formatting rules
Text appearance standards
Formatting rules are conventions governing how information should be presented—covering typography, spacing, punctuation, and structure.
Style guides codify formatting rules for publications: The formatting rules require double-spacing and one-inch margins.
In computing, formatting rules determine how data displays or how code should be written.
The term often implies arbitrary but necessary standardization rather than matters of substance.
- marginsEdges of a page
- indentationInward cut or setback
- double spacedExtra line between rows
- headersTop-of-page identifiers
- bullet pointsMarked summary elements
font styles · space · bold · style guides · line · footnotes · hanging indent · justify · paragraph · block quote · tab · italic · page numbering · title page · page break · film scripts · bullet · house style
- documentationmanual, manuals, user guide, user guides, user manual
- Style GuidesStrunk and White, stylebook, editorial guidelines, AP style, house style
- Braillebraille alphabet, braille code, raised dots, Louis Braille, braille display
- correspondenceletters, letter, handwritten letters, family letters, missives
- citationscitation, citations, cite, cited, citation style
formatting rulesfree-form
Without predetermined structure
no rules · raw text · plain text · anything goes · freewriting
formatting rulesmeaning
What something signifies
message · ideas · subject matter · editorial guidelines · substance