Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors [Paperback]

Merriam-Webster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 087779622X | ISBN-13: 978-0877796220 | Publication Date: January 1998 | Edition: Rev Sub

Practical information on writing and editing. Comprehensive coverage of punctuation, capitalization, as well as forming plurals, possessives, and compound words. Covers all aspects of manuscript preparation, including guidance on design and production techniques. Also includes a Grammar Glossary.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If The Chicago Manual of Style is a little too expensive or unwieldy, or your needs are not quite so detail-oriented, this manual makes for a nice alternative. It's not a book about writing; it is a style guide, starting with punctuation, capitals, and abbreviations and culminating in typography, printing, and binding. Sandwiched between are chapters on preparing scientific material for publication, dealing with foreign-language extracts, and creating tables and graphs. Footnotes, bibliographies, indexes, and the editing process also get their due. A much-revised edition of Webster's Standard American Style Manual, this is a great resource for students, writers, and professionals alike. --Jane Steinberg

About the Author

Since 1937. Merriam-Webster is America's foremost publisher of language-related reference works. The company publishes a diverse array of print and electronic products, including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition – America's best-selling desk dictionary – and Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster can be considered the direct lexicographical heir of Noah Webster. In 1843, the company bought the rights to the 1841 edition of Webster's magnum opus, An American Dictionary of the English Language, Corrected and Enlarged. At the same time, they secured the rights to create revised editions of the work. Since that time, Merriam-Webster editors have carried forward Noah Webster's work, creating some of the most widely used and respected dictionaries and reference books in the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Merriam-Webster; Rev Sub edition (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087779622X
• ISBN-13: 978-0877796220
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #999,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference, March 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors (Paperback)

A wonderfully organized, practical manual of American style and usage. VERY portable and affordable. Contrary to accepted opinion (the opinion of literary snobs and wanna-be writers out there), the CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE is not the be-all and end-all. If you write, edit or proof-read, or are interested in the manuscript-to-published-work process, I think that this volume should be a fixture in your reference collection.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource, October 30, 2001

By 

joetheproofer (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors (Paperback)

In my work as a professional proofreader for an advertising agency, I find myself consulting this manual frequently. It has a good mix of rules and examples. I always find the answer I am looking for. This is the highest praise you can give to any handbook of this type.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous reference for anyone's shelf!, March 4, 2004

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors (Paperback)

There is little question that, in general, our writing has gotten lazy and careless. We assume Microsoft Word (or whichever word processor you use) will fashion our typing into something acceptable. This wonderful and excellently done book is for people who want to do better.

I am glad that they point out it is for writers as well as editors. This book will help students and people writing anything more than a casual note to format, punctuate, and organize their writing for better clarity and understanding. Yes, proofreaders and editors have more use for the special markings and some of the more subtle points in the manual, but there is a lot on seemingly little things like capitals, italics, plurals, possessives, compounds, abbreviations, mathematical and scientific notation, quotations, foreign languages, tables, illustrations, footnotes, endnotes, bibliographies, indexes and more.

This book is compactly designed and it is very easy to find what you are looking for. Everything is concisely explained and demonstrated when needed.

This is a fabulous reference for anyone's shelf.