Style Manuals

STYLE MANUAL

A Short List of Style Manuals

By Ismael K. Isikel

Matheson Library

PNG University of Technology

Style Manual

A style manual is a writing guide for those who are writing including the student and researcher.  It specifies the style of writing that a writer should follow. A style manual helps the writer with grammar, sentence structure, paraphrasing, summarizing, quotation, compiling a bibliography and other communication skills.  It requires conformity in acknowledgement for using other writers’ ideas.

These style manuals are held in Matheson Library, PNG University of Technology, and may be found under the Dewey Decimal  Classification number starting at 808.00 at the Main Collection or at the Special Reserve Collection. The Main Collection is located on the first floor and the Special Reserve Collection is Located behind the Circulation desk on the ground floor.

Some disciplines around the world have their own guides to aid students and researchers within their disciplines to communicate in a standard manner. For example, the American Psychological Association (APA) has one that is titled The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. A pocket-size version of this is also available and is titled Pocket Guide to APA Style. Some academic departments find this useful and have recommended to the students and staff. The Communication for Development Studies Department recommends APA for use by staff and students. There are four sources of style manuals that I have been pointing out to students and these are: 1. Turabian; 2. APA, 3. MLA;  and 4. Citation Machine. The Citation Machine is available on the Internet (www.citationmachine.net/ ) and incorporates other style manuals including APA and MLA.

List of Style Manuals

Here is a short list of annotated style manuals held in the Matheson Library. The annotation includes their usefulness and where they may be located in the Library.  Useful excerpts from the books are also included.

Turabian, Kate L. 1987. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 5^th edition. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Turabian provides good guides for in-text citation including rules and examples on how to write citations and how to compile your bibliography or reference list.

The 1982 edition is also available in the Library, but it is recommended that the 1987 edition is used. It is commonly known as Turabian following the author’s name.

Location: SR 808.066 T929

Achtert, S. Walter; Gibaldi, Joseph. 1985. The MLA Style Manual. The Modern Language Association of America, New York.

MLA is similar in reputation to The Chicago Style Manual and Turabian. MLA provides useful discussion and guidance on various writing skills which include:

•  Selecting appropriate language and style
•   How to avoid plagiarism
•  Standards for the mechanics of writing (punctuation, capitalization, quotations, transliterations and romanization

For the advanced students and academic staff there is useful information on:

• The types of scholarly manuscripts
• Formal preparation of a manuscript
• Analysis of the stages in submitting and publishing manuscripts
• Relationship between authors and publishers, author’s contracts and copyright law

Location: SR 808.02 A179

The University of Chicago. 1982. The Chicago Manual of Style for Authors, Editors and Copywriters. Thirteenth Edition, Revised and Expanded, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

The Chicago Manual has been a standard reference for writers, editors, copywriters and proofreaders for well over seventy years. Part 2 of this style manual (pages 131 – 511) clearly explains the use of various writing skills such as Punctuation, Spelling and Distinctive Treatments of Words, Names and Terms and Quotations. A detail explanation of the proper use of Quotation is given from pages 281 to 302. Page 286 gives guidance with examples on how to begin a quotation and recommends the use of a colon (:) when starting a quotation.

Location: SR 808.02 C532

Paguarek, Joyce. 1984. Writing Workshop: Paragraph and Sentence Practice. Newbury House Publishers, Massachusetts.

Writing Workshop: Paragraph and Sentence Practice may not be appealing to the reader in the first instance because it requires the reader to spend time going through the course work. You are not obliged to do the exercises.  A quick review of the book will refresh your paragraph writing skills. Chapter 1 deals with constructing sentences beginning with the topic sentence, developing the paragraph and ending the paragraph with a concluding sentence. Chapter 7 is helpful to those who are writing a paper involving discussion on causes and results.  Many useful phrases (adverbial connectives) are provided and include as a result, therefore, hence and consequently. It advises that so is used in informal writing and speech. Use hence and consequently instead.

Location: 808.042 P139

Dod, Janet S. (ed.) 1986. The ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors. American Chemical Society, Washington DC.

