Cōsmo

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Writing & Style

Writing & Style Guidelines

1. Sentence & Paragraph

Keep it crisp: Write clear, focused sentences. Avoid run-ons or overly complex structures.
Paragraph size: Generally limit paragraphs to 2–3 sentences; break up text to help readability.
Active voice: “We designed a new interface” rather than “A new interface was designed by us.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We are able to utilize synergy in order to facilitate a smoother user experience that is hopefully well-received.”
After: “We collaborate to create a smoother user experience—and the early feedback is excellent.”

2. Tone & Vocabulary

Use we/us/our: Reflects a collaborative, welcoming spirit.
Be positive yet realistic: Provide solutions and encouragement.
Stay inclusive: Offer quick explanations if using specialized terms or acronyms.
Balance warmth and professionalism: “We’re excited to explore the next steps” vs. “We look forward to your feedback.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We boast top-tier synergy between marketing and digital design, ensuring an unparalleled brand experience for the end user.”
After: “We merge marketing and design to deliver an experience that truly resonates with your audience.”

3. Concise Word Choice

Avoid filler words: Phrases like “basically,” “very,” “really” can dilute meaning.
Short over long: Prefer “use” to “utilize,” “help” to “assist,” “before” to “prior to.”
Minimal adjectives: Let data or direct language convey impact instead of piling on superlatives.

Example (Before/After)

Before: “Our approach synergistically leverages cross-functional capabilities to drive optimum outcomes.”
After: “Our approach brings teams together to deliver the best results possible.”

4. Punctuation & Special Characters

4.1 Oxford Commas

Use them: For lists of three or more items, always include the comma before the last item.
- “We design brands, websites, and digital ecosystems.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We craft stories, systems and solutions.”
After: “We craft stories, systems, and solutions.”

4.2 Em-Dashes

We love em-dashes ( — ): Use them to add emphasis or create a short, dynamic break within a sentence.

Spacing: CDA typically prefers no spaces around the em-dash.

“We have one goal—empower your brand to shape the future.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We have one main goal, empower your brand to shape the future.”
After: “We have one main goal—empower your brand to shape the future.”

4.3 Colons & Semicolons

Colons ( : ) introduce lists or clarifications: “Our mission is clear: create brands that connect.”
Semicolons ( ; ) connect related independent clauses, but use sparingly: “We finalized the layout; now it’s time for feedback.”

4.4 Uses of Arrows

These arrow icons (←↑→↓↔↕↖↗↘↙↰↳↴↵) can be handy to illustrate design flows, directional instructions, or user journeys.

Example: “The user journey looks like this: Start ← Onboarding → Personalization → Checkout → Completion.”
Make sure the font supports: Fonts like "Inter" support these special characters while some other fonts do not.
Keep them minimal: Avoid overusing arrows in normal text or headings.
Consider clarity: Ensure the arrow visually supports navigation or directional meaning, rather than adding clutter.

5. Formatting Tips

Bulleted lists: Break down steps or highlight quick wins.
Subheaders: Use short, descriptive headings to organize content.
Minimal emphasis: Go easy on bold or italics. Reserve them for key words or short phrases.
Be consistent: Keep spacing, punctuation style, and fonts consistent across all documents.

6. Additional Examples

Wordiness & Verbosity
- Before: “At this point in time, it’s necessary for us to evaluate various methodologies with the goal of establishing synergy.”
- After: “Now is the time to evaluate our methods and find the best ways to collaborate.”
Run-on Sentence
- Before: “We’re excited about the next sprint it will finalize the user journey once that’s done we can integrate the analytics.”
- After: “We’re excited about the next sprint—it will finalize the user journey. After that, we’ll integrate analytics.”
Clarity & Authenticity
- Before: “We are recognized as a disruptor of industry norms via unparalleled synergy in brand-building efforts.”
- After: “We’re known for breaking industry norms by building brands that connect with people in a meaningful way.”

Final Reminders

Read it aloud: Does it sound natural, friendly, and clear? If not, revise.
Stay consistent: From punctuation to word choice, keep the details uniform.
Show empathy: Even when discussing data or technical concepts, maintain CDA’s human-centric focus.

Writing & Style Guidelines

1. Sentence & Paragraph

2. Tone & Vocabulary

3. Concise Word Choice

4. Punctuation & Special Characters

5. Formatting Tips

6. Additional Examples

Keep it crisp: Write clear, focused sentences. Avoid run-ons or overly complex structures.
Paragraph size: Generally limit paragraphs to 2–3 sentences; break up text to help readability.
Active voice: “We designed a new interface” rather than “A new interface was designed by us.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We are able to utilize synergy in order to facilitate a smoother user experience that is hopefully well-received.”
After: “We collaborate to create a smoother user experience—and the early feedback is excellent.”

