Style and writing guide
Abbreviations and acronyms
How to write abbreviations and acronyms and which ones you can use.
Abbreviations and acronyms
Try to avoid using acronyms and abbreviations.
Always write out the titles of Social Security Scotland benefits in full.
Exceptions:
- BASRiS
- SPM
- DLA, DWP, HMRC and PIP, if written out in full when first used
This is based on a commitment by Social Security Scotland to avoid acronyms.
If you think an acronym is well known, please provide evidence that 80% of the Scottish population (or internal users of operational guidance content) will understand and commonly use it. Evidence can be from search analytics or testing of a representative sample.