E
e-
Use a hyphen after the e when referring to things that are done on or that involve the internet, e.g. e-cards, e-commerce. Please never refer to our 'e-newsletter' as we don’t send one and haven’t done since 2013.
The exceptions are email and eBay.
earth/creation/planet/globe
Use earth, world, or creation when it works. E.g. The Leprosy Mission family around the world or care for creation.
Avoid planet and globe as they can sound dated.
earthquake-resistant
Note hyphen.
east/East, eastern/Eastern etc
Names of areas are capitalised if they part of the title of a recognised geographical area or political division, e.g. East Africa, Eastern Europe, East Anglia.
They are not capitalised if they are descriptions in general terms, e.g. east London, eastern France.
e.g./for example
Write with dots but no comma after. Do introduce it with a comma and a space. Use italics for unfamiliar foreign words, e.g. barrios.
either
Is followed by or. Neither is followed by nor. Both refer to two options – and two options only.
Yes: either x or y, neither x nor y
Yes: x, y or z
No: either x, y or z
elder/older, eldest/oldest
Use elder/eldest, e.g. his elder sister, the elder of her two sons, their eldest child was a girl of 12, the two eldest attend the same school.
empowerment
Use empowerment carefully and only in the context of transformation and enabling, particularly re.g.arding individuals’ lives and rights. Ensure the implication is not that the empowerer is somehow more powerful.
Yes: Through the work of the project 10 families felt empowered and equipped to stand up for their rights.
No: The project empowered and equipped 10 families to stand up for their rights.
en dashes (long dashes)
This is an en dash – it’s as long as an n and therefore longer than a hyphen.
En dashes are used to add information or explain something as an aside. Where you include a fact – whether it’s an aside or something crucial – make sure you separate it off at both ends with the same kind of punctuation. Use a maximum of two per sentence.
There should be a space before and after the dash. Brackets or commas would do the same job – vary which you use so that the text is not over-heavy with one type of punctuation.
En dashes are used to add emphasis to the end of sentences, e.g. Locals have be.g.un rebuilding the city walls – against all odds.
En dashes are used to mean to: during the period 1837–1850, 7–9am, or 3–4,000. They are used without a space. Only use in this way with figures.
Do not use an en dash to replace to if the word from is used. So: I worked in India from 2005 to 2007 not I worked in India from 2005–2007.
En dashes should not be used to mean and if the word between is used. So: the period between 1925 and 1960 not the period between 1925–1960.
etc.
No need for a comma before it, so: List your key interests, skills etc.
evangelical
Lower case ‘e’.
evangelism
Also sharing the gospel, sharing faith, sharing God’s love.
Use with care as they are loaded words/phrases. The Leprosy Mission is not an evangelistic organisation.
We do not use the following words to talk about our work due to the way they can be perceived in many of the countries we support: ministry, minister to, convert/conversion, saving.
Words that are ok in this context: love, serve, compassion, healed (but not supernatural healing). In Christian circles these terms are in everyday use and do not cause a problem.
Outside of Christian circles they can be misunderstood. Using these terms in some countries can be dangerous for our staff.
Generally only use it in specific communication with churches/mission organisations.
Never use evangelistic language online, in reports, annual reviews or marketing materials.
every day (adverb)
Two words, e.g. he did it every day.
everyday (adjective)
One day, e.g. it was an everyday activity.
exclamation marks
Use very sparingly.