Customer Reviews

The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publicatio

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4 star:		(1)
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This book would be excellent to use in developing a company style guide, or it will help you out until you have time to develop a company style guide. It will also help in resolving departmental word-choice squabbles, such as whether to use "click" or "click on". And if it seems odd to tell users to "check the check box," what do you tell them?

I needed this book years ago--now that I have it, I reach for it all the time. While I don't always follow its suggestions exactly, it offers me a non-trendy second opinion on technical style issues. Its straight A-Z dictionary format makes information easy to find, too.

Perhaps a curious note of trivia is suitable here: the on-line help systems in many Microsoft products were not developed according to this style guide. This is unfortunate, as I find this style guide helps me write clear, approachable on-line help better than any other style guide I've seen.

The book is excellent! But the Microsoft press no longer prints it because it is available for download free from the Microsoft Download Center (search for the keyword "style").

But it is great if you like paper copies!

I agree with "A reader , April 30, 1997." Microsoft doesn't have to share its style guide with the world, but I'm glad they did. Sure, this is not a bible or a book of rules, but it gets you through when you're at a loss for words. The definitions they use reflect standard and common usage. Isn't that the way we all want to write? Clear and concise, no better way to put it.

You know that you and your team need to improve the situation regarding your style book. But who can actually do it? Right! In the spare minute and a half between intense projects? No, you wouldn't want MS to define even more of your writing life than WORD already has. However, if you can all just agree to this easy to use book as a default, your lives will become a little less contentious. Ahhhhhhh..

The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications is an excellent companion to a more traditional Manual, such as the Chicago Guide. The work is well written in an easy-to-read format, using clear, concise language. The accompanying CD is a terrific addition, as it provides a way to read the manual in a quick, online manner. The e-book Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary is a great bonus.

This text ensures writers that the documentation they provide the users follows similar standards as set by Microsoft. Users will feel comfortable with the similarities they see in the use of terminology and font style between their sets of documentation. The diskette that accompanies this text provides quick online access to the topics in the text.

People used to say you would never be fired for buying IBM. For the documentation author writing Windows program manuals or online help, you can't go wrong following Microsoft's standards. I recommend all my clients adopt this publication as part of their company style guide. It is a must have.