TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Reference/Style manual From:FOLTZ_J -at- DT3 -dot- DT -dot- UH -dot- EDU Date:Tue, 1 Mar 1994 11:37:40 -0600
I would like the Net's opinions on the Do-All-And-End-All style guide and/or
reference manual for writers.
I was embarrassed yesterday when a friend had a question I couldn't answer. His
child needed to know the proper way to do an annotated bibliography. Rather
than ask his teacher, he figured that his all-knowing father would have the
answer.
"Jan writes", my friend thought. " She goes to school. She will know how to do
this." One phone call and his problems would be solved. Nope. Not *one*
book I had provided the answer. I couldn't believe it.
I went to my friendly book store and looked in the reference section. There is
a dazzling array of writing books, all claiming to be the ultimate reference
manual. I know we should shun being restricted to such manuals, but sometimes
you just need one. Help!