Tone and voice
Be direct and authoritative.
Address the user as 'you'
Write as you would talk to real people.
Use ‘you’ for the person getting the service. The department behind the service is ‘us’ or ‘we.'
Clarity is more important than following the rules, so name the department if it’s confusing to use ‘we.’
If you are an independent contractor or conduct business in San Francisco for 7 days or more, you need to register.
If you do business with or receive money from the City, you need to register.
Don't use please
Don’t use "please" when you are telling San Franciscans what they need to do. Be direct and authoritative.
Avoid gender-specific pronouns
Don’t use pronouns like 'he', 'she', and 'hers'. Using 'you' and 'we' should prevent the need to use pronouns.
If you can’t avoid using pronouns, use the gender-neutral pronouns 'they' and 'their'.
If you are under 18 years old, you must have a court order to get married.
Check if they are eligible for a Green Card.
If the bride is under 18 years of age she must obtain a court order.
Check if he/she is eligible for a Green Card.