As a reporter, we’re always following AP style guidelines. And we dream often of a day when someone will put together a patch for Word and Office products that will change the auto-format, correction etc., in the software to go along with AP style, rather than MLA, or whatever style Microsoft has chosen to use.
Churchmarketingsucks.com has an article this week encouraging churches to adopt a style guide as well.
If you have any sort of background with words you understand the importance of a style guide. Is it Gospel or gospel? Are pronouns referring to God capitalized? Is it Church or church? Oxford commas, or no? In many cases either option can be correct and it’s a matter of opinion. But having both options in the same brochure would be kind of silly. Consistency is the key, and for that you need a style guide.
I think this is a good idea for anyone who does any type of publishing.
You can start from scratch or adopt and amend exisiting style guides.
Here are some pre-existing guides:
Wired Churches
AP Stylebook
Eats, Shoots and Leaves
