TL;DR

The Skylight Content Guide goes into depth on many subjects. It may be more information than you need. Here are the most important things to know.

Principles

Good content is:

Clear
Useful
Friendly
Appropriate

Voice and tone

Skylight’s voice is:

Expressive
Smart
Lighthearted
Embracing
Worldly

While our voice is constant, our tone should change depending on the emotional state of the person we’re addressing. In general, we take a conversational tone with our writing: everyday talk that’s easy to understand and feels approachable.

Writing inclusively

We write with a person-first perspective. Being aware of the impact of your language will help make Skylight a better place to work and a better steward of our values in the world.

Don’t reference age or disability unless it’s relevant to what you’re writing.
Avoid gendered language and use the singular “they.”
When writing about a person, use their preferred pronouns; if you don’t know those, just use their name.

Related resource: The Conscious Style Guide.

Style elements

Some people will read every word you write. Others will just scan. Help everyone by grouping related ideas together and using descriptive headers and subheaders.
Focus your message, and create a hierarchy of information. Lead with the main point or the most important content.
Use active voice and positive language.
Use short words and sentences.
Avoid unnecessary modifiers.
Use specific examples.
Avoid vague language.
Be consistent. Adhere to the copy patterns and style points outlined in this guide.
Feel free to use contractions.
Use the serial comma. Otherwise, use common sense.
Don’t use underline, and don’t use any combination of italic, bold, caps, and underline.
When in doubt, read your writing out loud.

Web elements

Organize your page around one topic.
Use clear, descriptive terms that relate to the topic in titles and headings.
Give every image descriptive alt text.
Buttons should always contain actions. The language should be clear and concise. Use sentence case.
Use sentence case for checkboxes and radio buttons.
Use sentence case for drop-down menu names and menu items.
Use sentence case for form titles and form fields. Only request information that we need and intend to use. Don’t ask for irrelevant personal information, like gender.
Use sentence case for main navigation and subnavigation.
Use sentence case for headings and subheadings.
Organize headings and subheadings in a hierarchy, with heading first, followed by subheadings in order.
Include the most relevant keywords in your headings and subheadings.
Provide a link whenever you’re referring to a website, relevant content, and trusted external resources.
Don’t say things like “Click here!” or “Click for more information” or “Read this.” Instead, link relevant keywords.
Use lists to present steps, groups, or sets of info. Set up your list with a brief introduction. Number lists when the order of information is important.

Writing for accessibility

Create a hierarchy, with the most important information first.
Place similar topics in the same paragraph, and clearly separate different topics with headings.
Use plain language. Write short sentences and familiar words.
Links should provide information on the associated action or destination. Avoid saying “click here” or “learn more.”
Avoid using images when descriptive text will do.
Avoid directional instructions or language that requires the reader to see the layout or design of the page.
Label inputs on forms with clear names and use appropriate tags. Think carefully about what fields are necessary, and especially which ones you mark as required.

Writing for translation

Use active voice.
Avoid double negatives.
Use contractions with caution.
Avoid using synonyms for the same word in a single piece of writing.
Write briefly, but don’t sacrifice clarity for brevity. You may need to repeat or add words to make the meaning of your sentences clear to a translator.
Avoid slang, idioms, and cliches.
Avoid unnecessary abbreviations.