dashes
Dashes separate words into clauses. They are slightly longer than a hyphen and always
have spaces either side of them. For example ‘You can claim the actual amount you’ve spent – you’ll need
to keep receipts.’
Dashes usually make sentences more complicated. Before using a dash, or pair of
dashes, consider using separate sentences.
There are different ways to include a dash in content. You can:
- use option + - key on an Apple Mac
- use alt + 0150 on a PC with a number pad
- copy – into your content
Avoid the HTML –
as they are treated differently by different
screen readers.
defined benefit
Lower case.
defined contribution
Lower case.
1 hyphen.
due, overdue
Avoid ‘due’ and ‘overdue’ and use plain English instead, for example ‘You need to pay
your return by 31 January 2020’ or ‘Your payment is late’.
If you need to use them, it should be when a user has to do something by a specific
time or date only. For example, ‘Your payment is due on 31 January 2018’. Do not use them when there is no
specific time or date, for example ‘Your £5,000
is now due’.
duty
See capitalisation of taxes, duties and levies.
duty-free
Hyphenated.
duty-paid
Hyphenated when used as an adjective.
duty-suspended
Hyphenated when used as an adjective.