Style guide development for non-fiction publications

Keep every title clear, consistent and recognizably yours.

‘Hazel did excellent work in terms of checking for consistency. She kindly took the time to explain the reasons for certain changes. This has helped us in terms of developing a more consistent house style.’

Healthcare non-profit

You’re publishing across a programme, a series or multiple teams

Yet, each piece reads a little differently. One writer uses ‘-ise’, another prefers ‘-ize’. Headings drift. Notes switch systems between chapters.

You’ve been asked to make everything consistent, but the rules are scattered across emails (and memory!). You don’t want a document that gathers dust. You want solid guidance that people can actually use.

My approach to style guide development

You need a style guide that fits your readers, your publication types and the way your team works.

It should settle common debates, set defaults for tricky calls and include examples that make decisions easy. It also needs to connect with editing, design or typesetting, and final checks.

This is exactly what my style guide development service offers.

‘We have been delighted with the service provided by Wordstitch Editorial [now The Better Edit]. They have been consummately professional, have a can-do (and will-sort) attitude and they have protected us from a lot of the usual aggravation that can come as texts are prepared for publication.’

Mark and Bernie Fishpool
Authors of Software Development in Practice (BCS, The Institute for IT, 2020)

Hire me and I’ll…

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Review your recent publications, current preferences and pain points

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Build a guide that balances clarity with flexibility for real-world use

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Set the core elements: spelling and punctuation (UK, US or a considered hybrid), headings and hierarchy, numbers and dates, abbreviations, tone and voice, and conventions for captions, tables and figures

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Align any citations or notes with an agreed referencing system

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Reconcile existing fragments of guidance and remove contradictions

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Add short ‘before’ and ‘after’ examples to help decision-making

Where I offer the most significant impact

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Organizations that publish a series or programme and want a coherent voice

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Teams that work with a mix of in-house and freelance contributors

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Publications or series with contributors who write in different styles (e.g. UK and US English)

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Art history or a heavily referenced work that needs text and notes to work together harmoniously

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Publications across history and genealogy, UK charities, climate and ethical business, and peace and security.

‘Hazel handled everything in a calm and professional way which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. It’s been a pleasure to work with someone as skilled as Hazel.’

Emily Pedder
Director of The Book Edit and The Academic Edit

When you get help with style development…

You stop re-deciding the same questions, because the defaults are clear. Editors and authors move more quickly. Designers receive consistent headings, captions and lists. New contributors come up to speed sooner. And, most of all, the finished work reads as one voice from one organization with a steady hand.