The Finlayson style guide
By popular request, Chris Finlayson has published his office style guide. I especially like the phrases to be avoided:
- I note
- I am aware
- I understand
- Delighted
- Strategy
- Accessible
- Outcome
- Passion
- Passionate
- Stakeholder
- Community
- National Identity
- Nationhood
- I acknowledge
- ‘Sense of self’
- cutting edge
- engage
- strengthen our voice
- shared experience as a nation
- Celebrate
Also how to be succinct:
- Sentences should be as short as possible. Avoid wordy phrases that can be said more simply. For example, amend:
– ‘in my view’ to ‘I think’;
– ‘I am writing to thank you’ to ‘Thank you’;
– ‘you have stated that’ to ‘you said’;
– ‘I trust that’ to ‘I hope’;
– ‘I wish to acknowledge’ to ‘I acknowledge’;
– ‘there are of course’ to ‘there are’;
– ‘I would like’ to ‘I want’;
This style guide may catch on!