Style guides provide standard writing rules for different writing styles, such as AMA, APA, Chicago, and AP. They help ensure uniformity and credibility in writing, especially in academic and publishing contexts. Style guides cover various aspects of writing, including citations, punctuation, numbers, and spelling. They are available in bookstores, libraries, and as instructor-supplied reference sheets.
In English, as in many languages, some writing rules may not necessarily be uniform across all platforms. These variations are called writing styles. A style guide is a book, manual, or other reference that provides standard writing rules. Ultimately, writers who regularly refer to a particular writing style guide may only need to refer to it in rare circumstances.
In academic writing, most instructors will require one of three different writing styles. These include the AMA Style, devised by the American Medical Association; the APA Style, created by the American Psychological Association; and Chicago style. There is a style guide available for every style of writing. In publishing, the Chicago Manual of Style is often considered the standard.
The AMA style guide and APA style guide generally deal with how to cite sources. This includes both parenthetical citations (in the text) and the style of the bibliography. In some cases, the quotes can be nearly identical. However, it’s the subtle nuances that professors and other instructors often look for to make sure the writer conforms to the correct style.
While these two style guides are often more concerned with references, they can offer some guidance for other rules as well. However, The Chicago Manual of Style goes into much more detail regarding things like the use of punctuation, the use of numbers, and even spelling. While it would be hard to make sure every single punctuation and number mark is used correctly, it’s up to the writer to get it as close as possible.
Another common type of writing style, which also has a very extensive style guide, is AP Style. Invented and endorsed by The Associated Press, this style is often used by newspapers around the world. For example, saying there are three apples and those apples weigh 3 pounds are both written according to the AP style guide even though one uses three and the other uses a number. The AP style guide states that all numbers less than ten should be spelled out unless used in certain ways, such as with measurements including weights.
While writers may not like style guides because they can seem burdensome and require more detail than most will ever notice, they play a vital role in providing uniformity for a broad spectrum of writers. Without that uniformity, it can feel like all kinds of writing are just thrown onto the page in a haphazard way, with lots of different writers picking what feels comfortable at the time. This will lead to credibility issues as readers start to expect a certain style, but it may not be delivered in all cases.
In most cases, style guides should be available in the reference section of a bookstore or library. Some may even be available as instructor-supplied reference sheets. Some academic books, while not providing a complete reference in style, will provide enough information to enable students to write a paper in accordance with the teacher’s expectations.
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