Style Guide

Your Quintessential Lethbridge connects Lethbians to all the things that make YQL great.

What We're About

We tell stories that show just how much there is to love about this city—its people, places, and the moments that make it feel like an amazing community we are proud to call home. We cover community, arts & entertainment, food & drink, local business, people, and events with taste, wit, and depth.

We highlight what feels special. Noteworthy. Worth getting off your couch for. If something moves us, surprises us, makes us think, or makes us proud to live here, that’s what we write about. Some of the best stuff in this city flies under the radar. We want to pull it into the light.

We aren’t trying to be neutral. We’re wanting to show that we’re deeply interested. And when we’re interested, we know our readers will be too.

Voice & Tone

Your writing should feel like it’s coming from the person writing it—someone thoughtful, observant, clever, and genuinely curious.

Smart, not academic. We want sharp ideas told in a way that’s easy to follow and fun to read.
Stylish, not stiff. Show some personality. A great turn of phrase can be as memorable as the story itself.
Opinionated, not divisive. It’s okay to have preferences (in fact, we expect it). Just hold them with grace.
Conversational, not casual. Your writing should flow, not ramble. Like your smartest friend telling a story they can’t wait to share.
Heartfelt over hype. Don’t sell the reader something. Move them. We’re drawn to writing with soul, not spin.
Creative over conventional. A little wit, a little weirdness, a poetic detail—these are all welcome.
Words with intention. We’re allergic to buzzwords, clichés, and empty phrases. Say something real, and say it like only you would.

Editorial Style

Our style is clean, readable, and expressive. We keep grammar sharp, but voice and flow always come first.

We follow a light editorial standard inspired by magazine-style writing, with a few house preferences:

Oxford comma: Yes.
Numbers: Spell out one through nine; use numerals for 10 and up.
People: Use first and last name on first mention, then first name only in the rest of the piece. Use last names after first mention only if needed for clarity.
Use em dashes (—) without spaces.
Italics for film titles, books, publication names, albums (but not song titles), theatrical productions, names of artwork, exhibition titles, and sparing emphasis in body text.
Quotation marks for song titles, poem titles, short stories, and article titles.
Plain formatting on band names, artist names, venues, and festival names.
No ALL CAPS, underlines, or over-formatting.
Paragraphs: Keep them short. Break often. Let the pace breathe.
Sentence fragments are fine. So long as they work.

Fact-Checking & Integrity

We value truthful, respectful storytelling. That means:

Verify names, dates, places, and affiliations.
Attribute all quotes and sources clearly.
If you’re unsure of something, flag it.
Be transparent about any connection you have to your subject.

Let's Tell Great Stories

Our goal is to create something people are excited to read. Thanks for bringing your voice, your care, and your curiosity to the page.