Company names

Referring to companies

When referring to a company for the first time in a document, spell out in full followed by its abbreviation in brackets without quotation marks, for example Magnetic Control Systems Ltd (MCS). After that, you can use the abbreviation freely. If you are defining a term from a company name, enclose the defined term in quotation marks. For example, UVExpress Ltd (“Licensor”).

Person and number, company names

In general, do not use the first person in formal documents. Instead use “it” or “the company”. Take care when “it” refers to one’s own company—it can confuse the reader. There are, however, cases where the pronoun “we” is preferred.

All companies are singular.

Correct

New Horizons Ltd operates three mines in the region. It is registered for…

MCS recommends

MCS was commissioned

Incorrect

MCS were commissioned

MCS are registered

MCS consider that

Possessive, company names

You can use the possessive form with shortened name or abbreviation (MCS’s, Microsoft’s), but not when spelled out.

Incorrect

Magnetic Control Systems Ltd’s