Beachbody Blog Style Guide
We use Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition as our main
dictionary and Webster’s Third New International as a backup. The Associated Press
Stylebook is our primary style manual. This style guide and attached word list supersede
any spellings, stylings, and rules found in the above reference books.
For spelling (including whether a word is hyphenated or written as two words), use
the first listing in Webster’s Eleventh. If Webster’s definition says "usually cap,"
cap it; if it says "often cap" or "sometimes cap," don't.
Abbreviations/Acronyms
Except where there’s strong tradition in their use, eliminate all periods in
abbreviations and acronyms and use all caps, no spaces: AIDS, AT&T, CBS, CEO,
GE, HBO, JFK, LBJ, MGM, MIA, MTA, NASA, NBA, NYC, PR, QB, etc. To form
plurals of abbreviations that contain no periods, add an “s” without an apostrophe:
MIAs, SOBs, YMCAs.
Exceptions: D.A. (district attorney), E.T. (the little guy from outer space), G.I.,
L.A.P.D., P.I., U.N., U.S., all degrees (B.A., M.D., Ph.D., LL.D., B.Sc., M.B.A.), i.e.,
e.g., M.S. (multiple sclerosis), A.D., B.C. Also note: 16mm film, aka, mph, rpm. For
plurals of abbreviations with internal periods, add an apostrophe and an s: G.l.'s,
D.A.'s.
To add a prefix or suffix to an abbreviation or acronym, use a hyphen, not an endash: ex-CEO, U.S.-based, NBA-related, etc.
If a sentence ends with an abbreviation, no second period is required.
Addresses
Spell out Avenue, Road, Street and states. Use a postal abbreviation (vs. generic state
abbreviation) for state if a ZIP code is used.
A/An
Use a before consonants. Use An before vowels and words that sounds like they begin
with a vowel. For example: It was a feature that I rated an F.
Ages
Follow standard number style. He is three years old. He is 30 years old. He's a 30-yearold bachelor. He's in his 30s. It is my nephew's third birthday. It is my boyfriend's
30th birthday. I studied 18th-century British literature in grad school.
But spell out: twentysomething, thirtysomething, fortysomething, etc.
Art Terms
Cap only when referring to the founding father of a movement (the Cubists, the
Fauvists) or to clarify that you're referring to the school/movement rather than to the
style. But art deco (art- deco space), art nouveau, their dadaist sensibility, neoclassical,
Doric, Gothic (BUT gothic proportions, gothic novel
As/Since
Do not substitute "as" for "since."
For example: She wanted to be featured in the video, since her new show was
premiering in September. (Not: She wanted to be featured in the video, as her new
show was premiering in September.)
Beg the Question
This expression means to avoid the question. So use it correctly or rephrase (i.e.,
invites the question).
Between…and
It's somewhere between 14th and 18th streets. (note lowercases in plural)
Brackets
Use them for editorial comments or explanations within a quote to show that they
are not the parenthetical comments of the speaker. Also use them for stage
directions in an interview. Stage directions should be italicized within the bracket.
Capitalization
• Headlines: Use initial caps except for (including normally lowercased words (the, a,
and, etc.). For the 3-spot, use initial caps for all headline words (including normally
lowercased words).
• Follow the word list in regards to product-specific capitalizations.
Colons
Capitalize the first word following a colon in the main text only if a complete sentence
follows. Examples:
- Here's what happened: He left work early, bought a bottle of champagne to
celebrate his promotion, and met up with his friends.
- On his birthday, Matthew came home to a terrific gift: a new set of golf clubs.
Commas
Use the Oxford comma.
Company Names
Use a comma before Inc. Spell out company and organization names on the first
references, followed by the acronym (without periods) in parentheses.
Compare To/Compare With
Use "compare to" for metaphorical comparisons, such as "Shall I compare thee to a
summer's day..." Use "compare with" for direct comparisons, such as "When
customers compare P90X with INSANITY.”
Compound Verbs
Generally hyphenate. Check Webster’s, too, to make sure it isn’t one word (i.e., "to
copyedit"). To double-check, to dead-end, to jump-start, etc. Exception: to horseback
ride.
Convince
You can convince someone of or that, but not to. Use persuade or another word
with an infinitive. (Wrong: He convinced her to go.)
Curses
Don't use them. If it is absolutely necessary, discuss with the top editor.
