mention and then follow it with the acronym, abbreviation or short name in parentheses. However, if the name is not repeated in the text, do not follow it with the acronym. In a table or limited space, abbreviation or shortened form is acceptable.

Do not use full stops/periods within acronyms (• UNDP not U.N.D.P). Do not use abbreviations in titles or headings. • Do not use • the as part of an organization’s name in acronyms (WFP not the WFP). (Annex I of this guide contains a list of common acronyms and abbreviations.)When deciding whether to use • a or an with abbreviations, be guided by pronunciation (an MSF programme).

*Always explain acronyms in formal documents. For internal reporting and informal documents, explain acronyms if there is a lack of clarity around the acronym or if it is not widely used.

Accents Always respect the use of accents and special characters in the names of people and organizations.

Example: Médecins Sans Frontières is conducting assessments in •Petit-Goâve, Haiti.

Tip: To find accents and special characters in Microsoft Word, go to Insert then click Symbol.

Ban Ki-moonAlways hyphenate the final two words and use a lower-case m.

see also: Job Titles

Bullet PointsWhen items introduced by bullet points are short (equivalent to a list), no punctuation follows the items. If the items consist of whole sentences, use a full stop after each item. Do not use semicolons with bullet points.

see also: Formatting

Capitalization In running text, only use initial capitals for proper names; official titles of people; organizations and institutions; names of states; and for specific terms such as Member States.

For titles of books, periodicals and United Nations publications, capitalize all words except articles, conjunctions and prepositions, such as and, of, the, with, to.

For titles of United Nations documents, capitalize only the first word, proper nouns and other words normally capitalized for headings of chapters, sections, subsections, figures, map legends, and titles of articles and unpublished papers.

Capitalization guidelines can be found in the United Nations Editorial Manual Online at: http://69.94.137.26/editorialcontrol/ed-guidelines/style/capitalization.htm

see also: Armed Forces; Geographic References; Headings; Job Titles.


Country namesIn official correspondence, use the full country name on first reference (e.g. the United Republic of Tanzania). Use the short form thereafter (Tanzania).

Use short form or abbreviation in informal correspondence or if space is limited, e.g. DPRK, DRC, oPt. Always spell out abbreviations on first mention.

UK and US may be used as adjectives (e.g. a UK agreement).

If citing several countries in running text, list them in alphabetical order.

Country names are listed in the United Nations Multilingual Terminology Database at: http://unterm.un.org.

CurrencyThe US dollar is the currency of reference. On first mention of the currency, write US$. Thereafter use $. Do not insert a space between the symbol and the number.

In headlines, use $ (not US$). For keyboards without the $ symbol, write USD.

When referring to another currency, give the US-dollar equivalent in parentheses.

Example: An appeal for US$33 million was launched on 1 November. •To date, $10 million has been donated to the appeal. The Australian Government donated A$1 million ($925,000).

When writing the name of a currency in full, do not capitalize (e.g. Colombian peso, Egyptian pound, Swiss franc).

Dollar amounts take the singular verb:More than US$50,000• has been pledged.

Dollars as a noun take the plural verb:

Not enough dollars• are being allocated to help victims.

dates Dates are written as the day followed by the month and year. No commas are needed. Do not use ordinal suffixes, e.g. 1st, 15th, 22nd.

Example: Stevie Wonder became a United Nations Messenger of •Peace on 3 December 2009.

In tables or limited spaces, use the numeric form: 03.12.09.

When expressing a range of dates, choose from the following: From... to...• Between... and...• On... and...• A hyphen (only in a table)•

Do not mix the above, e.g. do not use from with and, or between with a hyphen.

Give specific dates where possible. Avoid vague expressions such as last week or next Tuesday.

Avoid using weekend, as certain countries have different weekends

Font Times New Roman 12 point and Arial 11 point are the preferred fonts for OCHA correspondence. For additional guidelines, refer to the relevant document template.

Foreign wordsUse italics for foreign words that do not appear in the eleventh edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Do not use italics for organizations with non-English names, e.g., Médecins Sans Frontières.


Formatting In running text, justify paragraphs, use Normal style with single spacing, separated by one line. Use one space between the full stop and the following sentence. Never use double spacing. Avoid widows (very short lines at the end of a paragraph) and orphans (very short lines at the top of a page or column).

see also: Bullet Points

Geographic referencesCapitalize when referring to an official place name or a major geographical region. Use lower-case for geographical direction or as a general reference to an area within a country. Hyphenate compound words.

Examples:The Government of Southern Sudan; the north-west of the •country; south-eastern Afghanistan; North-South dialogue; the Middle East; The Hague; Somalia; South-East Asia; Western Europe; East Africa; southern Lebanon.

