Style guide

Purposeful visual design

Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design makes a product understandable
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is long-lasting
Good design is thorough down to the last detail
Good design is environmentally-friendly
Good design is as little design as possible

– 10 principles for good design by Dieter Rams

Our visual design reflects the energy and passion of our work – bold and dynamic. Visual elements – whether in photos, images, colours, or typography – should not only be visually striking but also purposeful. Every design choice we make is meant to enhance the clarity and impact of our message, ensuring that our communications are both useful and aesthetically pleasing. By using vibrant colours, powerful imagery, and clean, legible typefaces, we create visuals that resonate with our audience and amplify our mission.

At the heart of our visual design is simplicity. We aim for an unobtrusive style that supports rather than overshadows the content. Our logos and brand elements are carefully selected to be long-lasting and adaptable across various formats. We value attention to detail, ensuring that every design element – whether it’s a photo, font, or colour – works together harmoniously to communicate our message clearly while maintaining a professional and cohesive look across all platforms.

When drafting a piece of content, use high-quality images and photos that directly support the topic or issue being discussed. Any textual element should not take up more than five per cent of the whole image or photo. Avoid triggering visuals that depict violence or self-harm. As much as possible, do not show the faces of children, especially those from marginalised communities, even with consent from their parents or guardians. Be mindful of gender and ethnic representation when using images and photos of people. All visuals that are not produced by MCCHR should be credited to the original author, regardless of the terms of licensing.

Writing with style

Guardian style

At MCCHR, we’ve adopted the Guardian style guide as the foundation for our communications. The Guardian style has been developed over years of editorial experience and evolved to meet the demands of publishing digital content on the internet. It reflects clear, concise, and inclusive language that resonates with diverse audiences, and its values align closely with our own commitment to integrity, accuracy, and accessibility in communication.

The Guardian style guide is accessible publicly and structured alphabetically, making it simple to find specific language rules or guidelines quickly. It covers everything from grammar and punctuation to the preferred usage of terms related to politics, technology, and social issues. One of the most valuable features is its focus on using plain English, ensuring that our content remains accessible to a wide audience while also prioritising inclusivity and avoiding jargon.

Some peculiarities of the Guardian style include its preference for lower case in many instances where other guides use capitals (eg ‘government’ instead of ‘Government’ unless referring to a specific body), its careful approach to gender-neutral language, and its consistent approach to the use of contractions, which help create a conversational tone. These and other guidelines will help us maintain a coherent and approachable communication style across all our outputs.

Referencing style

We follow the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) for all legal references in our content. OSCOLA is widely used in legal writing and is designed to provide clear, consistent guidelines for citing legal materials such as cases, statutes, and legislation. We have adopted OSCOLA because of its precision and suitability for the human rights work in which we engage, ensuring that our references are accurate, professional, and easy to follow.

House style

We have developed our own house style to address specific needs and contexts that are unique to MCCHR. Our house style extends the Guardian’s principles by incorporating additional language rules and guidelines that reflect our local priorities, the communities we serve, and the nature of the human rights work we do. This ensures that our communications remain not only clear and accessible but also contextually appropriate to the diverse issues we engage with. This way we can maintain a consistent voice and stay true to the nuanced and specific demands of our work.

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A

active vs passive voice
Avoid writing in passive voice. Write in active voice.

B

bahasa Melayu
The Malay language is “bahasa Melayu”, not “bahasa Malaysia”. Alternatively, you may use “bahasa kebangsaan” (national language) or “bahasa rasmi” (official language). The bahasa Melayu vs bahasa Malaysia debate is political in nature rather than purely linguistic. Bahasa Melayu is a pluricentric macrolanguage common to the Malay archipelago, with variations spoken across the region. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) is the authority responsible for the standardisation (pembakuan) of the Malay language in Malaysia. When writing in Malay, always conform to DBP’s language rules and guidelines. The word “bahasa” is not capitalised. We do not italicise Malay text written alongside English text. See also: English.

C

capitalisation
Only capitalise words at the beginning of a sentence and those that are proper nouns, ie names of people, places, and things. Do not capitalise jobs, eg “human rights strategist” and “chief executive officer” instead of “Human Rights Strategist” and “Chief Executive Officer”. Do not capitalise to emphasise something, italicise instead. See also: capitals in the Guardian style guide.

Chinese
Use the simplified Chinese character set in writing. When linking to a translation in Chinese, use “中文 (Chinese)” in the label. The written content is not called “Mandarin”, it’s referred to as “simplified Chinese”. The spoken Chinese language (or bahasa Cina in Malay) in the Malaysian context typically refers to the Mandarin dialect.

E

ethnicity vs race
Ethnicity typically refers to cultural identity, encompassing shared customs, language, and traditions. Race, on the other hand, often relates to physical characteristics and is socially constructed, though it is commonly used to categorise groups based on skin colour or other traits. We prioritise the use of ethnicity over race, especially when discussing identity in the context of culture and heritage, as it allows for a more nuanced and respectful representation of individuals and communities. Where it is necessary to refer to race, ensure that it is done thoughtfully and only when directly relevant to the subject matter, avoiding generalisations and stereotypes. Any discussion of ethnicity or race should be guided by the specific context and language preferred by the communities or individuals involved. Always aim for language that is inclusive and avoids reinforcing harmful biases and discriminatory practices.