Dates
The following are correct: the second of June; May 12, 1999; May 1994
Decades
Don't use apostrophes when decades are used as a noun: the 1990s. An apostrophe
should precede abbreviations: the '90s. OK to use "in the 1980s and '90s." Same goes
for the 2000s and 2010s. (the ‘00s, the ‘10s). Use an en-dash to express "from...to" in
years: 1995-98. Use an apostrophe if possessive: There was significantly more
swearing in 1998's feature film The Big Lebowski than in 2001’s Monsters, Inc.
Degrees
Spell out the word degree in regular text; use the degree symbol ° in recipes. To
make a degree symbol, simultaneously press shift-option-8.
• I heard that the temperature is supposed to drop almost 20 degrees tonight.
• It feels like it's two degrees out there!
• The car spun out of control and made a 360-degree tum in the middle of the highway.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. (close up temperature, degree symbol and F).
Different From/Different Than
Use the first or reword.
Doctors
Refer to medical doctors (physicians, osteopaths, psychiatrists, etc.) as "Dr." on the
second reference, after they have initially been identified as an M.D. Ph.D.'s should
simply be referred to by their last name on the second reference.
• John Smith, M.D., practices in Oregon. Dr. Smith specializes in pediatrics.
• Mary Jones, Ph.D., teaches at Fordham University. According to Jones…
Ellipses
When using ellipses to leave out words in a quote, to imply something or when
ending a partial sentence, put ellipses immediately after the last word (To quickly
make an ellipses use: option-semi-colon), with no space preceding, but one space
following.
En-dashes
Use to express to between figures or words.
• The Boston-Hartford bus
• The north-south throughway
• $100-150
• The years 1979-80 (Don't use an en-dash as a substitute for and or to: "Between 1992-98,
I lived in the Bronx" and “from 1989-90” are incorrect.)
Use an en-dash for a prefix or suffix with an open compound and hyphenated words set in
caps.
• Ex-New York City mayor; he's the creator-executive producer; a Brett Favre-like guy
Use en-dashes with scores.
• The Cubs beat the Mets 5-3.
Em-dashes
There should be one space on either side. Example: I was walking through the park
yesterday — wait, is that a helicopter?
Farther/Further
The former is used for literal distances: "It's three blocks farther up." Further is used for
figurative distances: "I can go no further with this metaphor." "Explain yourself further,
please."
Foreign Terms
Italicize unless it's a term that's become a part of the English language (if it's in
Webster’s), there's no need to italicize it. Examples: raison d'etre, film noir, macaron.
Fractions
Generally, spell out fractions in text (except in recipes). Use a hyphen only when they act
as a modifier. Examples: two thirds of women; a three-fourths majority
Geographical Terms
Capitalize geographical terms (from compass points) only as nouns designating a
region; keep them lowercase when they merely denote direction or compass points. So,
the West Coast, but western. Also lowercase nouns made from adjectives: westerner,
southerner. Check Webster's to see whether it's a legitimately capitalized region (i.e.,
Southeast Asia, Eastern Samoa).
Height
In isolated references, spell out heights. When several heights are mentioned or when
height is mentioned after a person's name, use numerals with straight quotes.
• Gabrielle Reece is a six-foot-three-inch volleyball player
• Gabrielle Reece, 6'3", plays volleyball.
• She is six foot three.
• She's six feet tall.
Hopefully
It's an adverb; don't use it as an adjective. "Hopefully he went to the store" does not mean
that we hope he went but that he was hope-filled as he went. Reword sentences such as
this, but be careful for the passive voice in constructions and stilted language such as "It
is hoped that." Be clearer and say who hopes.
Hyphens
• In general, hyphenate two adjacent adjectives that are modifying a noun.
• Don’t hyphenate compounds involving proper names (Marvel Comics illustrator).
• Don’t hyphenate adverb-adjective compounds (i.e., most words that end in -ly).
• Don’t hyphenate foreign phrases that are now used in English as modifiers (prix fixe
menu).
• In general, use hyphens, not back slashes, when you could substitute the word and, not
or, for the hyphen. (singer-songwriter, writer-director)
In, Into, On, Onto
In denotes position, into implies motion from without to within. Same with On, Onto.
• He was in the room. He walked into the room.
• He moved on the roof. He moved onto the roof.
