Style Guides

Simplified Technical English

Here you can request a free copy of the ASD-STE100 Specifcation. This document contains many good writing tips and rules that can be applied to any project.

http://www.asd-ste100.org/request.html

Apple Publications Style Guide

Complete, downloadable style guide in PDF format (approx. 200 pages). To find the guide on the web site, enter “publications style guide” into the search box.

http://help.apple.com/asg/

GNOME Documentation Style Guide

Writing style guide specifically for writing software documentation.

https://developer.gnome.org/gdp-style-guide/

SUSE and openSUSE Style Guides

Style guides for documentation and texts within the user interface.

http://doc.opensuse.org/products/opensuse/Styleguide/opensuse_documentation_styleguide_sd/

Drupal Handbook Style Guide

Brief guide with some basic tips.

http://drupal.org/about/authoring

Wikipedia Manual of Style

Brief style guide for writing wiki entries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style

IEEE Computer Society Style Guide

Comprehensive style guide, published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Computer Society.

https://www.computer.org/portal/web/publications/styleguide

National Geographic Style Manual

Detailed guide to the preferred National Geographic Society style.

http://stylemanual.ngs.org

Web Style Guide

Comprehensive style guide and textbook on online information design in general.

http://www.webstyleguide.com

Writing Styleguide and Dictionary of Plain English

List of frequently abused and overblown words and their plain English equivalents (PDF, 19 pages). Go to the “Publications” section.

http://www.techcommunicators.com

The Elements of Style

Well-known, brief, classic reference.

http://www.bartleby.com/141/

OWL Online Writing Lab

Collection of handouts and exercises on general writing concerns, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and professional writing.

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Plain English Campaign

Collection of free guides in PDF format.

http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/free-guides.html

Plain Language Action and Information Network

Collection of resources that are aimed to help you write more clearly and more concisely.

http://www.plainlanguage.gov

Sharpening Your Writing Skills

Gives away two free booklets in PDF format: “Writing Styleguide and Dictionary of Plain English” and “Sharpening Your Writing Skills—A Workshop for Business and Technical Writers.” For the download, go to the “Publications” section.

http://www.techcommunicators.com

Proofreaders’ Marks

Brief reference of proofreader’s marks.

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_proof.html