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Writing is more than just putting words on a page; it requires consistency, clarity, and adherence to certain standards. This is where style manuals come into play. Whether you’re a writer, editor, or part of an organization, understanding and using a style manual can ensure your writing meets the desired standards.
Table of Contents
What Is a Style Manual?
A style manual is a set of standards for writing and formatting documents. These guidelines cover everything from grammar and punctuation to the citation of sources and the use of particular words and phrases.
Some of the things you might find guidelines for in a style manual:
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Word usage
- Capitalization
- Italics
- Abbreviations
- Compound words
- Inclusive language
- Numbers
- Formatting of headlines
- Quotations and dialogue
- Footnotes and endnotes
- Referencing
Why Do I Need a Style Manual?
The purpose of a style manual is to ensure consistency and clarity in written communication, which is particularly important in professional, academic, and publishing contexts. Readers of particular types of writing or those based in a particular region have come to expect the documents they read to be written a certain way or follow certain rules.
Following a style manual helps ensure consistency throughout a document, which means that readers won’t be distracted by something that’s written one way on page 10 and another way on page 50.
When you’re writing or editing, many questions may pop into your head about how you should treat certain issues like when to use comprise vs. compose, when to use a comma between adjectives, how to format the ellipsis, etc. You can consult a style manual to get answers to questions like these.
You don’t have to follow your chosen style manual 100 percent to the letter, but it’s advisable to stick to its guidelines as much as you can to avoid confusing and distracting readers who are used to a certain style of writing.
How to Pick a Style Manual
Choosing the right style manual depends on your field of work, the nature of your writing, and the audience you are addressing. Consider the following factors:
- Industry Standards: Certain industries have preferred style guides (e.g., journalism often uses The Associated Press Stylebook).
- Audience Expectations: Academic audiences may prefer more detailed and formal guides like The Chicago Manual of Style, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, or the Modern Language Association Handbook.
- Specific Needs: Some style guides cater to specific types of writing or fields, such as technical writing (e.g., Microsoft Writing Style Guide) or digital content (e.g., The BuzzFeed Style Guide).
- Regional Differences: Audiences in different parts of the world have become accustomed to certain language and formatting conventions, and as such, certain manuals are more widely used in particular geographic locations (e.g., New Hart’s Rules is popular in the UK).
- Publication Requirements: Many publications have their own style guides and expect their writers to follow them in order to be published in their newspaper, magazine, or online publication. For example, writers hoping to publish articles in Smashing Magazine must adhere to its style guide.
Style Manuals Editors and Writers Use
Here are some of the most commonly used style manuals across various fields:
The Chicago Manual of Style
Often referred to as CMOS or simply Chicago, The Chicago Manual of Style is highly comprehensive and covers a wide range of topics, from grammar and usage to citation styles and manuscript preparation. It is widely used in publishing and academia, particularly in North America.
As an editor who mostly works with authors based in North America, this is the style manual I use the most, and I love how detailed it is! I prefer the online subscription to the hardcover book because it has an excellent search function.
If you copyedit fiction and want to follow CMOS guidelines, check out The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction by Amy J. Schneider as this covers a lot of the issues particular to fiction that aren’t covered in CMOS.
The Associated Press Stylebook
The Associated Press Stylebook (also known as AP Style) is the go-to manual for journalists, news writers, and some bloggers. It emphasizes brevity and clarity, and it is updated annually (or more recently, every two years) to reflect changes in language usage and journalistic standards.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Commonly known as APA Style, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is essential for writers in the social and behavioral sciences and healthcare. It provides guidelines for writing and citing sources in research papers, making it a staple in academic settings.
Modern Language Association Handbook
The Modern Language Association Handbook (also known as MLA) is widely used in the humanities, especially in the fields of literature and language studies. It focuses on citation styles and formatting for research papers.
New Oxford Style Manual
Combining New Hart’s Rules and the Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors, the New Oxford Style Manual is used primarily for documents written in British English and covers a broad spectrum of writing and editing guidelines.
Editing Canadian English
Editing Canadian English is tailored to the nuances of Canadian English, including unique spelling, grammar, and punctuation rules. It’s an invaluable resource for writers and editors working in or with Canadian content.
Another popular Canadian style manual is The Canadian Press Stylebook (for newspapers).
The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style
The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style caters specifically to writers and editors of Christian literature. It provides guidelines on theology-related terminology, scripture references, and religious content, and it is published by Zondervan.
The Conscious Language Style Guide
Focused on inclusivity and sensitivity, The Conscious Language Style Guide helps writers use language that is respectful and mindful of diverse audiences. Author Karen Yin addresses topics like race, gender, disability, and more.
Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples
Written by Gregory Younging, Elements of Indigenous Style offers Indigenous writers and editors and those writing about Indigenous people a resource that covers the appropriate terminology to use and to avoid, advice on biased language, capitalization, and quoting from historical sources and archives, and advice on how to collaborate with Indigenous peoples.
Related Content: Essential Reference Books for Proofreaders
What Is a House Style Guide?
A house style guide is a customized set of writing and formatting rules developed by a specific organization or publication. These guides ensure that all written content produced by the organization adheres to a consistent style, reflecting the brand’s voice and standards. House style guides often incorporate elements from established style manuals while adding specific rules relevant to the organization’s needs. One example of a house style guide is the Wikipedia: Manual of Style, which those who contribute to Wikipedia articles must follow.
What’s the Difference Between a Style Manual and a Style Sheet?
While a style manual is a comprehensive manual covering extensive writing and formatting rules, a style sheet is a more concise document. Style sheets are often created by editors for individual projects, summarizing key guidelines and specific preferences for a particular piece of work. They ensure consistency within a single document or series of documents.
What If I’ve Already Finished Writing and I Didn’t Use a Style Manual?
If you are a writer who has already finished writing your manuscript or other document and you didn’t use a style manual, don’t worry. When you hire a professional copyeditor, they will make sure your manuscript or document aligns with the appropriate style manual while they’re editing.
Before hiring an editor, you can ask them questions to make sure they’re the best fit for your project, and one of those questions could be “Are you familiar with The Chicago Manual of Style?” or “Which style manual will you be using when editing my manuscript?” If you’re not sure what the appropriate style manual for your writing might be, they can advise on this.
While it’s helpful for you to align your writing with an appropriate style manual, as a writer, you don’t need to sweat over all the minute details. That’s your editor’s job.
Related Content: What Are the Four Different Types of Editing?
Conclusion
Style manuals are indispensable tools for writers and editors, ensuring clarity, consistency, and professionalism in written communication. Whether you’re adhering to The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook, or a house style guide, understanding and using these resources can significantly enhance the quality of your writing and editing. Select the style manual that best fits your needs or your clients’ needs, and use it diligently to produce polished and precise content.
