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Re: Microsoft Manual of Style vs. github.com/MicrosoftDocs/microsoft-style-guide

Subject: Re: Microsoft Manual of Style vs. github.com/MicrosoftDocs/microsoft-style-guide
From: Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2018 10:23:38 -0700

I don't think it's a good project because it is sales-centric and the writing guidance will result in an immature document voice. I think the accessibility of the guide is better than a printed publication.

The new guide replaces the old guide and it is marketed to "lots of people [who] write about technology." I think consumers should look for ways to wean themselves off of Microsoft.

Two of the four contributors have writing backgrounds the other two have publication-related experience. One seems to abide by the "editorial guidance" you quoted by being outside "expert help." https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-minden-58503b4/

You can email the team and ask them if their contributors really write and edit as their LinkedIn profiles state they do. msstyle -at- microsoft -dot- com <mailto:msstyle -at- microsoft -dot- com>


On 8/16/2018 9:46 AM, Robert Lauriston wrote:

"The Microsoft Writing Style Guide replaces the Microsoft Manual of
Style, a respected source of editorial guidance for the tech community
for more than 20 years."

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/microsoft-style-guide/blob/master/styleguide/welcome/index.md

Does it?

The late Microsoft Manual of Style was aimed at professional tech
writers and editors. The professional writers and editors who worked
on it were all laid off in July 2016.

The microsoft-style-guide GitHub project is an internal style guide
maintained by and for Microsoft's marketing and engineering
departments. The audience is made clear by comments such as, "Remember
that writing is a skill. If writing isn't a functional role your team
has, consider bringing in expert help." Hey, great editorial guidance
there, thanks.

https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/microsoft-style-guide/blob/master/styleguide/brand-voice-above-all-simple-human.md

There were no editors involved in creating it, just developers and a
marketing writer. I see no evidence that they've since hired any
editors to work on it. The formerly well-organized topics are still in
logically random sequence due to machine sorting.

As far as design, Microsoft seems to be using a generic static site
generator. Compare chicagomanualofstyle.org, which is professionally
designed and edited.

You get what you pay for.
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References:
Microsoft Manual of Style vs. github.com/MicrosoftDocs/microsoft-style-guide: From: Robert Lauriston

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