Style Guides

» 11 Rules of Writing
   Concise guide to some of the most frequently violated rules of writing, punctuation, and grammar.

   
   http://www.junketstudies.com/rulesofw/

» A.Word.ADay
   The music and magic of words. This is the website for the mailing list A.Word.A.Day (AWAD), which sends a vocabulary word and its definition to the subscribers every day.

   
   http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/index.html

» AskOxford.com
   For questions on English grammar, spelling, and usage. Search a dictionary of words, names or quotations.

   
   http://www.askoxford.com/

» Bartleby.com: Strunk's Element of Style (1918)
   For use in English courses in which the practice of composition is combined with the study of literature. It aims to give in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style.

   
   http://www.bartleby.com/141/

» Bartleby.com: The Columbia Guide to Standard American English
   Kenneth G. Wilson's handbook includes descriptive and prescriptive examples with hyperlinked cross-references.

   
   http://www.bartleby.com/68/

» Braintique: The Natural Way to Write
   A process and system for helping people become better writers. Includes exercises, examples, and information about descriptive writing and metaphors.

   
   http://www.braintique.com/barticles/writing/what/TOC.shtml

» CBC News: Words, Woe & Wonder
   An in-depth look at the words we use from CBC News.

   
   http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/words/

» Cliche
   List of 2000 English cliches with some statistical and literary notes on their use.

   
   http://www.angelfire.com/nd/danscorpio/word3.html

» Cliche Finder
   Special tool word-searches 3,300 cliches.

   
   http://www.westegg.com/cliche/

» Cliche Site
   Clichés, sayings or phrases listed with definitions and explanations. Clichés are organized by subject and alphabetically and you can use the search function.

   
   http://www.clichesite.com/index.asp

» Cliche Web
   Thousands of cliches. Fully searchable and interactive. Formerly Steve's Cliche List. Since 1995.

   
   http://www.cambiaresearch.com/clicheweb/

» Common Errors in English
   Catalogue of writing or speaking mistakes and easily confusable words, with corrections.

   
   http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/

» Correct Punctuation
   A brief guide to correct English punctuation.

   
   http://www.correctpunctuation.co.uk

» Dr. NAD's Prig Page.
   Tests of usage, built interactively.

   
   http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5229/p_.htm

» E-dition: Dictionary of Concise Writing
   A look at word usage in popular culture. The Dictionary of Concision is a complete manual of several thousand wordy phrases.

   
   http://www.e-dition.net/dictionary.html

» Economist Style Guide
   Based on the guide given to all journalists at The Economist. Includes quiz.

   
   http://www.economist.com/research/styleguide/

» Ewriting
   Easy to learn electronic writing style that will speed up email and online chatroom discussions.

   
   http://www.e-writing.info

» Exploring English
   An online tutorial for the parts of speech with style notes for the English Language.

   
   http://www.shared-visions.com/explore/english/

» Findaphrase.com
   Free phrase database to help journalists, copywriters and content editors search common phrases.

   
   http://www.findaphrase.com/

» Focusing on Words
   Subscription-based site for vocabulary development, showcasing the Latin and Greek roots of English words.

   
   http://www.wordfocus.com/

» Frequently Asked Questions about English
   Answers to common questions about usage, style, grammar and punctuation.

   
   http://www.alexcommunications.com/faq.htm

» Garbl's Editorial Style Manual
   Provides advice on abbreviations, capitalization, grammar, numbers, plurals, possessives, punctuation, spelling and word usage.

   
   http://garbl.home.comcast.net/stylemanual/

» Glossarist.com
   A searchable directory of thousands of glossaries and topical dictionaries containing terms and definitions on hundreds of subjects.

   
   http://www.glossarist.com/

» Good Grammar, Good Style
   Articles and answers to frequently asked questions about grammar, mechanics, and style. Links and bibliography.

   
   http://www.protrainco.com/info/grammar.htm

» Grammar Slammer
   This help file indexes style and usage, capitalization, abbreviations, punctuation, letter writing, common mistakes and a grammar glossary.

   
   http://englishplus.com/grammar/index.htm

» Guardian Unlimited - Style Guide
   The British newspaper's guide to word usage, grammar and punctuation, edited by David Marsh and Nikki Marshall. Includes 1928 edition in pdf format.

   
   http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide

» Guide to Grammar and Style
   The information ranges from copy editing to elements of style to discussions. Practical information about the writing craft.

   
   http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/

» Guide to Grammar and Writing
   Digital handouts on grammar and English usage. From subject-verb agreement and use of articles to exercises in parallel structures and argumentative essays. You can submit questions about grammar and writing.

   
   http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

» Guides for Better Science Writing
   Bibliography of style manuals for scientific research, writing, and presentation. Guides for biology, medicine, chemistry, engineering, geology, and mathematics.

