What is Style Sheet?
A document that records specific editorial decisions and exceptions for a particular publication, project, or piece of content, supplementing a general style guide.
Style Sheet Explained
A style sheet (in the editorial sense, not CSS) is a working document that records specific editorial decisions made during the creation of a publication or project. While a style guide provides general rules (like AP Style or Chicago Manual), a style sheet captures the particular choices, exceptions, and preferences that apply to a specific context. This includes preferred spellings of names and terms, capitalization decisions, abbreviation choices, number formatting preferences, and any deviations from the general style guide. Style sheets ensure consistency within a single project or publication, especially when multiple writers and editors contribute. They evolve during production as new decisions are made and serve as the definitive reference for that specific work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a style sheet and a style guide?
A style guide is a comprehensive reference for general writing standards (grammar, punctuation, formatting rules). A style sheet is project-specific: it records particular decisions and exceptions for a specific publication. The style guide is the general law; the style sheet is the local ordinance. You follow the guide unless the sheet says otherwise.
What belongs on an editorial style sheet?
Proper nouns and their spellings, technical terms and their definitions, capitalization decisions, abbreviation and acronym usage, number formatting choices, hyphenation preferences, any exceptions to the general style guide, and notes about terminology changes during the project. Update it continuously as new decisions arise.
Who maintains the style sheet?
The lead editor or copy editor typically maintains the style sheet, adding entries as editorial decisions are made during production. All editors working on the project should reference and contribute to it. In content teams, the content lead or editor maintains the style sheet and shares it with all contributors.
Related Free Tools
Further Reading
Related Terms
Put style sheet into practice
TeamBench helps content teams implement style sheet with custom AI reviewers, scored feedback, and quality gates.
Try TeamBench Free