Style guide
The style guide acts as a neutral arbiter of 'the right way' to write for this project. This helps to ensure a consistent standard and to minimise edits and rework — which is especially important for a project which will involve multiple authors who work at different times and places.
With proper use, the style guide helps us to:
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Be consistent. We avoid inconsistencies that confuse or annoy readers.
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Reduce confrontation, because the authority lies with the style guide. People tend to think that their way of writing something is the best way — but we don’t all agree. The style guide acts as a neutral arbiter of style. This makes it easier for us to set aside personal preferences and biases.
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Raise the level of trust among contributors. It is easier to collaborate on content when everyone works to the same conventions without heated debate over trivia.
And, writing to a consistent style means:
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Fewer edits, less rework. We produce high quality content more quickly.
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Faster onboarding. New contributors can quickly understand and meet expectations.
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Better content. We avoid ambiguity and common mistakes, so that the publication is easy to understand and free of needless distractions.