An alternative to "normally"

Solution 1:

"Normally" is broadly a synonym for "generally", "usually" and "typically", but they can have nuanced meanings, as Microsoft's guide indicates. In particular, "normally" can mean that something conforms to a particular standard or convention (or "norm"), which may be technical, scientific or social, rather than being something that happens frequently or is due to a characteristic.

Lexico, for example, offers "Conforming to a standard" in its definition of "normal", but also suggests that it can mean "usual" and "typical". By contrast, its definition of "usual" lacks any reference to standards and is given as "Habitually or typically occurring or done"; and "typical" is defined as "Having the distinctive qualities of a particular type of person or thing". These broadly support Microsoft's insistence on specific usage.

In your examples from the IBM style guide, "normally" makes sense:

• "(you) should therefore normally use ISO currency codes with a descriptive label" implies that this conforms to the standard for good practice: "usually/generally" would suggest that it is most frequently done this way, but not for any particular reason.
• "the format that is normally used in the area or country" is the format that conforms to the relevant accepted standard for formatting telephone numbers: although, since some countries do not have officially fixed formats, "generally" or "usually" would work here too.
• "unless the term normally starts with an uppercase letter" indicates that your style should conform to the convention for writing that particular term if one has been agreed: "usually/generally" would imply that the initial capital letter was entirely optional, but more frequently used than not.

Solution 2:

Commonly would be a very close alternative to the term normally .

Normally and commonly referring to a frequent , or typical measure of a value. Normally implies accordance the distinction being a rule or condition. While commonly adds value distinction is also shared or mutually accepted.

Possibly this very slight distinction makes the term commonly a bit more appropriate in your application in technical writing.

Routinely or customarily can also be sometimes substituted for the term normally if the value of what is frequent, or common refers to a script, procedure, or order of criteria. This may not be a useful enough distinction in technical writing.

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