guideline

noun

1. A non-specific rule or principle that provides direction to action or behaviour.

   “He considered the Ten Commandments more as a guideline than a requirement.”

   “In 2009, the Obama Administration released guidelines on enhanced interrogation written in 2003 and 2004 by the CIA Office of Medical Services. ^((OMS).1-3(appendix F)) The OMS guidelines, even in redacted form, and opinions from the US Department of Justice's (DOJ’s) Office of Legal Counsel show that CIA physicians, psychologists, and other health care personnel had important roles in enhanced interrogation.”

   “In 2016, the CDC established guidelines for prescribing narcotics for chronic pain.”

2. A plan or explanation to guide one in setting standards or determining a course of action.
3. A light line, used in lettering, to help align the text.

verb

1. To provide guidelines for.

   “Now we are not just guidelining the work, but implementing it as well. That extra step allows us to fully flesh out every element of the visual language and drive the strategy home.”