Standard: Writing Style
Brief description
(see the full document below for details)
It helps EPA look like one organization if we use the same writing style.
Note: This is a "legacy" standard, written before the Web Council was created. It has been in force since the effective date. Since the creation of the Web Council, it has been rewritten to follow the normal layout for standards. "Date approved" refers to when the Web Council approved this rewritten version.
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Content requirements
- Writing must:
- be clear, concise, and well-organized.
- be written at a level appropriate to the primary audiences, except home pages and Basic Information pages, which must be written at a level understandable by the general public.
- follow rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
- be as comprehensive as possible.
- not contradict or duplicate other EPA information without explanation.
- spell out acronyms the first time they appear on each Web page.
- After the first reference to an EPA Region, list the states in that Region in parentheses. Note that this list is built into regional templates.
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Style requirements
- Use ampersands only when they are part of a formal name (e.g., C&O Railroad) or when space is at a premium (e.g., in the left sidebar). Otherwise, spell out the word "and."
- Spell out whole numbers below 10, but use figures for 10 and above. Common exceptions to this rule: a 5-year-old girl, 3 percent, 6 cents; another common exception is that a number at the beginning of a sentence should be spelled out, regardless of value: Twelve programs contributed to this project.
- Follow the Policy and Implementation Guide for Communications Product Development and Approval writing style standards.
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Rationale
The EPA mandate of creating “One Agency, One Voice” includes writing at a consistently high level of quality to produce clear and effective communication, which enhances the Agency’s credibility and reinforces the EPA brand.
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See Also
Policy and Implementation Guide for Communications Product Development and Approval
Associated Press Stylebook: http://www.epa.gov/productreview/guide/apstylebook.html
Plainlanguage.gov: http://www.plainlanguage.gov
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Related governance documents
EPA
Related Policies
Related Procedures
Related Standards
Related Guidance
Non-EPA
None
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Full Metadata about this standard
Name Writing Style
Tracking number NT00000000
Type Standard
Required or Recommended Required
Effective date 01/01/2004
Date approved 03/12/2007
Category Writing and Style
Web Council review by 03/12/2009 (or earlier if deemed necessary by the Web Council)
Governing Policy Web Governance and Management (PDF) (4 pp, 339K, About PDF)
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