Summary 2.3

Format and conventions

Conventions

• Word Processing
      -Text
          There are conventions governing ordinary text, including those for:
          - Paragraph indenting 
          - Spaces after commas and full stops
          - Page numbering 
          - Location of headings
      -Desktop publishing website design 
          Page design also have certain conventions, which are :
            - Text should be easy to read from top left to bottom right  
            - Text should be fully justified
            - Use upper case in headings should be minimal
            - Sans serif styles should not be over-used
      -Letters and addresses
          Can be done in a range of formats, such as :
          - fully blocked
          - blocked
          - semi-blocked
       -References
          References can be organized in different ways, such as author-date system, a system footnotes, or other acceptable conventions.
          More details can be found in books such as the Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers, AGPS, etc.
        -Quotations
        -Bibliographies
          A bibliography identifies sources that are relevant to the text, or quoted in the text. Usually appear in the end of the text.
  

• Spreadsheets and numeric output
          In spreadsheet, some of the conventions of numeric output are:
          - no decimal in whole numbers - 123 not 123.00
          - no decimal point aligned
          - units or measurement indicated in a legend
  

• Text Reports
  Text reports should contain:
  - Title
  -Author's name
  -Date
  -Column and row headings
  -Page numbers
  -Legend, if needed
  -Software and filename
  

• Databases
  Reports
  Database reports should all contain :
  - A heading 
  - The author's name
  - Date
  - Sub-headings as required
  - Alignment of data in columns
  - No column or row overflow
  - Normal text conventions

Formats
 Some common formats include :
    - Use of white space in training material and user guides to enhance readability
    - Use of heading hierarchies in reports
    - Blocked format for letters
    - Standard use of headers and footers in word-processed documents