The UW-Madison IT Style Checker is a web application that helps content creators ensure their writing follows the UW-Madison Editorial Style Guide and DoIT Communications Style Guide. The tool checks text for common style issues, suggests corrections, and provides a "fixed" version of the text that follows UW-Madison's writing standards.
- Checks text against UW-Madison style rules
- Identifies errors, warnings, and suggestions
- Provides context for each issue found
- Suggests fixes for common problems
- Creates a corrected version of your text
The style checker examines text for issues in the following categories:
Formatting Rules
- UW-Madison name formatting (correct en dash usage)
- Dates & times formatting
- Dashes & hyphens
- Phone number formatting
- Heading capitalization
Language Rules
- Passive voice detection
- University jargon identification
- Wordy phrases
- IT jargon
- Inclusive language
UW-Madison Specific Rules
- UW-Madison name and references
- System names and capitalization (MyUW, NetID, WiscVPN, etc.)
- Academic titles formatting
- Campus vs. University usage
- Appropriate terminology
- Enable/disable specific rule checks
- Add custom jargon terms to check for
- Add university system names with correct capitalization
-
Check Your Text
- Go to the "Style Checker" tab
- Paste your text in the input area
- Click "Check Style" to analyze your content
- Review the issues found, categorized by severity
- Use the "Fixed Text" provided as a starting point for revisions
-
Learn the Rules
- Visit the "Rules & Categories" tab to understand UW-Madison style guidelines
- Browse through different categories: capitalization, dates & times, punctuation, etc.
- See examples of correct usage
-
Customize the Checker
- Go to the "Custom Settings" tab to enable/disable specific rules
- Add your own custom terms to check for
- Add system names with their correct capitalization
This tool is designed with accessibility in mind:
- Follows WCAG accessibility guidelines
- Works with keyboard navigation
- Compatible with screen readers
- Includes skip navigation links
- Features appropriate color contrast
- Provides clear error messages and feedback
- UW-Madison Editorial Style Guide
- IT@UW-Madison Writing Content Guide
- Links and Calls to Action Guide
- UW-Madison Web Brand Colors
- Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- No external dependencies or backend requirements
- Settings saved to browser's localStorage
- Compatible with modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
Version 1.0 - March 2025
Developed by UW-Madison IT Communications based on UW-Madison style guidelines and brand standards.