LilyPond Contributor's Guide: 5.4.4 General writing

### 5.4.4 General writing

- Do not forget to create @cindex entries for new sections of text. Enter commands with @funindex, i.e.

  >     @cindex pitches, writing in different octaves
  >     @funindex \relative

  Do not bother with the @code{} (they are added automatically). These items are added to both the command index and the unified index. Both index commands should go in front of the actual material.

- @cindex entries should not be capitalized, i.e.

  >     @cindex time signature

  is preferred instead of “Time signature”. Only use capital letters for musical terms which demand them, e.g. “D.S. al Fine”.

- For scheme function index entries, only include the final part, i.e.

  >     @funindex modern-voice-cautionary
  >          and NOT
  >     @funindex #(set-accidental-style modern-voice-cautionary)

- Use American spelling. LilyPond’s internal property names use this convention.
- Here is a list of preferred terms to be used:
  - Simultaneous NOT concurrent.
  - Measure: the unit of music.
  - Bar line: the symbol delimiting a measure NOT barline.
  - Note head NOT notehead.
  - Chord construct NOT just chord (when referring to < ... >)
  - Staff NOT stave.
  - Staves NOT Staffs: Phrases such as ‘multiple @internalsref{Staff}s’ should be rephrased to ‘multiple @internalsref{Staff} contexts’.

#### LilyPond — Contributor’s Guide