Writing style guidelines

Creating clear messages helps everyone understand and use government services. Good writing guidelines ensure that everyone in a team shares information in ways that work for all community members.

Key elements of effective writing style:

• Message clarity: Short words and sentences that explain things without confusion
• Document structure: Headings and lists that make reading easier for everyone
• Voice and tone: Direct way of explaining who does what and when
• Word choice: Simple words that most people know and use daily
• Reading flow: Short paragraphs with one main idea each
• Accessibility focus: Text that works well with screen readers
• Cultural awareness: Words that respect all community groups
• Translation support: Writing that makes sense in other languages
• Real examples: Stories and situations from everyday life
• Reading level check: Testing if writing is easy to understand^[1]