Mechanics and Usage

A style guide is essential for a successful project. Many of our clients have their own style guidelines, which we follow to ensure that our work matches what they produce in-house. However, some clients do not have internal style guides. We have developed our own style guide to ensure our work on their projects is consistent. Putting the style guide on the web eliminates distribution problems and ensures that we always use the latest version.

Scriptorium (2001). Reference>Style Guides

Sharp Points

Bill Walsh, a copy editor for the Washington Post, rants on style and usage topics.

Walsh, Bill. Slot, The. Reference>Style Guides

Style Guide for Online Hypertext

When writing for the Web, the documents usually become part of a larger collection. It's important that the site follows a common structure so all documents are available in a logical place. For a document, the style is also very important. By using a common style, you ensure that a reader can use the site effectively. Some important aspects are indicating the status of the document, using images and icons, and writing in a device-independent way.

Engelfriet, Arnoud. Web Design Group, The (1997). Reference>Style Guides>Web Design>Writing

Style, Grammar, and Usage

Information on style, grammar, and usage.

Technical Communicators Resource Site. Reference>Style Guides>Grammar

A Summary of the International Standard Date and Time Notation

International Standard ISO 8601 specifies numeric representations of date and time. This standard notation helps to avoid confusion in international communication caused by the many different national notations and increases the portability of computer user interfaces. In addition, these formats have several important advantages for computer usage compared to other traditional date and time notations. The time notation described here is already the de-facto standard in almost all countries and the date notation is becoming increasingly popular.

Kuhn, Markus. Cambridge University (2000). Reference>Style Guides

Technical Report Overview

This outline is provided to help introduce the Technical Report and to clarify the acceptable format and level of achievement that is considered essential for successful completion of the Technical Report.

Scott, George A. TechWriter!. Reference>Style Guides>Reports>Technical Writing

Terminology Made Simple  

This paper describes the types of terms that you should include in software product glossary and describes how to write definitions for these terms. It also describes a method for controlling word usage and managing terminology for software projects.

Sturgeon, Mary. IBM (2004). Reference>Style Guides>Glossary>Help

THOR Virtual Reference Desk

A collection of links to reference information of all types.

Purdue University (2000). Reference>Style Guides

Tips for Technical Writing: How to Avoid the Mechanical Pitfalls of Professional Writing  

The information that follows addresses common student questions when preparing research papers using the APA writing format. Students are encouraged to consult the 5th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) for more complete information and the Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services’ Style Guide for the Applied Dissertation (SGAD) for exceptions to APA. The summary also includes a few APA exceptions.

Gainey, Donald D. Nova Southeastern University (2002). Reference>Style Guides

The University of Victoria's Hypertext Writer's Guide

Originally prepared for students in the English Department at the University of Victoria, the Guide is an introduction to the process of writing and to the study of literature. We're pleased to make its hypertext version available to writers and students of literature across the World Wide Web. We hope you find it helpful whether you're just starting the big job of writing an essay or need only to check a small point.

University of Victoria (1997). Reference>Style Guides

Using American Psychological Association (APA) Format

For the most current information about APA Format, we recommend visiting the Author's Corner of the APA website, where you can read about electronic reference formats recommended by the American Psychological Association and some frequently asked questions about the APA Publication manual, which includes the most up to date information about formatting, citation, and style. This handout is currently being revised to be in accordance with the latest guidelines, so do make sure to check our information against theirs.

Purdue University. Reference>Style Guides>Writing

Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format

Modern Language Association (MLA) format provides writers with a system for cross-referencing their sources--from their parenthetical references to their works cited page. This cross-referencing system allows readers to locate the publication information of source material. This is of great value for researchers who may want to locate your sources for their own research projects. The proper use of MLA style also shows the credibility of writers; such writers show accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism--the purposeful or accidental use of source material by other writers without giving appropriate credit.

