A style guide is a handbook that gives details about how to punctuate, capitalize, cite references, and do other details of writing.
Some of the library's style guides are online, and others are in General Reference on M-level, or on D-level in the Blue Labels, in the PE1408 section. They include:
- A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (also known by the author's surname, "Turabian")
Reserves, M-level, LB 2369 .T9 2013
M-level Reference Wall Ref and B-level, LB 2369 .T8 2007
- MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing
A Level General Reference, PN147.G444 2008
See Citing Sources for more on the big four style guides.
In addition, see the Purdue OWL's site for tips on resources for subject specific writing.
Usage manuals are books that illustrate how to use English correctly.
Most of these are on D-level in the Blue Labels, in the PE1460 section.
The best-known guide deals generally with the essentials of how to write "plain English"; this is the classic
- The Elements of Style / by William Strunk, Jr. ; with revisions, an introduction, and a chapter on writing by E.B. White
-- Gen Ref on M-level
-- D-level Blue Labels
-- online through Bartleby.com (listed as "Strunk's Style" on the pulldown)
Several recent usage manuals are quite funny and use clear examples. These include:
- Between you and I: a little book of bad English / by James Cochrane.
Eisenhower D-level Blue Labels, PE1460.C53 2003 and 2004
- Eats, Shoots & Leaves: a zero tolerance approach to punctuation / by Lynne Truss.
D-level and Libraries Services Center, PE1450.T75 2004
- Woe is I: the grammarphobe's guide to better English in plain English / Patricia T. O'Conner.
Eisenhower D-level Blue Labels, PE1112.O28 2009