Science and Technical Writing: A Manual of Style (A Henry Holt Reference Book) [Paperback]

Philip Rubens (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0805030913 | ISBN-13: 978-0805030914 | Publication Date: March 15, 1994

This comprehensive reference provides both the style and the organizational guidance needed to produce the clearest and most accurate scientific writing possible.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A decade ago, this book might have become the bible for a generation of technical writers: It is authoritative, exhaustive, and well organized. It is also obsolete in several sections: No mention is made of the plethora of computer software programs upon which even the most casual technical writers nowadays depend. Indeed, it is as though the personal computer hardly exists. The sections on document design are written as though paper were the medium of choice and "laserographic printers" were rare devices. Likewise, sections on numbers, symbols, and mathematical equations are well done, but there is no mention whatsoever of how software is useful and important. The stylebook sections are comprehensive but not prescriptive, presenting all possible choices with few prohibitions: Words such as finalize and prioritize are described as "increasingly common" and "tending toward jargon." As a result, this work is much more permissive than The Chicago Manual of Style (Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1982. 13th ed.). Citation sections describe but never name various styles such as those found in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Modern Language Assn. of America, 1988. 3d ed.). Sections on nonnative readers and abbreviations are useful; grammar and usage are adequately handled, although often permissive rather than prescriptive; and clear explanations are offered of significant digits and indexing. Finally, the table of contents is excellent. Overall, this is extremely useful for noncomputer users, less so for others, its main shortcoming being what is not covered--the personal computer age.
- Mark Shelton, Athens, Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"It is authoritative, exhaustive, and well-organized."-Library Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (March 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805030913
• ISBN-13: 978-0805030914
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,674,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, September 8, 2000

By 

kyara - See all my reviews

This review is from: Science and Technical Writing: A Manual of Style (A Henry Holt Reference Book) (Paperback)

While Robert A. Day's How to Write & Publish a Scientific Paper gives a good overview of the writing and publishing process on a macro level regarding organization and presentation of material, Science and Technical Writing provides great detailed advice on a micro level. Philip Rubens gives very clear instruction on paragraphing, grammar, punctuation and spelling as well as the intricacies of how to present numbers, mathematical symbols and scientific notation. In addition, there are illustrated guidelines on how to design a variety documents such as brochures, manuals and newsletters right down to the page-level including representing information in charts, tables and diagrams. The book itself is well-designed and well-organized giving testament to its own advice. This is a good general reference for both writers and editors of science and technical documentation.