Editorial Style Guide: [publication / product]

The rules that make many writers sound like one voice. A rule without an example gets ignored; a rule without a reason gets resented.

Field	Value
Applies to	[docs / blog / all content]
Owner	@name
Version	N.N
Last review	YYYY-MM-DD

Voice

• [3 adjectives – e.g. direct, helpful, unpretentious]
• Write to one reader ("you"), not an audience
• Active voice by default; passive only when the actor is irrelevant

Grammar & mechanics

Rule	Standard	Example
Serial comma	yes / no	"a, b, and c"
Numbers	[spell <= nine, digits >= 10]
Dates	YYYY-MM-DD
Capitalization	[sentence case headings]
Dashes	en dash – for ranges, no spaced em dash

Terminology

Write this	Not this	Why
[preferred term]	[banned term]	[reason]

Formatting

• Headings: sentence case, no terminal period
• Code: inline backticks; blocks with language tags
• Links: descriptive text, never "click here"
• Lists: parallel structure; periods only on full sentences
• Images: alt text required, describes function

Inclusive language

• [rules – e.g. neutral pronouns, no ablist terms]
• [localization notes – things that don't translate]

Common mistakes (observed)

Wrong	Right	Source (real example)

Exceptions & escalation

Rules yield to clarity. Disputes: @name arbitrates; document the outcome here.

Reference style

Fallback authority: [Chicago Manual / AP / internal decisions win].