The Associated Press Stylebook

If you need a guide for how to write to journalistic standards, this is definitely one place to go. The version I read, while very informative, was published before the widespread acceptance of the thing we now call the Internet, and as such, it's computer technology section may seem a bit dated.

The only thing that bugged me was that they didn't use the spelling "lede" for the introductory statements of a news story, and as a former newspaper editor, this threw me for a loop when I saw it spelled "lead." Every time I saw it, my reading flow just slowed down, as if lead (that is plumbum) were handed to me, instead of a lede.

Other than my hangups with using jargon where appropriate, this book should be used as a standard with respect to show more editing wording. However, if you're a writer of fiction, this book should be used more as a guideline, and not as a hard-and-fast styleguide. I mean, you wouldn't necessarily be abbreviating state names in your writing, now, would you? show less

This book brings back many bad memories of writing drills in J-School, but I still refer to it constantly.

I don't know anyone who made it through a Journalism degree without touching this book at least once. This is the oracle, mind you. I probably need an updated edition and all, but I would never get rid of this one! Too much of a sentimental attachment to it... Great reference work to have in any library.

The penultimate guide for a journalist: a dictionary, thesarus, and journalism guide all in one package. I keep it by my side for all types of writing situations, including non-journalistic ones.

This style guide is perhaps the third (or maybe fourth) choice amidst what is out there, but it is a standard. In the end it all comes down to what the instructor is expecting (and they will often tell you.) After that it mostly depends on your profession and personal taste. Any of them (Chicago, MLA, APA, or AP) are instructive in the they lay out that particular style and you know exactly what you're doing (just as long as you are consistant.)

Had intersting insight into how to write proper publically read atricles. Very informative!

This manual is organized like a dictionary with many words, government agencies, acronyms, and standard resources given. This manual is used in the publishing industry, especially for newspapers and periodicals. It is of use to the aspiring author.