   
   http://www.indiana.edu/~cheminfo/14-05.html

» How to Write an Explication
   Step-by-step directions to writing an explication. Good and bad examples provided.

   
   http://www.geocities.com/lrampey/2131/explicate.htm

» Illiterate Businesses
   An unabashed rant weblog featuring English-language business signs with grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation errors. Includes a free sign editing offer.

   
   http://www.illiteratebusinesses.ca

» Lingo Factory
   A cooperative effort to coin useable terms and then trick people into using them regularly as though they are real words.

   
   http://lingofactory.tribe.net/

» LousyWriter.com
   A free online resource to improve your writing skills. Learn how to write, how to use words, how to write sentences, and how to communicate effectively.

   
   http://www.lousywriter.com/

» Macedon's Taberna: The Craft of Writing
   Commentary on various technical aspects of writing: the nuts and bolts of narrative.

   
   http://members.aol.com/MacedonPg/writing.htm

» Modern Language Association
   The Modern Language Association is the official guide to non-fiction writing. Includes a guide to MLA style.

   
   http://www.mla.org

» NoodleBib - The MLA Bibliography Composer
   A free tool to create, edit, and save your MLA-style bibliography online, then publish it to a Web page, email it, or save it as RTF and open it in Microsoft Word.

   
   http://www.noodletools.com/noodlebib/

» Online Classes in Rhetoric, University of Minnesota
   The University of Minnesota offers a number of Internet correspondence courses in rhetoric. Sign up here.

   
   http://www.rhetoric.umn.edu/

» Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
   Help in discovering, organizing, revising, and editing informal, thesis, argumentative, and exploratory essays.

   
   http://www.powa.org/

» Pataphysics, Pataphors and Pataphorology
   An extended metaphor that creates its own context. A science invented by P.A. Lopez and derived from the science of 'pataphysics as described by Alfred Jarry.

   
   http://www.geocities.com/pataphysician1/

» Phrases Thesaurus
   A generator of headlines and copy for journalists. Enter a word and the database is searched to provide a list of phrases related to that word.

   
   http://www.phrasefinder.co.uk

» Plain English Campaign
   An independent group fighting for plain English in public communication. We oppose gobbledygook, jargon and legalese.

   
   http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/

» Plain English at Work
   Online guide to using plain English and changing the corporate style. Produced for Australia's Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs and the Australian National Training Authority.

   
   http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/training_skills/publications_resources/plain_english_at_work/

» Plain Language Action Network
   Promoting clearer communication between the public and government. This site has resources for writers to attain that goal.

   
   http://www.plainlanguage.gov/

» Pseudo Dictionary
   The dictionary for words that wouldn't make it into dictionaries.

   
   http://www.pseudodictionary.com/index.php

» Ralph's Manual of Style
   A guide to style, grammar, usage, and more by a guy named Ralph.

   
   http://www.rms.hung-sun.com/

» Rhetorical Figures
   From alliteration to zeugma, and everything in between, all the figures of speech are here.

   
   http://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/rhetoric.html

» SDSU Writing Rescource Crib
   Offering tips and lively description on grammar, English, and writing.

   
   http://literature.sdsu.edu/lanzbom/

» SecretariesUSA.com
   Reference for the home and corporate office, including capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, sentence structure, forms of address, abbreviations, letter styles, and business forms.

   
   http://secretariesusa.com/

» Slang City
   Writing about American slang.

   
   http://www.slangcity.com

» SoYouWanna Avoid Common Writing Errors
   We compiled a list of the most common writing errors people tend to make. This is not a primer on grammar or essay-writing. This is a checklist of things which you might well do and which you must stop doing.

   
   http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/wrerrors/wrerrors.html

» Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature
   Bimonthly publication, SPELL/Binder, contains articles on grammar, usage, word origins, and other subjects of interest to language lovers.

   
   http://www.spellorg.com/

» Suite 101: Workplace Communications
   Archive of articles covering writing and speaking skills, with emphasis on clear communication, basic design, communicating with international and multicultural audiences.

   
   http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/communications_skills

» Suite101: English Grammar
   Archive of articles about English grammar and style.

   
   http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/english_grammar_style

» Suite101: Word Play
   Archived discussions and articles concerning words.

   
   http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/words

» The Archive of Endangered, Special, or Fun Words
   Writing about and classifying words and language.

   
   http://www.13d.org/esofword/

» The Book of Cliches
   A compilation of common phrases, euphemisms, and rationales for times of trouble. Organized by occasion.

   
   http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/sybev/cliche/

» The Economist Style Guide
   Guide based on the style book given to all journalists at The Economist.

   
   http://www.economist.com/research/StyleGuide/

» The Philosophy of Punctuation
   Paul Robinson's classic essay on periods, commas, semicolons, dashes.

