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Which writing style guide when: Editor's Notes #411 February 28, 2024 |
| Hello, —Brendan Gill In this issue: 1. Which writing style guide and for whom 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 5. Letters to the editor 1. Which writing style guide and for whom This is the first of a pair of issues about writing style guides. A style guide lays out the standard for writing. Because there are different types of writing, there is a variety of style guides. Here are four of the most-used writing style guides, in alphabetical order, along with a statement of when you would choose each. APA Style is the style guide of the American Psychological Association. It is used by those writing for the social sciences, the humanities, and health care. MLA Handbook is the style guide of the Modern Language Association. It is used by those writing about writing and language. It covers citations and formatting. The Associated Press Stylebook is the style guide of the Associated Press. It is the style guide used by journalists. The Chicago Manual of Style is the style guide for the University of Chicago Press. It is the style guide in most common use. It is used by academics and commercial writers. It includes information on formatting. You will notice that there are overlaps in the material the guides specialize in. If you are writing for a scholarly body, it is best to ask which guide to use. A publishing house may have its own style guide. Again, it is best to ask which guide you should be following. If no guide is specified, in most cases, you will be safe by following The Chicago Manual of Style. The next issue offers you help in creating your own style guide for a specific project or series or business. =========== 2. Tickled my funny bone There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. -- W. Somerset Maugham =========== 3. Interesting Web site Some of your style questions may be answered by the free links on the Chicago Manual of Style Web site. There is also an option to pay for full online access to this popular guide. (The following link is not an affiliate link. I make no money if you click it.) https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html =========== 4. Writing prompt Write two short pieces contrasting the fashion styles of two people or the styles of two pieces of writing. =========== 5. Letters to the editor John Alexander replied to issue #410. His experience is an illustration of writing for a local publication. Excellent tips. Late December, I reached out to the owner and editor of the weekly newspaper, The Cherokeean Herald in Rusk, Texas, the small town where I grew up, to determine their interest in a column with a brief article and a couple of my poems. They were interested but did not have it in their budget. When I agreed to write without compensation, they agreed. The newspaper covers not only my hometown, but also the whole county. Beginning with the first issue of 2024, I have been writing the column, "Late Blooming Writer", each week. (I discovered my love for writing poetry the year I turned 70.) I do get a digital and paper copy of the newspaper. It is interesting reading about what’s going on in my hometown after being away for decades. It also gives more people the opportunity to be exposed to my poetry and my website where I post my poems. It’s been a fun experience. Thank you for the support and help you provided as I began writing more and more poetry. John Alexander, Texas, USA https://quiettimerhymes.com https://www.thecherokeean.com =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html |
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