Usage
A style guide (often called a style manual or stylebook) is a work aiming to set out rules for writers. In such works, style can have two meanings:
- Publication conventions for markup style, such as italicization of book and movie titles, expression of dates and numbers, or the various formats used for citing references.
- Literary considerations of prose style, such as best usage, common errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling; and rules or suggestions for precision, fairness and the most forceful expression of ideas.
Users
Style guides are used by various populations. They are required of scholars submitting research articles to academic journals. Some university teachers require their students to use a particular style guide in preparing their theses or term papers. Authors of books are often asked or required to use a style guide in readying their work for publication. The BambooWeb is also loosely governed by style guides, listed below.
Style guides are a powerful force in furthering the cause of language standardization and normative grammar. The users of style guides are usually under compulsion to obey them, and the standardized forms created under the guides' influence are often published and then serve as models for other writers.
Most American newspapers base their style on The Associated Press, but also have their own style guides.
Academic
General
BambooWeb
Links and references
Books
See also