Interviews
If in Q&A format, the question should start with "BEACHBODY: question" in bold. The
first response should be prefaced by the person’s full name, all in caps and in bold. After
these first references, replace the full names with initials (ex. Robert Redford would be
RR) and keep the questions in bold.
Italics vs. Quotation Marks
Commas and periods after italicized text revert to roman if the main text is roman.
Exclamation points and question marks take on the font of the italicized word(s) only
when the punctuation is predominantly a part of the phrase or title: Yesterday they saw
Love! Valour! Compassion! "Goodness!" was his response. But they retain the font of the
sentence when they're part of a larger sentence: "I told you to send them to him, not to
me!”
Also use italics for...
• Names of movies and TV shows
• Names of books, newspapers, magazines, plays
• Names of videos, albums, CDs, operas, long musical compositions
• Names of paintings, photographs, drawings, sculptures
• Legal cases (but with the "v." set in roman between the two names)
• Ships, submarines, aircraft, spacecraft
• Words and letters ("Use the word please when you ask." "Spell it with the letter q.”)
Like/As
Generally use as as a conjunction or preposition, like only as a preposition. An easy
check: Don't use like to introduce a clause; use it for direct comparisons only.
• She walks like a duck.
• She looked as her mom had 20 years earlier.
Like/Such As
Use the former for figurative examples, the latter for literal examples.
• Why can't vegetables taste more like candy?
• Many stars, such as Kevin Costner, have become directors.
Links
All outbound links should open in a new window.
Lists
No colon after list header. Use &bull; instead of <li> to create lists in HTML. One
space between &bull; and start of item on list.
Literally
Most language is inherently literal, so try to avoid it.
Measurements
Follow standard number style. Place a period after abbreviated measurements
- Tablespoon and teaspoon (Tbsp. and tsp.)
- Net weight or net wt.
- Ounces or oz.
- Fluid ounces or fl. oz.
- Weight or wt.
- Pounds or lb. or lbs.
Money
Express dollar amounts with a numeral and dollar sign. For amounts under $1, spell out
the word cents and apply standard number style to the amount.
• $5.99, $30, $150 million
• Four cents, 25 cents
Numbers
Spell out numbers from one to nine. Spell out ordinals under 100. Exceptions: dates,
heights, page numbers, percentages, scores, money, time, numbers in a chart.
• Three million, 3.3 million, 33 million
• She was a size 10 and is now a size 2
OK vs. Okay
We only use OK.
Over/More Than
OK to use for age (He's over 40). In other instances, use "more than" unless something is
physically over something else. Example: More than two thirds of NYC residents voted
for him.
Paragraphs
Bold headers using <strong>. Make sure that <h3> and <h4>s have been removed.
Add two spaces between paragraph. Remove any spaces between Header and first
line of running copy.
Percent
Use figures (except with one percent), unless the percentage starts a sentence. And always
spell out the word percent, except in a chart. Never hyphenate. Example: there's a 95
percent chance you won't win with that approach.
Periods
End complete sentences with periods. This includes full sentences in lists. Only use
one space after a period before beginning the next sentence.
Photo Credits
We credit all photographs that are not stock photos. Photo credit should be added to
the end of the article and their name should link to their Instagram account or Web
site (ask the photographer which they prefer). They should be styled like this:
All photographs by Annie Lebovitz.
Possessives for words that end in s
Don't add another s after the apostrophe if the word already ends in an s (Examples:
Denis', James', Edwards’)
Sayings/Slogans
Use quotation marks, no comma for introduction and cap the first word only His
favorite motto was "Just do it."
-Size/-Sized
Always use the latter: wallet-sized, bite-sized
Seasons
Use lowercase unless at the beginning of a sentence. If fall is not clear, use
autumn. Try to refrain from using Autumn so as not to confuse the season with the
trainer.
Sources
Use primary when available. Link directly to source in copy instead of listing at
the end of the copy.
Thoughts
Use italics to signify thought. Example: I thought to myself, What could possibly
happen next?
Time
For time of day, use caps: AM and PM. For time zones, use PT, ET, MT, CT (not
PST or PDT).
URLs
Initial cap URLs. Do not include http://www. Example: NewYorker.com
Vitamins
Use lowercase v and capital vitamin type. Example: vitamin C
Widows
A true widow consists of one word all by itself on a line. Avoid these at all costs on
the TBB homepage. Don’t worry about them in the blog, UNLESS they are part of a
headline.
