15 Helpful Style Guides for Fiction Writers
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How do you know what’s correct?
Image credit: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Writers and editors often rely on a shelf (or five) full of resources to make their work as consistent and accurate as possible. I have a page of helpful writing resources, in fact, right here on my website, that lists books I own and use regularly.
There are more I haven’t listed yet, but that’s because I don’t recommend what I’ve not looked through myself. As a result, the list keeps changing and growing as I make my way through the TBR pile, which is wonderful.
In the editor groups I belong to, there’s often an inquiry about a particular word or style that prompts the exchange of style guides that are so useful, you’ll want to bookmark them. There are many that are purchase-only, but this list contains fifteen pretty decent free guides that will help you on your writing journey.
As book editors, we continually strive to stay current with the seemingly liquid thing we call language. Sometimes it’s word usage and trends, but recently, attention has been given (and rightly so) to those words or terms that can be offensive or dismissive to certain people and/or groups.
The list below is by no means complete, but these are some of the online style guides you may find the most useful. Enjoy!
APA Style Blog If you’re using APA (American Psychological Association) style, this blog and the resources linked to it are pretty indispensable. The site has recently been updated and is easy to navigate.
Bible Hub Online Bible Study Suite This site isn’t so much a style guide as it is a set of tools featuring topical, Greek and Hebrew study aids, concordances, commentaries, dictionaries, and more.
BuzzFeed Style Guide The guide that aims to provide consistency within the evolving standards for internet and social media. This style guide is updated regularly to reflect current and relevant usage.
Conscious Style Guide As the tag line on the home page states, this is the essential guide to conscious language. If you’re seeking authenticity and current usage when dealing with disability, age, appearance, ethnicity, gender, spirituality, and much, much more, this is practically a one-stop shop.
Disability Language Style Guide The National Center on Disability and Journalism has an excellent style guide on its site, available not only in English, but in Spanish and Romanian translations as well. It covers the words and terms commonly used when referring to a disability. A PDF is also available for download.
The Emoji Style Guide is exactly what it says. You can find out how, why, and when to use emoji, and how to properly punctuate them.
List of Generic and Genericized Trademarks This is a handy list on Wikipedia that contains words that started off as trademarks but which have become generic terms over time.
The Guardian and Observer Style Guide The guide to writing, editing, and English usage followed by journalists at the Guardian, Observer, and theguardian dot com.
Internet & Text Slang Dictionary & Translator This one’s fun! It works much like any other translator. Are you trying to keep up with every idk, afaik, fwiw, ymmv, and other slang or acronyms that come your way? Plug it into the translator at no slang dot com and wonder no longer. There’s even a government watchlist word filter if you want a few chuckles.
Medline Plus Drug Information If you’re writing about a particular drug, herb, or supplement, or just double-checking the spelling or usage of something in a book you’re editing, this guide is easy to use and quite thorough.
Microsoft Writing Style Guide If you write about computer technology, this is the guide you’ll want to use. According to their website, this style guide replaces the Microsoft Manual of Style. The new guide aims for clear, simple communication within a tech community.
RxList An easy A to Z guide for all drugs and supplements. Includes a pill identifier (useful when describing while writing or when verifying for an edit).
Trans Journalists Association Style Guide The way the public thinks about trans people directly relates to the way they’re written and spoken about. This style guide is a tool for all writers and editors to make sure we present trans people as accurately as possible.
Writer’s Guide to Firearms and Ammunition If you’re writing about firearms or ammunition, whether it’s an instruction manual or a thriller novel, you’ll want to be as accurate as possible to ensure credibility with your readers. This guide, put together by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is full of plain-language reference material for your use.
Writing with Color This site has it all, sharing advice, guides, and resources centered on racial, ethnic, and religious diversity.
Do you have a favorite style guide online you’d like to recommend? Share it here in the comments!