ACS Style is more for the researcher than the undergraduate. However, it does not mean that an undergraduate should not consult this handbook. Students in Applied Science will find this guide helpful. Chapter 1 discusses a scientific paper: what is a scientific paper and the format in which the scientific paper is laid out. Included in the chapter are the following advice on writing a paper based on research and experiment:

·         Avoid slang and jargon.

·         Use strong verbs because they are essential to clear and concise writing

·         Use the active voice whenever possible. It is usually less wordy and unambiguous.

Example:

Poor sentence

The fact that such processes are under strict stereoelectronic control is demonstrated by work in this area.

Better sentence

Our work in this area demonstrates that such processes are under strict stereoelectronic control.

·         First person is perfectly acceptable where it keeps your meaning clear.

Example:

Jones reported xyz, but we found…

Our recent work demonstrated…

For these reasons, we began a study of…

It goes on to point out that phrases like “we believe”, “we feel”, “we concluded”, and “we can see” are unnecessary, as are personal opinion.

You will also find  guidance on the use of verb tenses in this book.

Location: 808.066 54 A187

Perrin, Robert. 2004. A Pocket Guide to APA Style. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Communication for Development Studies at The PNG University of Technology recommends this style manual for students. It is similar to Turabian and provides guidance on how to do citation from various sources of information. There is also guidance on how to compile your bibliography.

Location: SR 808

Snooks & Co. 2002. Style Manual: For authors, editors and printers 6^th edition. John Wiley, Australia.

Snooks & Co is another comprehensive style manual and provides guidance on:

·         Structuring documents for readers

·         Effective and inclusive language

·         Grammar

·         Spelling

·         word punctuation

·         Capital letters

·         Textual contrast

·         Shortened forms

·         Numbers and measurement

·         Methods of citation

·         The components of citation

·         Editing and proofreading

Location: 808.027 S938

Lindsay, David. 1995. A Guide to Scientific Writing, 2^nd Edition. Addison Wesley Longman, Australia.

This edition includes practical examples that writers, and students, may follow when writing. It is helpful because it features writing by scientists for non-scientists. Methods of presenting tables and improving fluency of writing are provided in the guide. Examples of referencing (citation) are presented in page 52 with guidance on smooth flow of sentences. Most of its coverage are on preparing reviews and more advanced forms of scientific writing.

Location: SR 808.0666 L748

Stapleton, Paul; Youdeowel, Anthony; Mukanyange, Joy et al. 1995. Scientific Writing for Agricultural Scientists: a training reference manual. West Africa Rice Development Association, Cote d’Ivore.

The guide follows the procedures for citing references specified in the revised Council of Biology Editors manual, Scientific Style and Format published in 1994. It is intended for young agricultural scientists.

Location: SR 808.0665 S794

Trzeciak, John and Mackay, S. E. 1994. Study Skills for Academic Writing: Student’s Book. English for Academic Study Series. Longman, UK.

This book is a useful guide for referencing, note-taking and summarising, incorporating data from textual sources, avoiding plagiarism, organizing extended writing passages.

Those who need help with note-taking and summarising will find help in pages 26 to 55. In page 39, for example, it gives the following summarising steps:

·         Read the text once or twice before writing anything down

·         Copy important sentences

·         Ask questions about when the text was written and for what purpose in order to get a more independent (detached) perspective on it

·         Find the main idea(s)

·         Take notes (or make a mind map)

·         When writing your summary, put aside the original text and work from your notes, putting information into complete sentences in your own words.

Location: SR 808.042 T876

Strunck, William Jr. 2000. The Elements of Style,  4th Edition. Allyn and Bacon, Boston.

The first chapter of Strunck’s pocket size guide begins with rules of usage and includes when to use a comma, the use of parentheses, and sentence structure. The next chapter is on principles of composition followed by matters of form. Chapter 4 presents guidance on words and expressions commonly misused.  The final chapter guides the reader on the process of writing. The book also contains a useful glossary of writing skills terms.

 Location:  SR 808.042 S 927

McArthur, Tom. 1984. The Written Word: A Course in Written Composition, Book1 & 2. Oxford University Press, UK.

The Written Word comprises two books (Book1 and Book 2) providing guides on what is acceptable written English that helps the student to develop a clear, logical and personal style. The Written Word is designed as an English composition course and contains exercises on writing and editing. Answers to the exercises are found at the end of each book. You are not obliged to do the course. Take time to read over to get help on spotting errors of style, grammar and punctuation.

