One question: Is it difficult to find what you need in the 1000 pages?
Despite not having read “Elements”, I was able to find the section about comma use I needed. Of course, glancing at the table of contents leads me to think the book is not particularly all-inclusive.

I’ve found I tend to do things consistently with my writing out of habit. It would be great to learn a specific ‘style’ so that I could adapt to those techniques. While glancing through Strunk and White’s today I’ve already discovered things I do that could be improved upon.

Thanks for the thought provoking and informative post, Melissa!

Chicago is huge, enormous. It’s almost 1000 pages, while my ancient copy of Strunk & White isn’t even 100 pages. I figure that’s a good indication that Chicago will answer just about any style question I may ever have. Also, since I do freelance writing, and much of it is for business, it helps to have a guide that covers every base imaginable.

When I get the latest edition of Elements, I’ll definitely write up a comparison, since these two are most popular for general writing.

Thanks Essie!

I’m amidst a forced break from blogging (illness and surgery next week) so have had time to reflect on business and my personal blog.

It’s coincidental that you wrote about this now, as I was realizing I feel a lack in not using a style manual *even* in writing my personal blog.

For years any writing I did was always under a specified syle manual. The MLA was “it” for ages and then the arcane “Blue Book,” as we called it, for the law school years. I used Elements of Style as a general reference when I occasionally wrote outside the predetermined style spheres…

I didn’t think I’d want to bother for my personal blog. Really. I have no pretensions to being a freelance writer in the usual sense. As time went on I noticed the pauses for choices, and see that my blog is horribly inconsistent as well. The guides really help! They aren’t the additional burden I thought of them as when they were enforced. It’s time to get a current hard copy (of course) of whatever guide — but I can’t make up my mind.

This article helps quite a bit, thank you. I have narrowed it down to two, at least. An updated Elements of Style would probably do the trick. I wonder why the Chicago is that popular? I am very glad to have found out it is, thanks.

The Chicago guide is much longer, isn’t it? I’d love to read any observations you have comparing the two if you end up having them both… By the way, I always have used the final comma before the conjunction in a series. I don’t think I could accept a guide that dictated the opposite. How we get stuck in our ways!

Essie

Currently on my shelf, at least what I can see from here:
AP, APA, Turabian, Elements of Style, MLA, and an unknown technical style manual. Unbelievable; and there is no Chicago because it was only required for one class and our team shared. AP gets the most use at present since my work is newspaper-focused. Maybe Chicago needs to be on my wish list.

I really enjoyed reading this post. You always teach your readers so much!

Smiles,
Michele

Chicago and APA both offer online versions through a paid subscription. As much as I love online resources, I opted for hard copies!

-Melissa