Advanced · Work and documents · module 108 of 155
Your own style guide for AI texts
Set down tone, word choice and limits so that AI texts suit your organisation.
After this lesson
You create a short style guide with checkable rules and examples, provide it as a source and test a draft against the guide.
In view · Side by side
A style guide next to every draft
Form of address, sentence length, word choice and two short example texts.
Provide the guide as a fixed source and ask which rules could not be followed.
Check tone and content: a nice sentence must not make an unconfirmed promise.
Part 1 of 3 · Rules and examples
Your preference for less movement is on. Choose each part yourself.
What goes into a usable style guide
A style guide for AI texts is short and concrete. Note the form of address (informal or formal), the desired sentence length, words you do and do not use and how you explain difficult concepts. Add limits that concern content: do not promise deadlines, prices or guarantees that have not been confirmed. Two short examples of a good text often say more than ten rules. A vague rule such as write professionally cannot be checked; a maximum of twenty words per sentence can.
Provide the guide as a fixed source
Put the style guide in an assistant’s fixed instructions or paste it with the task. Ask the model to state after the text which rules it could not apply. Use separate versions for different readers: a letter to residents in plain language needs something different from a quote. Plain language means short sentences, familiar words and one message per paragraph. Where possible, have someone from the target group read along.
Test the result against the guide
Read the draft with the style guide beside it and check the rules one by one: form of address, sentence length, banned words and promises. A text can sound good and still break a rule, for example by promising a deadline. Note which rules often go wrong and improve the guide or the prompt accordingly. Make one person responsible for the guide, so that it stays up to date when your organisation changes its communication.
New practice example
From explanation to a usable result.
A style guide makes your wishes checkable: form of address, sentence length, choice of words and what you never promise.
Fictional practice situationFictional style guide of a care home: we address residents formally, write short sentences and do not mention visiting hours that are not in the schedule. Draft: “Hey! From now on you can drop by any time, even late in the evening.”
View a possible solution
This is how it can be done
The draft breaks two rules: it uses an informal form of address instead of a formal one, and it promises unlimited visiting hours that are not in the schedule. A better version: “You are welcome during the visiting hours in the schedule.”
Why this works
The style guide makes it clear that it is not only about tone. A friendly sentence with an unconfirmed promise falls short.
Make it slightly more difficult
Make a variant of the style guide for a letter to family members. Which rule do you change, and which one always applies?
Extra practice, at your own pace. You do not need to submit anything. This does not count towards an automatic assessment.
Your workplace · learning by doing
Make something. See what changes.
Checking the AI connection… You can already view the written example.
Present your assignment to Ende.
Read the answer, change one thing, and compare.
Previously held
New version
You remain in control
What do you want to improve in your next attempt?
On this device only. AI answers remain only in this page memory. This is self-review, not a grade.
Why this approach works
The style guide makes it clear that it is not only about tone. A friendly sentence with an unconfirmed promise falls short.
A step further
Make a variant of the style guide for a letter to family members. Which rule do you change, and which one always applies?
Try & discover · no obligation
Become the source checker yourself
Only mark statements that the source does not support. Then check your selection.
Fictional style guide: 1) we address readers directly and informally as “you”; 2) no more than 20 words per sentence; 3) we explain technical terms; 4) we do not promise deadlines or prices that are not in the source. Source: from Monday, the library is open until 8 pm.
Select which sentences you would correct above. The answer remains hidden until you check your selection.
This trial works locally with fictitious data and does not count towards your lesson completion. It starts anew with a new lesson or reload.
A prompt to get you started
Here is our fictional style guide: 1) we address readers informally, as “you”; 2) no more than 20 words per sentence; 3) we explain technical terms; 4) we do not promise deadlines or prices that are not in the source. Using this guide, write a message of no more than 60 words for residents. Source: from Monday, the library is open until 20:00. Below the text, state for each rule whether you followed it.
Apply it
Your organisation addresses customers formally. An AI tool keeps using an informal form of address and promises delivery “within two days”, although nothing has been confirmed about that.
Which approach best fits this situation?
- Provide a style guide with the form of address and the ban on unconfirmed time frames, and check every draft against both rules.
- Only adjust the form of address; the delivery promise makes the text customer-friendly.
- Ask for a more professional tone, without further explanation.
With JavaScript, you can check your approach and receive immediate feedback.
Test your insight
Which rule in a style guide is easiest to check?
- Write professionally and warmly.
- No more than 20 words per sentence and do not promise deadlines that are not in the source.
- Make the text as good as possible.
Extra practice
Write a style guide of no more than eight rules for one type of text from your work. Have AI produce a draft and check it yourself rule by rule.
From Monday onwards, you can come to the library until 20:00. That way you can still drop by after work too. Check: informal form of address followed, longest sentence 11 words, no technical terms, no extra promise. A sentence such as “reservations will be ready within 24 hours” would break rule 4.