Location: 808 M116

Stanton, W. 1989. Making Things Clear: A Guide to Effective Written and Oral Communication. The Parthenon Publishing Group, UK.

Making Things Clear consists of three sections. Section 1 is titled Preparing the Ground and is aimed at ensuring that the writer or speaker begins clearly with a purpose and uses the appropriate material.  Transferring ideas to paper is the focus of Section 2. Section 3 concentrates more on public speaking – preparation and presentation.

Location: 808 793m

The Economist. 1986. The Economist Pocket Style Book. The Economist Publications, London.

You will find in the beginning the following basic rules:

·         Never use a metaphor, simile or figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print

·         Never use a long word where a short word will do

·         If it is possible to cut a word, always cut it out

·         Never use the passive where you can use the active

·         Never use a foreign phrase, scientific word or jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

It continues by pointing out that if you want to capture your reader’s attention:

·         Do not be stuffy or pompous

·         Do not be hectoring or arrogant

·         D not be too pleased with yourself

·         Do not be too chatty

·         Do not be too free with slang

·         Do not be sloppy in the construction of your sentences and paragraph

It first appeared to me that the rules contain too many “Do nots” and would seem to be negative. If the student thinks over these rules, they are good and practical advice for writing a good presentable paper.

The main part of the style manual is alphabetically arranged. It makes it easier for the reader to quickly find the information. A begins with explanation of Abbreviations and usage. Similarly, if you look under S, you will find a guide on the use of semi-colons.

Location: 808 G865e

Dwight A, John and Speer, Dana C. 1979.  How to write a Research Paper. Learning Concepts, Ohio.

Dwight and Dana warn the writer that plagiarism is literary theft and offer the following guide to avoid plagiarism:

·         Introduce the quotation or paraphrase with the name of the author who said it. For example, Harold Herber stated that…or the conclusions drawn by Dr.Von Braun indicate…

·         Enclose all quoted information within double quotation marks

·         Footnote all factual information.

·         Remember that even though you will be interpreting facts and opinions, you must document the fact or opinion that is being discussed

Note that when you are using double quotes, a quotation within a quotation will then use single quotes. Remember also that footnotes are placed below the margin. Another option is to list them in the order they appear before the bibliography.

Library research guidance is also provided and includes explanation on using a card catalogue. You should be aware by now that the card catalogue is no longer used in our University Library. The library system has an OPAC.  If it is really necessary that you use a card catalogue, consult chapter 6.

Location: SR 808.02 D992

Fowler, H. Ramsey. 1980. The Little, Brown Handbook.  Little, Brown and Company, Boston.

The Whole Paper and Paragraphs is the focus of chapter 1 and treats skills such as developing an essay, writing and revising, composing good paragraphs, and convincing the reader. Chapter 2 treats grammatical sentences including understanding sentence grammar and case of nouns and pronouns.  All other chapters deal with other guides on various writing skills.

Fowler gives the following advice on jargon:

Jargon is the special vocabulary of any group; medical and economic terms are examples. But jargon is also commonly used to describe any vague, inflated language that states relatively simple ideas in unnecessarily complicated ways. The directions for using a shower head tell us that the nozzles with which this spray system is equipped will allow the user to reduce the mean diameter of the spray spectrum instead of simply saying that this nozzle will concentrate the spray. Jargon often sound as if the writer had studied all guidelines for being exact and concise and then set out to violate everyone.

Examples of jargon and translations are presented as well in the book and two examples are given here:

Example 1

Jargon    The necessity for the individual to become a separate entity in his own right may impel a child to engage in open rebelliousness against parental authority or against sibling influence, with resultant confusion on the part of those being rebelled against.

Translation    A child’s natural desire to become himself may make him rebel against bewildered parents or siblings.

Example 2

Jargon    Please interface with employees by spending time on the floor for information getting and listening to employees’ inputs and feedbacks as they offer the same.

Translation    Spend time with employees and listen to their complaints and suggestions.

The examples show us to eliminate jargon by cutting unneeded or repeated words and by simplifying both words and grammatical structures. 

Note that the translated sentences in the examples above are concise than the original sentences.

Location: 808.042 F786L


There you are! It is a quick synoptic guide.