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Reference Sources
Here's a short list of additional style, usage, and writers' reference
sources. Advice on a given topic may differ from one guide to another;
nevertheless, all the works listed here have value because different users
may find more or less helpful explanations of a usage that they find puzzling.
Books
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, ed. Norm Goldstein
(Perseus Books, 1998).
Essential if you write for the media. Its word usage section is useful
for all writers (should you use less or fewer? Fiscalor
monetary?).
The Bias-Free Word Finder, Rosalie Maggio (Beacon Press, 1991).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed. (University of Chicago
Press, 1993).
The bible of the book publishing world. We're told a new edition is in
the works, to be published sometime in 2002 or thereabouts. Promotes a
generally conservative and highly formal style (such as spelling out all
numbers below 100). However, its detailed explanations of the finer points
of punctuation (especially hyphenation) can be invaluable.
The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing, second ed., Casey Miller and
Kate Swift (Harper & Row, 1988).
Language, Gender, and Professional Writing, ed. F. W. Frank and
P. A. Treichler (MLA, 1989).
The New York Public Library Writer's Guide to Style and Usage
(Harper Collins, 1994).
One of the best current, all-purpose guides. A rich compendium of information
and advice on easily confused words, grammar, style (everything from capitalization
and hyphenation to mathematical expressions), preparing copy for publication,
and the production and printing process. The latter two sections include
guidance of use to individuals preparing copy for desktop publishing.
United States Government Printing Office Style Manual, March
1984.
Essential if you communicate formally in writing with federal agencies.
Otherwise, many of the style rules (on capitalization, for example) differ
from other currently accepted rules in other spheres. Includes a useful
section on foreign languages.
Wired Style: Principles of English Usage in the Digital Age,
ed. Constance Hale and Jessie Scanlon (Broadway Books, 1999).
Another essential guide—albeit a bit on the trendy side—considering
the times in which we're writing and editing. Addresses how to spell and
punctuate many of the newest terms of the digital age.
Online Sources
Since the first edition of this guide was printed there has been an explosion
of information on the Web. The following is just a small sampling of what
was found—stylewise—during a short search for online style guides
and other reference sources.
American Psychological
Association Journals. Electronic reference formats recommended
by the APA.
MLA Style of Citation.
Official guidelines for citing e-reference sources; ". . . the
only ones available on the Internet that are authorized by the Modern
Language Association of America."
The Elements of
Style. (online version of the print classic)
College and University
Online Style Guides.
A compendium (with links) of college and university style guides that
reside on the Web. Includes sites that offer web design guidelines.
The
Chicago Manual of Style and Related Books.
Don't expect to see the entire manual online, but you will find a related
list of Chicago Press books and a link to CMS
FAQs, which are updated regularly and provide answers to many of those
sticky style questions—from hyphenating prefixes to how to use gender
neutral pronouns.
United States Copyright
Office: The Library of Congress.
From general information on copyright basics to pending copyright legislation,
this site probably has everything you'd ever need to know about the subject.
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