English
Malaysian English conforms to British English rather than American English, especially in terms of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Using non-standard syntactic or grammatical constructions – for example, incorporating local idioms or colloquial expressions – is generally acceptable when writing for a Malaysian audience. This allows us to reflect the local context and make our communications more relatable. If your writing uses American English, ensure consistency throughout your piece to avoid mixing styles. Whilst it is common practice in journalism and the literary world, we do not italicise non-English words borrowed from languages spoken in Malaysia, a departure from the Guardian style. This othering of languages native to Malaysia is unnecessary and can be perceived as marginalising. Italics are generally for emphasis, name of legal cases (per OSCOLA), and title of publications. See also: italics in the Guardian style guide.

M

Malay rights, Malay special privileges
Do not use terms like “Malay rights” and “Malay special privileges”, which reinforce problematic narratives that suggest racial entitlement, potentially perpetuating inequality and discrimination in the Malaysian context. It is important to note that the federal constitution does not protect any specific Malay rights or special privileges. Instead, article 153 of the federal constitution provides for the monarch’s duty to safeguard the “the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities” in specific areas like civil service, education, business, etc. When discussing any issue related to this constitutional provision, avoid oversimplifying or compartmentalising it. Always refer to both the “special position” and the “legitimate interests” together. This more balanced approach, however problematic or not, recognises the full scope of the constitutional safeguard, acknowledging the historical and legal context without reinforcing language that may contribute to discrimination or inequality.

MCCHR
MCCHR’s name unabbreviated takes the definite article in lower case, “the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights”, subsequently “the centre” or “the organisation”. Also lower case when referring to something specific related to MCCHR, eg “get in touch with the MCCHR team by email”. Drop it when mentioning MCCHR’s name abbreviated, eg “this podcast is produced by MCCHR” rather than “this podcast is produced by the MCCHR”. See also: the in the Guardian style guide.

mental illness, psychological disease
Do not use “mental illness” or “psychological disease” as catch-all terms when discussing mental health issues. Instead, refer to specific clinical conditions, such as anxiety or depression, where relevant, or use “mental disorder” if describing a diagnosed medical condition. When appropriate, we prefer using terms like “neurodivergence” or “mental health challenges” to describe differences in cognitive functioning or behavioural traits. Always aim to use inclusive language and avoid stigmatising individuals dealing with mental health conditions. See also: mental handicap, mentally handicapped, mentally retarded in the Guardian style guide.

N

numbered list vs bullet points
If the order of list items is important, eg a series of steps or a priority checklist, use a numbered list. Otherwise, use bullet points.

O

orang asal vs Orang Asli
Indigenous people in Malay is “orang asal”. Orang Asli refers to heterogeneous indigenous communities in West Malaysia, each with their own distinct language and culture.

orang kelainan upaya vs orang kurang upaya (OKU)
When writing about disability in Malay, do not use “orang kelainan upaya” (people with different ability). Instead, use “orang kurang upaya” (people with disability). While some believe that using “kelainan upaya” is more inclusive – suggesting that people with disabilities are just different, not disabled – this framing is considered problematic by many Malaysian disability advocacy groups. The term “kelainan upaya” (different ability) can minimise the real barriers and challenges faced by people with disabilities and place the social burden of accessibility on the individuals themselves, rather than addressing the systemic lack of accessibility in society. We adopt the term “orang kurang upaya” to accurately reflect the lived realities of people with disabilities. This term acknowledges that disability stems from inaccessible environments and systems, not from the individual’s abilities. See also: disabled people in the Guardian style guide.

P

personnel
Like staff, personnel are plural. See also: staff in the Guardian style guide.

programme vs program
Use programme everywhere except for computer program. See also: program in the Guardian style guide.

Pusat Kebeperlembagaan dan Hak Asasi Manusia
This is the accurate translation for the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights. Some writers might inaccurately use “Pusat Perlembagaan dan Hak Asasi Manusia” (the Centre for Constitution and Human Rights). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka translates constitutionalism as “faham perlembagaan” or “konstitusionalisme”. The concept of constitutionalism that applies to our work deals directly with the constitutionality of laws, policies, and actions of the state. To maintain clarity and avoid loan translation, we use “kebeperlembagaan”, which more precisely reflects the nuanced meaning of constitutionalism in our context.

R

race vs ethnicity
See ethnicity vs race.

T

training
Always spell the word without an “s” in both its singular and plural forms, as it is an uncountable noun. To clarify the context or specify multiple occurrences, you may use phrases like “training workshops” or “training events” to refer to distinct activities.

trans, transgender
Only use trans and transgender as adjectives, “trans communities”, “a trans man”, “a transgender person”, or “a transgender woman”. Never “a transgendered person”, “a transgender”, or “a trans”. See also: transgender, trans in the Guardian style guide.

Y

youth
When referring to young people as a group, use “youth” instead of “youths” (young males). Alternatively, use more gender-inclusive terms like “young people” or “young persons” instead of “youth”. See also: collective nouns in the Guardian style guide.

Malaysian Centre
for Constitutionalism
and Human Rights

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