When I started out as a journalist many years ago, the most important document in the newsroom was the newspaper’s style guide.
The style guide set out all the rules for how the newspaper’s journalists and sub-editors wrote certain things.
If an argument broke out – it was settled by opening the style guide.
Writing style guides are like bibles for newspaper staff
English is fluid and ever evolving. The style guide set out rules and gave us and our readers consistency.
It told us how to spell the names of people, places, or businesses in our local area. It set out grammar rules and made sure our punctuation was consistent.
In today’s global market, having a style guide seems quaint or old fashioned.
But a style guide is about reputation, and today, reputation is vital.
Having a consistent style for writing, punctuation, and grammar for printed and web materials across an organisation helps maintain its reputation for quality work.
The style guide will help clarify how you talk to your customers about what your business does.
Your style guide can help you work out:
whether you use Australian, British or American English
what you should call your customers
how to spell common industry words
how and when to use an acronym.
A good style guide will also help your communications team or content creators. They will not have to waste time researching the answers to common spelling or grammar issues.
It is also a great resource if you engage a copywriter, editor, communications or marketing contractor.
Need help?
If you want help creating a style guide for your organisation, get in touch.