Beachbody Word List – Revised 6/2/15
A
after-party
air-dry
all right (not alright)
alpha-lipoic acid
AM (as in AM/PM)
anti-aging
antimicrobial
Asiago
at-home
autoship
a while
award-winning
B
baby boomer
backward
bar-and-grill
barbecue
Beachbody
Beachbody Blog
beach-ready
bed-and-breakfast
best-seller, best-selling
blood sugar
blond (for both men and women)
blow-dry
blue
bodybuilder
bodybuilding
bodysuit
body weight (noun)
bodyweight (adj.)
boot camp
bpm (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
breadcrumbs
Brie
by-products
C
capoeira
carb-loading
cardio-conditioning program
chaturanga
cheddar
chile (the vegetable)
chile powder (the powdered form of a chile pepper, i.e. ancho chile powder)
chili (the dish)
chili powder (the powdered spice blend used to season chili)
chin-up
chocoholic
chocolaty
circuit-training program
co-creator
co-founder
Colby
cooldown (noun)
cool down (verb)
cottage cheese
coworker
cream cheese
cross-training
C-section
cueing
D
dairy-free
deadlift
décolleté
derriere
discs (CD or DVD)
do’s and don’ts
double-check
down and dirty
downward dog
drop-down
dry-clean
E
eyedrops
eyeliner
eyeshadow
F
face-off
farmers market
FAQ
feta
filet (filet mignon)
fillet (fish)
flaxseed
fluid ounces or fl. oz. (with period. Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
Food Guide Pyramid
forward
full-time
401(k)
G
glycemic index
Gorgonzola
Gouda
grey
grown-up
guidebook
H
haircut
hairbrush
hair-dryer
hairspray
hairstyle
Hanukkah
hardbody
hardcore
Havarti
High Intensity Interval Training
HIIT
high-glycemic
hip-hop
I
in-home
in-office
ins and outs
Internet
J
jam-packed
jiu-jitsu
jump start (noun)
jump-start (verb)
junk-food cravings
K
kebab
kickback
kickboxing
kick start (noun)
kick-start (verb)
L
L.A. or Los Angeles
laser firming treatment
life span
lifestyle
lifetime
limited-time offer
limited time only
login/log-on/logout (noun)
log in/log on/ log out (verb)
long-lasting
low-calorie
low-fat
low-glycemic (adj.)
low-impact (adj.)
M
meatloaf
medi spa
Message Boards
mic (for microphone)
mindset
Monterey Jack
months-long
mouthwatering
mozzarella
mph
muay thai
Muenster
multidiscipline
multi-peptide blend
Myofascial
N
net weight or net wt. (with period. Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
nondairy
nonfat
noninvasive
NYC (or New York City)
O
OK
om
omega-3
omega-6
online learning program
on-the-go
ounce or oz. (with period. Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
overtrain
overtraining
P
pant size
Parmesan
Parmigiano-Reggiano
playlist
portobello
post-activation potentiation (P.A.P.)
post-exercise (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
post-workout (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
pound/pounds (lb./lbs.)
powerhouse
pre-diabetes
pre-diabetic
pre-exercise (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
pre-fatigue
pre-measure (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
pre-workout (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
prime time (noun)
prime-time (adj.)
professional-grade
provolone
pull-down
pull-up
push-up
R
reduced fat
rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
retinol
ricotta
Romano
rockstar (unless referring to the gaming company. Then, Rockstar)
Roquefort
S
saucepan
sauté
sautéed
sealable
self-myofascial release
shareable
sign-up (noun, adj.)
sign up (verb)
sit-up
six-pack (not 6-pack or six pack)
skillset
skincare
slow-twitch
smartphone
soy-free
spring cleaning (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
stair climber (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
step-by-step
stir-fry
stir-fried
stove top
Super Bowl (DO NOT USE – Use Big Game, unless permitted by legal)
supercharged
superefficient
superfast
superfood
superfood shakes
SuperGym
sunblock
sunscreen
super-lean
sweatpants
swimwear
Swiss
swole
T
Tablespoon (Tbsp.)
tae kwon do
tai chi
takeaways
taste buds
Team Beachbody
teaspoon (tsp.)