GovernmentUse upper-case when referring to the ruling entity of a country. Use lower-case for the general concept of government, or when referring to more than one government.

Examples: The group leaders have agreed to talks with the •Government. The governments of Fiji and Tonga opposed the resolution.•

Headings In document headings, only use initial capitals for the first word and proper nouns, such as the names of places, organizations and specific people. Exception: All words in OCHA press release headings are in capitals.

For specific formatting guidelines, refer to the relevant document template.

see also: Capitalization.

Italics Use italics for the following:

Foreign words that do not appear in• Oxford.Titles of books, periodicals, newspapers, films, television and • radio programmes.Titles of official United Nations publications.• Titles of court cases and foreign-language laws and decrees.•

Do not use italics for emphasis.Do not use italics for non-English organization names. The titles of articles or documents are given between quotation marks.

–ize, –ization, –yseUse –ize and –ization, not –ise and –isation, as indicated in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Examples: organize; memorize.

Exceptions: advertise, advise, apprise, chastise, circumcise, comprise, compromise, demise, despise, devise, enterprise, excise, exercise, franchise, improvise, incise, premise, revise, supervise, surmise, surprise, televise

Use –yse, not –yze. Examples: analyse; catalyse; paralyse.

see also: Spelling.

Job titlesUse initial capitals for the titles of specific posts. Use lower-case for non-specific posts.

Examples: The OCHA Public Information Officer organized the workshop •in Juba. She invited the public information officers from several humanitarian organizations.The Minister of Finance of Japan chaired the meeting of •finance ministers.

remember: Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General (always • hyphenate)Assistant Secretary-General (only hyphenate the last two • words)Special Representative of the Secretary-General (only • hyphenate the last two words)


multi–Compound forms are closed (no hyphen). Exceptions: multi-access; multi-bilateral; multi-cause; multi-centred; multi-client; multi-country; multi-donor; multi-ethnic; multi-faith; multi-hazard; multi-purpose; multi-skilled; multi-stakeholder; multi-storey; multi-user; multi-utility; multi-year.

see also: Prefixes

namesUse first and last name on first reference, without honorific. For subsequent mentions of the name, use the honorific Mr., Mrs. or Ms. and the last name. For children, use first name alone after full mention. Use Dr. for medical doctor only.

see also: Ban Ki-moon

names of locationsWhen referencing official place names, always ensure accurate and consistent spelling throughout the document. Ensure the names conform to United Nations standards. Check the United Nations Multilingual Terminology Database (UNTERM) or official maps.

Official CorrespondenceFor official OCHA correspondence, please refer to the OCHA Correspondence Manual. It is the official guide for drafting, processing and dispatching official OCHA communications in English. The manual is located on OCHAnet under the Community Content section.

PrefixesCertain prefixes may or may not be hyphenated, e.g. coexist; co-payment; multilingual; multi-access; subcommittee; sub-group. Refer to the spelling section of the United Nations Editorial Manual Online.

Per centsee: Section 4 – Numbers

Quotations Use double quotation marks for quoted (verbatim) words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs. For a quotation within a quotation, use single marks. Place the punctuation outside the quotation marks. If the punctuation pertains to the quoted words, as in a complete sentence or question, place the punctuation inside the quotation marks.

Examples: The Government has accused the NGO of “espionage and •subterfuge”. The President said: “We will not countenance this •behaviour.”

Use double quotation marks for a word or phrase used in reference to its own meaning.

Example: The use of the term “genocide” remains contentious. •

Note: United Nations style for quotations combines UK and US standards, using double quotation marks first (US), but with UK punctuation style.

spelling United Nations spelling generally follows the UK standard of spelling as given in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, eleventh edition. Ending forms follow UK (rather than US) convention: –re (centre, theatre); –our (colour, neighbour, favour); double l (travelled, cancelled).

Spell organization names exactly as official name. Example: Center for Disaster Recovery

Tip: Set your computer to English UK spelling. Click: Tools/Language/Set Language: English U.K.

see also: –ize


seasonsUse with care, as seasons relate to different months of the year in the northern and southern hemispheres. Write the name of the month(s) to clarify. Winter, spring, summer and autumn are generally not capitalized.

Provide a time context where appropriate for regional or local seasonal designations (e.g. dry season, monsoon season, deyr).

see also: Weather

timeDo not use o’clock. Use a.m. or p.m. (lower-case). Insert a space between the numeral(s) and a.m./p.m.

Example: They met at 8.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. •

Do not use 12 a.m. or 12 p.m., as they are easily misunderstood. Use midnight or noon.

