Elements of style vs Chicago manual of style - Writers Forum

Simone · 12-08-2005, 11:54 PM

Which do most publishers follow for house rules.

The elements of style or the Chicago manual of style. Let me know please, thanks.

Nickie · 12-09-2005, 02:21 AM

I can't answer for all publishers, Simone, but as a newly established one myself, I have set my guidelines according to my own taste! I'm European, and don't know anything about this Chicago style manual.

When I was still writing, I had to follow different guidelines. From these, I took out the most sensibible things and made up a set of guidelines for myself and my company.

Nickie

mammamaia · 12-09-2005, 01:01 PM

the cms relates mainly to journalism, technical writing, and those in the publishing industry [editors, proofreaders, etc.], is not much good for writers of fiction and other mediums, just as the mla is useful for scholastic writing, not the more 'creative' types...

for all else, strunk and white is still the standard... with that and a good dictionary and punctuation guide near at hand, you won't really need anything else, unless you still need a good basic grammar guide, as well...

Simone · 12-09-2005, 11:50 PM

You said that editors use the CMS. So if we don't use the CMS aren't we going to have a lot of errors? ...or do editors also use the Elements of Style.

~

mammamaia · 12-10-2005, 01:38 PM

publishers' editors are more likely to be guided by strunk and white and just basic good grammar, punctuation, etc.... the vast majority of that enormous amount of detail in the cms applies to writing other than the more 'creative' mediums, so to me, it's a waste of a lot of money to include that among your reference library, unless you're in the journalism or technical writing field...

if you're a good writer who's learned the basics well and honed your skills to a professional level, you shouldn't be needing it to keep from making 'a lot of errors'... and, if you're a beginning writer, it won't teach you what you need to know... you'll do much better with just the 'elements' along with good grammar and punctuation guides... the best way to learn how to write well is to read well and constantly [the best works by the best writers of all time]...

Mike C · 12-11-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simone

So if we don't use the CMS aren't we going to have a lot of errors?
~

No. If you write badly you will have a lot of errors. If you write well it won't make any difference whether you referred to S&W, CMS or your Auntie Mabel.

karfur2 · 09-12-2006, 09:56 AM

But in order to make the bibliography you have to choose one or not? Which one is better for that, the CMS?

mammamaia · 09-12-2006, 11:40 AM

you may find this useful:
http://www.aresearchguide.com/styleguides.html

then again, you may just find yourself more confused than ever!

hugs, m

Mike C · 09-13-2006, 02:00 AM

Being a Brit, when I need to refer to a style guide (quite different to what Strunk & White offers) I use the Guardian Style Guide, which can be downloaded from their website. http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide

Because the requirements are different, at GUD magazine we're evolving our own style guide as issues arise.

pjune · 09-13-2006, 12:37 PM

ePress-Online, where I work as an editor, uses the EoS, while Virtual Tales has developed its own editor's handbook.

I'm seen submission guidelines that are vague (saying to follow the standard manuscript formatting) to others which state to follow cms or some other guide.

Take care,
June