Style Guide for Y Travel Blog

Rachel Rubio
Updated on June 14, 2015
Y travel bloga blog that is about all things travelis read by people from all
over the world. In addition to blog posts, it also contains city guides and travel
tips for more than one hundred destinations. Although the writers, Caz and
Craig, have posted from around the world, they are based mainly in Australia.
The blog has two main goals, (1) to inspire people to travel, (2) to help people
meet their travel goals. The blog meets these goals by posting quality content
and responding to comments regularly.
This style guide attempts to make future publications as clear and consistent as
possible for its international audience. For issues relating to the international
audience, Edmond Weisss The Elements of International English: A Guide to Writing
English Correspondence, Reports, Technical Documents, and Internet Pages for a Global
Audience (referred to simply as Weiss hereafter) is used as a source and a
reference.
However, this style guide is not comprehensive. On issues not mentioned on
this style guide, please refer to The Chicago Manual of Style 16th ed. (referred to
simply as Chicago hereafter).

Table of Contents
1

Punctuation
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5

Numbers
2.1
2.2
2.3

Use of numerals
Dates
2.2.1
Writing specific dates
2.2.2
Decades
Time of day

Capitalization
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

Commas
1.1.1
Serial commas
1.1.2
Aggressive use of commas
Semicolons
Exclamation points
Em dashes
Parentheses

Sentence-style on display text

Countries
Mountains
Company names

Lists
4.1
4.2

Vertical lists
Run-in lists

Spelling and Hyphenation

Usage

5.1
5.2
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7

Standard spellings
Aggressive use of hyphens
That
Modifiers
Shorter sentences
Preference of the active voice to the passive voice
Figurative language
Noun to verb conversion
Simple sentences over compound sentences

1 Punctuation
1.1 Commas
1.1.1 Serial Commas
Serial commas should be used in lists containing three or more items preceding
and or nor. This helps avoid misinterpretations by nonnative English speakers.
(See Chicago 6.18.)
NOT
Broome just forgives, embraces and accepts.
BUT
Broom just forgives, embraces, and accepts.
1.1.2

Aggressive use of commas

Because Y Travel Blogs audience is mainly nonnative English speakers, it is best
to use commas aggressively in order to provide more clarity and less ambiguity.
(See Weiss 72.)
NOT
Beginning at Greenfield Beach picnic area just south of Vincentia the White
Sands Walk is aptly named as it meanders through a chain of pristine beaches in
the Jervis Bay regionChinamans, Greenfield, Hyams and other inletswhich
all have that beautiful white powdery sand.
BUT
Beginning at Greenfield Beach picnic area, just south of Vincentia, the White
Sands Walk is aptly named, as it meanders through a chain of pristine beaches in
the Jervis Bay regionChinamans, Greenfield, Hyams, and other inletwhich
all have that beautiful white powdery sand.

1.2 Semicolons
A semicolon should be used when joining two independent clauses. (See Chicago 6.54.)
NOT
The White Sands Walk is not challenging at all, it is suitable for all levels and age groups.
BUT
The White Sands Walk is not challenging at all; it is suitable for all levels and age groups.
1.3 Exclamation points
When overused, exclamation points lose their impact. Therefore, exclamation points
should be used sparingly for emphatic expression in running text. Only one exclamation
should be used per sentence. (See Chicago 6.71.)

NOT
Our last trip to Tokyo was amazing!!!
BUT
Our last trip to Tokyo was amazing.
1.4 Em dashes
No spaces should be used surrounding Em dashes. (See Chicago 2.13.)
NOT
When youre alert and experiencing the world through your five senses and not your
mind which only focuses on the past or worries about the future then you see the
opportunities banging on your door.
BUT
When youre alert and experiencing the world through your five senses and not your
mindwhich focuses only on the past or worries about the futurethen you see the
opportunities banging on your door.
1.5 Parentheses
To avoid confusion in meaning, parentheses should be used to set off optional material
from the surrounding text. (See Chicago 6.92.)
NOT
The previous day-time discussion with her Hills sisters about the present mid 20s crisis
and how they are all figuring it out, got her thinking about how her life is remaining
stagnant while her friends are moving forwardmid-20s crises? I didnt even know
what crises meant then.
BUT
The previous day-time discussion with her Hills sisters about the present mid
20s crisis and how they are all figuring it out, got her thinking about how her life is
remaining stagnant while her friends are moving forward (mid 20s crises? I didnt even
know what crises meant then).

