guideline
n.a rule or piece of advice that tells you how to do something correctly. It is usually a suggestion rather than a strict law.
n.a general rule, principle, or piece of advice. Often used in plural to describe a set of non-binding instructions for conduct or procedure.
“The government issued a new guideline for healthy eating.”
“The company provides a clear guideline for how employees should handle customer complaints on social media.”
“While these ethical guidelines are not legally enforceable, they serve as a vital framework for researchers navigating the complexities of human subject trials.”
Commonly used in the plural form ('guidelines') when referring to a complete set of instructions.
Usage general guideline · specific guideline
“Retailers usually reject fruit and vegetables that don't meet strict guidelines on size, shape and colour.”
“He adds: "If you include those, which of course the climate includes, then the reduction's about 20% since 1990." The government says it follows United Nations guidelines on emissions reporting.”
Common in science and business writing
From guide + line.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.