In my professional life, I work on technical materials in subjects like renewable energy, toxicology, and finance—areas in which accuracy and precision of language are critical. My clients provide clean air and clean jobs for families, they support patients struggling with addiction, and they prevent financial scams (like the Enron scandal) that deplete retirees’ life savings. The rules found in Chicago and other style guides are incredibly important to helping me create the consistency readers need to get the most out of what can be complex and challenging information.
At the same time, I don’t always find myself following the rules laid out by my style mentors. Sometimes (okay, often) I break a rule because I have to turn something around quickly and I’m forced into a state of editorial triage. Other times the rules are less suited to online business content. Here are the rules I find myself frequently breaking.