2 Numbers
2.1 Use of numerals
Only single-digit numbers should be spelled out. Numerals should be used for all others.
NOT
We will be in Queensland 9 days from now.
BUT
We will be in Queensland nine days from now.
2.2 Dates
2.2.1 Writing specific dates
Because the order of the month and day vary across the world, when writing a
specific date, always use the name of the month instead of the numeral. In the
US, 03/12/2014 means March 12, 2014. However, in many other countries,
03/12/2014 means December 03, 2013. (See Weiss 48.)
NOT
03/12/2014
BUT
March 12, 2014
2.2.2 Decades
When it comes to decades, Chicago should be followed. Decades are to be
expressed in numerals without an apostrophe. (See Chicago 9.34.)
NOT
The 90s were a wonderful time in my life.
BUT
The 90s were a wonderful time in my life.
2.3 Time of day
Numerals should be used when expressing the exact time of day. (See Chicago 9.38.)
NOT
We arrived at five-thirty a.m.
BUT
We arrived at 5:30 a.m.

3 Capitalization
3.1 Sentence-style on display text
In order to maintain consistency throughout the blog, sentence-style capitalization must
be used on display text such as subject titles.
NOT
Nine Tips to a Better Travel Experience
BUT
Nine tips to a better travel experience
3.2 Countries
Names of countries should be capitalized. (See Chicago 8.44.)
NOT
We traveled to thailand, indonesia, and china.
BUT
We traveled to Thailand, Bali, and China.
3.3 Mountains
Names of mountains should be capitalized. (See Chicago 8.52.)
NOT
In the US, we explored mount sanford, mount foraker, and mount bona.
BUT
In the US, we explored Mount Sanford, Mount Foraker, and Mount Bona.
3.4 Company names
Company names should be capitalized in running text. (See Chicago 8.67.)
NOT
This post was sponsored by blue apron.
BUT
This post was sponsored by Blue Apron.

4 Lists
4.1 Vertical lists
Items in a vertical list should be parallel. (See Chicago 6.121.)
NOT
Reasons to return to the oils folks:
1) simpler
2) cleaner
3) more nourishing
4) cheaper
5) very portable
BUT
Its a return to the oils folks:
1) simpler
2) cleaner
3) more nourishing
4) cheaper
5) more portable
4.2 Run-in lists
Shorter lists should be included in the running text. If the items on the list are
separated by letters or numbers, the letters or numbers must be enclosed in
parentheses. (See Chicago 6.123.)
NOT
My daily activities include, 1, sleeping, 2, reading, 3, cooking, and 4, doing yoga.
BUT
My daily activities include, (1) sleeping, (2) reading, (3) cooking, and (4) doing
yoga.

5 Spelling and Hyphenation

5.1 Spelling
To prevent confusion in meaning for nonnative English speakers, standard spellings are
preferred to newer spellings. (See Weiss 46.)
NOT
I enjoy a lite breakfast every morning.
BUT
I enjoy a light breakfast every morning.
5.2 Use hyphens aggressively.
Use hyphens aggressively to add clarity for nonnative English speakers. (See Weiss 73.)
NOT
Maxabella coauthored this post.
BUT
Maxabella co-authored this post.

6 Usage
6.1 That
The world that should always be used in order to add clarity for nonnative English
speakers. (See Weiss 69.)
NOT
Many times we say we dont have the money because what were asking to spend our
money on is not really a priority, or were frightened we cant make it work.
BUT
Many times we say that we dont have the money because what were asking to spend
our money on is not really a priority, or were frightened we cant make it work.
6.2 Modifiers
A modifier should be positioned directly next to the word it is modifying.
NOT
Do you see my daughter playing in the water with a hat?
BUT
Do you see my daughter, who is wearing a hat, playing in the water?
6.3 Shorter sentences
Shorter sentences provide an easier reading experience for nonnative English speakers.
(See Weiss 66.)
NOT
It has been observed by many that this island is indeed, very beautiful.
BUT
Many observed the islands beauty.
6.4 Preference of the active voice to the passive voice
The active voice provides more clarity, as well as an easier reading experience for
nonnative English speakers. (See Weiss 25.)
NOT
All possibilities were considered by us.
BUT
We considered all possibilities.

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6.5 Figurative language

To prevent confusion in meaning and possible error in interpretation by nonnative
English speakers, avoid using figurative language. (See Weiss 52.)
NOT
I have a list of things I want to do before I kick the bucket.
BUT
I have a list of things I want to do before I die.
6.6 Noun to verb conversion
Because Y Travel Blog has an international audience, avoid turning nouns into verbs.
Turning nouns into verbs gives way for ambiguity and confusion in meaning as
nonnative English speakers may not understand the intended meaning completely. (See
Weiss 47.)
NOT
We visited Coca-Cola, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
BUT
We visited the Coca-Cola headquarters, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia.
6.7 Simple sentences over compound sentences
Simple sentences are more straightforward. Thus, they add clarity and also provide an
easier reading experience for nonnative English speakers. (See Weiss 67.)
NOT
Were going to share several posts on Karijini because the walks are amazing, we have
too many photos that you will hopefully love and we cant fit it all into one post, and its
awesome for kids, because the walks werent so challenging.
BUT
Were going to share several posts on Karijini because the walks are amazing. We have
too many photos that you will hopefully love. We cant fit it all into one post. Also, its
awesome for kids, because the walks werent so challenging.

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