These are the global writing conventions for Handshake. Exceptions to these rules may exist to address the nuances of product, social media, customer support, international audiences, etc. Check with your channel owner for platform-specific guidelines.

• Language and grammar →
• Punctuation →
• People, places, things →
• Table of contents →

Language and grammar

Active voice

Use active voice. Avoid passive voice. In active voice, ****the subject of the sentence does the action.

In passive voice, the subject of the sentence has the action done to it. Look for words like “was” and “by” and when two words are used instead of one to indicate you’re writing in passive voice and rework sentences where they appear.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/21e270ee-0220-4e02-a2b7-740b27516ec0/right.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/21e270ee-0220-4e02-a2b7-740b27516ec0/right.png" width="40px" /> Handshake studies show.

</aside>

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/0dd6ebbf-964d-4e48-8f20-d92c0e309555/wrong.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/0dd6ebbf-964d-4e48-8f20-d92c0e309555/wrong.png" width="40px" /> Handshake studies have shown.

</aside>

Alignment

Left-align text, avoid center or right-align.

Approved terms and words to avoid

To keep language and spelling consistent for common words and phrases, and for words and phrases to avoid, please refer to the approved terms list. This list is constantly being updated, so if you have a question or can’t find the word you’re looking for, please reach out to [email protected].

Capitalization

Always use sentence case.

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/21e270ee-0220-4e02-a2b7-740b27516ec0/right.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/21e270ee-0220-4e02-a2b7-740b27516ec0/right.png" width="40px" /> Do capitalize:

• Proper nouns
• Acronyms
• The first word of a sentence, headline, button, title, etc.
• Position titles when referring to a specific person's title, but not when referring to a general position. For example, “We’re excited to welcome Marketing Manager Jane Doe.” “Learn from a recruiter.”
• The word "room," but only when used with a room number. For example, “The panel is in Room 315.”
• The names of departments and teams, but not the words "team" or "department.” For example, “Marketing team,” “Support department.” </aside>

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/0dd6ebbf-964d-4e48-8f20-d92c0e309555/wrong.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/0dd6ebbf-964d-4e48-8f20-d92c0e309555/wrong.png" width="40px" /> Don’t capitalize

• Words like "federal" or "state" unless the word is part of a formal name
• Cardinal directions
• Email addresses and website URLs
• Seasons, unless they're beginning a sentence, part of a proper noun, or referring to a semester
• Avoid all caps, unless writing an acronym. </aside>