We had "coding standards," and if you didn't code it to the right format, you'd get fussed at. I didn't start professionally until the mid 90s, so I'm a little younger than the OP. I've been coding since the mid 80s though as a youngster.

Putting BEGIN..END around a one line block was always a contention since it wasn't required. Less code vs arguably more readable code (Pascal)

  If BLA Then
  Begin
    DO STUFF
  End

vs

  If BLA Then
    DO STUFF