7 Reference Resources for Writers and Editors

Posted: January 14, 2013

[caption id="attachment_11119" align="alignright" width="400"]© Aleksandar Mijatovic - Fotolia.com[/caption]Even the most seasoned of writers or editors needs help sometimes. Are there times when you find yourself questioning the spelling, formating, or usage of words, phrases, and punctuation – even if you've used it a thousand times before? Thankfully, there are reference resources right at your fingertips.

What guides and handbooks does a careful writer (or editor) rely on? I’ve consulted many resources, but the ones on this list have pride of place and show the most wear and tear.

1. The Associated Press Stylebook
Associated Press style and Chicago style (see below) differ in some respects, but many of the listings in this alphabetically organized resource will set you straight about how to treat many common and proper nouns.

2. The Chicago Manual of Style
This is the primary resource, after a house style guide, for many American publishing companies and other companies that produce publications, providing guidance about grammar and usage as well as topics like abbreviation, capitalization and other emphasis (such as italics or boldface), numbers, and punctuation. It’s only one of many, but it’s preeminent.

3. The Copyeditor’s Handbook
This paperback guide, originally conceived as a companion to Chicago, is similar in organization but formatted more like a textbook (I’ve used it as such with great success), with exercises at the back of each chapter. It’s more accessible but not as comprehensive than the preceding book.

4. Garner’s Modern American Usage
Language maven Bryan Garner’s authoritative, encyclopedic tome about proper use of words is the definitive specimen of this type.

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