time-saving
timeslot
time
toll-free
top-rack dishwasher safe
toward
trans fat
trans-fatty acid
T-shirt
tune-up (noun)
tune up (verb)
turbocharged
U
ultra-lean
ultra-premium
under-eating
unparalleled
upward
username
W
warm-up (noun)
warm up (verb)
Web (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
Web site (Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
weight or wt. (with period. Differs from the Beachbody Style Guide)
weight lifter
weight lifting
weight-loss
weight loss program
weight training workouts
well-being
well-known
whiskey (unless of Scottish or Canadian origin. Then, whiskey.)
whole food (noun)
whole-food (adj.)
whole-grain (adj.)
whole wheat bread
workload
workplace
workout (noun)
work out (verb)
workout times
workshop
Y
year-round
Z
zip line (noun)
zip-line (verb)
Products or Product-Related Terms
3-Day Refresh
10-Minute Trainer
21 Day Fix
21 Day Fix EXTREME
ActiVit
AfterBurn Effect
Ani Aratounias (MS, RD)
Beachbody Classic
Beachbody Coach Network
Beachbody Coaching Opportunity
Beachbody LIVE
Beachbody On Demand
Beachbody Peformance
Beachbody Ultimate Reset
B-LINES Resistance Bands
Block (for LIVE)
Body Beast
Brazil Butt Lift
Brazilian Butt Master (Leandro)
Bring It
booty/bootys/booty-transformation plan
bum bum
Autumn Calabrese
Leandro Carvalho
ChaLEAN Extreme
Challenge Group
Dr. Mark Cheng
Chin-Up Max
CIZE
CIZE LIVE
CIZE LIVE Instructor
Coach
Coaches
Coach Network
Dan Cohen
Jon Congdon
CORE
Core Comfort Mat (previously miniMAT)
Carl Daikeler
Isabelle Daikeler
Derm Exclusive Anti-Aging
Dig Deep
Digging Deep
Dig Deeper
Dynamic Set Training
EZ Curl Bar
Denis Faye (MS)
Fast Twitch Integration Training
F.I.T. or FOCUS INTERVAL TRAINING (for FOCUS T25)
Fit Test
FOCUS T25
Game Day
Hip Hop Abs
Ho’ Ala ke Kino
Tony Horton
Hyaluronic Filling Spheres
INSANITY
INSANITY: The Asylum
INSANITY: The Asylum Vol. 1 (if specifically talking about Vol. 1)
INSANITY: The Asylum Vol. 2 (if specifically talking about Vol. 2)
INSANITY MAX:30
INSANITY LIVE
INSANITY LIVE Instructor
Instructor Apparel
Instructor Certificate
Instructor Manual
Instructor Workshop
IUs
Chalene Johnson
Sagi Kalev
LES MILLS COMBAT
LES MILLS PUMP
Gillian Marloth Clark
Master Trainer
Master Trainer Game Plan
MAX Interval Training
Teigh McDonough
Micro-Smoothing Peptides
Month (as in Month 1)
Muscle Confusion
Network
Rachael Newsham (or Rach)
Darin Olein
Dr. Andrew Ordon
Participant Starter Guide
Personally Sponsored Coach
PiYo
PiYo LIVE
PiYo Live Instructor
PiYo Strength
Portion Fix
Portion Control Containers
Power 90
Power Half Hour
P90
P90X
P90X Chin-Up Bar
P90X ONE on ONE
P90X2
P90X3
P90Xers
P90X LIVE
P90X LIVE Instructor
P90X Qualification
P90X Qualified
Power Move
PRO Team
Protocols (for LIVE)
Push Play
Rockin’ Body
Round (for LIVE)
Shakeology
Shaun T
Debbie Siebers
Slim in 6
Slim Training
Success Stories
Super Sets (Body Beast)
Supersets (P90X LIVE)
Super Stacking
Super Workout
Tai Cheng
Tony Horton’s PowerStands
Total Body Solution
TriAngle Training
TriAngle Training method
TurboFire
Turbo Jam
Turbo Kick
Turbo Kick LIVE
Turbo Kick LIVE Instructor
Turbo-style
Turbo Training
Turbo Wear
Week (as in Week 1)
Xers
Yoga Booty Ballet
Your Daily Dose of Dense Nutrition
Your Daily Dose of Supernutrients
Apparel-Specific Terms
air-dry
burnout
cold shoulder top
crew neck
crisscross
drapey
dry/dries
flowy
fuschia
hand wash
hoody
lo cut socks
long sleeve shirt
loose-fitting
muffin top
racerback
ruche/ruching
scoop neck
short sleeve shirt
slim-fitting
streetwear
superabsorbent
supersoft
T-shirt or tee
Ultralight
V-neck
Beachbody Blog Recipe Guidelines
Recipe Title
The title should be descriptive and SEO friendly. The title should be in title case and bold.
