Note: The Editorial Manual is now searchable. If the search gadget does not appear at the bottom of this page, click on the Information Bar above, then click Allow Blocked Content.
The United Nations Editorial Manual Online is intended to serve as an authoritative statement of the style to be followed in drafting, editing and reproducing United Nations documents, publications and other written material. Although based mainly on the practices and policies that have evolved at Headquarters, the present manual is meant to provide editorial guidance for all parts of the Secretariat. The directives set forth in the manual supersede all earlier guidelines on the subjects dealt with herein. For topics not yet addressed in the present manual, the United Nations Editorial Manual (Sales No. E.83.I.16) remains the primary authority for United Nations editorial policy.
Click on the link for the topic that interests you.
Click here for a list of recently updated items.
Editorial guidelines |
| Instructions for the preparation of documents |
| Country names and currencies |
| Policy questions |
| Proofreading marks |
| Style |
| Abbreviations and acronyms |
| Capitalization in English |
| Italics and bold print |
| Numbers, dates and time |
| Punctuation |
| Quotations |
| Spelling |
| Basic documents |
| Communications (to be completed) |
| Corrigenda and reissues |
| Documents relating to programme budget implications |
| Informal papers (to be completed) |
| Notes by the Secretary-General |
| Reports of the Secretary-General (to be completed) |
| Resolutions and other formal decisions of United Nations organs |
| Format |
| Figures (to be completed) |
| Headings and subheadings |
| Maps |
| Mastheads and cover pages |
| Paragraphs and subparagraphs |
| Tables |
Sources of information |
| Online |
Support and training for authors |
| Other courses available to staff |
| Contact Editorial Control |
|
United Nations Editorial Manual Online © 2004-2010 (New York). Prepared and maintained for the United Nations under the authority of the Chief of the Editorial, Terminology and Reference Service, Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. Mention of the names of firms and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. For technical support, please contact the Webmaster at gleason@un.org or call 212-963-0532.