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It emphasizes consistency within a writer’s own work and selecting language and usage appropriate to the audience. The guide supports plain language requirements, explains key departures from the GPO Style Manual (including capitalization and number treatment), and directs writers to GPO and internal quick-reference resources.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/nara-writing-style-guide-2020-style-and-punctuation-standards/639901/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/nara-writing-style-guide-2020-style-and-punctuation-standards/639901.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Rowan","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-02","2026-10-22",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":24},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the purpose of the NARA Writing Style Guide?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"To set NARA-wide standards for punctuation, word usage, and grammar so writers can explain their work clearly and consistently for their audiences.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How does the guide align with plain language requirements?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It includes a dedicated section on “Writing for Plain Language” to support compliance with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Which references should writers use alongside this guide?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The GPO Style Manual remains NARA’s primary reference, and Appendix B (Quick Reference) provides fast answers on capitalization, spelling, compound words, and plurals.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},639901,1792746605,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":24,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},1099514067415,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002539d78ffe74a7?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779092875211072502","NARA Writing Style Guide  \n2020  \n(Last update, December 9, 2024)  \nPreface  \nClear writing conveys clear thought. NARA writers in all offices must strive for clear communication to explain their increasingly complex work. They write letters, memorandums, finding aids, web pages, blogs, leaflets, reports, articles, exhibit scripts, brochures, budget requests, speeches, forms, and email messages. This style guide establishes agency standards of punctuation, word usage, and grammar that will answer writers’ most common questions and will, we hope, promote clear and effective writing throughout NARA.  \nStyle changes over time and even from place to place, depending on the intended audience. These differences do not necessarily make one choice “wrong.” What is “right” is consistency within your own work and using the appropriate language and usage for your audience.  \nThe NARA Style Guide fills two needs. First, the section “Writing for Plain Language” helps us comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010. Second, it addresses many of the questions and issues unanswered by the Government Printing Office Style Manual (GPO manual) .  \nThis guide is based on the GPO manual but includes modifications that reflect current usage.  \nThe most notable difference from the GPO manual concerns the lowercasing of the word“federal” and treatment of numbers. Moving away from capitalizing “federal” is in line with the practice of several other agencies and the Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) . (See section 1.4.4.) In most cases, writers will spell out numbers under 10 and use numerals for numbers 10 and over. (See section 1.10.)  \nThe GPO manual is still NARA’s primary reference for style. For issues not covered in the NARA guide, continue to consult the GPO manual.  \nAppendix B, Quick Reference, may be particularly helpful to NARA writers. This list of words and phrases provides quick answers to common questions about capitalization, spelling, compound words, and plurals.  \nThe NARA Style Guide took shape from the agency’s specific language needs and will continue to change to reflect the needs and concerns of NARA writers.  \nUse the NARA Style Guide for all NARA communications.  \nIf you have questions about spelling, grammar, or usage that are not addressed by this guide, contact Editorial Services at [editorial@nara.gov](editorial@nara.gov).  \nResources  \n[PlainLanguage.gov](PlainLanguage.gov) ([www.plainlanguage.gov](www.plainlanguage.gov)). The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) developed the Federal Plain Language Guidelines  \n([www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines](www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines)). The website also has links to style guides from several agencies ([www.plainlanguage.gov/resources/guides/](www.plainlanguage.gov/resources/guides/)).  \nUnited States Government Printing Office Style Manual. Washington, DC: GPO, 2016.  \n[https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/context](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/context)  \n_______________________________  \nOther useful references  \n[Grammar Girl](Grammar Girl quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl)[ ](Grammar Girl quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl)[quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl](Grammar Girl quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl)[ ](Grammar Girl quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl)[Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.](Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. merriam-webster.com)[ ](Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. merriam-webster.com)[merriam-webster.com](Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. merriam-webster.com) ([or](or m-w.com)[ ](or m-w.com)[m-w.com](or m-w.com)).  \nNational Archives and Records Administration, Guide for Preparing NARA Correspondence: A Supplement to NARA 201 (June 13, 2005) .  \n[work.nara.gov/files/0200_series/nara0201-s1.pdf](work.nara.gov/files/0200_series/nara0201-s1.pdf)  \nNational Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register, Plain [Language Tools.](Language ","cbCaivjhIC4cIocL","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaivjhIC4cIocL","pdf",490355,64,"English","# Preface\n# Style and Usage\n## Abbreviations and symbols\n## Acronyms and initials\n## Addresses\n## Capitalization\n## Compounds\n## Dates\n## Gender-neutral language\n## NARA references\n## Numbers\n## Plurals\n## Possessives\n## Technology-related terms\n## Titles of works: italics or quotation marks\n# Writing in Plain Language\n## Think about your audience\n## Organize your material\n## Verbs\n## Active voice\n## Simple forms","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of the NARA Writing Style Guide?\",\"answer\":\"To set NARA-wide standards for punctuation, word usage, and grammar so writers can explain their work clearly and consistently for their audiences.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the guide align with plain language requirements?\",\"answer\":\"It includes a dedicated section on “Writing for Plain Language” to support compliance with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.\"},{\"question\":\"Which references should writers use alongside this guide?\",\"answer\":\"The GPO Style Manual remains NARA’s primary reference, and Appendix B (Quick Reference) provides fast answers on capitalization, spelling, compound words, and plurals.\"}]","NARA Writing Style Guide - 2020 - Style and punctuation standards | PDF",1792705920,161]