Style guides

[Praefectusclassis]

Hi all,
Since all my training in writing has been in Dutch, I'm not too familiar with common English language style guides. Can anyone recommend any? Are there any good ones online?

[Ioannis]

The Chicago Manual of Style (used in North American publications)
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html

Harvard System of Referencing (used in the UK and most of Europe)
http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm

[M.H. White]

Yes, in American universities in history you are basically told "Use Kate Turabian (Chicago Manual of Style) or don't write at all.

[Praefectusclassis]

Does that teach you to write proper academic prose or is it fit for popular magazines too?

[D B Campbell]

Are there any good ones online?

Strathclyde University (here in Glasgow) recommends the MHRA style guide.

[M.H. White]

The Chicago manual of style is all about proper academic prose. Its everything you need to know about writing something scholarly.

Certainly it wouldn't be "unfit" for a popular magazine, but its not how I would write if I wanted to write something in the school newspaper. I would say that popular writing in America . . . has a very different style, much of which is individualistic. However I'm not a journalism major, and there may be some kind of guidelines they follow. I'm not sure what you would use for a popular magazine? Sorry I'm not of much help on that count.

[Praefectusclassis]

Thanks for the update anyways! Maybe there are some journalism majors who'll have input here.

[satsobek]

Chicago really isn't the only one. I suppose it depends on your teacher and school. I actually was always taught/ led to believe that it was less common than say, MLA which I encountered all over, and usually holds primary position in most general academic style guides for students, with the Chicago style getting mention but not nearly as much coverage or explanation.

Though generally, the differences between the systems are fairly small aren't they? It's more in the order of things in citations or the use of footnotes vs. end notes, or when and how you use comas vs. periods in citations.

EDIT: Yea, I'll just add to that that most popular magazines are really casual about style guidelines. Most have their own and they don't worry about citing things at all usually or fussing with foot noting or whatnot. Sometimes they'll have a further reading or reference box, plus small text in articles to give credit to others or to artists, but all done very informally. They'll sometimes also have "small print" at the beginning or end with more giving credit.

Remember, this isn't about proving yourself and supporting evidence like in academic writing. People just want the information with minimal notations and as straight-forward to read as possible. Further reading suggestions may be appreciated, but these need to remain accessible things, not a list of pedantic and obscure sources that make bad reading or are hard to get without a university library.

Since you're not going for recognition in the academic community, but just providing info, you don't have to worry about making sure EVERYTHING is kosher.

[Caius Fabius]

I have found that in University, different disciplines had different preferred styles, and they also changed by University, region and with time. History departments had different preferred styles than Education or Library Science or Psychology, in the same University! It helps the books stores sell style guides and the 'colleges' feel 'special'. :lol:
Nope, not going to list all the Universities I have worked or studied in, but there were some, several, more than a dozen! :oops:

[mcbishop]

Good style is like good typography: if it works well, you won't notice it. Style guides are all well and good but each usually has its origin as a house style for one particular publisher/institution. Decide on your own house style, stick to it like glue, and be prepared to change quietly when nobody is looking ;-)

Mike Bishop