   
   http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/721833.html

» The Sports Cliche List
   A large, searchable collection of sports cliches, lingo, and jargon.

   
   http://www.sportscliche.com

» The Tongue Untied
   Grammar, punctuation and style for journalists.

   
   http://grammar.uoregon.edu/

» The Visual Thesaurus
   An exploration of sense relationships within the English language. By clicking on words, you follow a thread of meaning, creating a spatial map of linguistic associations.

   
   http://www.visualthesaurus.com/online/index.html

» The Well Bred Sentence
   This book offers an intensive course in sentence construction and punctuation.

   
   http://www.englishgrammartutor.com/Grammar%20Book.htm

» The Wonderful Writing Skills Unhandbook
   An interactive site that uses the writing process to teach writing skills.

   
   http://www.wonderfulwritingskillsunhandbook.com/

» The Word Centre
   Consulting firm dedicated to training businesses to use plain English. Free newsletter and professional editing services.

   
   http://www.wordcentre.co.uk

» The Word Detective
   The online version of the newspaper column answering readers' questions about words and language. An extensive column and word archive. Written by Evan Morris.

   
   http://www.word-detective.com/

» The Word Nerds
   A weekly podcast about words, language, and why we say the things we do.

   
   http://thewordnerds.libsyn.com/

» Tribe: Linguistics
   Group for discussions of words and language.

   
   http://linguistica.tribe.net/

» Tribe: Word Freaks
   Group for people who love discussing words and writing style.

   
   http://wordfreaks.tribe.net/

» Tribe: Words of Power
   For people who love words, use them, feel them in their mouths as flavorful bursts of energy. This is the tribe for fun with words and receptive learning.

   
   http://powerwords.tribe.net/

» Urban Dictionary
   A veritable cornucopia of streetwise lingo, posted and defined by its readers.

   
   http://www.urbandictionary.com/

» Verbage
   If you are looking for just the right word, you may find it here. If not, you can suggest your own.

   
   http://www.oceansiderevolution.com/verbage

» Verbivore
   Richard Lederer's page, with contact information and a handful of his language-loving articles.

   
   http://www.verbivore.com/

» Web Typography
   The elements of typographic style applied to the web.

   
   http://webtypography.net/

» Word Files of Confusing English Words
   A presentation of English words that are often confusing with definitions and context examples.

   
   http://www.wordfiles.info

» Word Fugitives
   An interactive column by The Atlantic's Barbara Wallraff. Discovers needs in our language and recommends new words to fill them.

   
   http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/fugitives/index.htm

» Word Info
   An English vocabulary dictionary with free searches of words from Latin and Greek sources.

   
   http://www.wordinfo.info

» Word Lab
   A message board where you can request and brainstorm words, names, titles, coinages, puns, phrases, slogans and slang.

   
   http://www.wordlab.com/

» Word News
   Efforts have been made to provide some of the best thoughts, ancient and modern, that are particularly appealing for our time and to promote a greater appreciation for the English language.

   
   http://www.wordnews.info

» Word Quests
   Word lists that provide thematic units of English words derived from Latin and Greek sources.

   
   http://www.wordquests.info

» Word Rogues
   Tips on writing, English, and grammar. This site also includes active community college English syllabii and links to other writing, grammar sites.

   
   http://www.lanzbom.org

» Word Spy
   The word lover's web site by Paul McFedries.

   
   http://www.wordspy.com/

» WordWizard
   Portal for word lovers. Learn about word meanings, slang, quotations, insults, and famous authors. Wordwizard offers a round trip across the English language.

   
   http://www.wordwizard.com/

» Wordelizer
   Delve deeply into a word or subject. Quick search of several word and language related sites.

   
   http://www.emse.fr/~yukna/kahula/wordelizer/wordelizer.html

» Wordiness
   A list of words and phrases to purge from your writing.

   
   http://web.uvic.ca/~gkblank/wordiness.html

» World Wide Words
   Explores the history, evolution byways, quirks, and curiosities of the English language. New and recent words and phrases are often featured, as are books on aspects of English. A weekly newsletter is sent by e-mail and RSS.

   
   http://www.worldwidewords.org/

» Writer's Dreamtools
   A series of useful tools to enhance writers' and students' creativity, spark ideas and fight writer's block.

   
   http://www.writersdreamtools.com/

» Writing For Multimedia
   Michael Butzgy's style guide for multimedia.

   
   http://home.earthlink.net/~atomic_rom/contents.htm

» WritingDEN
   Interactive site created to help students improve English reading, writing and listening skills.

   
   http://204.244.141.13/writ_den/

» Yale Style Manual
   For the design of Web pages and Web sites. Covers graphic and information design, page layout, Web graphics, site organization, navigation, and Web multimedia content.

   
   http://www.webstyleguide.com/