In-house Style Guide

ActiveCare, Inc.
By Elizabeth Smith
Updated: November 21, 2016
www.activecare.com
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Contents
Preface and Author’s Note
5 Grammar and Usage
5.1 The Ampersand
5.2 A and An
5.3 It
5.4 Limited Length of Sentences
5.5 This, These, That, Those as Pronouns
6 Punctuation
6.1 Serial Commas
6.2 Dashes and Hyphens Compared
6.3 The En Dash
6.4 The Em Dash
6.5 The Slash
6.6 Space After Periods
7 Spelling, Distinctive Treatment of Words, and Compounds
7.1 Compound Words
7.2 Capitals for Emphasis
8 Names and Terms
8.1 Titles and Offices
8.2 Names of Products and Services
8.3 References to ActiveCare
8.4 Capitalization of Document Titles, Subtitles, and Headings
9 Numbers
9.1 General Rule
9.2 Large Numbers
9.3 Percentages
9.4 Phone Numbers
10 Abbreviations
10.1 Periods or No Periods
14 Documentation
14.1 Footnotes
14.2 Introduction to Notes Style
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Preface
ActiveCare, Inc. is a technology and service provider based in Orem, Utah, that is designed to
monitor the health of diabetes patients. Through its products and 24-hour CareCenter, the
Company is able to help diabetics manage their disease and report blood sugar levels to their
doctors. Although ActiveCare only provides service for US residents, service and products are
available to clients who prefer to communicate in Spanish. Additionally, several investors (both
past and present) of the Company are from various parts of the world, causing an occasional
need for global English.

The purpose of this style guide is to maintain the consistency of usage in the texts produced by
ActiveCare. This house style assumes that the Company’s literature follows the principles in the
sixteenth edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and thus is not comprehensive. Rather, it is
simply a record of ActiveCare’s decisions that call for global English and practices that may not
follow Chicago. In attempt to help readers find easy access to further information, the contents
of this style guide are divided into sections with the same titles and numbering as the equivalent
chapters in Chicago. All references to global English are cited or paraphrased from the Global
English Style Guide: Writing Clear, Translatable Documentation for a Global Market by John R.
Kohl.

Author’s Note
While all of the examples are from the Company’s website, my intent is not to expose errors or
inadequacies in the texts. Instead, I aim to reveal inconsistencies of usage and to prescribe
guidelines in such cases. Where there are grammatical errors, brief explanations are provided as
gentle reminders of what to avoid in the future. My hope is that this style guide will be a useful
reference tool for the employees of ActiveCare as they compose new text for the Company.
Please make adjustments or additions to this guide where necessary.
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5 Grammar and Usage

5.1 The Ampersand

Occasionally the ampersand (&) appears in the Company’s text. Use the ampersand only when
referring to the names or abbreviations of organizations. Do not replace and with the ampersand.
When doing so, make sure that all of such references are consistent throughout the text.

ü Earl Hurst: Sales and Marketing Strategist

ü Before joining ActiveCare, Earl was Executive Vice President at Moreton & Company.

5.2 A and An

The article a should appear before words beginning with a consonant sound, but an should
appear before words beginning with a vowel sound (Chicago 5.220).

ü Receive an INVESTOR KIT, and see why now is the time to invest!
û Receive a INVESTOR KIT, and see why now is the time to invest!

5.3 It

In texts that are translated from English into another language, the antecedent of it must be
obvious (Kohl 5.1.1). In cases where there is more than one possible word that it is replacing,
reword the sentence.

ü TELCARE™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System and lancing device are for single patient
use. Do not share the lancing device with anyone, including family members!
û TELCARE™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System and lancing device are for single patient
use. Do not share it with anyone, including family members!

5.4 Limited Length of Sentences

Keeping sentences short will reduce the risk of complexities that impede translation. When
writing in global English, limit the number of words per sentence to 25. For task-oriented
information, however, limit the sentences to 20 words (Kohl 3.1).

ü After testing, press the UP button on your Meter. The LCD display on the Meter will
show time counting up in seconds.

