How to Build a Novel Style Sheet (Free Template)

Every tidy book hides a mess: the hundreds of tiny choices that make prose feel seamless. Is it organise or organize? Are we using single or double quotation marks? Is Aunt Maureen Morin or Moreen on page 67? A style sheet is where those decisions live. It’s the project’s single source of truth — and it saves authors money, time, and headaches across editing, design, and proof.

This guide explains what a style sheet is, what to put in it, and how to build yours in twenty minutes. We’ll stick to UK conventions and share a free template you can copy.

What is a style sheet?

A style sheet is a living document that records the mechanical and consistency decisions for your manuscript. It’s used by you, your editor(s), typesetter, and proofreader to keep the book internally coherent.

Think of it as a compact owner’s manual for your text:

• The rules you’ve chosen (spelling, punctuation, numbers);

• The world you’ve built (character names, places, timelines);

• The exceptions that make your voice your voice.

What to include (the essentials)

1. Spelling & hyphenation — UK spelling baseline (‑ise/‑isation), preferred dictionaries, hyphenation decisions (e.g., email not e‑mail; copy‑edit vs copyedit).

2. Punctuation — Quotation style (UK single quotes with doubles inside), dash usage (en dashes for ranges; ems for breaks), ellipsis style, Oxford comma policy (yes/no).

3. Numbers & dates — Words vs numerals rules (one to nine in words; 10+ as figures, unless stylistic), date format (16 September 2025), time style (9:30 a.m. or 09:30).

4. Dialogue & typography — How you handle thoughts, foreign words (italics or roman), italics for ships/works, capitalization of terms of address (Mum, Dad).

5. Characters & places — Canon spellings, physical details, relationships, ages, pet names; key locations with agreed spellings.

6. Timeline & continuity — Chapter‑by‑chapter chronology, weekdays and seasons, ages across time jumps.

7. Voice & register — Notes on tone, taboo words to avoid, dialect/colloquial choices, any house quirks.

8. References & research (non‑fiction) — Citation style, abbreviations, capitalization for institutions, Latin etc.

Quick‑start template (copy this layout)

• Project: Title | Author | Draft/version

• Baseline: UK spelling (dictionary + edition); style manual (if any)

• Spelling/hyphenation list: copyedit, email, judgement, per cent vs percent, etc.

• Punctuation: Quotes, ellipses, dash rules, comma policy

• Numbers/dates: Rules + examples

• Dialogue/typography: Thoughts, italics, emphasis

• Character list: Name | Role | Traits | Canon spellings | Notes

• Places: Place | Spelling | Notes

• Timeline: Chapter → date/time → notes

• Misc.: Any recurring devices, running jokes, special terms

Get our free template
Want a ready‑to‑use Google Doc style‑sheet template?

Click here to download.

Build yours in 20 minutes

1. Set the baseline. Decide your default dictionary (e.g., Oxford Dictionaries (UK) or Collins) and note any deliberate variations (you prefer judgement over judgment, for instance).

2. Lock the punctuation set. Pick quotation style (UK singles), decide Oxford comma policy, and note dash/ellipsis conventions with examples.

3. Sweep a chapter. Skim chapter one and record any non‑obvious choices you make: capitalisation of terms (Internet/internet), hyphenation (time‑traveller), slang you keep as is.

4. Build the cast list. Add each named character with defining traits and spellings (does Sam use Mam or Mum?). Include pets and ships; future‑you will thank you.

5. Sketch the timeline. Note day/date per chapter. If you time‑jump, pin ages and seasons so Thursday doesn’t become Sunday three pages later.

6. Share it. Send the style sheet with your next edit pass. Ask your editor to update it as they work; ask your typesetter to keep it open while laying out.

UK‑specific decisions (examples)

• Spelling: Prefer -ise/-isation (e.g., organise, standardisation) unless a proper noun dictates otherwise.

• Quotation marks: UK singles by default — ‘like this’ — with doubles “inside quotes”.

• Oxford comma: Choose a default (we often recommend use sparingly, for clarity in fiction).

• Numbers: One to nine in words; 10+ as numerals; thousands with thin space or comma (style‑dependent).

• Dates: 16 September 2025; no ordinals (16th) in running text unless voiced.

• Titles: Dr, Mr, Mrs without full stops; St for Saint in place names per context.

Common pitfalls

• Letting it stagnate. A style sheet is a living tool. Update it every pass.

• Burying the lede. Keep it to 2–4 pages; push encyclopaedic notes to a separate appendix.

• Series drift. If you’re writing a series, version the sheet per book and maintain a master.

• Not sharing it. Designers and proofreaders rely on this: send it with the manuscript.

What happens if you skip it?

Editors spend time re‑deciding (and re‑checking) the same issues; typesetters chase inconsistencies; proofreaders catch late‑stage fixes that should have been set earlier. That costs time — and, if you’re paying for hourly work, money. A shared style sheet keeps everyone aligned so your budget goes into improvements readers actually notice.

What next?

Check out our services and get in touch today to choose the right next step for your draft.