A to Z
A
Act
Use upper case if you’re referring to a specific Act. Use lower case as a concept. For example:
'The Budget (Scotland) Act 2022.'
'Some acts become law straight after Royal Assent.'
B
Bill
Use upper case if you’re referring to a specific bill. Use lower case as a concept. For example:
‘Housing Reform Bill’
'Most bills that the Scottish Parliament looks at are introduced by the Scottish Government.'
C
Cabinet Secretary
Use upper case if you’re referring to a title or specific Cabinet Secretary. Use lower case as a concept. For example: ‘Humza Yousaf was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in May 2021.’
call for views
Lower case. Use the phrase ‘call for views’ rather than ‘call for evidence’.
Chamber
Upper case when referring to the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
clerk
Lower case.
Code of Conduct
Upper case when referring to the thing itself but use sentence case when referring to the code MSPs have to follow.
committee
Lower case unless as part of the full name ‘Education and Skills Committee’.
Committee Bills
Upper case.
Convener
Upper case.
COVID-19
Use ‘COVID-19’ instead of 'Coronavirus' or 'Covid-19' or other variations.
Cross-Party Groups
Upper case and first two words hyphenated.
cross-party support
Lower case and first two words hyphenated.
D
Deputy Convener
Upper case.
devolved matters
Lower case.
E
enquiry
Use 'inquiry' instead.
G
general principles
Lower case.
government
Lower case unless it’s a full title. For example: ‘the Scottish Government’. Also use ‘Welsh Government’ as it’s the full title.
Government Bill
Upper case.
H
Hybrid Bill
Upper case.
I
inquiry
Lower case. Use instead of ‘enquiry’.
L
lead committee
Lower case.
local councils
Lower case. Use ‘local councils’ not ‘local authorities’ or ‘councils’.
M
Members' Bill
Upper case. Note the apostrophe placement.
minister
Upper case for the full title, or when used with a name. Example: ‘Minister for Parliamentary Business’ or ‘Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth’. When used without the name, shortened titles are lower case. Example: ‘The health minister welcomed the research team.’
However, in certain contexts ‘the Scottish Ministers’ may have an argument for being capitalised as it’s a legal entity. ‘Scottish ministers’ though, should not be capitalised.
motion
Lower case. See also ‘business motion’.
MSP
Upper case, but ‘MSPs’ if plural.
O
Official Report
Upper case.
P
Parliament
Use upper case if you’re referring to a specific parliament. Use lower case as a concept. For example:
'The Scottish Parliament'
'Many parliaments around the world have more than one chamber.'
petitions
Lower case, but upper case for a specific petition.
Policy Memorandum
Upper case.
Private Bill
Upper case.
S
subject committees
Lower case.
submit your views
Use instead of ‘have your say’, ‘call for views’ or ‘written evidence’.
subordinate legislation
Lower case. Use ‘secondary legislation’ as preference.
W
witnesses
Lower case.