What is a Style Sheet?
A style sheet is a document that is designed to help you ensure consistency within your food blog. Much like a brand style guide, which defines the aesthetic aspects of your company, a style sheet acts as a blueprint for the text of your posts. This blueprint will allow any writer to create content that exactly matches the style and usage of your blog’s existing posts.
Creating a style sheet for your food blog posts may seem intimidating, but I promise you that it is actually a straightforward process. Want to learn more? Keep reading!
How Can a Style Sheet Help Your Food Blog?
Style sheets can help you achieve consistency throughout your content.
Take a moment to think about the layout and content of two of your favourite food blogs. If you are struggling to choose between your favourites, check out a few recipes from The Food Network and Food & Drink.
Both platforms have a distinct style, feel, and voice. They also have a professional appearance. A major part of this appearance comes from consistency. If you click through the example recipes, you will see that each blog has its own rules for writing out the different parts of a recipe.
The Food Network:
https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/pumpkin-snack-cake-with-salted-caramel-cream-cheese-frosting/
https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/best-sticky-toffee-pudding-recipe-thanksgiving-dessert/
Food & Drink:
https://www.lcbo.com/en/recipe/seafood-squash-gumbo/F202205028
https://www.lcbo.com/en/recipe/hassleback-honeynut-squash/F202205039
https://www.lcbo.com/en/recipe/fennel-chili-milk-braised-pork/F202205021
What Should Be in a Style Sheet for Food Blog Posts?
A style sheet is a living, breathing document. It accounts for all your existing content and adjusts to accommodate new rules. There is no set list of items that should be outlined in a style sheet. However, a good rule of thumb is to list any item that you, or your team members, could possibly use differently. Another essential part of a style sheet is a fact-checked list of spellings for any proper nouns that you have included in your posts.
Once you have listed an item, outline your preferred usage along with any exceptions.
Examples of Style Sheet Items
- Numbers: Are the numbers that are used in a post written out, or are numerals used? How are fractions expressed?
- Ingredient names: If an ingredient has multiple commonly accepted names or spelling variants, which word should be used in a post? Are foreign ingredient names italicized?
- Articles: Do ingredients take an article in the instructions? How about equipment?
- Measurements: Are measurements spelled out or abbreviated? Are conversions provided?
- Punctuation: Is a period used with abbreviated units? Is there exceptional comma usage?
- Point of view: Are your introduction sections written in a first-person point of view? Do you address the reader directly?
- Proper nouns: Do you mention the names of any people, places, or things? If so, list the correct spellings.
- Format: How are your images aligned within a post? Do you use captions with each image?
How to Create a Style Sheet for Your Food Blog
The easiest way to create a style sheet for your food blog is to choose a handful of your best posts and go through them with a fine-tooth comb. Pretend that you are a copyeditor and take notes as you read. Pay special attention to measures, numbers, and tricky words.
Another great starting point is to check out some well-known style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) or the American Psychological Association (APA) Style.
Don’t be intimidated. Style sheets may contain a lot of information, but they are more than worth the effort to create.
Don’t have the time to create a style sheet for your food blog posts?
No problem! I can create a professional style sheet for your food blog.
Reach out for more information.