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XS✔ ◾ Changes to rules to formatting new lines and inclusions in related rules #8272

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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions categories/communication/rules-to-better-email.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ index:
- following-microsoft-365-groups
- description-to-the-group
- highlight-template-differences
- format-new-lines

---

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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions categories/design/rules-to-better-content-design.md
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Expand Up @@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ index:
- distinguish-keywords-from-content
- avoid-repetition
- avoid-full-stops-in-bullet-point-lists
- format-new-lines
---

Content design helps create a frictionless user experience by presenting the right information in the right way and at the right time. This is an application of design thinking principles, improving the ways you structure and present user-oriented content. Effective content leads to better:
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127 changes: 93 additions & 34 deletions rules/format-new-lines/rule.md
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@@ -1,92 +1,151 @@
---
type: rule
title: Do you know where to add new lines?
title: Do you enhance readability with line breaks and spacing?
uri: format-new-lines
authors:
- title: Brady Stroud
url: https://ssw.com.au/people/brady-stroud
- title: Adam Cogan
url: https://www.ssw.com.au/people/adam-cogan/
- title: Josh Berman
url: https://www.ssw.com.au/people/josh-berman/
- title: Tiago Araujo
url: https://www.ssw.com.au/people/tiago-araujo
- title: Jayden Alchin
url: https://ssw.com.au/people/jayden-alchin/
related:
- add-useful-and-concise-figure-captions
- use-the-right-html-figure-caption
created: 2021-07-06T01:13:05.707Z
archivedreason: ""
guid: e05522a7-1822-412c-80ee-5619039f7d96

---

Sometimes when writing content, you need to make the decision to keep it on the same line or put it on a new line.
Writing in large blocks of text is a common practice, but it can hinder readability. Incorporating line breaks and spacing significantly enhances content readability. This allows readers to navigate through the text more easily, absorb information more effectively, and stay engaged with the material.

<!--endintro-->

::: info
**Warning:** In web pages (HTML/Markdown), line breaks **should not be used to to create layout spacing** - it is a bad practice. You should use CSS margins and paddings to achieve it.
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Learn more on [HTML `<br>` Tag: The Dos and Don'ts of Adding an HTML Line Break](https://blog.hubspot.com/website/html-line-break).

See the [Markdown Guide](https://www.markdownguide.org/basic-syntax/#line-breaks) for more information on line breaks in Markdown.

On the other hand, in regards to **emails** and/or **informal documents**, line breaks can be used for spacing. In these cases, correct syntax is not crucial, and breaking a line is more convinient than dealing with margins/line spacing.
:::

### Long paragraphs

It is recommended that notes, tips and figures should be on a new line to enable better readability. It can also be beneficial to bold those words.
Consider breaking lines/paragraphs when you have a long block of text. You should aim to separate the information by context.

::: greybox
Good way: use the Dynamics 365 (formerly CRM 2016) toolbar?
**Note:** We have a suggestion that Outlook should allow you to put the CRM2016 URL into Tools | Options so this is better integrated
SSW is made up of a great team of staff that is passionate about technology and how it meets business needs. Today SSW has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Strasbourg (France) and Hangzhou (China), with over 100 employees. Want to meet them? Have a look at SSW People.
:::
::: bad
Figure: Bad Example - No line break before the note.
Figure: Bad example - Long block of text
:::

::: greybox
Good way: use the Dynamics 365 (formerly CRM 2016) toolbar?
**Note:** We have a suggestion that Outlook should allow you to put the CRM2016 URL into Tools | Options so this is better integrated
SSW is made up of a great team of staff that is passionate about technology and how it meets business needs.

Today SSW has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Strasbourg (France) and Hangzhou (China), with over 100 employees.

