House Style
The specific editorial rules and conventions used consistently by a publication or brand.
Definition
House style refers to the specific set of editorial conventions, preferences, and rules that a particular publication, company, or brand applies consistently across all of its content. House style may cover spelling preferences, capitalization conventions, number formatting, hyphenation rules, punctuation preferences, and how specific branded terms are treated. House style is documented in an internal style guide.
Why It Matters
House style ensures that content from multiple writers reads consistently and professionally. Without documented house style, every writer makes their own decisions about hundreds of micro-choices — resulting in inconsistency that erodes brand credibility. A clear house style also speeds up editing by reducing judgment calls.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Related Tools
Related Terms
Editorial Style Guide
A document that standardizes writing, grammar, and formatting conventions for a publication or brand.
Brand Voice
The consistent personality and style a brand uses across all written communication.
Copyediting
Line-level editing focused on grammar, style, consistency, and factual accuracy.