Mastering UK English in Grant Applications: A Cheeky Guide

Dori Stein
Jul 28, 2024
4 min read

Ever found yourself in a right pickle with UK English spellings? You're not alone! As it turns out, our beloved Large Language Models (LLMs) have a bit of a Yankee accent by default. But fear not, we've got a jolly good solution for you!

The American Invasion of AI

It's a truth universally acknowledged that LLMs, much like Hollywood, seem to think the world revolves around American English. One might say they're as American as apple pie, or as we Brits might quip, "as American as thinking tea can be made in a microwave." Oh, the horror!

But let's not get our knickers in a twist. We've crafted a smashing prompt to ensure your grant applications are more Stephen Fry than Stephen Colbert.

The Magic Prompt

Here's how to use our UK English spell-check prompt:

Copy the prompt (you'll find it at the end of this post).
Paste your grant application answers into the designated area.
Run the prompt and get a list of corrections.

But wait, there's more! We've also created an implementation prompt to apply these corrections automatically. It's like having a virtual British butler for your writing!

To use the implementation prompt:

Copy the implementation prompt.
Paste the original answer, question, and the list of corrections generated by the first prompt.
Voila! You'll get a perfectly British version of your text.

Why UK English Matters in Grant Applications

When applying for grants from UK-based funding bodies, using correct UK English isn't just about dotting your 'i's and crossing your 't's—it's about showing you're on the ball and culturally savvy. Think of it as wearing your best suit to an interview, but for your words. Using UK English demonstrates that you've done your homework and respect the cultural nuances of your audience. It's like serving tea with milk instead of iced tea with lemon at a British garden party—it just fits.

Common UK vs US English Pitfalls

Navigating the linguistic waters between UK and US English can feel like trying to drive on the other side of the road—it takes some getting used to. Here's a quick list of common words that often trip up even the most seasoned writers:

Programme (UK) vs. Program (US)
Colour (UK) vs. Color (US)
Specialise (UK) vs. Specialize (US)
Travelling (UK) vs. Traveling (US)
Centre (UK) vs. Center (US)
Licence (noun, UK) vs. License (noun, US)
Practise (verb, UK) vs. Practice (verb, US)
Analyse (UK) vs. Analyze (US)
Realise (UK) vs. Realize (US)
Grey (UK) vs. Gray (US)

Remember, these differences are more than just a matter of adding or removing a 'u' or swapping an 's' for a 'z'. They're like secret handshakes in the world of UK grant writing. Master these, and you'll be writing like a Brit faster than you can say "Bob's your uncle!"

The Prompts

### Prompt for UK Spelling and Grammar Check on Grant Application Answers

**Objective:**
Conduct a UK spelling and grammar check on the provided [answers] to a grant application. The output should be a list of any spelling or grammatical errors that do not adhere to UK English standards.

**Input Parameters:**
- **Grant Application Answers:** [answers]
**Guidelines:**
1. **Check UK English Spelling:** Ensure all words are spelled according to UK English conventions (e.g., 'colour' instead of 'color').
2. **Check Grammar:** Ensure proper use of UK English grammar, including punctuation and sentence structure.
3. **Identify Errors:** List any instances of spelling or grammatical errors that do not conform to UK English standards.
4. **Provide Corrections:** Suggest the correct UK English spelling or grammar for each identified error.
5. **Z:** Remember there are many words in American seplling with Z that are S in UK spelling. 

**Output Format:**
Provide a list of identified errors with corrections. Each entry should include:
- **Question:** the question as a header - all errors should be grouped per question. 
- **Error:** The incorrect spelling or grammar found in the answers.
- **Correction:** The suggested correction according to UK English standards.

**Example Output:**
**Identified Errors in the Value for money question:**
1. **Error:** Color
   **Correction:** Colour
2. **Error:** Organize
   **Correction:** Organise
3. **Error:** Traveling
   **Correction:** Travelling
4. **Error:** Center
   **Correction:** Centre

**Identified Errors in the ...
**Task Execution:**
Using the provided [answers], perform a thorough UK spelling and grammar check and list any errors found along with their corrections. List the errors grouped with header into questions, starting from the title. 
__________________
[answers] PASTE YOUR CONTENT

Correction Implementation prompt

Rewrite this [answer] to this [question] on a grant application implementing these [corrections] and these ones too:
- No introduction or summary nor reference to the guidelines in this prompt. 
- JUST THE REWRITTEN ANSWER

[answer] PASTE ANSWER [/answer] 
[question] PASTE QUESTION NAME [/question] 
[corrections] PASTE CORRECTIONS [/corrections]

There you have it, folks! With these prompts, your grant applications will be as British as queuing, apologising unnecessarily, and discussing the weather ad nauseam.

Remember, when it comes to grant writing, every letter counts. So let's make sure they're the right letters, in the right order, with a dash of British charm. Cheerio!