Your web content is ready. You know what you want to say on your site. But what's the correct way to say it?
Should you say who or whom?
Is it there or their... or they’re?
How will you use punctuation when abbreviating academic degrees?
Careful editing and proofreading will help you to prepare web content that effectively communicates the information you want to share. And you don't have to memorize all the rules! When you have a question, you can always look it up.
Here are some references and resources to help you along the way.
Not sure? Just look it up!
The mechanics of writing include grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation—all the details of the correct use of language. It’s what we learned in school; and then, more often than not, we forgot it.
Editorial style is a set of choices about how we use words. A style guide is a way of creating and maintaining clarity and consistency in our writing. When we use an agreed-upon set of style guidelines, decisions about "how to say it" become much easier.
Please refer to these references as you prepare stories and announcements for your sites.
It's helpful to have a good dictionary and a comprehensive style reference handy on your department's bookshelf—or the online equivalent of each. These guides are useful for anyone who writes—whether it's web content or other types of communications.
One of the best tools you can have at hand—in addition to standard references—is your own word list. Your group should develop a list that is specific to your department, lab, or program, to include the words, names, and specific style questions that crop up most often. These are things you wouldn't be able to look up in a book. For example, you may have a faculty member whose name has an unusual spelling. Or perhaps your program has nomenclature that needs to be presented consistently across your site. Your word list will grow over time, becoming more useful with each addition. If the list is kept in a shared location (such as UCSF Box or Google Docs), you can easily share it with your group.
Would you like to post news on your department, lab, or program site?
Try our News Writing Tips.
File a ticket using our Website Support form.
The correct answer is one. One space after a period.