Style Guides- MLA, AP Style, Turabian- Oh My!
Monday January 5, 2009
I have alphabet letters coming out of my ears! But, you can benefit by reading the Guide to Style Guides, which discusses the major and minor style guides and their respective disciplines. Bookmark it so that you can come back for reference at the beginning of all your plum assignments!
Comments
Thanks for the alphabet soup notes. I’m wondering about a guide for the Internet. I was trained in AP style and still write “Web site” in my e-mail messages. Even my Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary lists it as Web site. I’ve been writing Web site copy for clients and specializing in increasing the odds of media coverage for my clients and it looks as though I’m one of the few not on the website boat. Your thoughts and guidance appreciated.
Heidi
I say, “Bully for you!” I’m a traditionalist, trained in AP style, and believe some things ought not to be changed. Sure, “website” is easier to write, but the Web is the World Wide Web, and I don’t feel its significance should be sloughed off. As it is, I see so many grammatical errors being committed by poorly educated young people that holding to some sort of standard — even if it feels like I’m left hanging in the wind — is necessary.
Honestly, I think that particular example is on its way to changing. But, then again, I’m not with AP.
And, by the way, as an editor, I don’t consider the authors I correct to be poorly educated, considering there are dozens of styles or reasons they might have made a particular mistake. Some writers are pure genius–yet benefit from an editor anyway. Has nothing to do with intelligence or education.
Opening up a style guide isn’t necessarily acting in an “educated” way, nor is rote memorization of a style book.