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Bold

Bold

Use bold for emphasis of specific elements in your writing.

Use bold for the following three main purposes:

  • Specific list types.

  • Notices.

  • Elements of user guides.

Note: the function of bold is evolving. Follow this current version of the style guide and understand that all guides evolve.

Lists and bold

Bold is used for a specific list type, called a Labeled list. See the example below.

Bold in labeled lists

Three types of list can be used:

  • Bulleted list: Items in a bullet list are not in sequence/order.

  • Numbered list: Items in the list are in specific order (first, next, then). These kinds of lists are used for instructions where steps need to be followed to complete the actions.

  • Labeled list: each list item needs further explanation, so a label is added to the list item.

Keep use of bold to the three functions above: notices, user guides, and labeled lists.

Notices and bold

A notice includes words like Note, Caution, Warning, Danger.

The notice itself is bolded; the words that follow are not.

Example bold in notices

Caution: Pressing the X button will end the program.

User guides and bold

Bold is commonly used to describe User Interface (UI) elements.

Bold in user guides

  1. Click File, Save a Copy to save your work with a new name.

  2. Enter the new filename in the Name field.

When writing user guides, tell the user how bold is being used. This guide sub-section might be called Typographical Conventions.