Glossary
of common terms
You can use this glossary to check how we write common Girlguiding terms and words.
A
1st response
Not First Response (our first aid training scheme)
1 team
Number 1 then lower case on team
5 essentials
Number 5 then lower case for our 5 guiding principles
activities
Use in relation to the programme only
activity theme
Lower case
adviser
Not advisor. Lower case for role
advocate panel
advocates (people). Lower case for both
Anglia region
Girlguiding Anglia region is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names. Lower case on ‘region’. Region can be dropped where appropriate
annual subscription
Lower case
area
Lower case (a broad term for our districts, regions, counties, countries and divisions)
a safe space
Lower case - if this might be confusing in a sentence, use a more straight talking word like training or resources. Write levels in lower case: level 1, level 2, level 3
assistant leader
Lower case for role
award
Lower case when referring to awards in general. Capitalise the names of specific awards, but not the word award itself: Laurel award role
B
badge
Lower case when talking about badges in general and when describing specific badges: active response badge
BAME
Avoid this term – say people of colour instead. As much as possible, refer to ethnic groups individually, rather than as a single group, such as Black Caribbean people.
be well
Lower case for the programme theme
Beaver Scouts
Beavers
Initial capitals (Scouts 6-8-year-olds)
Big Gig
Both words capitalised for the name of this event
board of trustees
the board
Lower case
British Overseas Territories
Girlguiding British Overseas Territories is a county within the Girlguiding North West England region
Bronze award
First word only capitalised
Brownie
Brownies
First word only capitalised. Initial capital when referring to the 7-10-year old section
Brownie buddy
Brownie helper
Brownie holiday
Initial capital on Brownie only. Not Brownie pack holiday.
Brownie unit
Not Brownie pack
C
chief commissioner
Lower case
chief guide
Lower case
climbing and abseiling scheme
Lower case
code of conduct
Lower case in running text. First word only capitalised at the start of a line (on the title page, for example)
commissioner
Lower case
cooperate
Not co-operate
coordinator
Not co-ordinator
county, country
Lower case, even when referring to the Girlguiding area
Covid
Not Covid-19 or COVID-19 or coronavirus
Cub Scout
Cubs
Initial capitals (Scouts 8-10-year-olds)
Cymru (Wales)
Girlguiding Cymru (Wales). Initial capitals for place names. Always use Cymru when referring to this country. 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding.
D
DBS check
disclosure check
Either use the abbreviation (stands for Disclosure and Barring Service check) or the simple term. Only the abbreviation uses capitals
disabled girl or person
Instead of girl or person (living) with a disability
district district assistant district commissioner
Lower case
doing our best
Lower case – if this might be confusing in a sentence, use a more straight talking word like standards or checklist
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Name of award is capitalised in line with DofE style.
After the first mention, can be abbreviated to DofE
F
fair trade
Lower case and 2 words when describing the general movement
Fairtrade
1 word with initial capital to refer to the official trademarked name
first aid
first aider
Lower case
founders
Lower case. Used to refer to our founders, Robert Baden-
Powell and Agnes Baden-Powell
Free Being Me
Each word capitalised for this module from the peer education programme
fundraising
Lower case
G
Girlguiding UK
Use only in a global context
Girlguiding qualified trainer
Lower case to refer to someone who delivers training and has their trainer qualification
Girlguiding shop
We can also refer to this as our volunteer shop. Don’t use the term trading to refer to the shop.
Girlguiding’s strategy or our strategy
Lower case on strategy. We no longer say strategy 2020+
Girls’ Attitudes Survey
Initial capitals. Don’t use the abbreviation GAS externally
GO
Capitals for the abbreviation of our membership system (Guiding Organiser)
going away with licence or scheme
Lower case
Gold award
First word only capitalised
good turn
Lower case
government
Lower case
Guide
Guides
Initial capital for our 10-14-year-old section. Use only in relation to the members of this section – when referring to everyone say ‘all girls in Girlguiding’ not girl guides
The Guide Association
The legal/financial entity – only use when necessary: for example, ‘please make cheques out to The Guide Association’
Guide camp permit
First word only capitalised
Guide law
Only Guide capitalised
guiding
Guiding is what we do (verb). Lower case, except when it’s in a sentence with Scouting (Guiding and Scouting) or a global context (World Guiding)
guiding magazine
Lower case
I
ICANDO
All capitals for our activity centre in London
innovate
Lower case for skills builder topic - see skills builder for more info
Inspire
Use Inspire if the context is clear and if not use Girlguiding Inspire. Initial capitals for our community for 18-30-year-olds
interest badges
Lower case: fitness interest badge, book lover interest badge
International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF)
Spell out with initial caps at first mention then use upper case abbreviation
International Women’s Day
Initial capitals and apostrophe before the ‘s’
internet
Lower case
L
large bus permit
Lower case
leader
Lower case for role
leader in training
Lower case
leadership qualification
leadership team
Lower case
lend a hand
Lower case
LGBTQ+
The acronym we use for lesbian, gay bisexual, trans, queer + communities
local authority
Lower case
London and South East England region (LaSER)
Girlguiding London and South East England region is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names. Lower case on ‘region’. Region can be dropped where appropriate. Often abbreviated to LaSER
Long Service award
Name of award capitalised (but not the word award)
M
Magic and Mayhem
Capitals for the event name
marketing team
Teams are lowercase
members
Lower case. Avoid using externally: say volunteers and girls and young women instead
members’ area (on the website)
member organisation (of WAGGGS)
Lower case with apostrophe
Lower case
mentor
Lower case for the role
mentoring
Lower case
Midlands region
Girlguiding Midlands region is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names. Lower case on ‘region’. Region can be dropped where appropriate.
