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Guide Standards

LibGuide Best Practices at the UVA Library

Style Guide Overview

The Style Guide Overview will describe the conventions we've adopted for styling the content in our guides.

This page discusses:

  • Tone
  • Standard terms
  • Using images

Tone

Getting Personal

It's okay to use a conversational tone in your writing.

  • Use "I" and We" when you are speaking on behalf of the library
  • Refer to our users as "you."

 For example: "We have scanners and photocopiers in the library" is better than "The library has scanners and photocopiers."

Instead of: Try:
The library has scanners and photocopiers. We have scanners photocopiers in the library.

 

 

 

Active Voice

Writing in the active voice gives our text a less formal quality. It also keeps the message clear and keeps sentences shorter.

Instead of: Try:
In support of the research needs of individuals with disabilities, we provide a variety of services. We provide a variety of services and equipment in support of the research needs of individuals with disabilities.

 

 

 

Standard Terms

For consistency's sake, we've decided on a few terms that we encourage you to use in your Guide.

  • Use UVA Library instead of U.Va. Library or the Library
  • Use On-Grounds or on-Grounds if you refer to a location of a resource or user
  • Capitalize Guide when you are referring your Guide or another--this will help us convey the concept of the Guides to users

For an official, comprehensive list of the University's abbreviations, see the University Style Guide.

Using Images

Images are a great way to illustrate a point that could take a lot longer if you explained it.

When you use images in your Guide, make sure:

  • The image is only as big as it needs to be. No need to include a full screenshot when you're talking about one element on a page
  • Include "Alternative Text" for every image in your Guide to make it accessible
    • Alt Text should be short and descriptive
    • If your image includes text, include it in the Alt Text

You can find more information about accessibility in the Accessibility tab of this guide.

Further Reading