Where appropriate, the 24-hour system may be used. Use four figures, no punctuation, with hours following (e.g. 1330 hours is 1.30 p.m.).

When referring to time in a document such as a situation report, always clarify if the time is local time.

Time zone details can be found at: http://www.timeanddate.com/library/abbreviations/timezones/

united nationsDo not use an apostrophe when referring to the United Nations in the possessive.

Example: United Nations Headquarters; United Nations policy; United Nations statement.

see also: Apostrophe

weatherWhen referring to typhoons and hurricanes, only use upper-case T and H when referring to the name of a specific typhoon or hurricane.

Example: Typhoon Joe is the strongest typhoon to hit the region so far •this year.

The correct terminology for weather patterns depends on the location:

Hurricane: North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean

typhoon: North-West Pacific Ocean through the Philippines, China, Vietnam and Japan

Cyclone: Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean (southern hemisphere)

Use italics for the name of seasonal designations in a foreign language, such as deyr.

working groupsIf referring to a specific working group, use upper-case W and G. Otherwise use lower-case.

Example:The Climate Change Working Group was the most heavily •attended working group.


section 4 nUmbers*

Spell out one to nine in running text. Use numerals for 10 and •above, up to 999,999. Exception: if a sentence lists two or more numbers to which different rules apply, the rule applying to the higher number applies to all. Example: Representatives from 12 African, 8 Asian and 5 Latin American countries attended the meeting.

Use numerals for ages, dates, decimals, degrees, page •references, percentages and measurements

(8kg; 7 per cent; 6 years old; 0.5° C).

Write the number as a numeral for millions, billions and trillions •(16 billion; 1.2 million).

Use a comma, not a full stop, to denote thousands and millions •(1,234; 3,430,500).

Do not start a sentence with a figure: spell it out. Hyphenate the •number if it consists of two words. Exception: a sentence can start with a year written as a figure.

Express ranges of numbers in full, i.e. • $2million to $3million not $2 to $3 million, as this could be taken literally.

If the unit of measure is written out or abbreviated, only use it •after the second figure. Example: Current supplies will last 12-16 months (not 12 months-16 months).

Do not abbreviate • number with the # symbol. Use No. (e.g. in tables and sitreps).

Do not insert numerals in parentheses after numbers written in •words, e.g. two (2).

see also: Section 6 – Among/Between

* For more guidance and training on numbers, see the OCHA Numbers training module at: http://ochanet.unocha.org/AS/Reporting/Pages/TrainingModules.aspx

AgesUse numerals for ages. Only hyphenate the age when it modifies a noun.

Examples:A 98-year-old man was rescued from the rubble.•The man rescued from the rubble is 98 years old.•

Tetanus vaccines are available for 7-year-old children.•Tetanus vaccines are available for children who are 7 years •old.

Exception: When referring to the under-five mortality rate, the age is expressed as a hyphenated word when used as a modifier. In other cases, it is expressed as under age 5.

Example: The under-five mortality rate has declined.•But• : Mortality rates have declined for children under age 5.

Fractions Spell out simple fractions. Use percentage (or decimal) for complex figures. Do not use figures with a slash or stroke (2/3 of the population). Instead, write out the fraction in words (two thirds of the population).

Fractions expressed in words are only hyphenated when used as an adjective.

Example: One third of the total•

But:A one-third share•

numbers as compound wordsHyphenate compound words that involve a number.

Examples:A two-week ration; a three-week mission; a 35-passenger •plane.


ordinal numbers Ordinal numbers from first to ninety-ninth are expressed in words for most ordinary purposes. Write ordinals in figures to indicate:

Meeting numbers (• 2nd meeting; 3rd meeting) Floors: (• 4th floor; 38th floor)

Per centWrite as two words. Write the numbers as figures before per cent. This includes one to nine.

Example: More than 5 per cent of the population was affected.

Only use the % symbol in tables or limited spaces, not in running text. In tables, use a figure with no space between the figure and the % symbol.

see also: Section 6 – Among/Between

section 5 temPerAtUres And meAsUrements

KilometreSpell the word kilometres in full when a specific number is not used, i.e. The water supply is several kilometres away.

As a specific unit of measure, abbreviate the word to km when used with figures (including one to nine). Insert a space between the figure and km.

Example:The camp is 12 km from the border. The fence is 3 m tall. •

metre

A metre is a length of measure. A meter is an instrument for measuring.

temperature Use Celsius, always with numerals (including one to nine). Use the degree symbol with the C, with a space between (38° C).

The Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion formula is: C = (F minus 32) / 1.8An online temperature conversion is at: http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm

ton Not tonne. In standard United Nations terminology, ton denotes metric tons (MT = 1,000kg, 2,204lbs), not short tons (2,000lbs) or long tons (2,240lbs). Spell out ton.


section 6commonly misUsed Words And PHrAses

Acute/ChronicAcute means short but severe.Chronic means ongoing or constantly recurring.

AdvocateAdvocate means to support, recommend, or speak in favour of a person or an action. A person or organization advocates something. The words for or against are not used after advocate in this sense.

Examples: OCHA advocates humanitarian reform. The Economist advocated a surge of troops to Afghanistan.

A person or organization can advocate for someone, meaning on behalf of.

Examples: The Secretary-General advocated for people trapped in closed camps. UNICEF advocates for children.

A person or organization can be an advocate of something, meaning in favour of.

Examples: Dr. Martin Luther King was an advocate of human rights. President Obama is an advocate of change.

A lotAlways written as two words, not one.

Among/AmongstBoth are grammatically correct and have the same meaning. It is more common to use among in everyday writing.

Affect/effectaffect (verb): to influence, often with negative implication. The fighting will affect civilians’ safety.effect (verb): to cause. The new coordination procedures were designed to effect positive change.effect (noun): the result or outcome of an action or event. The conflict’s damaging effects were evident.

Among/BetweenUse between in reference to two items, among for three or more.

Example: The war between the Government and the insurgents has intensified.The group members decided among themselves how to address the situation.

When using between with numbers, do not use it with to.

Example:The landslide displaced between 400 and 600 people.Not: The landslide displaced between 400 to 600 people.

BiannualBimonthly, biweekly and biyearly are ambiguous: they mean either occurring twice a month/week/year, or occurring every other month/week/year. Try to avoid these words entirely. Write twice a month/week/year and every other month/week/year (or every two months/weeks/years), as appropriate.

Compare to/Compare withA is compared with B when highlighting the difference.

Example:Funding levels were lower compared with funding contributions following previous disasters.

A is compared to B when highlighting similarities.

Example:The international response to the earthquake in Haiti has been


compared to the response following the 2004 tsunami.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

tip: One way to remember the above is that you would say “I am similar to you”, not “I am similar with you”.

Compose/Comprise

Comprise is to include or to contain.Compose is to make or form the basis of something.

Examples:The working group comprises 10 members.The Secretary-General’s speech was composed from various background documents.

ImpactUse only as a noun, not as a verb. Impacted is a surgical term for an ingrown tooth, not a synonym for affected.

Example:The OCHA Style Guide will have a positive impact on the organization.

Incidence/IncidentIncident means the occurrence of an event or a disturbance. Incidence is the rate at which something occurs, usually a disease.

Examples: The kidnapping incident shocked the humanitarian community.The meeting focused on the high incidence of cholera.

less/FewerLess describes amount or degree; fewer describes number.

Examples:The recent hurricane caused less damage than Hurricane Andrew. There are fewer donor agencies interested in the situation.

People/Person People is plural, person refers to one individual.When referring to more than one person, use people, not persons. Exception: internally displaced persons and missing persons.

People can also be used as a collective noun to refer to an ethnic community, a race or a nationality.

Principal/PrinciplePrincipal means first in rank or importance (noun or adjective).Principle means a fundamental law or moral rule.

Examples: The school principal met with teachers and parents (noun).The principal objective is to support the work of the Emergency Relief Coordinator (adjective).The group discussed the basic principles of humanitarian law.

that/whichThat defines information. It introduces an essential part of a sentence, otherwise known as a defining clause. The words following that are vital to the part of the sentence that comes before it. No comma is required before that.

Example: The coordination meeting that took place on 15 September focused on the cholera outbreak. (There may have been several coordination meetings that week, but using that focuses on the 15 September meeting.)

Which gives more information. It introduces additional, non-essential information and indicates a non-defining clause. In other words, the section of the sentence following which can be removed without changing the meaning. Place a comma before and after this section of the sentence.

Example: The coordination meeting, which took place on 15 September, focused on the cholera outbreak. (The non-defining clause (which took place on 15 September) gives additional information about the date of the meeting. Remove it and the sentence still gives readers the key information.)


while/whilstBoth are grammatically correct and have the same meaning. It is more common to use while in everyday writing.

who’s/whoseWho’s is an abbreviation of who is. Whose means of whom.

section 7AVoidinG UnnecessAry Words

Below are suggestions on how to shorten phrases often used in OCHA documents.

