Believe it or not! Our ten most-read style Qs
This week we’re celebrating our new book, But Can I Start a Start a Sentence with “But”?, a selection of our favorite questions and answers from The Chicago Manual of Style Online’s monthly Q&A.
Two new books from the editors at The Chicago Manual of Style
This week at Shop Talk we’re thrilled to announce two new books from the University of Chicago Press guaranteed to inform and entertain writers, editors, and anyone else who works with words.
Should You Attend an Editing Conference?
Attending a conference is a major expense. In addition to travel and hotel costs, registration is sometimes hundreds of dollars, and all that dining out and schmoozing at the bar adds up as well. If you’re just starting out, you’re probably watching your budget. But there are some ways to keep costs down, and the benefits might just make it worth your while.
Chicago Style Workout 3:
Abbreviations Overview
This workout centers on paragraphs 10.1–10.12 in CMOS 18 . . . In this quiz, as in the Manual, the word abbreviation may also refer to initialisms, acronyms, and contractions.
The Chicago Manual of Style at work (Or, why you might need a style guide)
If your company produces any kind of writing, there’s a good chance you can benefit from using a style guide—even if you’re not in a field immediately associated with publishing. The best practice for any company is for everyone to use the same guide for spelling, punctuation, and a multitude of other style matters.
New “looks” for the Manual?
When we saw the beautiful graphics recently in the Washington Post that Princeton neuroscientist Adam J. Calhoun created from famous works, we couldn’t help but wonder how The Chicago Manual of Style would hold up under the same scrutiny.
Chicago Style Workout 2: Commas with Introductory Words and Phrases
This workout centers on paragraphs 6.33–35 and 6.36–38 (with a brief look at 6.57) in CMOS 18. Advanced editors might tackle the exercises cold; learners can study the related sections of the Manual before answering the questions.
Louise Brueggemann talks about libraries and books for young people
Q.Have you seen big changes in what young people want to read over the course of your career as a bookseller turned librarian?
Section 6.38 in the Spotlight
CMOS receives regular queries from readers asking whether greetings like “Hi, Elsa” really need that comma. Especially in e-mail messages, we hear, it looks fussy. And it takes so long to type!
Chicago Style Workout 1: Series and the Serial Comma
This workout is the first in a series of dozens of workouts at Shop Talk, each of which has now been updated to refer and link to the 18th edition of CMOS. Whether you’re a beginner or an old pro, these interactive quizzes should help you build and maintain your editorial muscles.
