IBM Style Guide, The: Conventions for Writers and Editors

Chapter 4. Structure

Follow these guidelines to present information in a clear and logical structure.

Topic-based information

Topic-based writing is an approach to writing well-structured, minimalist information that is usually presented online.

A topic is an independent unit of information with the following characteristics:

• It is meaningful when it is displayed alone.

• It follows the rules for a specific topic type.

A book establishes a progression of information that readers are expected to follow in a sequence. By contrast, online information encourages readers to approach topics from various directions. Writers of online information divide information into topics that can be read independently.

There are three main topic types:

• Task ...