At 07:41 AM 9/11/2007, Nancy Tuten wrote an extremely good note on Style Books: >One of the most frustrating issues for me in teaching mechanics and usage >(and I see these as quite different from teaching grammar, syntax) is that >style books don't agree. DD: Not frustrating, just the world outside as it is. >In general, though, the Associated Press Style Manual, which is the bible >for most in journalism, differs from the majority of other very reputable >style books (Chicago, MLA, APA) on several key issues. . . DD: An important point to get across to the student. Write to your employer's standard. Sigh, at the USAF Air University schools, it was, "Write to your reader." >I encourage faculty across the disciplines to be sure the students in their >majors understand which style will be expected of them once they become >professionals. DD: Yes, indeed, and when they write a thesis, the local school will have a different one. >But even before they get into their majors, it seems >important to teach students in high school and in first-year college >composition classes that different style books exist, that they don't all >agree, and that it is their responsibility to find out which style a >particular assignment is supposed to reflect. . . . DD: Say it over and over. YES. >This is a topic of much interest to me, so if anyone responds off list, >please include me. Thanks! DD: Me, too. I thank you for putting my ideas more succinctly than I did. To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/