U.S. Department of Defense Writing Style Guide and Preferred Usage

Key Chapter Title List

1. General Principles
2. Rules Specific to DoD Documents
3. DoD Document Writing Resources
4. Preferred Usage for DoD Documents
5. List of Hyphenated Modifiers Used in DoD Documents
6. Characteristics and Examples of Active and Passive Voice
7. Examples of Parallel Structure
8. Citation and Reference Standards
9. Rules for Using Auxiliary Verbs
10. Standards for Using Abbreviations and Acronyms
11. Naming Rules for Ships, Exercises, and Operations
12. Address Block Format Requirements

Document Introduction

This guide, officially issued by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and updated on February 10, 2020, serves as a writing standards document. It aims to provide a unified standard for drafting official documents such as defense-related policies, directives, and manuals, addressing the core needs of DoD documents in terms of consistency of expression, logical clarity, and professional accuracy. In the decision-making and execution processes of defense affairs, standardized document writing is the foundation for ensuring accurate policy communication, clear definition of responsibilities, and efficient and orderly execution. This guide is an authoritative operational framework developed based on this practical need.

The core content of the guide is divided into three main sections: General Writing Principles, Rules Specific to DoD Documents, and Preferred Usage Standards. The General Principles section clarifies the basic requirements for document writing, including using outlines to organize content, employing short words and sentences, prioritizing active voice, following parallel structure, and reasonably dividing paragraphs. It provides intuitive reference for writers by comparing specific examples of the application differences between active and passive voice and the standardized expression of parallel structure.

The Rules Specific to DoD Documents section focuses on the professional requirements of defense documentation, covering key points such as citation standards, auxiliary verb usage, pronoun selection, application of abbreviations and acronyms, use of notes, restrictions on directional terms, proper name formats, and address block layout. Among these, the regulations on details such as citing authoritative documents, citation methods for multi-volume documents, use of gender-neutral pronouns, and abbreviation standards for combatant commands fully reflect the rigor and specificity of defense documentation. It also clarifies prohibited expressions and formats to avoid common writing errors.

The Preferred Usage Standards section provides detailed terminology usage guidelines, containing the preferred expressions, alternative terms, and usage instructions for hundreds of commonly used terms. It covers multiple dimensions including military organizations, position titles, grammatical applications, time expressions, and policy statements. It also lists the standard hyphenated modifier inventory for DoD documents, ensuring uniformity and professionalism in terminology usage. Furthermore, the guide specifies the priority order of writing resources, including DoD document website resources, the Government Publishing Office Style Manual, Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, etc., providing writers with subsequent reference support.

The release and implementation of this guide establish a unified standard for the document writing work of various DoD departments, combatant commands, and related agencies. It helps reduce the risk of misunderstanding in policy communication, enhances the professional quality and execution efficiency of defense documents, and is an essential authoritative reference tool for defense policy researchers, military document writers, and defense affairs practitioners.