Want to meet them? Have a look at SSW People.
:::
::: good
Figure: Good Example - The note being on a fresh line makes it much easier to read.
Figure: Good example - The text is separated by paragraphs
:::

This is also recommended when sending URLs for readability.
### Notes, Tips, PS

::: greybox
Hey Bob,

Check out this awesome new video about the SSW Cultural Exchange Program! https://youtu.be/dfE_Y8fy_wo?si=NEcQLAPafAWKa7m5
Content elements like **Note**, **Tip**, **PS** (and similar) should be on a new line to enable better readability. It is beneficial to bold those words.

::: greybox
Test the login functionality thoroughly. Note: Try both valid and invalid credentials.
:::
::: bad
Figure: Bad Example - No line break before the URL.
Figure: Bad example - No line break before the note
:::

::: greybox
Hey Bob,
Test the login functionality thoroughly.
**Note:** Try both valid and invalid credentials.
:::
::: good
Figure: Good example - The "Note" being on a fresh line and in bold makes it much easier to read
:::

Check out this awesome new video about the SSW Cultural Exchange Program!
### URLs

Breaking a line is also recommended before URLs.

::: greybox
Check out these employment opportunities at SSW: <https://www.ssw.com.au/employment#available>
:::
::: bad
Figure: Bad example - No line break before the URL
:::

https://youtu.be/dfE_Y8fy_wo?si=NEcQLAPafAWKa7m5
::: greybox
Check out these employment opportunities at SSW:
<https://www.ssw.com.au/employment#available>
:::
::: good
Figure: Good Example - The URL being on a fresh line makes it much easier to read.
Figure: Good example - The URL being on a fresh line makes it much easier to read
:::

This is also recommended when sending PBIs for better readability.
### Headings

It's a good idea to have some space after headings.

::: greybox
Hey Adam,
Hey Bob,
Check out this awesome new video about the SSW Cultural Exchange Program!
:::
::: bad
Figure: Bad example - No spacing after heading
:::

I have 2 PBIs on my next to-do in the coming sprint: Product Backlog Item 88994: ⚡Performance | Create a new App Service plan and Product Backlog Item 88823: 🚗 Azure | Create a new App Service Plan in West US for SL production resource group.
I will do the IoC after.
::: greybox
Hey Bob,

Check out this awesome new video about the SSW Cultural Exchange Program!
:::
::: good
Figure: Good example - Spacing after heading
:::

### Multiple items should be a list

If you text has information that can become multiple items, it should be a list. For example, when sending PBIs for a Sprint.

::: greybox
I have 2 PBIs in the coming Sprint: Product Backlog Item 88994: Performance | Create a new App Service plan and Product Backlog Item 88823: Azure | Create a new App Service Plan in West US for SL production resource group. I will do the IoC after.
:::
::: bad
Figure: Bad Example - No new lines for PBIs.
Figure: Bad example - Block of text
:::

::: greybox
Hey Adam,
I have 2 PBIs in the coming Sprint:

* PBI 88994: Performance | Create a new App Service plan
* PBI 88823: Azure | Create a new App Service Plan in West US for SL production resource group

I have 2 PBIs in this Sprint:
- PBI 88994: ⚡Performance | Create a new App Service plan
- PBI 88823: 🚗 Azure | Create a new App Service Plan in West US for SL production resource group.
I will do the IoC after.

:::
::: good
Figure: Good Example - PBIs on a new line.
Figure: Good example - List is used to separate information and make it easier to digest
:::

<!-- TODO: Add CodeAuditor box -->
::: info
This rule is enforced by CodeAuditor. https://codeauditor.com/rules
:::
**Note:** On the example above, see how changing from "Product Backlog Item" to "PBI" also helps with readability. However you should [only use acronyms when you know the recipient is familiar with the term](/avoid-acronyms).

See the [Markdown Guide](https://www.markdownguide.org/basic-syntax/#line-breaks) for more information on line breaks.
### Images and captions

It is also recommended to include spaces after an image or a figure description. These elements need breathing space to help user focus on them.
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::: info
In web, always rely on CSS margins to achieve this.
:::
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