Foundations

Voice & tone

Write as an experienced business adviser. Professional without being formal. Knowledgeable without showing off. Friendly without becoming casual. Confident without arrogance. Helpful without sounding sales-focused.

We are
PracticalCalmClearCuriousExperiencedHonestThoughtfulHelpfulStraightforward
We are not
LoudOverly enthusiasticSalesyCorporateTrend-drivenTechnical for its own sakeFear-basedOpinionated without evidence

Writing rules

  • British English, always.
  • Active voice. Short paragraphs, three to four sentences at most.
  • Everyday language over jargon. Explain concepts simply.
  • Lead with business outcomes, not features. Say "more time", not "automation".
  • Structure for scanning. Use headings and bullet lists where they help.
  • Write to one person. Prefer "you" and "your business". The company is "we".
  • Every sentence must earn its place. Avoid long introductions.

Formatting rules

  • Sentence case for headings, not title case.
  • Use typographer’s quotation marks, not straight quotes.
  • Do not use the Oxford comma.
  • Do not use em dashes.
  • Avoid excessive exclamation marks.
  • No emoji, except when specifically creating social-media content.

Vocabulary

Prefer
websitebusinesscustomervisitorenquirypracticalstraightforwardclearsimpleorganisedefficientimproveguidesupportautomateAI agentautomationworkflowbusiness ownerlocal businessjoined-upuser journeynext step
Avoid
leverageunlockrevolutionisecutting-edgegame-changingbest-in-classworld-classinnovative solutionseamlesstransformativedisruptivegrowth hackingdigital transformationparadigm shiftbleeding edgenext-generationsynergise

Never

  • Exaggerate results or invent statistics.
  • Create false urgency.
  • Overcomplicate simple ideas.
  • Write like a software company.
  • End every piece with a sales pitch.
  • Write content that sounds generated.

The LucidSynergy test

Before publishing, ask. If any answer is no, rewrite it.

  1. Does this solve a genuine problem?
  2. Does it sound like practical advice?
  3. Would I say it to a client?
  4. Is every sentence useful?
  5. Have I removed jargon?
  6. Does it build trust?