Medium Style Sheet

Summary

The provided content outlines the editorial style guidelines for Medium writers, emphasizing American English spelling, specific number and percentage formatting, title case usage for post titles, and punctuation rules, while deferring to the Chicago Manual of Style for unspecified topics.

Abstract

The Medium Style Sheet serves as a guide for writers on Medium, detailing the preferred spelling, formatting for numbers and titles, and punctuation conventions. It recommends the use of American English as per Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and advises spelling out numbers up to 101 and large round numbers, except in post titles. Percentages are to be represented with numerals and the word "percent." The guidelines mandate title case for titles and headings, with specific rules for capitalization, and the italicization of titles for books, newspapers, and other periodicals, while shorter works like poems and song titles are enclosed in quotation marks. Punctuation usage includes the formation of em dashes with two hyphens, the placement of quotation marks, and the use of the serial comma. Acronyms are to be written without periods, contrary to abbreviations which require them. The guidelines are not compulsory but are made public for writers who may find them useful.

Opinions

The Medium editors suggest that adherence to these guidelines is optional, emphasizing that each writer's style is personal.
The guidelines are publicly shared to potentially assist other writers, indicating a collaborative and supportive stance towards the writing community.
The deference to the Chicago Manual of Style for topics not covered in the Medium Style Sheet shows respect for established authority in writing standards.
The specificity in rules, such as the use of American spellings and the formation of em dashes, reflects a preference for consistency and clarity in written communication on the platform.

Spelling

Use American spellings, as specified by Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition. Use the first spelling listed. For foreign words, use the Random House Dictionary.

Spell out numbers up to 101 (for example, ninety-six), as well as large round numbers (for example, two thousand). Numbers in post titles should not be spelled out.

For percentages, use numerals and spell out “percent” (for example, 20 percent).

Titles

For the titles, headings, and subheadings of Medium posts, use “title case,” which means:

Capitalize all words except coordinate conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), articles, and prepositions

First and last word capitalized, no matter their parts of speech

Capitalize all words following an internal punctuation mark (for example, “Medium Style Sheet — The Final Version”)

Italicize titles of books, newspapers, periodicals, movies, TV shows. Some details:

If a magazine title must be followed by “magazine” to distinguish it from other publications, do not italicize “magazine” unless it is formally included in the title (New York magazine vs. The New York Times Magazine).

For magazine titles, italicize the article if it is a formal part of the title (The Nation).

For newspapers, do not italicize the article (the New York Times).

Titles of short works (poems, songs, TV episodes, book chapters) take quotation marks.

Punctuation

Em dashes are formed by typing two hyphens ( -- becomes — ).

Close quotation marks should:

Follow periods and commas (“x.” and “x,”)

Precede colons and semicolons (“x”: and “x”;)

Precede question marks and exclamation marks, unless those marks are part of the quoted material

When a colon introduces:

An independent clause (a clause that could stand apart as its own sentence), the first word of that clause should be capitalized

A dependent clause (which could not stand apart as its own sentence), the first word of the clause should not be capitalized

Use the serial comma before the conjunction in a series (x, y, and z).

Acronyms do not require periods (with exceptions; see a dictionary if unsure), whereas abbreviations do.