How to Write in a Consistent Style

It takes practice and a sharp editing eye to write in a consistent style, but consistency can enhance your work and take it to the next level. Most publishers require authors to follow certain guidelines when preparing a manuscript for submission. Following the rules enables the author to produce a professional, clean piece of writing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Style guides
• Thesaurus
• Dictionary
• Punctuation and grammar guide

How to Write in a Consistent Style

1. Determine which style guide you will be using to write your piece. There are many to choose from such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), Associated Press (AP), Chicago Manual and American Medical Association (AMA) style guides. MLA is often used for research papers and for other educational material, while AP and Chicago are used for newspapers and magazines.
2. Learn the requirements of your style guide. Buy the guide or find information online.
3. Organize your paper into sections with headings and subheadings. This will make it easier for the reader to follow.
4. Consider your audience. If the reader is uneducated on the subject matter, make sure the entire piece is written in an easy to read format with definitions, examples and lists. A more educated audience allows you to use a higher level of vocabulary and sentence structure.
5. Proofread your manuscript in stages. First, look for spelling errors and wordiness. Second, look for punctuation and grammar errors. Third, look for repetition and clarity.
6. Read your manuscript out loud or have someone else read it. Often you will find errors more readily this way.
7. Make the presentation consistent. While writing the piece in a consistent style is important, it's equally important to format the document in a professional manner, too. Consult publisher or instructor guidelines to see if page numbers, line numbering, headers, footers, footnotes, or endnotes are required or if they need formatted in a certain way.
8. If you have graphics in your document, make sure they are formatted correctly. Put a 1-point border around them so they look finished. Add a title or a descriptive sentence underneath it. Also make sure your text mentions or explains the graphic.

Tips & Warnings

• Before purchasing a style manual, see what free information you can find online.
• If you purchase a style manual, purchase the newest version.

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