Descriptions and formatting
the top right hand corner
The only words we capitalise in headings are the first word and proper nouns.
Dates should always follow the number-word-number style so that it is well balanced e.g. 12 January 2018. When writing the day and month on their own, it should read 12 January or Friday 12 January. Always write the name of the month, particularly if dealing with anyone overseas as different countries use different formats i.e.12-1-2018 can mean 12 January or 1 December.
Which is the correct way to address a contact in a formal letter?:
Mr Jim Smith
Mr J Smith
Jim Smith
Address the recipient as Mr J Smith, or Jim Smith if we know them personally Do NOT address the recipient as Mr Jim Smith.
Please use the Lifelites template - TEMPLATES\PRESENTATIONS\
Calibri 11pt should be used for all body copy, and headings and sub-headings should be in bold.
fundraising or fund raising?
Fundraising is all one word. It should not read fund raising.
on line, on-line, or online?
online
You must always use the Lifelites branded letter template, as this includes the names of our patrons and our contact details. It is located in the templates folder.
It is good practice to use as much text and detail as possible in a PowerPoint
It is good practice to use minimal text in a PowerPoint. Use pictures, diagrams and brief notes rather than large paragraphs of text.
Complete the missing words:
Lifelites donates and maintains packages of assistive technology for the ---------- life-limited and disabled children using every children’s hospice service across the --------- -----.
Lifelites donates and maintains packages of assistive technology for the 10,000 life-limited and disabled children using every children’s hospice service across the British Isles.
Ampersands (&) should not be used in place of ‘and’, unless an external organisation uses it in their name (e.g. Naomi House & Jacksplace)
We always use counties, rather than towns, when referring to the locations of children’s hospices.
Landscape design envelopes should be addressed with the opening flap to the right
Always right justify columns of figures
Complete the missing word:
Lifelites currently supports children and young people at all -- children’s hospice services across the British Isles
Lifelites currently supports children and young people at all 60 children’s hospice services across the British Isles
An Ellipsis (three dots) can be used to indicate an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning. No more than three dots should be used to indicate this.
"Lifelites has many supporters across the country"
Lifelites have many supporters across the country"
Lifelites is singular and should be followed by the correct verb form e.g. ‘Lifelites is…’, not ‘Lifelites are…’. It should be Lifelites has not Lifelites have.
When should you use ‘Yours sincerely’ and when ‘Yours faithfully’ when signing letters?
- If you know their name ‘Yours sincerely’ (note lower case ‘s’) or friendlier version if you know them.
- If you don’t know their name ‘Yours faithfully’ (note lower case ‘f’).
subtotal or Sub total?
Write subtotal not Sub total.
“All notices, advertisements and documents issued by or on behalf of any registered charity with an income over £10,000 that contain a request for money or other property for the benefit of the charity must include a statement that the organisation is a registered charity. It is best practice to include the organisation’s registered charity number on such documents.”
Contractions (e.g. can’t, wouldn’t, aren’t) should not be used in formal letters (e.g. to prospective donors, patrons etc).
Instead of writing it hasn’t been easy, we would write it has not been easy.
For numbers one to ten, write them out in full. For numbers over ten, just use numbers.
Always separate numbers in the thousand with a comma, e.g. 1,000, 100,000.
Write one million, billion, trillion rather than 1,000,000 etc.
If you are sending the letter to a Masonic centre, include their Masonic job title and the name of the Lodge or Province. If you are sending to a home address, ensure no Masonic specification is used unless otherwise informed. If in doubt check the database or the Province’s website.
If you have any queries about anything in the guide, or suggestions of things to add, please speak to Hannah or Sam.