No matter the length of your copy, having any inconsistency in how it is written will lessen its value. Discrepancies will always be noticed (and pointed out!) by the reader, they cause confusion and distract from the purpose of your writing.

The best and simplest way to avoid inconsistencies (and endless re-writes and edits further down the line) is to create a style sheet before you write any copy. It is an essential tool for ensuring consistency in any written project and therefore you should consider creating one as a key step to take before you begin, and an absolute must to include in your brief to the proofreader (see my helpful guide on setting a good brief here).

You can create a style sheet after writing your copy, but this will normally result in far more extensive editing at the proofreading stage, as you’ve not had it to hand whilst writing the copy.

A style sheet outlines the writer’s preference for rules and styles in their writing and covers the following key topics:

• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Formatting
• Capitalisation
• Terminology

A good proofreader will always ask for a style sheet at the commencement of the project. If no style sheet exists, then there are standard rules and styles a proofreader can follow when checking over your copy. However, it’s worth noting that these rules and styles may differ depending on the proofreader’s training and background, so it’s worth checking and agreeing on this upfront.

Whilst a quick search online will provide you with a few options for style sheet templates, as a keen collaborator I’m always happy to provide a basic style sheet template for you to use for our project, so don’t hesitate to ask for one when you get in touch!