These three principles override all other style rules.

Requirement: Match system UI exactly for all UI element references.

Applies to: Capitalisation, spelling, punctuation, formatting.

Example: If UI shows 'Invoicing and Payments' → use 'Invoicing and Payments', even if violates sentence case.

Requirement: Use UK English spelling, grammar, dates, punctuation.

Spelling: colour, authorise, optimise, centre, licence (noun).

Dates: 14 February 2025 (no ordinals).

Exception: UI Fidelity takes precedence for UI elements.

Include all necessary information for clarity.

Never skip steps or assume knowledge.

Complete instructions over shorter instructions.

Explain jargon even if it makes content longer.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: Focuses on user goal.

❌ Fail: Describes internal processes.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: "Create a new user".

❌ Fail: "How to create a new user" | "Creating a new user".

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Fits single line.

❌ Fail: Wraps to multiple lines.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "Create a new user" | "Invoicing and Payments overview" (UI match).

❌ Fail: "Create a New User".

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: Focuses on user goal.

❌ Fail: Describes internal processes | Repeats the title exactly.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: Expands on title with new context.

❌ Fail: Identical or nearly identical to title.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Correct grammar, ends with full stop, uses sentence case throughout. Only first word and proper nouns capitalised.

❌ Fail: Missing punctuation, incorrect capitalization such as Title Case, grammar errors.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Article in appropriate collection.

❌ Fail: Wrong collection, hard to find.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Certain language like "Click Save to update".

❌ Fail: Uncertain phrases such as "should be able to", "probably can", "might work".

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Jargon explained immediately.

❌ Fail: Unexplained technical terms, unnecessarily wordy.

Example: "Dangerous Good Note (DGN)" ✅ | "DGN" alone ❌.

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: "You can open the file".

❌ Fail: "The file can be opened".

Exception: OK for UI quotes.

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: No tautology present.

❌ Fail: "Re-enter again", "repeat again", "return back".

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)".

❌ Fail: Uses "SMP" without defining.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: No missing words, correct tense, plural agreement.

❌ Fail: "You can print report" (missing "the").

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Clear context for what user will achieve.

❌ Fail: No introduction, jumps straight to steps.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "You'll need Administrator permissions".

❌ Fail: Vague ("appropriate access").

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Direct language.

❌ Fail: Meta-commentary openings.

Points: 2.

**Click**: buttons, commands (PC/hybrid).

**Tap**: touch apps (mobile/tablet).

**Select**: checkboxes, radio buttons, list items.

**Clear**: clearing checkboxes.

**Open/Close**: apps, files, folders.

**Go to**: websites.

**Turn on/off**: toggles.

❌ Fail: "Tick" (use Select) | "Untick" (use Clear).

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: "Click Settings, then click Personal"

❌ Fail: "Access Settings" | "Navigate to Personal"

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Logical hierarchy (H1→H2→H3), sentence case.

❌ Fail: Skipped levels (H1→H4) | Title Case headers.

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Dividers after H1 sections only | Dividers have a line break before and after.

❌ Fail: Dividers after H2/H3/H4 | Double dividers | Dividers without line breaks.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: "Click **Access Button** [image]".

❌ Fail: Not bold | Wrong caps | Uses "the".

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Bold only for UI elements in steps.

❌ Fail: Bold for emphasis | Bold outside steps.

Exceptions: Access Button, callout intros, options in bullets.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: Capital first letter, ends with full stop, proper list markup and formatting with correct indentation.

❌ Fail: No capitals, no full stops, bullets used for sequential steps, numbers used for non-sequential steps.

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Headers use H3, grey highlighting.

❌ Fail: No headers, wrong formatting.

Points: 4.

📌 **Note**: Nice to have info.

🤓 **Tip**: Extra helpful guidance.

⚠️ **Important**: Essential info (issues if missing).

⚠️ **Warning**: Serious consequences if unknown.

Points: 4.

📌 Note: - Blue callout box.

🤓 Tip: - Blue callout box.

⚠️ Important: - Yellow callout box.

⚠️ Warning: - Red callout box.

❌ Fail: Missing colon | Not capitalised | Wrong emoji. | Wrong colour.

Points: 3.

✅ Pass: Same type consecutive callouts = single box with bullets.

❌ Fail: Same type consecutive callouts = multiple callout boxes.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Help understanding/navigation, no sensitive data.

❌ Fail: Decorative only, contain sensitive data.

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Text flows around embedded images

❌ Fail: Text breaks the sentence over multiple lines.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: After intro, followed by written steps.

❌ Fail: No intro, no steps, mid-sentence.

Points: 4.

✅ Pass: Plays correctly, matches description.

❌ Fail: Broken, wrong content.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "[user guide]" | "[more information]" (under 4 words, descriptive).

❌ Fail: "[click here]" | "[guide].".

Points: 3.

✅ Pass: "Access Care Rostering" (full name).

❌ Fail: "ACR" | "Collins" (missing "Access").

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: Clean ending.

❌ Fail: Multiple blank lines at end.

Points: 3.

✅ Pass: All sentences end with punctuation | Appropriate use of commas etc.

❌ Fail: Sentences end without punctuation, missing commas etc.

Exceptions: Headings, sentences ending with emoji, file extensions

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "Click Edit or Add" | "Use Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)" (acronym OK). | "Add and Edit menus" | "Add or Edit".

❌ Fail: "Click Edit (or Add)" | "employee(s)". | "Add/Edit" | "and/or".

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "A separate section" | "Organise your workflow".

❌ Fail: "A seperate section" | "Organize your workflow"

Exceptions: UI labels or code strings that use different spelling.

Points: 1.

✅ Pass: "You'll need three things: patience, time, focus".

❌ Fail: "You'll need three things - patience, time, focus".

Points: 2.

Spell out 0-9, numerals 10+.

✅ Pass: "nine new features" | "5 options and 15 checkboxes".

❌ Fail: "9 new features" | "five options and 15 checkboxes".

Exception: Numerals for product features regardless of value.

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "14 February 2025" | "14/02/2025" (in UI examples).

❌ Fail: "14th February" | "Feb" | "February 14, 2025".

Points: 2.

✅ Pass: "You'll see 'User undefined' message".

❌ Fail: "The 'correct' way" (emphasis) | "User undefined" (no quotes).