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Welcome to BetterEditor.org - Online Resources for Editors and Writers
BetterEditor.org offers several
resources for editors and writers, including a sizeable, organized
collection of links to useful sites around the Internet. And while you're
here, please stop by our bookstore to update your collection
of editing and writing books.
Recommended Editorial Books
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The
Chicago Manual of Style |
Words
into Type |
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 In the 1890s, a proofreader at the University of
Chicago Press prepared a single sheet of typographic fundamentals intended
as a guide for the University community. That sheet grew into a pamphlet,
and the pamphlet grew into a book--the first edition of the Manual of Style,
published in 1906. Now in its fifteenth edition, The Chicago Manual of
Style--the essential reference for authors, editors, proofreaders, indexers,
copywriters, designers, and publishers in any field--is more comprehensive
and easier to use than ever before.
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 Words
into Type is the definitive text for questions of manuscript protocol,
copyediting, style, grammar, and usage. For those who find The Chicago
Manual of Style a bit cumbersome and sometimes ambiguous, Words
Into Type will be a welcome reference guide. With its easy-to-use
index, this third edition makes life simpler
for writers, editors, and proofreaders. You may never need to know about
frontispieces and imprimaturs, but if you deal with words, this is a
wonderfully edifying, reassuring fount of clarity. |
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The Associated Press Style Book |
The
New York Times Manual of Style & Usage |
 Whether
you're a student struggling through Composition 101 or a professional
writer on a quest for perfection, The Associated Press Stylebook and
Briefing on Media Law is always ready to fill the role of trusted
advisor to your creative genius. Revised and updated in 2000, this version
contains a 40-page section on media law, guides for punctuation and
bibliographies, and specialized glossaries for business, all in addition to its 280-page generalized stylebook. |
 "A
foolish consistency," Emerson insisted, "is the hobgoblin of
little minds." That may well be, but editors have enough reasons to
reject your work; don't let sloppy inconsistencies be one of them. The
New York Times Manual of Style & Usage was written for the
paper's editors, but it is a fine resource for
anyone's use. Our language is ever-mutating, and a guide such as this will
ensure that you understand the impact your words might have before they
reach print. |
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Lapsing
into a Comma |
New York Public Library Writer's Guide |
 Who
knew a stylebook could be so much fun? For lovers of language, Lapsing
Into a Comma is a sensible and very funny guide to the technicalities
of writing and copy editing. Author Bill Walsh, chief copy editor in the
business section of the Washington Post, humorously discusses the
changing rules of proper print style in the information age. Is it
"e-mail" or "email"? According to established
grammatical rules, it should be e-mail, but in common practice, we
often use email (which should be pronounced "uhmail," but we
all know not to do that). Therefore, email is OK. |
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purpose of this guide is to help writers and editors
navigate today's world of electronic publishing, beginning with the
writing of first drafts. In five parts, the guide covers (1) current English
usage, with special attention given to bias-free language and commonly
misused words; (2) grammar, with an emphasis on controversial
issues and with many examples; (3) style, including lists of
common abbreviations and a chapter on special characters ; (4) assembling and checking the manuscript; and (5) physical
preparation of the manuscript. |
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