LEX 3256 Documents.pdf

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AFP Corporate Writing Style Guide / September 2024
Table of contents
Introduction
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1.0 Accessible and inclusive content
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1.1 Accessible content
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1.2 Literacy and access
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1.3 Inclusive language
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2.0 Language guide
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2.1 Tone of voice
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2.2 Using everyday words (plain English)
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2.3 Active vs passive language
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3.0 Grammar and style
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3.1 Abbreviations
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3.2 Acronyms (and initialisms)
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3.3 Ampersands (&)
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3.4 Apostrophes
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3.5 Attributions
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3.6 Capital letters
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3.7 Col ective nouns
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3.8 Commas
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3.9 Compound adjectives
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3.10 Contractions
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3.11 Captions and credits
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3.12 Dashes (en/em) and hyphens
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3.13 Date, time and time zones
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3.14 Ellipsis points ( … )
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3.15 Font and style
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3.16 Italics
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3.17 Hyperlinks
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3.18 Legislation
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AFP Corporate  Writing  Style  Guide   /  September  2024
3.19 Lists (bullet points)
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3.20 Numerical representation
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3.21 Quotation marks, omitting direct speech, and paraphrasing
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3.22 Web and email addresses
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3.23 Telephone numbers
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3.24 Writing for the web
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5.0 Resources
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Document details

Originating area
Enterprise Communications
Date produced
June 2023
Date last reviewed
September 2024
Cleared by
Manager Communications  and Customs
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AFP Corporate  Writing  Style  Guide   /  September  2024
Introduction
The AFP Corporate Writing Style Guide maintains a consistent style of written and spoken
communication  in formal and day-to-day corporate communication  products  on behalf of the
agency.
The guide has 5 chapters
1.  Accessible  and inclusive  content
2.  Language guide
3.  Grammar and style
4.  Policing  considerations
5.  Resources
Guidance should  be applied to al  communication  products and formal documents, including  briefs
and corporate reporting  documents. Not al  style recommendations  are relevant for media relea
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or court documents which fol ow traditional  news writing techniques.
The AFP Corporate Writing Style Guide is consistent  with the Australian Government Style Manual
and has been developed by Enterprise Communications,  in partnership with ACT Policing  and
Government Relations. Its spel ing  is consistent with the Macquarie Dictionary which is the
preferred Australian English  dictionary  for the agency  Where relevant, Australian New Zealand
Policing  Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) protocols  have been incorporated.
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Reference is made where AFP style differs from the Australian Government Style Manual.
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Contact
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@afp.gov au  for queries.

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1.0 Accessible and inclusive content
People can experience ongoing, temporary or situational barriers to access  the information  they
need. We make al  information  available to them by designing  accessible  and inclusive  content.
The Australian Government's aim is that al  government services are digital  first. This aim is
described  in the Government Digital Strategy.
Australian Government digital  services must be usable and accessible  – a requirement under
the Digital Service Standard.
1.1 Accessible content
The Web Content Accessibility  Guidelines  2.2 (WCAG) set the accessibility  standard for Australian
Government content. It addresses how to meet the specific  needs of people with disability  and
should be used for al  communication  products.
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The WCAG outlines  4 accessibility  principles  to ensure content is:
1.  perceivable
2.  operable
3.  understandable
4.  robust.
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Each principle  provides practical  ways to ensure content meets the users’ needs, for example:
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▪  text alternatives for images
▪  adaptable formatting  to avoid the user losing  information  or structure
▪  using inclusive, everyday language.
Additional  resources include:
▪  The Web Content Accessibility  Guidelines  which provides  detailed information  on how to
implement accessibility  on in relation to writing and editing.
▪  The Australian Government Style Manual which outlines the basics  for accessible  and inclusive
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content.
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1.1.2 Inclusive content
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Inclusive content recognises  Australia’s diversity and the diversity of technology we use to engage
online.
For example, inclusive content accommodates:
▪  cultural and linguistic  diversity among users
▪  diversity of abilities  among users
▪  how users interact with technology in different contexts.
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AFP Corporate  Writing  Style  Guide   /  September  2024
5.0 Resources
▪  Australian Government Style Manual
▪  PWDA Language Guide: A guide to language about disability
▪  Australian Human Rights Commission
▪  Mindframe
▪  The Macquarie Dictionary and Thesaurus
▪  Web Content Accessibility  Guidelines  (WCAG) 2.1
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