5.5 This, These, That, and Those as Pronouns

Using this, these, that, and those as pronouns is discouraged in global English, since there is not
always a simple translation in such cases (Kohl 5.2). Do not use the terms above as objects or
subjects of sentences. Instead, use them only as articles.
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Terms as pronouns:

û About
This screen provides a listing of current software and related information about your
meter. This is helpful if you need technical support.

Terms as articles:

ü About
The “About” screen provides a listing of current software and related information about
your meter. This information is helpful if you need technical support.

5.6 Subject-verb Agreement

The subject of the sentence and the verb of the sentence need to match in number. According to
Chicago 5.131, a verb is plural when there are multiple subjects joined by and, but the verb is
singular if the subjects are joined by or.

ü TELCARE™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System and lancing device are for single patient
use.
ü TELCARE™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System or lancing device is for single patient use.
û TELCARE™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System and lancing device is for single patient use.
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6 Punctuation

6.1 Serial Commas

The serial comma, also known as the Oxford comma, is the comma before the and or the or in a
list. In order to avoid confusion or ambiguity, always use the serial comma.

ü ActiveCare is a product, service, and technology provider.

û ActiveCare is a product, service and technology provider.

Consider the following sentence with and without the serial comma:

ü The ActiveCare program provides a comprehensive solution including a state-of-the-art

cellular glucometer and testing supplies, data analysis, an in-house 24/7/365 CareCenter
acting in real-time with that data, and reports to document progress.

û The ActiveCare program provides a comprehensive solution including . . . data analysis,
an in-house 24/7/365 CareCenter acting in real-time with that data and reports to
document progress.

An interpretation of the first sentence could be that the reports (noun) are provided to the
consumer as part of the Company’s program. On the other hand, the second sentence means that
the CareCenter, not the consumer, uses the reports to document progress. The easiest way to
eliminate such confusions is to always use the serial comma. If the sentence still seems
ambiguous, reword the phrase for clarity.

6.2 Dashes and Hyphens Compared

The hyphen, the en dash, and the em dash all have different functions. One cannot be substituted
for another since each carries a specific meaning. Here is what each looks like in print:

- (hyphen)
– (en dash)
— (em dash)

The hyphen is used in compound words (see 7.1); the en dash is used with numbers (see 6.3),
and the em dash is used to connect phrases or sentences (see 6.4).

6.3 The En Dash

The en dash is a substitute for to when connecting a range of numbers. It is not acceptable to use
an en dash if from or between precede the first element. Consult Chicago 6.78–81.

ü The ActiveCare program costs the employer $25–$50 per participant per month.
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ü The ActiveCare program costs the employer between $25 and $50 per participant per
month.
û The ActiveCare program costs the employer between $25–$50 per participant per
month.
û The ActiveCare program costs the employer $25-$50 per participant per month.

6.4 The Em Dash

According to 6.82–89 of Chicago, the em dash can (1) surround parenthetical information, (2)
replace a colon, and (3) indicate a sudden break in thought. The following examples correspond
with the numbered list above.

(1) Surrounding parenthetical information

ü David Derrick—a former business Professor, successful entrepreneur, and social

philanthropist—has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of
Utah.

(2) Replacing a colon

ü Increased Clarity—Proactive Engagement

(3) Indicating a sudden break in thought

ü Imagine a member receiving a call minutes after taking a dangerously high reading—it
may seem like science fiction, but with ActiveCare, it becomes a reality.

6.5 The Slash

When composing texts that will be translated, do not use the slash to replace and or or—this may
introduce ambiguity. Instead, use and or or to separate distinct units. You may use the slash when
referring to a single unit or when replacing per (Kohl 8.11.1–2).

Slash with separate units:

ü Use the UP and DOWN buttons to read the “Settings” screen.
ü Use the UP or DOWN buttons to read the “Settings” screen.
û Use the UP/DOWN buttons to read the “Settings” screen.

Slash with a single unit:
ü Press the CENTER/POWER button.

Slash replacing per:

ü If you see “High” or “Low” displayed, your blood glucose level may be above 600 mg/dL
or below 20 mg/dL.

