Spelling and preferred terms (A to Z)

If a term is not listed here, check the Canadian Press (CP) Caps and Spelling, also follow the writing style guide.

AB (abbreviation of Alberta)
Aboriginal – always capitalize but use Indigenous instead, except when referring to specific constitutional rights, programs or business units
act – capitalize titles of legislative acts but not subsequent references when full name is not used, for example 'Occupational Health and Safety Act' or 'the act'
addiction – avoid addictions
Age:
- adolescent (12, 13 and 14)
- young person or youth (15, 16 and 17)
- adult (over 18)
- senior (avoid senior citizen, aged and elderly)
Alberta’s government or Alberta government (informal)
Alberta Legislature Building (official name of structure) but 'the legislature building' (unofficial)
Alberta Public Service (APS)
Alberta.ca

bill – capitalize titles of proposed laws but not subsequent references when full name is not used, for example 'Bill 36' becomes 'the bill' after first reference.

disabled – avoid, use person with a disability or people with disabilities instead

e-commerce
e-disclosure
e-file
e.g. – avoid, use 'for example' instead
e-learning
email (no hyphen)
e-newsletter
ESL English as a second language has changed to EAL English as an additional language to be more inclusive.
e-tutoring

gender-sensitive language:
- their (avoid 'his' or 'her')
- they (avoid 'he' or 'she')
- transgender person (adj.), avoid using as noun
Geography – lowercase words such as 'north', 'east' or 'northeast', except when it’s a specific political or administrative name
GoA (acronym for Government of Alberta)
government (informal) – 'the government', 'Alberta government, Canadian government'
Government of Alberta (formal) – see also Alberta government

ID instead of identification
i.e. – avoid, use 'that is' instead
Indigenous – always capitalize and use broader terms such as First Nations, Inuit and Métis
Indigenous Peoples
internet – lowercase only, except at the start of a sentence

job site, see also work site
job titles – lowercase generic job titles such as 'minister' or 'director' and capitalize formal titles, such as 'Minister Smith'

Legislative Assembly of Alberta or the Assembly (CP exception)
LGBTQ2S+
licence (n.), license (v.), licensee (n.)
literacy - avoid foundational learner
log in and log-in (v.), login (n., adj.), avoid using 'log on'
lowercase (n., v.)
Lt.-Gov. or lieutenant-governor (use abbreviation before full name on first reference)

member of the legislative assembly (MLA)
Métis – always use an accent over the ‘e’ except when referring to the Metis Settlements Act, Metis Settlements or entities established by its legislation
Métis people
Métis Peoples
Metis Settlements
minister, ministry – lowercase generic titles, for example, 'the minister'
Minister, Ministry – capitalize proper titles, for example, Minister of Health, Minister Smith or Ministry of Health
multimedia (n., adj.)

people with disabilities – avoid 'persons with disabilities' or 'handicapped'
person with autism, person with muscular dystrophy, person with hearing loss – avoid terms 'speech-impaired'
Premier – capitalize both proper and generic titles (CP exception)
province of Alberta (geography) or Province of Alberta (corporation)
provincewide

stakeholder – is too generic list specific groups ( Education stakeholders, instead list teachers, students, parents, trustees, administrators)

toll-free number (adj.), toll free (adv.), for example 'call toll free' or 'toll free in Alberta'
tradespeople

Back to Writing style