N
no one
No hyphen, 2 words
North East England region
Girlguiding North East England region is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names. Lower case on ‘region’. Region can be dropped where appropriate.
North West England region
Girlguiding North West England region is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names. Lower case on ‘region’. Region can be dropped where appropriate.
P
parent and carer
Lower case. Always use parent and carer together, not parent and guardian.
patrol
patrol sleepover
Lower case
patron
Lower case
Pax Lodge
Capitalise place name
peer education
Lower case
peer educator
Lower case for role
peer group residential events
Lower case
people or person of colour
We don't use BAME. As much as possible, refer to ethnic groups individually, rather than as a single group, such as Black Caribbean people
programme
Lower case
promise
promise badge
promise sign
Lower case
promise celebration
Lower case. Not enrolment
S
Scotland
Girlguiding Scotland is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names
Scouting
Scouts
The Scout Association
Always capitalised. In sentences that refer to both, guiding always comes first and is upper case: Guiding and Scouting
Scout Network
The Scout section for 18 to 25-year-olds
Scouts
The Scout section for 10 ½ to 14-year-olds
second
Lower case when referring to the deputy leader of a patrol or six
section
First word only capitalised
Silver award
Name of award capitalised (but not the word award)
Silver Fish award
Name of award capitalised (but not the word award)
six
Lower case. Brownie units can have smaller groups known as a six. Lower case for this Brownie grouping
sixer
Lower case when referring to the leader of a six
skills builders
Lower case
skills for my future
Lower case for the programme theme
Sparkle and Ice
Initial capitals for the name of the event
social services
Lower case unless referring to a specific body: Hertfordshire Social Services
South West England region
Girlguiding South West England region is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names. Lower case on ‘region’. Region can be dropped where appropriate.
survival skills
Lower case for the unit meeting activity topic
T
take action
Lower case for the programme theme
task and finish group
Lower case
Theme award
First word only capitalised
they
Use as a gender-neutral third-person pronoun
trainer
Lower case for role
trainer qualification
Lower case
trans (adj)
Lower case, preferable to transgender.
trading team
Lower case
travelling abroad training programme
Lower case
trefoil
Lower case
Trefoil Guild
Initial capitals for the name. Lower case when talking generally about individual guilds
trustee
Lower case
tweet
Lower case (for verb and noun)
U
UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Avoid saying ‘this country’ or ‘this nation’ when you mean the UK. Don’t say ‘the capital’ or ‘the national anthem’ without specifying which one
Ulster
Girlguiding Ulster is 1 of 9 countries and regions in Girlguiding. Initial capitals for place names
unit
Lower case
unit helper
Lower case for role. We don’t say ‘occasional helper’
unit leader
Lower case for role. We don’t say ‘guider’
unit meeting
Lower case when referring to the activities in general. Lower case for topic names: survival skills
unit meeting activities
Lower case when referring to the activities in general. Lower case for topic names: survival skills
unit meeting activity cards
Lower case
W
WAGGGS
Acronym for World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
webpage
1 word
Wellies and Wristbands
Capitalise this event name
world badge
Lower case
World Centres
These are; Our Chalet in Switzerland, Our Cabaña in Mexico, Pax Lodge in the UK, Sangam in India and Kusafiri in Africa
world chief guide
Lower case for role
World Conference
Capitalisation following WAGGGs convention
World Flag
Capitalisation following WAGGGs convention
World Guiding
Guiding has an initial capital in this context
World Thinking Day
Capitalise event