Use we/us/our: Reflects a collaborative, welcoming spirit.
Be positive yet realistic: Provide solutions and encouragement.
Stay inclusive: Offer quick explanations if using specialized terms or acronyms.
Balance warmth and professionalism: “We’re excited to explore the next steps” vs. “We look forward to your feedback.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We boast top-tier synergy between marketing and digital design, ensuring an unparalleled brand experience for the end user.”
After: “We merge marketing and design to deliver an experience that truly resonates with your audience.”

Avoid filler words: Phrases like “basically,” “very,” “really” can dilute meaning.
Short over long: Prefer “use” to “utilize,” “help” to “assist,” “before” to “prior to.”
Minimal adjectives: Let data or direct language convey impact instead of piling on superlatives.

Example (Before/After)

Before: “Our approach synergistically leverages cross-functional capabilities to drive optimum outcomes.”
After: “Our approach brings teams together to deliver the best results possible.”

4.1 Oxford Commas

Use them: For lists of three or more items, always include the comma before the last item.
- “We design brands, websites, and digital ecosystems.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We craft stories, systems and solutions.”
After: “We craft stories, systems, and solutions.”

4.2 Em-Dashes

We love em-dashes ( — ): Use them to add emphasis or create a short, dynamic break within a sentence.

Spacing: CDA typically prefers no spaces around the em-dash.

“We have one goal—empower your brand to shape the future.”

Example (Before/After)

Before: “We have one main goal, empower your brand to shape the future.”
After: “We have one main goal—empower your brand to shape the future.”

4.3 Colons & Semicolons

Colons ( : ) introduce lists or clarifications: “Our mission is clear: create brands that connect.”
Semicolons ( ; ) connect related independent clauses, but use sparingly: “We finalized the layout; now it’s time for feedback.”

4.4 Uses of Arrows

These arrow icons (←↑→↓↔↕↖↗↘↙↰↳↴↵) can be handy to illustrate design flows, directional instructions, or user journeys.

Example: “The user journey looks like this: Start ← Onboarding → Personalization → Checkout → Completion.”
Make sure the font supports: Fonts like "Inter" support these special characters while some other fonts do not.
Keep them minimal: Avoid overusing arrows in normal text or headings.
Consider clarity: Ensure the arrow visually supports navigation or directional meaning, rather than adding clutter.

Bulleted lists: Break down steps or highlight quick wins.
Subheaders: Use short, descriptive headings to organize content.
Minimal emphasis: Go easy on bold or italics. Reserve them for key words or short phrases.
Be consistent: Keep spacing, punctuation style, and fonts consistent across all documents.

Wordiness & Verbosity
- Before: “At this point in time, it’s necessary for us to evaluate various methodologies with the goal of establishing synergy.”
- After: “Now is the time to evaluate our methods and find the best ways to collaborate.”
Run-on Sentence
- Before: “We’re excited about the next sprint it will finalize the user journey once that’s done we can integrate the analytics.”
- After: “We’re excited about the next sprint—it will finalize the user journey. After that, we’ll integrate analytics.”
Clarity & Authenticity
- Before: “We are recognized as a disruptor of industry norms via unparalleled synergy in brand-building efforts.”
- After: “We’re known for breaking industry norms by building brands that connect with people in a meaningful way.”

Final Reminders

Read it aloud: Does it sound natural, friendly, and clear? If not, revise.
Stay consistent: From punctuation to word choice, keep the details uniform.
Show empathy: Even when discussing data or technical concepts, maintain CDA’s human-centric focus.

Previous

Next

Writing & Style Guidelines

1. Sentence & Paragraph

2. Tone & Vocabulary

3. Concise Word Choice

4. Punctuation & Special Characters

4.1 Oxford Commas

4.2 Em-Dashes

4.3 Colons & Semicolons

4.4 Uses of Arrows

5. Formatting Tips

6. Additional Examples

Final Reminders

Previous

Next

Writing & Style Guidelines

1. Sentence & Paragraph

2. Tone & Vocabulary

3. Concise Word Choice

4. Punctuation & Special Characters

5. Formatting Tips

6. Additional Examples

4.1 Oxford Commas

4.2 Em-Dashes

4.3 Colons & Semicolons

4.4 Uses of Arrows

Final Reminders