Individualized Style Guides: Contextualized Writing Strategies for Seminar Participants  

Many communication trainers adopt a “rules” approach, giving participants the “right” answers for writing problems. Our alternative approach focuses on individual participants’ writing contexts. In our writing workshops for university personnel, we train participants to develop and keep style guides. Individualized style guides help participants identify the conventions common in their particular organizations and help them maintain consistency between and within documents. Participants also benefit by developing a rhetorical approach to writing which builds their confidence and ability to respond to future writing situations on the job.

Jervis, Amanda M. and Jane Perkins. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Writing>Style Guides

Simplified English Roundup: Fait Accompli or Impossible Dream?  

The increase in the number of products with accompanying documentation sold around the world has shown the need to develop some form of controlled English guideline. Simplified English is just one type of controlled English. The apparent benefits of writing in controlled fashion has led some to consider it a panacea. Others, however, have urged caution in accepting controlled English as the solution to all problems in the comprehension of documents. All forms of controlled English have certain essential features that any technical writer can accept.

Calistro, Ralph F. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Writing>Style Guides>Minimalism