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6.6 Space After Periods

A period ending a sentence should be followed by a single space—not a double—unless at the

end of a paragraph, where there will be no spaces added.

ü ActiveCare provides additional strategies and programs designed to better change

member behavior and improve their health. As members begin to test regularly . . .
û ActiveCare provides additional strategies and programs designed to better change
member behavior and improve their health. As members begin to test regularly . . .
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7 Spelling, Distinctive Treatment of Words, and Compounds

7.1 Compound Words

Compound words tend to be very difficult to spell correctly. Determining how a compound word
should be written can definitely cause some headaches. Some easy solutions are outlined below.

First and foremost, look the word up in the dictionary. Most of the compound words in
ActiveCare’s literature can be found in the latest edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary. Do not use dictionaries in word processors or in free online sources.

If the compound is not in the dictionary, follow these suggestions found in Chicago 7.85. A
hyphen appears:
1. before a capitalized word or a numeral, such as sub-Saharan or pre-1950.
2. before a compound term, such as twenty-first-century technology.
3. to separate combinations of letters or syllables that might cause misreading, such as pro-
life or re-create.
If there is still uncertainty about whether to hyphenate the compound or not, it will be necessary
to make some choices. These decisions should be documented and shared with anyone who
writes for the Company. By doing so, future texts will be more consistent. In the following
examples, the words in boldface are compounds.

ü The ActiveCare program costs the employer $25–$50 per participant per month, over
and above the cost of non-ActiveCare diabetes treatment, depending on the frequency
with which the patient tests their blood glucose levels.

ü Therefore, the total difference in annual medical expenses between participants and
nonparticipants was $3,666.
û Therefore, the total difference in annual medical expenses between participants and
non-participants was $3,666.

7.2 Capitals for Emphasis

Due to the technical and commercial nature of ActiveCare’s literature, the Company should
rarely add emphasis. However, because most instances that call for emphasis are serious
warnings to the readers, capitals are preferred instead of italics when emphasis is appropriate.

ü The bad news is that on average 70%–80% of members taking diabetes medication
NEVER test. They take their diabetes medication based on “how they feel” rather than
on clinical measurements. Are they compliant or out of control? NO ONE KNOWS!

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8 Names and Terms

8.1 Titles and Offices

ActiveCare has adopted the “up style”: the titles of persons holding academic, corporate,
religious, or military titles (or any title for that matter) have been capitalized consistently
regardless if a surname follows the title when referring to particular individuals.

ü Partner channels may include Third Party Administrators, Insurance Carriers, Disease
Management Companies, Wellness Companies, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Brokers
and Consultants.

ü As Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at RemedyMD, Michael led the
company's efforts in the utilization of informatics technologies for the treatment of
obesity and diabetes.

8.2 Names of Products and Services

ActiveCare has its own spelling and capitalization when it comes to the Company’s products,
terms, and services. The following list is of words that might be mistaken if not spelled or
capitalized correctly. Note that trademarks are not legally required in the Company’s text and
should be omitted whenever possible (Chicago 8.152). Please adjust or add to the list if
necessary.

ActiveCare INVESTOR KIT

ActiveCare, Inc. TELECARE™
ActiveCare™ TELECARE™ Blood Glucose
ActiveOne Monitoring System
ActiveOne™ TELECARE™ Blood Glucose Test
ActiveOne+ Strips
ActiveOne+™ Telecare BGM™ Blood Glucose
CareCenter Meter
CareCenter™ TELECARE™ Glucose Control
CareSpecialist Solutions
CareSpecialist™ Telserve
glucometer telehealth
Healthcare Coordinator telematics
Healthcare Coordinator™

8.3 References to ActiveCare

When referring to ActiveCare, the word company is capitalized. Otherwise, company is left in
lower case.
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ü ActiveCare has invested millions of dollars in creating and patenting a proprietary

process and system that allows the Company to assist members in real-time.

ü He has established a multimillion-dollar technology, management, and education
company.

