Resources for Editors and Writers

 

Here’s the most important thing about being an editor that I didn’t know before I became one: it’s less about knowing what’s correct and more about knowing where to look it up. Seriously, we look up everything. Off the top of my head, here are some things I’ve looked up for past projects:

  • Is “that” capitalized in headline-style capitalization?

  • Is “day to day” hyphenated?

  • Should “state” in “Washington state” be capitalized?

  • In the Bible, is Philip’s name spelled with one l or two?

  • When were stoves invented?

  • What day of the week was June 24, 1963?

Google is an excellent resource for simple fact-checking, but for questions of grammar, mechanics, and usage, you’re usually better off consulting an authoritative source. (Google will often point you to forums where other people had the same question, which is occasionally useful but more often not.)

Before I list some recommendations, let me offer this caveat: there are a plethora of reference works on writing and editing, and which you use depends largely on you and what you’re writing or editing. As Louise Harnby points out in an excellent post on editorial resources, the best reference for a particular work depends on its audience and/or publisher.

That said, I’ve found that I use a handful of resources most often:

The Chicago Manual of Style. The print book is indispensable, but there are several online tools that are also very helpful. The entire book is available online with a subscription, which is incredibly useful if, like me, you often work away from home. There’s also an online Q&A where I’ve found answers I couldn’t find in the print book. And though it covers only the basics, the online Citation Quick Guide is very helpful when you’re working with source notes and bibliographies.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. I actually don’t own a print copy (shh). The online dictionary is updated more often, so I find it to be more useful.

Garner’s Modern English Usage. Unlike Chicago, which is a style guide, Garner’s is a usage guide: it focuses on language and grammar. It’s where you turn when you’re not sure which preposition to use with a verb or whether it’s “home in on” or “hone in on.”

The Copyeditor’s Handbook. This is an excellent guide to the fundamentals of copyediting.

The AP Stylebook. What The Chicago Manual of Style is to book publishing, The AP Stylebook is to journalism: indispensable.

The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage. Another style guide for journalism, with all the authority of the Gray Lady behind it.

House style guide. This is the most important resource for any project. If there’s a house style guide, it trumps all other authorities. And if there’s no house style guide? Carolyn Haley offers some fantastic guidelines for establishing your own house style.