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April 29, 2005
A Style Guide for Data Smog
This is an updated style guide for my blog and my report on Data Smog. I will try to follow the MLA manual for writing. Additionally, I referenced the Web Style Guide by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
The design will be simple and uncomplicated. Pictures and other visual elements will break up and support the text. There will be no dead-end pages and each page will be able to stand on its own. Vertical scrolling should be kept to a minimum and there should be no horizontal scrolling. Each page will have a footer containing citing information.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
Type Size
All titles will be roughly the size of Heading One. Headings will be in bold capitol letters and subheadings will be bold with the first letters capitolized Text size should be between 10 and 12.
Typeface
I will use Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif for the typeface for all text on the site.
Alignment
All content will be left justified, which is easier on the readers eye. Headings will also be left justified.
Indented Paragraphs
Use blank lines between paragraphs and not indented paragraphs.
Emphasis
To emphasis text I will consistently use bolding, spacing, and lists.
COLOR
Text color is black: #333300.
Background color for the text portion of the page is white.
Banner color for all pages is blue:#9999FF.
PAGE INFORMATION
Lists
When appropriate, I will use bulleted and numbered lists. This will help facilitate scanning.
Layout
There will be a navigation bar on the top of the page containing links to all of the text.
Hyperlinks
When creating hyperlinks, choose a descriptive word or phrase to act as the link and never use a phrase like “click here for more information” as a hyperlink.
Content
Content is grouped together in a logical format and is logically organized and conveniently navigated
VISUAL MATERIALS
Pictures
Pictures and other images will support the text. They will be located appropriately. Pictures and images should try to be placed above the fold.
TERMS
Data Smog
Data Smog will be capitalized at both the beginning of sentences and within the text.
Information Overload
Information Overload will be capitalized at the beginning of sentences and within the text.
Dates
Dates will appear in this order: day, month and year, unless in a citation. This is a more internationally accepted method of writing dates. Periods will also be used in place of slashes. An example of Valentines Day written in this manner is 14.2.05.
Posted by arosenst at April 29, 2005 06:05 PM