TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I haven't used the GPO Style Manual much, but if their Chapter 1 - Advice to Authors and Editors is any indication, I would go with the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). The GPO manual includes a lot of unnecessary passive voice. I hope it gets better in later chapters. An advantage is that the entire manual is available free of charge at their web site.
CMOS is a very solid (and fairly pricey) standard that I wouldn't want missing from my desk, but you may want to consider other options. For software products, Microsoft Manual of Style is a popular choice. We reference that as our basic standard. Another computer-centric guide is Read Me First. There are others.
tims
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+timothy -dot- slager=dematic -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+timothy -dot- slager=dematic -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Katarina Bovin
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 3:13 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Writing guides
Dear all technical writers,
Do you have any opinion of the style guides; the Chicago Manual of Style and the GPO Style Manual? Then I would be delighted to share your view.
Background: The company I work for has a global operation, and is based in Sweden. In our writing guide for English we would like to include company specific rules only, and then refer the general rules to either the Chicago Manual of Style or the GPO Style Manual.
Which one of thee two would you chose if you are a technical writer, writing for a global audience, not just USA?
What I have heard is that the GPO Style Manual is more directed to technical writing and reduced to half of the size of the Chicago Manual of style. However, would the GPO Style Manual suit the global market or is it too Americanized?
Thank you in advance for your expericenes and tips.
Best Regards,
Katarina
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help. Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help. Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need.
Try Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days.
