What Is A Style Guide And Why Do I Need One?

In this post, ‘What Is A Style Guide?’, we explain what a style guide is and why you need one when you write. We include examples of style guides.

What Is A Style Guide?

A style guide is a document that is created by editors, managers, or producers to define how they want writers to write. It prescribes how employees should use grammar, tone, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. All of these define your company’s writing style, which, in turn influences the way customers perceive you.

It usually covers things like:

1. Grammar
2. Formatting
3. Spelling
4. General recommendations

A grammar concern could be whether or not you use the Oxford comma. Formatting guidelines would include fonts, bullet points, and margins. Do you use American or British spelling? General writing recommendations could include rules for the usage of acronyms and jargon.

[Recommended reading: 10 Things You Should Not Exclude From Your Company’s Style Guide]

Why do I need one?

Style guides are vital if you want to present a polished and professional image. They also help staff members who may struggle to understand your company’s writing rules. Read this post to see what I mean: 4 Ways A Style Guide Will Revolutionise Your Organisation’s Communication

Examples Of Online Style Guides

These companies and institutions use their own style guides for their employees and writers to follow. The rules change depending on the guide.

Online UK Style Guides:

1. The Guardian Style Guide
2. The Economist Style Guide
3. The Telegraph Style Guide
4. The Modern Humanities Research Association Style Guide (mainly for writing theses)

Online US Style Guides:

1. Purdue OWL
2. APA Style
3. Chicago Manual of Style
4. The Tameri Guide for Writers

Compiling a style guide can be hard work, but it can be made easier if you choose the correct person to do it for you. You also need to consider how you will share it with your employees and how you will update it.

If you want suggestions on how to do this, you could follow these steps: Create a Style Guide for your Company in 10 Steps

Resources for business writers:

1. The Complete Grammar Workbook
2. The Complete Email Workbook
3. The Report Writing Workbook

by Amanda Patterson

If you enjoyed this article, read these posts:

1. 5 Fool Proof Ways To Write Better Emails
2. Punctuation For Beginners: What Is Punctuation?
3. All About Parts Of Speech

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