📰Editorial Writing

This section covers the mechanics of how we write. It ensures our writing is clear, consistent, and respectful of all people.

General Writing Principles

• Active Voice: Use active voice instead of passive voice. It makes sentences clearer and more direct.

• Plain Language: Avoid complex sentences and obscure words. Write so that a 7th grader can understand. This is a key part of our accessibility commitment.

• Handling Jargon: Avoid slang and jargon. If you must use a technical term, explain what it means the first time you use it.

Do This	Not This
"The team finished the project."	"The project was finished by the team."
"We use psychological safety, which means creating a space where it is safe to take risks."	"We leverage psychological safety paradigms."
"Our volunteers built this website."	"This website was built by our volunteers."
"Please send us your feedback."	"Feedback should be submitted to us."
"We will review your application next week."	"Your application will be reviewed by us next week."

Grammar and Mechanics

• Baseline Style: We generally follow AP Style for news and press releases, but prioritize clarity and our specific brand rules above all.

• Capitalization: Use sentence case for headlines and titles. Only capitalize the first word and proper nouns.

• Proofreading: Always proofread your work and ask a peer to review it before publishing.

Do This	Not This
"How to build an empowered team"	"How To Build An Empowered Team"
"Welcome to our new website"	"Welcome To Our New Website"
"Meet the board of directors"	"Meet The Board Of Directors"
"Five ways to improve your leadership skills"	"Five Ways To Improve Your Leadership Skills"
"Join our upcoming learning lab"	"Join Our Upcoming Learning Lab"

Tech Fleet Specific Terminology

• Brand Name: Always spell it as two words: "Tech Fleet". Never write "TechFleet".

• Team Practices: Capitalize "Team Practices" when referring to our specific framework (Service Leadership, Psychological Safety, Collective Decision Making, Empowerment, Shared Ownership, Continuous Improvement, Agility).

Do This	Not This
"Welcome to Tech Fleet."	"Welcome to TechFleet."
"We teach the seven Team Practices."	"We teach the seven team practices."
"Tech Fleet is a nonprofit organization."	"Techfleet is a nonprofit organization."
"Our Team Practices guide how we work."	"Our team practices guide how we work."
"Thank you for supporting Tech Fleet."	"Thank you for supporting Tech-Fleet."

Inclusive Language and Accessibility

We are committed to building a world where people grow together without judgment. Our language must reflect that. Accessibility is a civil right, and our language must respect all individuals.

• Race and Ethnicity: Capitalize "Black". Do not capitalize "white". "BIPOC" is acceptable, but specify the exact group when possible.

• Gender and Sexuality: We prefer the acronym "2SLBGTAI+". Words like "Queer" or "gay" are acceptable in celebratory or self-identifying contexts. Avoid gendered language. Use the singular "they" and "their" instead of "he/she". Avoid calling adult women "girls".

• Disability and Neurodiversity: Avoid victimizing language. Capitalize "Deaf" when referring to the identity or community. Do not capitalize "blind"; prefer "person with vision impairment". Never use ableist words.

• Age: Avoid age-related adjectives unless you are stating someone's age directly.

• Systemic Terms: Use terms like "historically excluded" carefully and thoughtfully.

• User Terminology: Say "people who use the product" or "people who use the services" instead of "users". Say "constituents" instead of "clients" or "beneficiaries" when talking about the nonprofits we serve.

Do This	Not This
"Welcome, everyone."	"Welcome, guys."
"The student left their book on the table."	"The student left his/her book on the table."
"Person with a disability"	"Suffers from a disability"
"That is a wild idea."	"That is a crazy idea."
"People who use our website"	"Our users"