Do you know our style?

Whether it’s a letter, a memo or an email, uniformity in the language that is used to communicate is essential for an organization. That is why Dallas ISD maintains a Branding and Style Guide that provides team members with the rules and guidelines to correctly communicate with colleagues and the public.

For example, did you know that when using a specific date, sometimes you should abbreviate the month? And that the proper abbreviation when using times is a.m. or p.m.? If you are not already adding a comma before the last item in a series, you should because the district’s style is to include one for clarity.

Another style rule is that except when used in addressing a letter, a salutation, or a direct quotation, courtesy titles—Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms.—are not used in a first or subsequent reference in a document or communication.

For emails, the guideline is to use black or dark colors for type and avoid using bright or lightly shaded type, which can be difficult to read. Decorative or whimsical animations; selfies, caricatures or cartoonish photographs and images; quotes and epigraphs; backgrounds; or wallpapers should not appear in emails.

The style guide also includes information on how to use acronyms, the district logo, school names, numbers, and more. You can also find letter, memo and presentation templates, as well as the district’s colors and so much more. 

Do you think you know district style? Take this quiz. Want to learn more about district style, check out the Style Guide here.