lonG sHorta large proportion of manyamongst amongareas that are affected by drought drought-affected areasas to whether whethercut back cut/reducedue to the fact that becauseduring the duration of during/throughoutduring the month of May during Mayfor a period of x months for x monthshe carried out a visit to he visitedin addition to besides/as well asin an emergency situation in an emergencyin bad weather conditions in bad weatherin collaboration with within order to toin spite of the fact that althoughin the event of ifin the majority of instances mostlyin two weeks’ time in two weeksis of the opinion believesit is a situation that is the situation isjoint cooperation cooperationmeet with meeton a monthly basis monthlyoutside of the humanitarian response plan

outside the humanitarian response plan

owing to the fact that becauseput an end to stopreported to be reportedlystill continues to be ongoing continuesstill ongoing ongoingthe aim of the programme is the programme aims to


the generous support of donors donors’ generous supportthe workshop was facilitated by OCHA OCHA facilitated the workshop

they are able to/will be able to they canthey reached a total of 3 million people they reached 3 million people

they treated a total of 85 patients they treated 85 patientstogether with withvery urgent criticalwhilst whilewith regards to regardingworked together with worked with

section 8sPellinG list

(adapted from the United nations editorial manual)

adj. = adjective•adv. = adverb•* indicates a change from the first edition of the • OCHA Style Guide

Aabove-mentionedadviserairliftairdropAl-Qaidaantenatalantimalarialanti-povertyasylum-seeker

BBan Ki-moonbednetbirth ratebreak down (verb) breakdown (noun)build up (verb) build-up (noun)

Ccash for workcash-for-work programmecancelled, cancellingcapacity-building (noun and adj.)caseloadceasefirecheckpointchildbearingchildbirthcivilian policecooperatecoordinatecost plancountrywidecoup d’état


ddecision makerdecision-making (noun and adj.)defence (but: US Dept. of Defense; Israel Defense Forces)diarrhoea*discreet (prudent)discrete* (separate)disinterested (impartial)

eearly warning systemEid al-Adha Eid al-Fitre-mailenquire, enquiry (request for information) every day (adv.) everyday (adj.)eyewitness

Ffieldwork, fieldworker flash floodfocused, focusingfollow-up (noun and adjective)foodgrainsfoodstufffirst-hand (adj. and adv.)flash floodfreshwater (noun and adj.) fund-raising (noun and adj.)

Ggender-based violencegender-specificgram(s) groundwater (noun and adj.)

Hhand grenadehealth care (noun)health-care (adj.)high-mortality-risk groups

Iincome generation (noun) income-generation (adj.)in depth (adv.) in-depth (adj.) in kind (adj. and adv.)inter-agencyinter-ethnicintergovernmentalInternet

Kkilogram(s) (kg) kilometre(s) (km)

llabourlandmineliaison licence (noun)license (verb)life-saving (adj.)long-standing (adj.) long-term (adj.)loose (not bound or tight) (adj.)lose (cease to have) (verb)

mMember Statemetre(s) (unit of length)meter (instrument that measures)mid-1990s, mid-2004 midterm/midway/midweek/midyearmine clearance (noun, preferable to demining)mine-clearance (adj.)mosquito/mosquitoesmuch-needed (adj.)multi-countrymulti-donormulti-ethnicmultinational

nnationwide neighbour


non-governmentalno onenon-refoulement

oold age (noun) old-age (adj.)ongoingonlineoccupied Palestinian territory (oPt)over age 5

Ppeacebuildingpeacekeeper, peacekeepingper cent*practice (noun)practise (verb)preschoolpre-position (verb)principal (first in rank) (noun and adj.) principle (fundamental truth) (noun)program (computing only)programmeProvince (in named references)psychosocialpublic-health (adj.)

rrainwaterre-electre-emphasizerefoulementregion-wide Richter scalerisk reduction (noun and adj.)roadblockroad map

sself- (compound forms are hyphenated)set-up (noun)school-age (adjective)Secretary-General

shanty townshortlist (noun and verb)slum-dwellersocio-economicstandby (noun and adjective)staff membersubgroupsub-officesub-Saharansudden-onset disaster

ttraffics, trafficked, traffickingtime frametimelinetimescaletontowardstravelled, travelling

uUnder-Secretary-Generalunder age 5under-five mortalityunderfundedunder wayUnited Nations Country Team*user-friendly

Vvalue addedvis-à-vis

wwastewaterwaterborneWeb (World Wide Web)webcastwebsiteweekdaywell-beingworldwideworkplan


section 9GlossAry

Affected People forced to cope with the consequences of a disaster, crisis or conflict (not including fatalities). When possible, disaggregate data on affected populations by gender and age groups.

