Text Format Guide
Time
8:45 am – 11:00 pm
- Always include minutes, even if the time is an even hour.
- Do not use periods after “am” and “pm”.
- For time durations, include a space on either side of the dash, which should be an en-dash (–).
- Include a space after the minutes and before am/pm.
Date
01/23
01/23/2017
01/23/2017 – 04/15/2017
- Format MM/DD, MM/DD/YYYY
- Dates in this format should not be italicized, except to integrate with the surrounding text.
- Dates in this format should have leading zeros on the month and day.
- If included, the year should be four digits.
- When a date duration, include a space on either side of the dash, which should be an en-dash (–).
Nov. 23, 2016
Monday, Nov. 23, 2016
Nov. 23, 2016 – Oct. 2, 2016
- Abbreviate months longer than four letters, with a period after the abbreviation. May, June and July should not be abbreviated. Exception: June and July may be abbreviated when a three-letter abbreviation is necessary for a heavily styled object on print or web pieces, such as an event date on a web calendar.
- Include weekday when doing so will enhance the reader’s comprehension. Do not abbreviate the weekday.
- Date in this format should not have leading zeros on the day.
- The year should be four digits.
- When a date duration, include a space on either side of the dash, which should be an en-dash (–).
Monday – Friday
- Do not abbreviate the weekday.
- Include a space on either side of the dash, which should be an en-dash.
Phone Number
(608) 266-1234
- Always include the area code. Exception: Phone numbers for only internal City staff may exclude area code.
- Area code is in parentheses.
- Include a non-breaking space between the area code and the beginning of the 7-digit number.
- Include a non-breaking hyphen between the first three digits and the last four digits of the 7-digit number.
Address
Human Resources Office
30 W. Mifflin St., Suite 900
Madison, WI 53703
- Bold the name of the location.
- Abbreviate cardinal directions (North, South, East & West) with a period.
- Abbreviate street type (Street, Avenue, etc.) with a period.
- Place a comma between the street address and room information. Room information is optional.
- Include “Madison, WI” and the ZIP code when appropriate.
Prices
$2.00
$250
- Always format lists and sets of prices the same.
- If any price in a list/set includes cents (.00), then all items must.
- Prices under $10 should always include cents.
- Integer prices (prices with no cents after the decimal point) between $10 and $99 may exclude cents. Default behavior excludes cents.
- Integer prices (prices with no cents after the decimal point) $100 and over must exclude cents.
Links
- Link text is very important for accessibility and for search engine optimization (SEO).
- Use link text that describes what the reader will get if they click the link.
- Do not use “click here” or “view more” for link text.
“And” vs. “&”
“and”
- “And” should always be used in long lists of items, if those items are in a paragraph and have not been separated into bulleted or numbered lists. (see Lists below)
- Body text should generally use “and”.
- “And” is used for more formal language.
“&”
- The ampersand is used for key navigation, and represents an expression of identity and purpose of the City of Madison or of a City Agency. Ampersands should be used when linking two related objects of equal weight and importance.
- “&” is used for friendly, service-based language.
Lists
Numbered Lists
- 3+ items that occur in a sequence
- Items where some carry more importance than others
- Note: Use Styled List Steps (web) for simple instructions (3-6 items) that stand alone on a webpage.
Bulleted Lists
- Items with roughly the same value, which do not belong in a sequence (i.e. where order does not matter).