I’m helping two friends who have just completed a book manuscript. They work beautifully together and will have a wonderful book when it’s finished.
But right now, tiny inconsistencies appear everywhere. In one chapter, all numbers are in words; in another, most numbers are in figures. Sometimes the names of months are spelled out, but sometimes it’s Feb., Sept., and Dec. People’s titles, possessive forms of names that end in s, academic degrees, the names of states–all are rendered various ways. Those inconsistencies would diminish the book if they remained in the final published copy.
Yes, the writers need a proofreader. But they also need a style sheet–a set of rules that govern situations where more than one choice is correct.
You might think that’s the job of a style manual. Why don’t they just choose The Chicago Manual of Style or AP Stylebook and follow its rules?
A style manual could help them eliminate lots of inconsistencies. But it couldn’t include guidance on how to render terms that are specific to their subject.
For instance, it couldn’t tell them whether to use Seattle First Baptist Church, Seattle First Baptist, First Baptist, Seattle First, SFBC–or all five ways to refer to the church whose history they are capturing. Only they can make the many decisions like that one. And in each case, they need to record their decision so they don’t end up having to decide over and over or to undo the work of a copyeditor or proofreader who wasn’t in on the decision.
Where might you use a style sheet to keep track of editorial decisions and avoid embarrassing inconsistencies?
If you write articles, newsletters, web content, brochures, procedures, annual reports–all kinds of business pieces–a style sheet can save you embarrassment and hours of time revisiting style questions.
Beyond that use, if you have new employees, contractors, or interns, a style sheet can help them use the correct terms from the start. For instance, how do you render your company name? Is it like one of these?
Our Company
OurCompany
our company
ourcompany
Our Company Inc.
Our Company, Inc.
OUR COMPANY
OUR COMPANY LTD.
How your company name is spelled, capitalized, and formatted is anyone’s guess. And the correct rendering will not appear in a style manual. It has to be on your style sheet.
Click the image below to see a sharper copy of a style sheet in progress.
Take these steps to create and maintain a style sheet:
- Make a list of names, expressions, and punctuation that your organization uses that people render–or might render–different ways. Examples: SHUTTLE, Shuttle, shuttle; a.m., A.M., AM.; web page, webpage; serial comma, no serial comma.
- With a small representative group of writers (including someone from corporate communications), decide which way will become the standard, that is, the right way for each item on the list. You will probably need to consult style manuals for guidance on some choices.
Note: Do not create norms that disagree with widely accepted rules, or you will continually be defending them. - Alphabetize the style sheet.
- Post the style sheet online and invite a wider group of people to make suggestions or corrections.
- Make the style sheet accessible to everyone in the organization, and inform everyone of its purpose and importance.
- Continue to remind people about the style sheet and how to access and update it.
At companies where I’ve taught business writing courses, a corporate communications person has often lamented the fact that a style sheet exists but no one pays attention to it. If you include information about it in employee onboarding, lunch and learns, writing courses, newsletters, etc., your style sheet can be a valuable living document throughout the organization.
But for my friends who have just finished their church history, a style sheet will be the key to a clear, correct, impeccable final manuscript and book. I’d better get back to working on it!
Do you have questions or comments on style sheets? I’m happy to help.
Lynn