Purdue University. Reference>Style Guides>Writing>Plagiarism

Writer's Handbook

We're pleased to offer some of the many instructional materials we've developed for our Writing Center teaching. As useful as we think these materials may be to you, though, we need to offer a few words of caution. There are limitations to these materials. Assignments vary. Different instructors want different things from student writers. What's appropriate and effective in one context, isn't necessarily so in others. So as you peruse what's here please understand that our suggestions may or may not apply to your writing situation. Please remember that handouts can give only a fraction of the customized guidance that an individual conference with a Writing Center instructor can provide.

University of Wisconsin (2001). Reference>Style Guides>Education>Writing

Writing Better Reports: A Handbook for Civil and Environmental Engineers  

Based on faculty concerns, this handbook offers guidelines and exercises to help you improve your technical style.

Adams, David. Michigan State University (2003). Reference>Style Guides>Writing

Writing English for a Global Readership

As first-language English users we often need to communicate effectively with people for whom English is a foreign or a second language, for instance when conducting business internationally. The Internet, particularly, is a global medium of communication, and we cannot assume that everyone reads or understands English flawlessly.

Asterisks.com (1999). Reference>Style Guides>Writing

Writing Revisable Manuals: A Guidebook for Business and Government

Writing Revisable Manuals–A Guidebook for Business and Government was written to help organizations prepare high quality manuals, quickly and inexpensively. There is a saying in technical writing that 'You can have it good, you can have it fast, or you can have it cheap. But you can’t have all three.' The goal of this guidebook is to show you how to have all three. Focusing on revisable manuals—the kind you can update easily—this guidebook takes you step-by-step through planning, writing, and producing manuals. If you are working on a manual for your organization, or will be in the near future, this guidebook is for you.

Duncan Kent and Associates Ltd. (2000). Reference>Style Guides>Documentation

Writing Style Guide

The following is a description of Florida Institute of Technology's in-house writing style for everything except technical papers and reports. This guide is set up alphabetically and contains listings that will allow you to standardize everything you write for the university. Reference materials include The Associated Press Stylebook And Libel Manual (Fully Revised and Updated 1998 Edition), Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary and McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms (Fourth Edition).

Florida Institute of Technology. Reference>Style Guides>Writing

Writing Styleguide  

Many individuals and organizations develop style guides to provide standards for the development of publications. Style guides give rules and examples of writing style, word use, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and typographic conventions. These standards are used when writing all kinds of documents—manuals, newsletters, reports, proposals, letters, memos, and so on—to maintain consistency and quality. Our style guide is organized alphabetically by keyword for quick reference.

Duncan Kent and Associates Ltd. (2002). Reference>Style Guides

Writing User-Friendly Documents  

The traditional way of writing government documents has not worked well. Too often, it has produced complicated, jargon-filled documents that have resulted in frustration, lawsuits, and a lack of trust between citizens and their government. To overcome this legacy, the documents writers have a great responsibility to communicate clearly. Studies show that clearly written regulations improve compliance and decrease litigation. Writing that considers our readers' needs and draws them into the regulatory process improves the relationship between the government and the public it serves. Clear correspondence reduces the burden on the public. It also reduces the burden on the agency because we don't have to deal with the consequences of unclear communication.

PLAIN (NPR) was.. U.S. Bureau of Land Management (2001). Reference>Style Guides>Writing

Technical Writing Guide  

This set of guidelines was developed to help you understand the expectations for technical communication in CE 314K (Properties and Behavior of Engineering Materials). Successful technical communication requires practice. Therefore, you should allot sufficient time to write several drafts of each assignment before submitting the final version.

Hart, Hillary. University of Texas (2007). Reference>Style Guides>Writing>Technical Writing

Introduction to Basic Legal Citation

This introduction to legal citation is focused on the forms of citation used in professional practice rather than those used in journal publication. It aims to identify the more important points on which there is divergence between the rules set out in two common manuals and evolving usage reflected in legal memoranda and briefs prepared by practicing lawyers.

Martin, Peter W. Cornell University (2007). Reference>Style Guides>Legal