Beneficiaries People affected by a situation (i.e. conflict or disaster) who have received humanitarian assistance, services or protection. The term can be applied in a general sense (all those who have received assistance in a particular emergency) or sector specific (those who have received assistance of a stated type).

emergency relief Coordinator (erC)The ERC is the head of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, involving key United Nations and non-United Nations humanitarian partners. ERC is the appropriate title when referring to the head of OCHA in the broader context of his/her role in the international humanitarian community. See also: Under-Secretary-General

FamineUse food shortage (chronic or acute, as appropriate).

Gender Gender-specific terminology is acceptable, i.e. chairman/chairwoman, spokesman/spokeswoman. Use –person if the individual prefers it or if it is part of the official title.

Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) The senior United Nations humanitarian official at the country level. The HC is designated by the ERC, in consultation with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, when a situation demands intensive management and/or massive humanitarian assistance. This is sometimes the duty of the in-country Resident Coordinator. See also: Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator

united nations Country team (unCt)/Humanitarian Country team (HCt)

The UNCT comprises all representatives of United Nations agencies and IOM. The HCT includes only relevant representatives of United Nations agencies, as well as non-United Nations humanitarian actors.

The UNCT focuses on United Nations concerns, whereas the HCT addresses strategic issues of the wider humanitarian community. The HCT and the UNCT may coexist and do not replace each other. To avoid confusion, always use whichever name is locally used.

HIV/AIds Use the acronym HIV/AIDS in reference to a pandemic. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). There are serious sensitivities to the language used in discussion of HIV/AIDS. OCHA reporting should respect these sensitivities where applicable. The UNAIDS Knowledge Centre has useful information at: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Default.asp

Households Typical household sizes vary by society and are therefore not a reliable measure to indicate the number of people. Use number of individuals whenever possible. It is appropriate to use when referring to specific items distributed per household, e.g. clean water kits, reconstruction kits.

Internally displaced Persons (IdPs)People or groups of people who have been forced or obliged to leave their homes or habitual residence, in particular as a result of, or in order to avoid, the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)OCHA is preferred to UNOCHA, UN-OCHA or UN OCHA. It is pronounced as a word, not as letters. OCHA was previously titled the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, created in 1991 after General Assembly resolution 46/182.

resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (rC/HC)The functional title designed for an RC who also functions as the HC. The RC functions under the aegis of UNDP and leads the United Nations Country Team. Do not use HC/RC. Always use RC/HC.

under-secretary-General (usG)The USG for Humanitarian Affairs is the head of OCHA and leader of the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs. USG is the appropriate title for the head of OCHA when referring to matters within the specific context of the United Nations Secretariat. Always hyphenate the title.See also: Emergency Relief Coordinator


3W Who does What Where

ACE Assessment and Classification of Emergencies (OCHA) AGEE Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian NationsAU African Union

BCPR Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (UNDP) BCRF Budgetary Cash Reserve Fund (OCHA)

CADRI Capacity for Disaster Risk Reduction Initiative CAP Consolidated Appeals Process CCCM Camp Coordination and Camp ManagementCERF Central Emergency Response Fund CHF Common Humanitarian Fund CISB Communications and Information Services Branch (OCHA)CMCS Civil-Military Coordination Section (OCHA) CMCOORD Civil-Military CoordinationCRD Coordination and Response Division (OCHA) CSS Communications Services Section (OCHA)CWGER Cluster Working Group on Early Recovery

DERS Donor and External Relations Section (OCHA) DOCO Development Operations Coordination OfficeDPA Department of Political Affairs (United Nations) DPKO Department of Peacekeeping Operations (United Nations) DPSS Displacement and Protection Support Section (OCHA) DSRSG Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-GeneralDVPS Disaster and Vulnerability Policy Section (OCHA)

ECHA Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs ECOSOC Economic and Social Council (United Nations) EES Environmental Emergencies Section (OCHA) EMERCOM Emergency Control MinistryEPR Emergency Preparedness Response UnitEPS Emergency Preparedness Section (OCHA) ERCC Emergency Relief Coordination Centre (OCHA)

Annex I

Frequently used humanitarian acronyms

ERF Emergency Response Fund ERR Emergency Response RosterERRF Emergency Relief Response Fund (OCHA)ERSMB External Relations and Support Mobilization Branch (OCHA) ESB Emergency Services Branch (OCHA) ESS Evaluation and Studies Section (OCHA) ETC Emergency Telecommunications Cluster EU European Union EWCPS Early Warning and Contingency Planning Section (OCHA)

FCSS Field Coordination Support Section (OCHA) FSS Financing Support SectionFTS Financial Tracking Service

GAT Gender Advisory Team (OCHA) GCMS Geographical Coordination and Monitoring Section (OCHA) GDACS Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System GenCap Gender Standby Capacity ProjectGHP Global Humanitarian Platform GHDIG Good Humanitarian Donorship Implementation GroupGIS Geographic Information System GIST Geographic Information Support Team GMP Guidance Management Project (OCHA)

