RFI; can anyone recommend a style guide for prose writing? I know I'm doing a few things wrong (punctuation in speech, for example), and I'd like to have a reference for how to do it correctly.
Damn, I wish I could answer this. I had a fantastic reference text for a course at university, but sold it when I was short on cash. All I can remember is that it was blue. :(
As for other sources, I've used the Chicago and Strunk & White, but neither strike me as ideal for everyday writing.
I'm not sure how instructional it is, but you might want to check out Eats, Shoots & Leaves -- I remember hearing raves about it.
If you're looking for a general guide to grammar and punctuation, I can bring you one of mine next time I'm down. I have a couple of 'em that will do the trick. Think I have the Little Brown Handbook and a McGraw or Harcourt one kicking around. They're both easy to follow and cover the basics nicely. Zingerella has a greater depth of knowledge on these matters, though. I'll be back down on Friday night, so let me know and I'll bring you one of my spares.
For an actual style guide, it depends on the purpose of your writing. If it's book stuff, there's Chicago, if it's media, there's CP or Globe in Canada or AP in the States. The Economist has a decent online style guide that you can use for free (http://www.economist.com/research/StyleGuide/). Such style guides will set out more than just basic grammar and spelling usually. They'll set out the publication's rules for setting up things like footnotes or citations, which dictionary to use, and rules for variables within grammar and punctuation, and thus tend to be created for a specific publication or company.
For ease of looking things up (quick reference) I use Merriam-Webster's Guide to Punctuation and Style. That has a lot to do with the fact that I also use the MW 11th College edition as my standard dictionary.
For something *slightly* more readable (to study up a bit) you might want to try A Grammar Book for You and I.... oops, Me. It's by C. Edward Good. And it's pretty good. :)
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As for other sources, I've used the Chicago and Strunk & White, but neither strike me as ideal for everyday writing.
I'm not sure how instructional it is, but you might want to check out Eats, Shoots & Leaves -- I remember hearing raves about it.
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For an actual style guide, it depends on the purpose of your writing. If it's book stuff, there's Chicago, if it's media, there's CP or Globe in Canada or AP in the States. The Economist has a decent online style guide that you can use for free (http://www.economist.com/research/StyleGuide/). Such style guides will set out more than just basic grammar and spelling usually. They'll set out the publication's rules for setting up things like footnotes or citations, which dictionary to use, and rules for variables within grammar and punctuation, and thus tend to be created for a specific publication or company.
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For something *slightly* more readable (to study up a bit) you might want to try A Grammar Book for You and I.... oops, Me. It's by C. Edward Good. And it's pretty good. :)