GSA has issued a content guide for agencies to use for their websites, saying that government sites “often talk at readers rather than to them” and leave users “frustrated by information that is neither actionable nor understandable.”
The “18F Content Guide” presents some general good-writing standards such as using plain language, being concise, using a conscious style, and avoiding duplication.
It also includes guidance on grammatical issues such as style, references to trademarks and brands, punctuation and capitalization—including to use lower case on words the government traditionally uses in uppercase when referring to itself such as federal and government—and avoiding acronyms, along with addressing issues such as publishing legal and technical content.
