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Writing + Editing | Rules, Tips + Tricks for Writers

For those who love to leisurely peruse the CMOS and, more importantly, those who don’t. What is the CMOS? Read on.

Five Essential Books On Style and Grammar

01  |  The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, University of Chicago Press

The Chicago Manual of Style—the bible for writers, editors, and publishers—features information on:

  • The publishing process (books and journals; manuscripts; illustrations and tables; and rights, permissions, and copyright administration)
  • Style and usage (grammar, punctuation, spelling, names and terms, numbers, abbreviations, etc.)
  • Documentation (notes and bibliography, author-date references, and indexes)
  • Appendices (production, digital technology, glossary, etc.)

02  |  The Elements of Style, William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White

A small but mighty book, The Elements of Style features:

  • Elementary rules of usage
  • Elementary principles of composition
  • A few matters on form
  • Words and expressions commonly misused
  • An approach to style

03  |  The Associated Press Stylebook 2020: and Briefing on Media Law, The Associated Press

The Associated Press Stylebook is the industry’s best-selling reference that includes:

  • Stylebook
  • Broadcast and business guidelines
  • Data journalism
  • Guidelines for various industries
  • Briefing on media law
  • AP statements and guidelines
  • And much more

04  |  The Subversive Copy Editor: Advice from Chicago, Carol Fisher Seller

The Subversive Copy Editor: Advice from Chicago (Or, How to Negotiate Good Relationships with Your Writers, Your Colleagues, and Yourself) helps copy editors manage the trials and tribulations of their trade divided into two parts:

  • Working with the reader, for the reader
  • Working with your colleagues and with yourself

05  |  Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, Lynne Truss

Eats, Shoots & Leaves, a small book packed with real-world examples of punctuation gone wrong, offers hilarious prose that will speak to many but not all. If your soul hurts when you see misplaced commas, this book is for you. I think an excerpt speaks louder than a bulleted list of content here:

“Part of one’s despair, of course, is that the world cares nothing for the little shocks endured by the sensitive stickler. While we look in horror at a badly punctuated sign, the world carries on around us, blind to our plight. We are like the little boy in The Sixth Sense who can see dead people, except that we can see dead punctuation. Whisper it in petrified little-boy tones: dead punctuation and visible to everyone else – yet we see it all the time.”

Online Writing Resources

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Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips

Google a grammar question and Grammar Girl will appear in the results above the fold. Created by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl makes complex grammar easy to understand and fun to learn.

Cost: Free

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The Chicago Manual of Style Online

So, do I italicize “Chicago Manual of Style” listed in the link above? It’s the title of a book, but it’s also the title of a website. Hmmm.

Find the online version of the “venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar” that is the “indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice.”

Cost: Complimentary 30-day trial subscriptions. Individual subscriptions start at $39 for one year; group, institution, and corporates rates vary. Bundles, print/online packages also available.

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Software / Apps for Better Writing

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Ginger

Ginger says it’s “the world’s best grammar checker,” but it also offers spell check, helps you rephrase sentences, and even functions as a translator. It also seems to have endless integrations for desktop and mobile.

Cost: Free

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Grammarly

“From grammar and spelling to style and tone, Grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself.”[I didn’t feel that I could express the benefits better so copy and paste it is.]

Cost: Free

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Hemingway

Hemingway analyzes what you write, evaluating the reading level, use of passive voice, and simplicity, in addition to reading time and letter, character, word, sentence, and paragraph counts.

Cost: Free

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WordRake

“The key to writing well is rewriting. WordRake tightens, tones, and clarifies your writing. Just click the “rake” button and watch the in-line editor ripple through your document, suggesting edits to remove clutter and improve unclear phrasing, just like a live editor. Give your first drafts the polish of a second or third draft, quickly and painlessly.”

I first came across WordRake at a legal conference and was dismayed that they only offered a Windows version. But, finally, a version for Mac was released. It functions within the Microsoft software and that results can be astonishing (and laughable at times). If you want to get the extraneous out of your writing, WordRake is for you.

Cost: Complimentary 7-day trial
Macs: WordRake for Microsoft Word starting at $129/year. Windows: WordRake for Microsoft Word and Outlook starting at $199/year. Volume discounts available.

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