Syntax Guide | Styleworks

To add preferences that can be exported to PerfectIt, set one of your headings to a Preferences List using the Turn Into menu.

Then add your preferred terms in the Preferences List. Any recognised terms are added to your PerfectIt style automatically.

Some cases require a little extra information, which you can supply using the syntax below.

Unrecognised terms

If a preference is unrecognised, you also need to provide the find term (the text to be replaced). This can be done in two ways:

Syntax	Example
preference (`not` find term)	advisor (`not` adviser)
preference `should replace` find term	advisor `should replace` adviser

You can attach an instruction to a preference that PerfectIt will display in context when the term is found. This can be done in two ways:

Syntax	Example
preference `because` instruction	adviser `because` 'er' ending is preferred unless referencing a specific job title
preference `and explain that` instruction	adviser `and explain that` 'er' ending is preferred unless referencing a specific job title

Add private notes to your terms using two forward slashes (//). Everything after the slashes is ignored when exporting to PerfectIt.

Syntax	Example
preference `//`annotation	adviser `//`Source: The Little Book of Wisdom

Add defined abbreviations either abbreviation-first or definition-first, giving the other part in parentheses:

Syntax	Example
abbreviation (definition)	BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)
definition (abbreviation)	British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Set italicization preferences by surrounding the phrase with asterisks (*). Place the asterisks around the form you prefer.