6 simple rules for formatting text in Google Docs so as not to infuriate the editor

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The editor of "Netology" Pavel Fedorov in his article tells how to format the text in Google Docs to a minimum, so that it is convenient to work with it. Lifehacker publishes the text without changes with the permission of the author.

I work a lot with documents and dream of erecting a monument to the person who invented Google Docs. Because it is the most convenient tool for collaborating with text. Unlike desktop programs, you do not need to download files (and get confused in versions), you do not need to write letters “I marked what I don’t like with yellow” and hastily re-save *.docx to *.rtf because because … In short, some solid pluses.

Maxim Ilyakhov wrote on a blog about text hygiene - this is minimal text processing, after which the editor can generally get to work without fear of going crazy. I will continue the topic and briefly tell you how to observe this very hygiene when working with Google Docs, if you are submitting the text to the editor.

1. Reset formatting

If you wrote the text first in another editor, reset the formatting when transferring it to Google Docs.

Google Docs is a working tool. You will play with fonts on the layout, but now all the bells and whistles are useless. If the editor sees a bunch of different fonts, then the first thing to do is to discard the formatting settings - and with them all the bold, italicized selections and attempts to play fashionable layout will fly away.

2. Don't change the font

If you don't like the standard one, then replace the default font. The secret is that if someone adds text to your document, then no one guarantees that he will include the very font that you put before with your hands, so that it was.

When you write and submit text, extra fonts get confused.

3. Don't make subheadings big

If you line up the headings correctly, then Google Docs will display the structure of the document at the left edge.

Sometimes you get lucky, and subheadings that are just bold are also recognized and embedded in the structure, but more often not.

Some people make subheadings by hand: change the font, increase the size. So the writer simply occupies his head with unnecessary information. Just highlight the subtitle and set the formatting "Heading 2" or "Heading 3" is preset formatting for headers.

I don’t know about other CMS, but on the Netology blog, when transferring text from Google Docs, the formatting of the headings does not get lost - a nice little thing for the editor.

4. Give links to pictures

You can pull pictures from Google Docs, but for this you need to download the file, rename it, pull it out both from the archive. Do you think the editor needs this kind of steam?

Good form rule: if the document contains pictures, either give links where you can download them, or send them by mail.

After the publication of the material, Arseny Kamushev suggested how to quickly save pictures from Google Docs. To do this, just publish the document.

5. Add a space before the paragraph

This point is pure taste, but I insist.

If you add a space before a paragraph, you don't have to hit the paragraphs together with an empty line so that they don't stick together.

6. Don't color the text

You don't even need to say anything. Colorful text, different fonts, and different sizes is hell. Once I was sent a document, on the first page of which I counted 4 different fonts, 5 sizes, 2 different background colors, and 3 colors. Coloring. Immediately dropped the formatting.

Let's repeat what we learned

1. Don't be smart with formatting.

2. Don't play with fonts.

3. There is ready-made formatting for subheadings.

4. Please send pictures separately.

5. Add a space before or after a paragraph automatically, not by hand.

6. Don't make a rainbow out of the text.