Style guide

Summary / contents

Summary

The Style guide is designed to help all of us to work together to present a consistent, approachable and positive image of Hampshire County Council in our written communications. It should be used alongside our corporate identity.

The Style guide primarily covers communications produced in-house on a personal computer, eg:

• emails

• memos

• letters

• faxes

• Hantsnet, Hantsnet 2000 and Hantsweb communications

• reports

• departmental newsletters

• leaflets

• other publications.

When using a professional copywriter or designer to produce publications and marketing materials, you should make sure they abide by our house style.

Departments with their own house style templates should still comply with this guidance. There are also some corporate templates on IT 2000, which incorporate this style guidance and the corporate identity. Ask your departmental template administrator for more information.

This guide takes the Disability Discrimination Act into account. Since October 1999, it has been unlawful for any service provider to discriminate against a disabled person under the Act. This means that all our services must be accessible to people with disabilities. Specific guidance on clear communications, including large-print publications, is also available, known as Access for all.

This version of the Style guide includes a list of 15 golden rules - a useful guide to the most important points to remember from the Style guide.

Style guide contents

• 15 golden rules

• Introduction

• Essentials

• General layout and style

• Plain English

• Further information

• Appendix A: sample letter layout

• Appendix B: example of report numbering

• Appendix C: sample tables

• Appendix D: sample forms

• Appendix E: words and phrases to avoid and some alternatives

A downloadable Word version of the Style Guide is available by clicking here.