“PUGS” is my acronym for Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling. In this blog, I’ll share tips on PUGS rules that writers struggle with most, based on my years as a professional freelance editor. I’ll also explain why it’s important for writers to polish their PUGS. For more PUGS Pointers, see my website, www.KathyIde.com. Or you can get my book on Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors on Amazon.
PUGS Pointers are based on the current industry-standard references in the United States. For books (and many popular magazines), that’s The Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition, © 2010) and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition, © 2003). For newspapers and journalistic-style magazines, it’s The Associated Press Stylebook (reprinted every year) and Webster’s New World College Dictionary (© 2002). Christian publishers also use The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style.
Many publishing houses have their own in-house style guides that may differ in some aspects from the standard references. However, unless you’re writing exclusively for one particular publisher, it’s best to follow the standard references and let the in-house proofreaders adjust to house style. But unless you’re writing for a specific house and you know their rules, it’s best to go by the industry standards.
Submitted by Kathy Ide, founder and director of the Christian Editor Network.
For more tips on Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling (“PUGS”), and reasons it’s important for writers to polish their PUGS, see my website. Or purchase my book Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, available on Amazon.
Introducing PUGS Pointers
PUGS Pointers are based on the current industry-standard references in the United States. For books (and many popular magazines), that’s The Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition, © 2010) and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition, © 2003). For newspapers and journalistic-style magazines, it’s The Associated Press Stylebook (reprinted every year) and Webster’s New World College Dictionary (© 2002). Christian publishers also use The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style.
Many publishing houses have their own in-house style guides that may differ in some aspects from the standard references. However, unless you’re writing exclusively for one particular publisher, it’s best to follow the standard references and let the in-house proofreaders adjust to house style. But unless you’re writing for a specific house and you know their rules, it’s best to go by the industry standards.
Submitted by Kathy Ide, founder and director of the Christian Editor Network.
For more tips on Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling (“PUGS”), and reasons it’s important for writers to polish their PUGS, see my website. Or purchase my book Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, available on Amazon.
By Kathy Ide • PUGS Pointers •