Here are links to some major public style guides in English, such as for the governments of Australia, EU, and the US, and the United Nations, as well as a smattering of conscious language guides. (Updated 7 May 2024)
Style guides are incredibly useful to make sure everyone consistently handles specific types of elements in a manuscript.
I’m always grateful to be handed a style guide because that means I don’t have to make decisions each time a stylistic point comes up (which English spelling to use? How to write out numbers? etc.).
Tip: For specific projects, make sure you also create a style sheet.
Not all organizations have style guides but here are a few that I find useful. These are public and freely available.
Australia
- Australian Government Style Manual
- The Australian Style Guide: Developed by Australia’s Plain English Foundation…so an excellent resource for anyone interested in plain language. Free registration to access.
Canada
Europe
- European Commission: English Style Guide (PDF): Updated 14 November 2023. (A list of what’s new [PDF].)
- Council of Europe: English Style Guide 2021 (PDF)
United Nations
- United Nations Disability-Inclusive Communications Guidelines: New as of June 2021.
- United Nations Editorial Manual
USA
Other
- Conscious Style Guide: Not government at all—an online compendium of articles and links to resources on conscious writing. For example, the page on Ethnicity, Race & Nationality has links to guides from universities, governments, journalism organizations, etc.
- Diversity Style Guide: Learn the meanings of 700+ terms related to (1) race/ethnicity, (2) disability, (3) immigration, (4) sexuality and gender identity, (5) drugs and alcohol, and (6) geography. The topic glossaries are also handy.
- Disability Language Style Guide: From the National Center on Disability and Journalism; also available in Spanish.
- Language, Please: Offers guidance on words sorted into six topics: (1) class and social standing; (2) disabilities, neurodiversity, and chronic illness; (3) gender and sexuality; (4) borders and populations; (5) mental health, trauma, and substance use; and (6) race and ethnicity.” Also offers editorial tools and an inclusivity reader directory.
There are also of course the Chicago Manual of Style, AP style, APA, MLA … all of which require subscriptions, etc. They are well known enough!
Chicago and APA share some basics for free.
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab is a great resource for overviews on citing in MLA, APA and Chicago styles.
If you would like to discuss whether we might be a good fit for your scholarly writing project, please send me details via the contact form or email me at info@theclarityeditor.com.
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