17.3.4 Style Guide
17.3.4.1 Branding and Wordmark
The TxDOT branding and logo are critical to the organization’s identity. The correct wordmark or written identity for the Department is either “Texas Department of Transportation” or “TxDOT.” As with other acronyms presented throughout the document, define TxDOT upon first reference. Never capitalize all letters in the Department acronym (“TXDOT”).
The official TxDOT logo has three layout options, vertical, horizontal, or icon. The vertical logo option is shown in . Alteration of the logo—including disproportionate resizing, modifying logo colors, symbols, or fonts, adding effects to the logo, or deviating from one of the three layout options— is prohibited. The logo is intended to be incorporated in internal and external materials, including reports.
The preferred font is Verdana. Verdana Bold can be used for headlines, titles, subheadings, and callouts, and Verdana can be used for standard body copy (text). Preferred fonts are shown in .
For more information on TxDOT branding guidelines, see
Appendix R, Section 4 – External References (Reference 1).
Figure 17-4: TxDOT Vertical Logo
Figure 17-5: TxDOT Preferred Fonts
17.3.4.2 Printability
All document content, including graphical elements, are recommended to be readable and decipherable when printed and displayed in black and white. It is recommended that any colors used to highlight key information maintain a distinguishable shade from standard text when the document is reproduced in black and white.
17.3.4.3 Readability
Though information is typically reviewed and analyzed by TxDOT staff or practitioners partnering with TxDOT, content is recommended to be easy to understand by both technical and non-technical audiences.
17.3.4.4 Document Structure
To make content easy to follow, logically divide the document into an intuitive flow of narratives with supporting summary tables and graphics grouped according to topic. This not only provides a readable format for the document but also makes it easier to reference sections or specific data
17.3.4.5 Acronyms
Except for common, widely known and used acronyms, it is suggested that acronyms be limited. Common acronyms include TxDOT and HCM. The use of too many acronyms decreases narrative readability, even if readers understand their meaning. When using an acronym, define it when first used. For longer reports, consider attaching a glossary of all acronyms used in the appendix.