Description
To be added to the top of a recipe page. A description is meant to draw a reader into a recipe. It can alert a
reader to peculiarities in the recipe, mention special techniques or ingredients, or just tell a bit about the
recipe’s origin. Look to Bon Appetit and other culinary magazines for inspiration.
Servings
The number of servings should be listed right under the title in parentheses. List the number of servings,
and then, if available, the size of each serving (preferably in cups or fractions of cups rather than ounces).
Cooking and Prep Times
Total Time, then Prep Time, then Cooking Time. Period after “min.” and “hr.” (if applicable). Bold the
descriptor and colon.
Total Time: X min.
Prep Time: X min.
Cooking Time: X min.
Ingredients
The word “Ingredients” should be at the top of the ingredient list. There should be only one space between
the unit of measure and the ingredient. The ingredient order should reflect their use order in the recipe.
When needed, break up the ingredient list with subheads according to recipe parts, such as “crust,”
“filling,” and “topping.” In the directions, use corresponding subheads, such as “for crust” or “for filling,”
for clarity.
When listing the number and size of packages, cans, or bottles, give the number of containers, the size of
the container in parentheses (with a hyphen between the number and the measure [e.g., “12-oz.”], and the
name of the type of container, followed by the name of the ingredient.
When an ingredient is used at different times in a recipe, list the total amount in one place in the
ingredient list and indicate “divided use” in italics. Then describe clearly in the directions what portion of
the whole to use in each step where it’s used. Each time, indicate the measure in italics.
1 (15-oz.) can chicken broth
3½ tsp. parsley, chopped
2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 large egg white (2 Tbsp.)
Nonstick cooking spray
Be specific about the kind and amount of meat, poultry, or seafood used. Indicate whether the ingredient
should be boned, skinned, shelled, deveined, sliced, chopped, ground, or otherwise prepared, including
whether the recipe calls for it to be cooked beforehand (grilled, poached, etc.). Actions that must be
performed before measuring (especially slicing, chopping, and/or grinding of items measured by volume)
should come between the quantity and the name of the ingredient; if item is measured by weight, these
descriptors should come after the name of the ingredient unless the item is purchased in that form.
1 lb. raw chicken breast, boneless, skinless
2 (6 oz. each) grilled chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
2 cups diced grilled chicken breast
2 lbs. raw medium shrimp, cleaned, deveined
1 lb. raw 93% lean ground turkey breast
2 (6 oz. each) raw filet mignon steaks, 1 inch thick
*The recipes will come to the Blog in different format from the recipe team. The easiest way to fix the
formatting is on the HTML side.
Use these standard abbreviations:
Tbsp.
tsp.
lb.
lbs.
oz.
pkg.
pt.
qt.
gal.
inch
tablespoon
teaspoon
pound
pounds
ounce
package
pint
quart
gallon
Never abbreviate “inch"—not as “in.,” not with straight " marks, and especially not with
curved ” marks.
Preparation
The word “Preparation” should be at the top of the preparation steps.
Be complete, clear, and concise. Use simple, standard preparation techniques that are easily understood.
Describe less familiar techniques.
Straightforward, descriptive sentences are best. Begin with a verb when possible.
If advance preparation is needed for a later step, mention this early in the directions. For example, tell the
cook ahead of time to bring the water to boiling for the pasta or to preheat the oven, so it can be heating
while subsequent steps are performed.
Refrain from using the articles “a” and “an” before the names of ingredients, cooking pans, or utensils.
Use these articles before names of dishes, bowls, and the like.
Provide brief, helpful tips whenever possible throughout the directions. Examples include:
-
Describing how a mixture should look or feel at a certain stage.
Giving amounts if they are in a different form from the measurements in the ingredient list
Providing visual descriptions of tests for doneness:
Reminding the cook to remove and discard any inedible items before serving the dish. This could
include bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, kitchen string, etc.
Tips
Use a tip at the end of a recipe to provide additional information that doesn’t fit elsewhere in the recipe.
