Re: Other Style Guides

[jsokohl -at- CAMPBELLSOFT -dot- COM]

     Jane Bergen wrote:

     >So, are you saying you DID publish a style guide or you're GOING TO
     >publish a style guide? I think we'd all welcome an alternative to the
     >Microsoft Manual of Style, but I have never seen one that speaks to
     >software documentation as well.

     I have owned "Read Me First: A Style Guide for the Computer Industry"
     (SunSoft Press/Prentice Hall; ISBN 0-13-455347-0) since seeing it at
     last year's STC conference. It's a great book! Takes a topic approach
     vs. a glossary approach. Chapters include:

     UNDERSTANDING STYLE
     WORKIGN WITH AN EDITOR
     WORKING WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
     WRITING FOR AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE
     LEGAL GUIDELINES
     MECHANICS OF WRITING
     TECHNICAL ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
     CONSTRUCTING TEXT
     INDEXING
     RECOMMENDED READING
     DEVELOPING A PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT
     CHECKLISTS AND FORMS

     In addition, the CD that comes with the book contains the entire book
     contents in FrameViewer(R) and HTML format. Plus, it contains
     FrameMaker(R) templates that were used.

     I use both MS Manual of and this book. They meet different needs; I
     definitely have dog-eared my Read Me First!

     joe
     Joe Sokohl
     Mgr. of Documentation
     Campbell Software, Inc.
     http://www.campbellsoft.com

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