H

handicap/handicapped

Do not use (see disabled)

Hansen’s disease

Alternative name for leprosy, used more often in the USA. We use leprosy.

headquarters

Do not use to describe any country office.

health work, health worker, health centre

Separate words.

healthcare

One word.

hyperlinks

Rather than telling readers to ‘go here’ or ‘click here’, hyperlink the copy that describes the action or signpost itself.

It is best practice to hyperlink a whole statement or line (rather than one or two words), e.g.:

• Yes: Read more stories about India
• Yes: Don’t forget to sign up today as places are limited
• No: Click here to read more stories about India
• No: Don’t forget to visit this page and sign up today as places are limited

Hyperlinks should be bold and underlined.

hyphens

A hyphen should not be confused with a dash and should never be used with a space.

Hyphens may be used to break up names e.g. John Twistleton-Jones.

Use hyphens for compound phrases that imply measurement, e.g. a three-minute talk, a six-mile run, a 32-page document.

Use hyphens to clarify modifying phrases made up of two or more words that come before a noun: a little-used car (compare with a little used car), right-wing groups etc.

Don’t use hyphens to break up sentences – use en dashes.

Some commonly used hyphenated words: community-based rehabilitation, door-to-door, earthquake-resistant, hospital-based, leprosy-related, self-care, self-help, self-help groups, world-class, life-changing.

The following words do not have hyphens: cooperative, outpatient, inpatient, footwear, Vice President, inner wellbeing, field worker, health worker, cowshed.