Comments on: Starting a Style Guide for Your Business

By: Sally, Snappy Sentences

Sally, Snappy Sentences — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:18:42 +0000

@Krissy and @Desolie

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the feedback.

By: Desolie

Desolie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:56:34 +0000

A style sheet is essential. For my own business, it means I don’t have to try to remember what I’d decided … or try to figure it out again, and I’ve included ‘my’ colours.
When I receive a document for editing, establishing a style sheet is the first thing I do, recording acronyms and abbreviations, unusual spelling, specialised terms, noting heading, caption and table styles.
Lack of consistency can turn readers away, so it’s worth the effort.

Love your work, Sally.

By: Krissy

Krissy — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:53:14 +0000

What a great article Sally! Very helpful and some great tips.

By: Sally, Snappy Sentences

Sally, Snappy Sentences — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:50:16 +0000

Thanks for your comments!

@Pam – I usually create a cheat sheet for my projects and quite often will develop this into a mini style guide for my client. It helps prevent content becoming dis-jointed as soon as others maintain it.

@Bill – I feel your pain. And the more rules are set in place, the more rules will be ignored.

By: Carlee Potter

Carlee Potter — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:04:21 +0000

@Bill – I’m so glad to hear someone else has that problem! I did myself a real doozy naming my business SNOBS when the true acronym for the full business name should be S.N.O.B
That means SNOBs isn’t a correct way to write it either because the last work of the title (businesswomen) is already plural. Aargh!
I mostly write SNOBS when abbreviating the business name and SNOBS’ when referring to something on the site – like “SNOBS’ subscribers” or “SNOBS’ New Kids on the Block section”.
I think I’ve got it right, kinda.
Carlee, Chief SNOB

By: Bill Harper

Bill Harper — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:47:30 +0000

One thing we never seem to agree on at work is the possessive form of our organisation’s acronym. (It doesn’t help that it ends in ’s’.)

Great post, Sally.

By: Pamela Wilson

Pamela Wilson — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:39:22 +0000

I am currently writing a style guide for a publisher I work for. The best thing about estabilshing a style guide is that it makes your job so much easier! I also enjoy having to go deep into the theory of grammar and pluck out the reasons for my choices.