HAP Humanitarian Action PlanHC Humanitarian Coordinator HCPT Humanitarian Community Partnership Team HCT Humanitarian Country TeamHCSS Humanitarian Coordination Support Section (OCHA)HFA Hyogo Framework for Action HIC Humanitarian Information Centre HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HoO Head of OfficeHRF Humanitarian Response Fund

IASC Inter-Agency Standing Committee IA-RTE Inter-Agency Real Time EvaluationICRC International Committee of the Red CrossICT information and communications technology IDP internally displaced person IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesIGO inter-governmental organization


IGSS Intergovernmental Support Section (OCHA) IHL International Humanitarian LawIM information managementINSARAG International Search and Rescue Advisory Group IPC Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification IRA Initial Rapid Assessment IRIN Integrated Regional Information Networks ISDR International Strategy for Disaster Reduction ISS Information Services Section (OCHA)ITS Information Technology Section (OCHA)

JOTC Joint Operations Tasking Centre

LSU Logistics Support Unit (OCHA)

MCDA Military and Civil Defence Assets

NAF Needs Analysis Framework NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NDRA National Disaster Response Adviser NFI non-food itemsNGO non-governmental organization

ODSG OCHA Donor Support Group OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

PAHO Pan American Health OrganizationPDNA Post-Disaster Needs AssessmentPDSB Policy Development and Studies Branch (OCHA) PFRG Programme Funding Review Group (OCHA) PIC Pandemic Influenza Contingency (United Nations) POC Protection of Civilians Section (OCHA) PPAS Policy Planning and Analysis Section (OCHA) ProCap Protection Standby Capacity ProjectPRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper PSNP Productive Safety Net Programme

RC/HC Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator RC Resident Coordinator RDRA Regional Disaster Response Adviser REDLAC Regional Risk, Emergency and Disaster Task Force

RHPT Regional Humanitarian Partnership Team ROAP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OCHA) ROCEA Regional Office for Central and East Africa (OCHA) ROLAC Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (OCHA) ROSEA Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (OCHA) ROWCA Regional Office for West and Central Africa (OCHA)

SG Secretary-GeneralSCS Surge Capacity Section (OCHA)

UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS UNDAC United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework UNDMT United Nations Disaster Management Team UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNETT United Nations Emergency Technical Team UNF United Nations FoundationUNGIWG United Nations Geographic Information Working Group UNHAS United Nations Humanitarian Air ServiceUNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHRD United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot UNICEF United Nations Children’s FundUNJLC United Nations Joint Logistics Centre UXO unexploded ordnance

VOSOCC Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre

WASH water, sanitation and hygieneWFP World Food ProgrammeWGET Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications WHO World Health Organization WMO World Meteorological Organization


FootnotesFootnotes give supplementary details, such as references, explanations and the author’s notes. They are set apart from the main body of text, appearing either at the bottom of the relevant page or grouped at the end of the text (in which case they are more accurately called Endnotes).

numbering footnotesFootnotes are usually marked by superscript numerals. They should be numbered consecutively throughout a document, not for each page or chapter separately. (To place a numeral in superscript in MS Word, highlight the numeral, go to Format, click Font, then tick Superscript.)

If any punctuation immediately follows the word, phrase or sentence to which a footnote refers, place the footnote number after the punctuation.

Place the footnote number after the final round bracket if it refers to a text in round brackets. Otherwise it should be placed immediately after the word or phrase to which it refers.

If a footnote refers to a quotation, place the footnote number after the final quotation mark.

Bibliographies

A bibliography is a list of books and other works, such as journal articles. Place the bibliography at the end of the document and arrange alphabetically.

layout for footnotes and bibliographiesThe layout for footnotes and bibliographies varies depending on the nature of the publication and the format it was sourced from (e.g. online or print). All official layout guidance is fully explained in the Footnotes and other references section of the United Nations Editorial Manual Online. A selection of this guidance is outlined below.

Annex II

Footnotes and bibliographies

newspaper article Footnote form (first footnote):E. Goode, “Friction Infiltrates Sunni Patrol on Safer Iraqi Streets”, The New York Times, 22 September 2008.

Bibliographic form: E. Goode (2008). Friction Infiltrates Sunni Patrol on Safer Iraqi Streets. The New York Times, 22 September.

Published document/report (with organization as the author)Footnote form (first footnote):Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Women, Girls, Boys and Men – Equal Opportunities: Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action (Geneva 2006). Bibliographic form: Inter-Agency Standing Committee (2006). Women, Girls, Boys and Men – Equal Opportunities: Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action. Geneva.

