Though Arm is standardized on American English for content and communications, much of our audience lives and works in non–English-speaking countries
At Arm, we write in American English for external content and communications, however, much of our audience lives and works in non–English-speaking countries with different cultural viewpoints and varied levels of English-language proficiency.
Since Arm is a British-based company, we’ve highlighted a few key style differences in the following table for content creators to keep in mind when working in US English. The following information also is useful to guide content creation for global audiences.
Element
British English
American English
-ou- or -o-
colour, humour
color, humor
switched -re
theatre, centre
theater, center
-ise or -ize
realise, organise
realize, organize
-yse or -yze
analyse, paralyse
analyze, paralyze
extra L
traveller
traveler
-ence or -ense
offence, licence
offense, license
-ogue
analogue, dialogue
analog, dialog
titles
No period after titles: Dr, Mr, Ms
Period after titles: Dr., Mr., Ms.
dates
Day, month, year
Month, day, year
time
Period between hour and minutes (12.30)
Colon between hour and minutes (12:30)
quotation marks
Single quotes (‘) for quotations, then double quotes (") for quotations within quotations
Double quotes (") for quotations, then single quotes (‘) for quotations within quotations
Periods and commas are placed outside quotation marks
Periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks
Abbreviations and acronyms: Use caution when using abbreviations—they may appear differently in other languages. In general, follow these rules:
Spell out company names and international organizations, placing the abbreviation or acronym in parenthesis: Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Do not use an accent in languages with accented letters.
Capitalize almost all letters in an acronym or abbreviation (some exceptions are "laser" and "radar").
Active voice: Use active voice (rather than passive voice) and present tense as much as possible. This streamlines content, makes it easier to translate, and fits clearly within our brand voice.
Adjectives and adverbs: Do not overuse either. They can dilute the message and introduce confusion. In addition, different languages use different syntax, and gender-specific languages (French, Spanish) may use different genders for certain objects. The sentence may lose meaning after inserting an adjective or adverb.
Consistent terminology: Use the same word to describe the same action. For example: If you use "click" to indicate the action people should take with buttons on a website, avoid changing to "press" or "hit" later.
Jargon, clichés, colloquialisms, and slang: Avoid these terms, as they can confuse global audiences.
Correct: We saved money by reducing the cost of our raw materials.
Incorrect: We leverage operational efficiencies to save money.
Metric system: When writing for international audiences, use metric measurements unless targeting a specific region that uses a different system.
Negative construction: Avoid using, as it can be confusing when translated.
Correct: Sign up to view the video.
Incorrect: You cannot view the video without signing up.
Nouns: Specify plural or singular nouns whenever possible. For example, "email" can be both plural or singular in English. The translation, however, varies in most languages depending on whether it’s singular or plural.
Phone numbers: Only use numeric characters and always include the country code. Note that many European cell phone numbers do not have area codes.
Pronouns: Limit the use of pronouns, since some languages do not use pronouns or use pronouns that are different from those in English. Always respect and accurately describe people by the pronouns they use for themselves.
The French word "il" could mean "he" or "it," so your subject may be unclear to a French reader. Additionally, pronouns may change depending on the context.
"The sales event was very popular," instead of, "It was very popular."
Short sentences: Write short, simple sentences. Stick to one main point per sentence. Keep sentences to 25 words or fewer. Avoid using semicolons or multiple dashes. Complex sentences with modifying clauses, adjectives, and adverbs bury the message and increase the risk of run-on sentences and repetitive phrasing.
Think global, not local: Avoid referencing country- or culture- specific phrases or ideas that might not translate or aren’t appropriate in a global context:
He lit up like a Fourth of July sparkler.
He lit up like a Guy Fawkes bonfire.
Word length: Translated content can expand or contract by up to 30 percent, depending on the language. Leave room for these potential shifts in your copy.
Finalize and proofread your text before you send it for translation. Translation teams aren’t responsible for mistakes that were in the original text.
Spaces after periods (and other terminal punctuation): Many translation companies and use translation tools. These tools automatically match the source format, so if you miss a space after a period, the space will be missing in the translated file.
Create and update translation glossaries. Include explanatory context for all product-specific and specialized terms.
Yes
No
Sometimes
Not applicable
