Why use a customised style guide?

A style guide is a valuable resource that can support staff who need to write clearly, concisely and correctly. It can also help to build a consistency of tone and style within your organisation and will provide staff with a firm foundation in punctuation, grammar and use of English.

Our style guides are customised and use authentic examples from your reports, emails, letters, website and publications. The ‘before’ and ‘after’ format helps staff to understand how to write clearly and correctly.

Style guides are written after consultation with the appropriate stakeholders, to ensure content is suitable. High Performance writers have been involved in creating style guides for Vhi Healthcare, Ulster Bank, the Oireachtas, O’Donnell Sweeney Eversheds Solicitors and Dublin Bus.

What goes into a style guide?

1.Introduction

• Why is good writing important?
• What are our writing principles and priorities?
• What is a style guide?
• Why do we have one?
• How do you use it?

2.Your basic rules for all writing – internal and external – including:

• Dates and times
• Numbers
• Common terms (for products and services)
• Grammar (e.g. common errors)
• Layout rules (fonts, headings etc.) and graphics guidelines

• Use clear professional English
• Be concise and correct
• Ensure language used is appropriate for the intended readers
• Check that readers will understand your message

• Typical situations (do’s and don’ts), using samples from  authentic communications
• Advice on handling sensitive / complex communications
• Layout conventions

5.A-Z – using authentic in-house examples – searchable, including:

• Punctuation (from apostrophe to semi-colon)
• Commonly confused words
• Jargon / phrases to avoid

6.An email address is made available for staff to submit queries and suggestions (for six months).