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IMO, Brusaw's Handbook of Technical writing is among
the best.
I have copies of the Chicago Manual of Style, Sun's
Read Me First: Style Guide for the Computer Industry,"
Pearsall's "Elements of Style," Williams' "Style: Ten
lessons in ...," Hacko's "Standards for Online
Communication," "The Little, Brown Handbook," "The MLA
Handbook," and Woolever's "Writing for the Computer
Industry." While all are effective, the only book I
have multiple copies of is Brusaw's because I never
want to find myself without it.
The Handbook of Technical Writing covers everything
(and in alpha order) from language (cliches, trite
language, malapropisms) to style (point of view,
comparison, idioms, paraphrasing, nominalizations,
clarity, and coherence) to structure, parts of speech,
punctuation, and mechanics. What I find most useful is
it's detailed descriptions of word choice: when to
use which vs. that, different from vs. different than,
lay vs. lie, and so on.
Brusaw's book was a required text in my master's
degree program for Technical and Professional Writing.
When I brought it to work, all the engineers and
architects wanted one.
I have not read the other book.
Hope this helps
Kelly
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