Style guides are often perceived as mere citation formatting rules. While guides like MLA and APA (both extensively covered by resources like the Purdue OWL) are well-known, their scope extends far beyond citations. Let’s delve into “what’s a style guide” and its multifaceted nature.
Style guides encompass a broad spectrum of rules and guidelines applicable to various fields. These guidelines cover grammar, language usage, and even formatting aspects like font and heading sizes. Essentially, a style manual equips writers with the knowledge to ensure their work aligns seamlessly with established conventions within their domain. This consistency extends to page layout, referencing other authors, and maintaining an appropriate tone.
In the corporate world, the term “style guide” often overlaps with “branding guide.” Similarly, academic style guides function as branding tools. Just as Apple’s style guide unifies its websites, advertisements, products, documentation, and stores, APA style creates a recognizable brand for academic papers. The consistent application of guidelines ensures that an APA paper is instantly identifiable, much like an Apple device.
Style guides promote consistency across documents created by diverse writers, in various locations, and under different circumstances. This uniformity allows readers, regardless of their background or institution, to quickly understand the structure of a paper written in a specific style (e.g., APA). They can easily navigate headings, locate key details in the abstract, interpret the presentation of quotes, find citation information, and understand the significance of each citation element. Therefore, understanding “what’s a style guide” is crucial for effective communication.
Numerous style guides exist in both academic and professional contexts. While resources may focus on common styles, it’s important to remember the variety available.
| Style | Usage |
|---|---|
| Associated Press Style (AP) | Used by journalists and news/media writers |
| Chicago (CMoS, Chicago/Turabian) | Used in the humanities |
| Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Style (IEEE) | Used in engineering and computer science |
| American Medical Association (AMA) | Used in nursing and other medical fields |
| Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) | Used in computing and information technology fields |
| The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) | Used in mechanical engineering |
It’s essential to determine if your discipline uses a specific style guide. If unsure, research the standard practices in your field. Knowing “what’s a style guide” for your field is a basic requirement.
Mastering New Style Guide Conventions
Writers, especially in academia, often encounter situations requiring them to adapt to unfamiliar style conventions. These situations include adhering to a journal’s specific house style or meeting a university’s thesis and dissertation formatting requirements. If you need to learn a new style guide, consider the following strategies:
Identify the required style. The necessary style might not always be clear. Journal submission guidelines, for example, can be ambiguous. Compare the available information with style manuals in your library or online resources to find a match. Consult with advisors or journal editors to clarify expectations for your specific context. Knowing common style guides within your discipline simplifies this process, providing a starting point for your search.
Some journals or publishing platforms utilize in-house styles, which are typically outlined on their websites or in downloadable PDFs (e.g., “Author Guidelines,” “Instructions for Authors,” “Submission Guidelines”). In some instances, in-house styles involve minor modifications to widely used style guides, such as requiring full names for in-text citations in APA 7th edition. These deviations are generally indicated in the same manner as full in-house styles.
Acquire and study the style guide. Consult your library or online resources to locate a copy of the style guide. Many style guides are partially or fully accessible on the relevant association’s website. While comprehensive reading isn’t necessary (as much of the content serves as reference material), style guides often contain valuable information for writing your paper or manuscript. For example:
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The Chicago Manual of Style dedicates its first section (approximately 200 pages) to detailing the scholarly process for researchers using Chicago style. This includes copyright law considerations for authors and the required elements for manuscripts.
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The MLA Handbook provides a substantial section on writing research papers or scholarly works within MLA fields, particularly useful for novice or international scholars writing for an American academic audience.
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The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association includes sections similar to those mentioned above, along with guidelines for conducting research with Indigenous populations and rules for non-discriminatory language.
Familiarize yourself with the manual’s table of contents, general structure, and any unique systems it employs (e.g., MLA 8’s container system for non-traditional and digital sources). Understanding “what’s a style guide” is about understanding the specific systems in place.
Examine texts within your discipline and target journals. Most fields predominantly use one or two style guides. Analyze already-published papers, paying attention to common formatting elements, tone, vocabulary, and headings. Adhering to disciplinary or journal-specific conventions helps your writing align with readers’ expectations and ensures compliance with style guidelines. This practical application is a key component of understanding “what’s a style guide.”