Internet sourcesInternet sources are displayed with the URL in standard font (not italics) and without angle brackets (< >). In hard copy, do not underline the URL.

PrefixesURL prefixes such as http are always followed by a colon and two forward slashes. Omit the http from a reference when the URL contains www (e.g. www.unhcr.org). In all other cases, the prefix must be included to ensure that the URL works (e.g. http://ochanet.unocha.org)

references to material posted on a websiteThe URL should enable readers to find the source material easily. When the source cannot easily be located from a website’s home page, provide a complete URL that directs readers to the specific page or document on the website.

references to an entire websiteWhen readers are referred to an entire website, or when a website is specifically mentioned in a document or publication, the URL can be given either directly in the text or in parentheses after the name of the website.


Examples: Additional information on the impact of AIDS on older people and their families is available from www.helpage.org. orEfforts have been made to develop an effective network for volunteers through the World Volunteer Web (www.worldvolunteerweb.org).

Personal communicationsReferences to personal communications (e.g. letters, e-mail, telephone conversations and discussions) may be given in the text or in a footnote and should include the following:

Sender or person providing the information. •Title or affiliation of sender, if relevant (normally included in a •footnote). Subject of the communication •Personal communication or type of communication (e.g. •discussion, e-mail).Recipient of information, if relevant. •Date of communication. •Do• not include the sender’s e-mail address in references to personal e-mail messages.

ExamplesIn text:The World Health Organization has found an extremely high incidence of tuberculosis in all age groups throughout the region (Jason Doucette, personal communication, 29 May 2009).

As a footnote: 1 Jason Doucette, World Health Organization, “Incidence of tuberculosis in southern Africa”, e-mail to author, 29 May 2009.

InterviewsReferences to interviews may be given directly in the text or in a footnote. They should include the following information:

Person interviewed, if appropriate •Interviewer, if not apparent from context •Place and date of interview, if known •When the person interviewed cannot be named, a •descriptive term should be used instead. When the identity of the interviewer is apparent from the context (e.g. the

interview is cited in a report by a panel of experts who conducted the interviews), the interviewer need not be specified.

If the people interviewed are not named, write the sentence as:According to several international observers interviewed by the Panel in Nairobi on 18 September and 26 October 2002,….

If the name of the interviewer is omitted, the footnote is written as:

1 Interview with Osman Ahmed Hassan, Head of Somaliland Representation to the United Kingdom, London, 4 January 2003.


Annex IIIuseful resources

Official United Nations referencesUnited Nations Editorial Manual Onlinehttp://69.94.137.26/editorialcontrol/index.htm

The Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008. http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/BOOK_SEARCH.html?book=t23

oCHA references and training modulesThe OCHA Style Guide Module complements this guide. It offers advice, tips and quizzes to test your knowledge. The online module is on OCHAnet at: http://ochanet.unocha.org/AS/Reporting/Pages/TrainingModules.aspx

The OCHA Numbers Module gives simple and practical guidance on how to improve written communication involving numbers. The online module is on OCHAnet at:http://ochanet.unocha.org/AS/Reporting/Pages/TrainingModules.aspx

The OCHA Keep It Simple Module offers easy-to-follow guidance on how to write in a concise, simple but effective way. The online module is on OCHAnet at:http://ochanet.unocha.org/AS/Reporting/Pages/TrainingModules.aspx

Also visit the Reporting Resources section of OCHAnet for templates and current guidance on core OCHA information products, such as situation reports, weekly reports and key messages.http://ochanet.unocha.org/AS/REPORTING/Pages/default.aspx

references on writing, editing, publishing and usageThe Chicago Manual of Style, University of Chicago Presshttp://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/contents.htmlThe Economist Style Guidehttp://www.economist.com/research/styleguide/The Elements of Style, W. Strunk, Bartleby.comhttp://www.bartleby.com/141/The Times (UK), Online Style Guide http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/specials/style_guide/article986718.ece

united nations references on terminology and dataThe United Nations Multilingual Terminology Databasehttp://unterm.un.org/dgaacs/unterm.nsf/Welcome?OpenPageHumanitarian Reform – the Cluster Approachhttp://ocha.unog.ch/humanitarianreform/Default.aspx?tabid=70UNAIDS Knowledge Centrehttp://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Default.asp

online toolsCurrency converter http://www.xe.com/ucc/full/

Conversion of weight, measure and temperaturehttp://www.onlineconversion.com/

Time zone and date informationhttp://www.timeanddate.com/library/abbreviations/timezones/

United Nations Office for the Coordination

of Humanitarian Affairs

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