Tips on alternative ingredients, equipment, or techniques; simple preparation tips, or techniques; tips on
storage or reheating; serving suggestions; explanation of an unusual ingredient or where to find it;
suggestions for using leftovers; or other helpful advice can be put in the note.
If there are a lot of tips, consider writing a paragraph or two of intro copy instead.
Nutrition Facts
These come to us in list format. They—along with the portions—should be embedded into a PSD, saved,
and then saved as a web friendly JPG. When saving, save as the recipe title.
Style Guide Specific to Recipes
Use boil gently instead of simmer - OK to use in copy, but not in preparation directions.
Bread crumbs instead of breadcrumbs
Browned instead of brown
Broth instead of stock
Cayenne pepper instead of ground red pepper (they are the same thing)
Kebab instead of kabob
Saucepan instead of sauce pan
Stove top instead of stovetop
Slow Cooker instead of Crock-Pot
Skillet instead of frying pan
Cheeses
Some cheeses are capitalized, others are not. This is our preference:
Asiago, blue, Brie, cheddar, Colby, cottage, cream, feta, Gorgonzola, Gouda, Havarti, Monterey Jack,
mozzarella, Muenster, Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano, provolone, ricotta, Romano, Roquefort, Swiss.
Chile/Chili
Use chile when referring to the vegetable. Use chili when referring to the dish.
Chile/Chili Powder
When referring to the powdered spice blend used to season chili, use chili powder. When referring to the
pure powdered form of a chile pepper, use chile powder (ex. Ancho chile powder).
Cook/Heat
Use cook when the food will go through a cooking process on the stove top. Use heat when the food is
already cooked but must be brought to a warm or hot temperature to be served.
Cooked/Raw
Indicate whether an ingredient is raw, dry, fresh, or cooked, because this can be important for
measurement and recipe results. Use “raw” (for meat/poultry/fish/vegetables, etc.), “fresh” (for juice,
berries, etc.), or “dry” (for pasta/grain/quinoa, etc.).
Cooking/Baking Sheet/Pan
Use cooking sheet, not baking sheet. Baking dishes refer to a glass object. Baking pans refer to a metal
object. When possible, give exact dimensions.
Defrost/Thaw
Don’t say defrost when you mean thaw, as in thawing frozen foods. Defrost is a microwave oven setting.
If it will take more than 30 minutes to thaw a food, particularly meat, poultry, or fish, the thawing must
take place in the refrigerator.
Degrees
Use the degree symbol and F for Fahrenheit. The degree symbol can be typed by holding option-shift-8.
Grease
When referring to coating a pan or dish with a light layer of fat to prevent foods from sticking, don’t say
grease. Say lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray or brush with oil.
Iced Coffee/Tea/Water
Use iced coffee or iced tea. Use ice water.
Olive Oil
The majority of recipes call for extra-virgin olive oil. However, when recipes call for the olive oil to be
heated on the stove top at medium heat or higher, or in the oven at 400° F for 10 minutes or longer, use
regular olive oil, because the monounsaturated fats in extra-virgin olive oil break down at higher
temperatures.
Portobello
These mushrooms are available year-round, reasonably priced, and great for vegetarian meals. They are
portobello mushrooms. Not portobella, not portabella.
Shakeology Recipes
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The order of ingredients is important in order for these recipes to blend properly and should
be as follows:
o Liquid (water, milk, almond milk, juice, etc.)
 When using almond milk, rice milk and coconut milk indicate if they
sweetened or unsweetened. We generally use unsweetened.
o Dairy (yogurt, cheese, sour cream, etc.)
o Shakeology
o Fruit and vegetables (should be cut into chunks or pieces)
o Oats and nuts (nut butters, nuts, etc.)
o Sweeteners (maple syrup, honey, etc.)
o Extracts
o Herbs and spices
o Ice
Use 1 cup of ice in Shakeology recipes, unless there is a specific reason to use another
amount.
This is an example of how the preparation part of the Shakeology recipe should be written:
Place water, juice, Shakeology, banana, peanut butter, cinnamon, and ice in blender; cover.
Blend until smooth.
For recipes using fruit with live enzymes (fresh pineapple, fresh kiwifruit, and fresh papaya)
there should be a final preparation step that reads “serve immediately”.
For all of the recipe protocols, refer to the Recipe Protocol document.