8.4 Capitalization of Document Titles, Subtitles, and Headings

Historically, ActiveCare has used several styles for titles with no obvious reason for doing so.
The headline style, however, is by far the most used style in the Company’s literature. In this
style, all the words in the title are capitalized except articles, prepositions, and conjunctions (for
more information, see 8.157 of Chicago). Use the headline style for titles, subtitles, and
headings.

ü ActiveCare Appoints New Officers and Directors

ü The New ActiveCare
û NEW COMPANY REPORT



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9 Numbers

9.1 General Rule

Chicago suggests to only write single-digit numbers as numerals when writing in a technical or
scientific setting. Historically, ActiveCare has used numerals for all references to numbers except
those discussed in 9.2. Because ActiveCare’s literature often uses numerals to compare or
express the Company’s results and progress, the Company should continue its current style. To
show a contrast, the first example strictly follows Chicago’s suggestions, and the second follows
ActiveCare’s style.

ü The Company has also determined the sales cycles for clients with greater than 2,000
employees can take from 8 to 12 months. During the 2014 fiscal year, TPAs and broker
networks have delivered corporate clients ranging from 50 to 2,000 employees. The
average sales cycle for these has been notably shorter, ranging from 2 to 4 months.
û The Company has also determined the sales cycles for clients with greater than two
thousand employees can take from eight to twelve months. During the 2014 fiscal year,
TPAs and broker networks have delivered corporate clients ranging from 50 to 2,000
employees. The average sales cycle for these has been notably shorter, ranging from two
to four months.

9.2 Large Numbers

Whole numbers preceding million, billion, etc. should be written as numerals, thus following 9.1.
To express fractional quantities in the millions or more, write the first numeral as a decimal
fraction.

ü It has been forecasted that by the end of 2014 there will be over 29 million individuals in
the US diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, costing the health care system approximately
$245 billion annually.

ü The management (or mismanagement) of patients with chronic diseases costs society
nearly $1.7 trillion per year.

Notice that it is not appropriate to abbreviate million, billion, and so forth. Thus one should not
express $4 million as $4M.

9.3 Percentages

In ActiveCare’s literature, express percentages with the symbol %.

ü He has established a multimillion-dollar technology, management, and education

company that realized net revenue of $15 million with a 55% net profit margin within 30
months of launch.
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9.4 Phone Numbers

Hyphens, not periods, should be used to separate area codes in phone numbers and any other
numbers that are not inclusive (Chicago 6.77).

ü Phone: 801-219-6050
û Phone: 801.219.6050


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10 Abbreviations

10.1 Periods or No Periods

Since ActiveCare focuses on the technical and commercial side of writing, omit all periods in
abbreviations unless the abbreviation is in a personal name or ends with a lowercased letter.

ü Darrell received his BA Degree from the University of North Texas in 1986.
ü This combination costs the US health system up to $245 billion annually.
ü Eric L. Robinson: Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Secretary and Treasurer
ü During this period, joint ventures were created with . . . Duromer Industries Ltd. In
Australia.
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14 Documentation
14.1 Footnotes

When it is appropriate to cite a reference, the Company prefers footnotes rather than endnotes.
Such footnotes should be set as superscript numbers in running text. However, in the actual note
at the bottom of the page the number should be full size (Chicago 14.19). The footnotes should
not restart the numbering at page breaks. ActiveCare does not supplement the notes with
bibliography.

14.2 Introduction to Notes Style

In a footnote where a source is formally cited, follow these templates.

Book:
Author’s first and last name, Title (City of publication: Publisher, Year), Page numbers.
Journal article:
Author’s first and last name, “Title of article,” Journal Volume, Issue number (Year): Page
numbers, URL.

When citing sources in footnotes, do not simply list a URL. Because changes to websites occur
over time, the URL may not be a reliable resource in the future. For this reason, include the
information outlined in the template as in the example below.

ü 4. J S Chatterjee, “From compliance to concordance in diabetes,” J Med Ethics 32, no. 9

(2006): 507–510, http://jme.bmj.com/content/32/9/507
û 4. From compliance to concordance in diabetes [Online]. Available at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563412/