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Creating a Style Guide: How to Improve Consistency and Communication for Employees and Freelancers

$125.00

Creating a Style Guide: How to Improve Consistency and Communication for Employees and Freelancers

Learn the ins and outs of creating a unique style guide that will improve your consistency and communication, while paying mind to the importance of grammar, punctuation, inclusive language and tone considerations. This course can be taken independently or as part of the Poynter ACES Advanced Certificate in Editing.

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Overview

  • This course is part of the Poynter ACES Advanced Certificate in Editing.
  • Newly revised and updated for 2025 to provide the latest tools, techniques and thinking.
  • Enjoy a significant discount on the Advanced Certificate with an ACES membership.
  • Polish your expertise in the final level of our three-part editing certification program.
  • Go at your own pace with this asynchronous course.
  • Improve consistency with internal and external communications.
  • Learn tactics to ensure regular updates of the guide.

$125.00

SKU: POSDC06-24 Learning Path: Tags: , ,

Learning Outcomes

In this course, you will:

  • Learn about three types of style documents and how a house style guide can improve communications.
  • Get an overview of considerations for your style guide: a words list, punctuation, inclusive language plus voice and tone.
  • Explore ways to share your style guide, including pros and cons of each method.
  • Gain tactics for ensuring the style guide is a living document that updates regularly.

$125.00

Overview

  • This course is part of the Poynter ACES Advanced Certificate in Editing.
  • Newly revised and updated for 2025 to provide the latest tools, techniques and thinking.
  • Enjoy a significant discount on the Advanced Certificate with an ACES membership.
  • Polish your expertise in the final level of our three-part editing certification program.
  • Go at your own pace with this asynchronous course.
  • Improve consistency with internal and external communications.
  • Learn tactics to ensure regular updates of the guide.

Training five or more people?
Check out our custom training.

Style guides are essential for all types of groups: publishing houses, media outlets, government agencies, universities, companies and nonprofits.

Everyone needs a framework for consistency.

And knowing how to create one is important not just for “in house” employees but also for freelancers. That’s because many organizations — even large ones — don’t have house style guides. Those that exist often aren’t robust enough to answer all the questions a professional editor needs to do their work.

You’ll add tremendous value once you’re recognized as someone with the expertise to create a style guide.

In this course, you’ll

  • Learn how a house style guide can improve communications.
  • Explore ways to share your guide, including pros and cons of each method.
  • Gain tactics for ensuring the guide is a living document that updates regularly.

You’ll leave empowered to provide a tool that can ensure smooth communication.

Questions?

If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.

This asynchronous course takes about 90 minutes to complete.

It consists of readings, videos and activities designed to improve your editing skills.

You can go at your own pace. Your progress will be recorded.

The course culminates in a 10-question quiz. To pass, you must achieve a score of 80% or better (eight or more correct answers). You must complete the quiz in one sitting. You cannot pause or come back to it, but there is no time limit on it and you can take it as many times as needed to pass.

This course is part of the Poynter ACES Advanced Certificate in Editing. While the Introductory and Intermediate certificates are not prerequisites, it is recommended that you complete them before you start the Advanced Certificate.

You can take this course independently, without enrolling in the Advanced Certificate learning path.

Who should enroll

This course is designed for editors who want to learn how to build a internal style guide and why that’s important. It is appropriate for all level of editors.

Cost

$125

Instructors

  • Samantha Enslen
    President and Founder, Dragonfly Editorial
    Samantha Enslen runs Dragonfly Editorial, a creative agency known for explaining complex topics clearly. She is the former editorial manager at CSC and former contributing...
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